Are you using Windows 7 or 8.1? Mark your calendar since you have one year left. Windows 10 was launched two months ago and more than 50 million people have installed the operating system. Microsoft has plans to completely do away with the old systems. The company marked October 31, 2016, as the end of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled for both Windows 7 Professional and Windows 8.1.
Next year consumers will be required to purchase Windows 10 installed computers. The lone exception will be businesses with license agreements that entitle them to choose which version of Windows they want preinstalled. Many people are still using Windows 7 and they are comfortable with it. However, the stipulated deadline will eventually make Windows 7 users jump off their comfort zone and embrace the new Windows 10.
Microsoft is taking this step seriously because the company is working towards its goal of having Windows 10 installed in 1 billion devices. Ideally, that’s the main reason the new software can tie together PCs, tablets and mobile phones with apps that can run on any of them.
Microsoft typically sets the end-of-sales date for each version of Windows two years after the release of a new version. That means Windows 7’s cutoff date should have been in October 2014, two years after the launch of Windows 8. The lack of consumer demand for Windows 8 prompted Microsoft to keep Windows 7 alive longer than expected, according to Cnet.
This may serve as a good news or an encouragement to continue using Windows 7 since Microsoft will continue giving technical support to Windows 7 users until January 14, 2020. The company will provide security patches, bug fixes and other updates. The same type of support for Windows 8 will run until January 10, 2023.
Also read:Simple Guide To Downloading And Installing Windows 10
Microsoft is heavily encouraging people to update their operating systems. Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade to Windows 7 and 8.1 users for the first year. Microsoft has been using frequent pop-up notices to remind those who reserved a copy to install the new operating system. The company has also classified Windows 10 as an optional update and early next year expects to change that to a recommended update, Windows and Devices Group executive vice president Terry Myerson said last week.
Microsoft has great potential in tech industry since it touches in almost everything. Who knew the company will one day make an ideal laptop? I believe more stuff are on the way coming and in case the PC market shrinks, Microsoft will still bare fruits in other areas.
