Posted on 04/07/2015 10:54:12 AM PDT by dennisw
Intel's recent results suggest a slowdown in firms leaving the ancient OS behind and upgrading to new systems. Why won't they update?
Most interesting detail that emerged from Intel's lackluster first quarter financial results had nothing to do with mobile, the company's white whale. Instead, it concerned something so old that it almost seems laughable in the same week that the very 21st-century Apple Watch dominated headlines. Per ZDNet's own Larry Dignan:
In a statement, Intel said it cut its first quarter outlook because of "weaker than expected demand for business desktop PCs and lower than expected inventory levels across the PC supply chain."
Intel cited for that weaker demand: a slowdown in companies upgrading from Windows XP systems. What's particularly interesting about this is that the move away from the ancient OS helped drive some of Intel's better results in 2014. Read this
What that suggests is a potentially intractable problem for both Intel and Microsoft: businesses that still manage to operate fine, thank you very much, with an operating system that's nearly 15 years old. It's the desktop equivalent of the guy who still uses a flip phone and doesn't care if you have an app that can identify a song on the radio in three seconds or can stream the Super Bowl live on your smartphone.
But it's even worse, actually, because that inertia isn't one guy: It's firms with potentially dozens or hundred of employees that have their productivity disrupted while new systems are installed and training is implemented. Then there's the issue of the need for an updated OS. What does Windows 7 or 8 (or 10) do that compels these stragglersto upgrade?
Microsoft's decision to emphasize its new Start screen over the old desktop when it launched Windows 8 did it no favors,
(Excerpt) Read more at zdnet.com ...
Possibly one reason is that the economy sucks?
It isn’t just about moving from Windows XP to Windows 7, 8, or 10 - it’s about moving from 32-bit architecture to 64-bit architecture. And 64-bit is much more secure than 32-bit.
Do they think the answer is to force people to give up what works for them?
My work PC is still running XP - works fine and does the job.
My online cruise the internet machine is a Mac.
Because everything they do is connected to it. Obviously, they do not understand what kind of an undertaking it would be to install something new when the old thing is working just fine for the vast majority of people. What business has the time to do a complete changeover. GM used to have to shut their entire production line for over a month in order to make the changes for the new models.
Yes.
Since Vista, I would say the mom and pops are leaning Mac based on what I have observed. I don’t think Mac is enterprise ready, but with Apple products like pads and phones enjoying the staggering popularity they have, this could change. In the future that could be a major headwind for Intel/Microsoft.
In the fwiw department, I can do Excel and Word on my phone.
Wow.
5.56mm
lol.
Mandatory spending, not just for health insurance anymore
A way to continue to run XP, while providing user experience with OS X. A migration path. It would, perhaps, be hard limited in the amount of RAM it would support.
Apple won’t do it ‘cause they don’t own Parallel, and because they are growing their Mac sales without doing it.
My wife works for herself and is locked into XP. Many of the programs she uses are not complaint with the newer operating systems. We looked into this and to upgrade the OS would require a $5K investment in new software and we would gain no new functionality. I’m sure many other firms are facing this same situation.
We held onto XP for quite a while due to compatibility issues.
Now everyone is on 7/64 and SSD’s
Worth every penny in terms of productivity.
XP is no longer supported by Microsoft - so assuming that business are OK without that support, then I suppose the author may have a point.
However, software also continually upgrades, and newer offerings will come out where XP is not supported.
Traditionally newer OS’support old software, not other way ‘round. If you’re still running XP, 7 is not a huge jump and if you can go 64 bit, I would do it! Heck, I’d even build a computer for you. :)
That’s why some businesses are still running mission-critical processes on COBOL code written 40 years ago.
I resist upgrading my PC or OS, for as long as I can. I have so many different apps installed, which I need for work, that it takes me a week to re-install stuff when I do an upgrade.
Captain Obvious strikes again.
Why use cloud (server rental) where you competitors can snoop.
It’s not a bad idea so long as you disconnect it from the Internet.
Hey, my ears are burning!
But, I did break down and get a new box last year with Win 7 in it for more horsepower. Smartphone, never.
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