Business IT

The end is finally here for Windows Vista

By Staff Writers on Mar 17, 2017 4:21PM
The end is finally here for Windows Vista

Editor's Picks

IoT Explained: What is the Internet of Things in Australia (June 2022)

5 essential digital transformation ideas

Top 5 Benefits of Managed IT Services

Venom BlackBook Zero 15 Phantom

If you're still using Vista, you should consider upgrading, because Microsoft is ending support of the much-criticised operating system.

Windows Vista is finally going to the great recycle bin in the sky. Although in all likelihood you abandoned Microsoft’s Windows Vista at the first possible opportunity, it has still been receiving extended support from Microsoft. That support is finally coming to an end just over a decade after it went on sale, so you should consider upgrading to Windows 10.

The Microsoft website has a date for when Windows Vista will head to the great recycle bin in the sky: 11 April 2017. Well, technically you can still use it – it just won’t get any more security updates or have any free or paid support options. You’re on your own, basically.

“Microsoft has provided support for Windows Vista for the past ten years,” the company wrote in a statement, “but the time has come for us, along with our hardware and software partners, to invest our resources towards more recent technologies so that we can continue to deliver great new experiences.”

Not surprisingly for an operating system that’s celebrating its tenth birthday, Microsoft points out that any PC running it might not actually be powerful enough for Windows 10. For those people running Vista who don’t have the juice for Windows 10, the company suggests it might be time to buy a new PC.

Newsletter Signup

Get the latest business tech news, reviews and guides delivered to your inbox.

I have read and accept the privacy policy and terms and conditions and by submitting my email address I agree to receive the Business IT newsletter and receive special offers on behalf of Business IT, nextmedia and its valued partners. We will not share your details with third parties.

“They're more powerful, lightweight, and stylish than ever before – and with an average price that's considerably less expensive than the average PC was ten years ago,” they write.

Why is this getting less fanfare than when Windows XP was having its last rites read to it back in 2011? In fact, people were so reluctant to let go that the deadline was extended to 2013 because everyone stubbornly refused to budge. That’s unlikely to occur with Windows Vista, given that at the time of writing it holds 0.78% of the total market share. When Microsoft was trying to get people to kick Windows XP back in 2013, it was installed on roughly 40% of desktops worldwide. Even now, support-free Windows XP refuseniks account for a surprisingly strong 8.5% of the desktop market share.

To put it mildly, Windows Vista was never loved in the same way, so few will be mourning its passing in 2017. Next up for the can is Windows 7 – but you should have until January 2020 to say goodbye.

This article originally appeared at alphr.com. Image: Christopher used under Creative Commons.

Copyright © Alphr, Dennis Publishing
Tags:
microsoft software support windows
By Staff Writers
Mar 17 2017
4:21PM
0 Comments

Related Articles

  • Why organisations don't realise the full value of Microsoft 365
  • How to use intelligent automation to give Microsoft Excel superpowers
  • Microsoft's “PrintNightmare” patch doesn't fix issue, researchers say
  • Why you need to backup your Office 365 data
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Whatsapp Email A Friend

Most Read Articles

5 essential digital transformation ideas

5 essential digital transformation ideas

IoT Explained: What is the Internet of Things in Australia (June 2022)

IoT Explained: What is the Internet of Things in Australia (June 2022)

Top 5 Benefits of Managed IT Services

Top 5 Benefits of Managed IT Services

How to manage payment risks and fraud in 2022

How to manage payment risks and fraud in 2022

Poll

What would you like to see more of on BiT?
News
Reviews
Features
How To's
Lollies
Photo Galleries
Videos
Opinion
View poll archive
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorisation.
Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of nextmedia's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.