Microsoft offers Windows XP users $100 to upgrade

SFGate ^ | 3-21-14 | Julie Balise

[smokingfrog]

Microsoft hopes to make it easier for Windows XP users to drop their old computers and upgrade to a newer Surface or PC by offering them $100 to do so.

The Redmond-based company announced earlier this month that support and security updates will no longer be available for its popular old operating system after April 8. That doesn’t mean the computers will immediately become unusable, but they may be more vulnerable to hackers.

Windows XP users can get $100 off when they buy a Surface Pro 2 or select PCs for $599 and more. The cheapest is an Acer Aspire touchscreen laptop for $599, while the priciest is a Dell XPS touchscreen laptop that starts at $2,299. There are several laptops and all-in-one computers in between.

[doorgunner69]

Wow, lots of "gamer" stuff. Being a retired engineer, I look for solid desktop performance with CPU intensive programs.

Running "Death to All Aliens" at maximum speed, not so important. All that stuff about liquid cooling systems was interesting. Those gamers types must really run things hot.

Seriously, in looking at Win7 machines on several sites, I am curious just how much performance difference there is between the Intel i5 and i7 CPU of similar speed ratings.

Sure there is a difference, but other than gamers types, is it really noticeable? There is a price break for the i5 machines over the i7 both similarly equipped with memory and all.

[Drago]

It is a stretch calling the change from XP to Win 8 an “upgrade”! XP—>Win7 maybe.

[ClearCase_guy]

I believe a lot of gamers end up with more machine than they really need. There was a time when the latest games required the latest hardware. I am not sure, but I think that is no longer true.

On the other hand, video editing is very processor intensive.

[bigbob]

add a zero

[ican'tbelieveit]

My son bought a laptop from them, and while it is possibly more than a regular user would need, I cannot stress that the quality of the machine is outstanding.

Look at their rush jobs, $700 for a top of the line piece of equipment. You won’t get better buying elsewhere for nearly the same costs.

And I am running an i5 right now. Put it together 3 years ago (wow, that long ago), and it runs like a charm. Running Windows 7 Professional, 4 GB RAM. Son’s laptop (mentioned previously) is running i7. He says if you are just using to surf web, i7 is overkill.

[38special]

I’m using XP Media Edition right now. I did get the message from Microsoft that I would no longer be supported or updated.

[dalereed]

I’m keeping XP!!

[matthew fuller]

I have a windows 7, and I have the same question, I would love to be able to downgrade back to XP.

[Jeff Chandler]

I just bought a new HP laptop with a 17 inch screen and Windows 8 for $208. That allowed me to convert my old laptop to Linux Mint to replace my FIL’s XP box, and bought a used Windows 7 laptop for 50 bucks to replace Mrs. Chandler’s XP box.

Why would I want to spend $599+ when there are deals all over the place?

[GILTN1stborn]

I recently bought the Acer Aspire 5600U. It was around $900.00. I really really dislike Windows 8 and was thinking I might as well have bought an apple... But found that this has what I guess is Acer answer to those of us that loved XP. When I click on the Acer desktop app it looks and works almost like old XP. There are still many downsides. Navigating to other places such as my computer, finding documents and using task manager still baffles me.

[matt04]

I have Win7 on a VM on my MacBook Pro currently for all my windows needs. While Win7 has some quirks compared to XP, I am generally happy with it.

Win 8 on the other hand, not so much. Nothing about that OS is usable to me. Nothing makes any sense about where to click to accomplish a task.

[TChad]

I don't expect Microsoft to support their products forever without being compensated. I just want for them to sell a support package for XP.

If Microsoft won't do it, I hope another company steps up to the plate. This is a real opportunity. About one in five computers worldwide run XP.

[publius911]

Bookmark

[cableguymn]

http://www.zdnet.com/windows-xp-lives-on-in-atms-crisis-7000026106/

jan 2016 is when ATM’s have to move off XP.

[RitchieAprile]

are you saying that a computer OS is non-deterministic?

[RitchieAprile]

its not shut off, if you pay for a support contract, and what bank would not?

[RitchieAprile]

I installed a liquid cooler (Corsair H100i) in my latest build. I run a Haswell (i7 Core 4771) and its the quietest machine I’ve never heard. Installation, in fact the entire build, was childs play. I guess I’d better start killing aliens or something.

[doorgunner69]

My hearing is so bad (down to one ear that is marginal) that as long as it is not a leaf blower, it is all good.

Heat lockups from overclocking seem to be a thing of the past. I do recall those from the bad old overclocking days.

Been many moons since I built my own machine. Was great fun back in the days of Asus and Soyo to build my own with the latest Intel or AMD chip.

Got ticked off when I lost an expensive Soyo MB to a bunch of shorted capacitors that turned out to be a common failure. Sort of sours you on building your own with no warranty.

If you would not mind PMing me your list of hardware, I might reconsider buying a factory box and rolling the dice once again.

[Drago]

Yep, me too, Win 7 on a Parallels VM on my Mac Pro 3,1 for Quicken->Windows & Office 2003. Separate Win 7 box for legacy gaming (hardly ever boot it up tho).

[markman46]

I was at home depot and they had windows xp pro on the registers