As October 22 approaches, many PC users are debating whether to upgrade to Windows 7 or to remain where they’re at. A good portion of those users are currently “at” Windows XP, and are mighty happy, thank you very much. Windows XP was introduced in October of 2001 and struck a chord with Windows users. Its functionality, stability and power are all legendary in the hearts and minds of diehard Windows users. These users are least likely to welcome the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 7. So what’s the road ahead like for Windows XP users?

Windows XP’s Future Is Only Dimly Lit

Microsoft has made no bones about wanting to kill Windows XP. They’ve issued drop-dead dates for the product at least twice, and the latest kill order will take effect about six months after Windows 7 hits the stores. Users can purchase a double-downgrade license to Windows XP when Windows 7 graces the shelves only for that short window. After that, it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens to XP.
Right now, tech support is available for XP only on a per-call basis. The product is no longer available for sale on store shelves and Microsoft’s ability (and desire) to support the product is waning daily. Eventually, despite the outcry from users, Microsoft will pull the plug on support for the OS, effectively cutting XP users adrift.
Manufacturers will move away from XP support – Microsoft will make it hard for device manufacturers to continue supporting an unsupported OS – and users will no longer be able to get driver support for Windows XP. The big complaint about Windows Vista was that it didn’t make nice with Windows Server 2003. The complainers had a point. Vista’s inability to deal with Active Directory made it largely unsuitable for enterprises that had large AD installations.
Microsoft has addressed that with Windows Server 2008, which is scheduled for production release on October 22, alongside Windows 7. Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7 go together like hand-in-glove, and enterprise users won’t have a lot of room to complain about what Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 don’t do. That doesn’t mean that Enterprise is dying to upgrade. It’s not. Upgrading is expensive and the Windows Server 2008/Windows 7 approach means that the average enterprise will have to upgrade both its servers and its desktops to get the benefits.
I strongly suspect that most enterprises will find it very painful to stay with Windows XP as time goes on. Fewer software publishers will provide XP-compatible releases, fewer hardware manufacturers will provide XP compatible drivers and as some enterprises upgrade, the laggards will come under incredible pressure to catch up.

Photo Credit: Surian Soosay, via Flickr