Η Microsoft sets out the arguments with which it tries to convince users, and especially small businesses, that the forthcoming end of Windows XP is an opportunity for upgrading. Among these, it states that "it is very likely" that less expensive replacement of older computers and upgrade to new Windows and Office and that the applications developed for XP will not evolve and that XP is (already) 5 times more vulnerable than Windows 8.1.
However, the company is expected to soon announce the first Update to Windows 8.1. Among the changes that this update will bring is said to be the facilitation of using the operating system with the traditional keyboard and mouse rather than touch (since many systems do not have a touch screen) and the display of tiles for searching, terminating modeς του συστήματος και τις ρυθμίσεις στην λεγόμενη επιφάνεια Start ώστε να μην χρειαστεί ο χρήστης να τα αναζητήσει σύροντας το mouse δεξιά στο πλάι (αν και το search λειτουργεί πληκτρολογώντας κυριολεκτικά στα τυφλά). Ακόμα, λέγεται πως θα διευκολύνει το κλείσιμο των app (το οποίο γίνεται σύροντας με το mouse το παράθυρο της εφαρμογής προς το κάτω μέρος της οθόνης).
You can read Microsoft's arguments under the title "The Windows XP era ends: What does it mean for small businesses and why you should not wait to upgrade?"
"A lot has changed in the last decade since Microsoft Corp. launched Windows XP and Office 2003. Hardware is less expensive, devices are smaller, operating systems are faster, and mobile phones είναι πιο έξυπνα από ποτέ.
Επιπλέον, ο τρόπος που εργαζόμαστε έχει αλλάξει σήμερα, περισσότερο από ποτέ. Είμαστε περισσότερο εν κινήσει και περισσότερο κοινωνικοί στην εργασία μας. Παρ' όλα αυτά, παρ' όλες αυτές τις εξελίξεις σύμφωνα με το Stat Counter, περίπου 21% των υπολογιστών παγκοσμίως χρησιμοποιούν ακόμα Windows XP.
There is no better time for small businesses to upgrade their technologies to Windows 8.1 and Office 365. This is because Microsoft 8 April 2014 will not provide security updates for Windows XP and Office 2003, and businesses will no longer be able to receive technical support from the company.
Of course, technology is not the only thing that has changed in the last decade. Much has changed regarding the expectations customers and employees have of small businesses. According to a recent research της Microsoft σε περισσότερους από 1.400 καταναλωτές, ένας από τους τρόπους που οι πελάτες αξιολογούν μια επιχείρηση είναι από την τεχνολογία που χρησιμοποιεί. Συγκεκριμένα, περίπου τα δύο τρίτα είπαν ότι μια μικρή επιχείρηση θεωρείται ξεπερασμένη αν το λειτουργικό της σύστημα ή οι υπολογιστές της είναι μεταξύ 5 και 10 ετών.
For many companies, giving their employees and customers what they want is reason enough to upgrade their system. "Small businesses are worried about their growth. "Modern technologies such as Windows 8.1 and Office 365 enable small businesses to work smarter, increase their customer base and become more profitable," said Thomas Hansen, Vice President of Worldwide Small and Medium Business at Microsoft. "Today, technology allows small businesses to successfully compete with larger competitors. "In fact, a recent study by the Boston Consulting Group shows that tech-savvy small businesses created new jobs twice as fast and grew their profits 15% faster than those using less up-to-date technology."
What does "business support fee" mean?
The end of support does not mean that from April 8, 2014, Windows XP and Office 2003 will suddenly stop working. However, they will no longer exist updates security or technical support for Windows XP, which can lead to serious problems, including the following:
- Higher cost and lower productivity: Reducing operating costs and improving employee productivity are among the top priorities of small businesses. So it's no surprise that 47% of small businesses said that lack of resources is a major reason for not replacing older computers, even though they often experience problems and reduce productivity (Techaisle, 2013). However, in the long run, replacing older computers and upgrading to the new Windows and Office is likely to cost less. According to the same survey, small businesses spend an average of $427 on repairs for computers that are 4 years old or older, not to mention the hours of lost productivity to fix the problems.
- Exposure to security and compatibility risks: Security is, of course, a big concern for all businesses. Unsupported computers that have not received the updates are vulnerable to security risks. In fact, a recent survey by Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing team found that XP is 5 times more vulnerable to risks and attacks than Windows 8.1.
- Lack of new apps: After April 8, 2014, application developers and standalone application providers implementing Windows XP will not release new upgrades to existing applications or create new solutions for them. In other words, any solutions available in current Windows XP will remain the same in terms of features and enhancements. "Your computers will not evolve at the same time as your customer, but also with the modern requirements of the competitive market."
