Why April 8th is So Important for XP Users
By Harry Brelsford for XPMigrations.com
Our good friend Harry Brelsford is doing his part to make sure every Windows XP users knows about this critical deadline.–PC Pitstop.
Did you know that April 8th is perhaps the most important date in April 2014? Okay – maybe it’s the third-most important date after the U.S. tax deadline (April 15th) and Easter Sunday (April 20th). April 8, 2014 is the final day that Microsoft and many software companies will support Windows XP, its popular desktop operating system.
Why is this date important to you? Well, for many reasons. The first is obvious: security. You already know the “bad guys” never sleep. Always looking for a “hole” to exploit, the hackers derive a particular joy in brining harm to your devices. Even worse–the bad guys have gotten bigger and meaner, and the attacks currently focus on financial information and even national security. Your best defense? Stay current.
And while your security solution is a huge part of the protection equation, so is your obligation to ensure the foundation of your technology house is in order. That means moving away from Windows XP prior to April 8, 2014.
Another reason to get modern in a post-Windows XP world is productivity. As many of you in the PC Pitstop community know – a faster computer usually means increased productivity. So asking you to “get to modern” is in complete alignment with that school of thought. For example, upgrading to Windows 7/8 and running the new Office 2013 is not only more efficient but also more effective. One specific example: You can search via keywords in your Outlook 2013 calendar. How many times have you tried to remember that name of someone you had lunch with nine months ago? Now you can easily recall that information and reach out and touch that individual again.
In future contributions, I’ll explore the many sides to this matter, but will also circle April 8, 2014 as a milestone you’ll want to honor with an upgrade away from Windows XP.
