RIP Windows XP. At least from Microsoft’s point of view. In fact, use of the O/S continues, and will probably do so for years.

First, let’s get one thing out of the way: it’s not a good idea to keep running Windows XP. If your XP computer is never connected to the Internet, then you have much less to worry about, but continuing to use XP on a computer that is connected to the Internet is risky. Especially if you’re also still using Internet Explorer, in which case you will almost certainly end up with malware of some kind in the very near future.

Anyone who can’t or won’t upgrade from Windows XP should take certain precautions. Check out the Windows XP page on this site for some useful tips.

If you want to do the responsible thing and move away from Windows XP, what are your choices? The best option at this point is Windows 7. You can still buy Windows 7, but Microsoft says that they will stop selling it in February 2015. I’ll be updating the Windows 7 resources on this site to provide XP -> 7 migration tips in the near future.

Other possibilities – for the more adventurous – include Linux and Chrome OS. Linux comes in many flavours, but one in particular is designed to make Windows user feel at home: Zorin OS (free). Chromium OS from Google was designed to be used with its inexpensive and simple ChromeBook computers, but it can be installed on regular PC hardware. It’s free, but probably only useful for users with basic requirements. It runs on top of Linux.

There are loads of articles on the web about the ‘XPocalypse’ – as it’s come to be known. Ars Technica has this: ‘The XPocalypse is upon us: Windows XP support has ended‘.