1
Computer and Electronics / Using Windows XP in 2016
« on: January 14, 2016, 01:13:36 PM »
Using Windows XP in 2016.....not exactly the smartest thing to do. But here's why I'm still using the ancient OS.
As you all probably know, I absolutely HATED Windows Vista when it came out in 2006. I absolutely refused to switch to it, and I advised all my clients to stay with XP. That was a long time ago and Microsoft has released some great OS's since then. Windows 7 was spectacular. I switched all my personal computers to Windows 7 in 2009 when it was first released because it was rock solid out of the box. Windows 7 was basically a polished version of Windows Vista with a new skin, but by 2009 all the kinks had been worked out and it was a pretty solid OS.
Windows 8 came out later in 2012. Underneath all the BS it was another rock solid OS. The issue with Windows 8 was too much focus on phones and tablets when it's really an OS for computers. Windows 8 introduced some VERY great features such as UEFI support and a volume indicator when you hit the volume hotkeys on the keyboard. It also updated to ancient file transfer protocol from Windows 95. It also secured the Administrator account even further. No longer would deactivating UAC give you full administrative rights. Because of this, it was a MUCH more secure OS compared to Windows 7.
Then Windows 10 was released in 2015. To be honest, it's a good OS, but not as good as Windows 8 under the hood. Usability wise and looks wise, it's miles ahead of Windows 8. But I'm most concerned with what's under the hood. Windows 10 has some driver issues, and it breaks compatibility with a LOT of older software. And there isn't much in the way of new features with Windows 10. It's basically Windows 8 with an updated kernel and a start menu.
Windows XP was released in 2001. So after 15 years, and 3 subsequent good OS releases, why would anybody still be on Windows XP by choice? Well to be honest, I haven't used XP on any of my personal machines since I upgraded to Windows 7 in 2009. But I just built a new machine and loaded Windows XP on it. The reason? Old programs and games.
There were some programs and games that I still use that were totally broken by Windows 7 and Windows 8. Unfortunately they don't work on Windows 10 either, so I've decided to keep a permanent Windows XP computer from now on. I put it in my bedroom and connected it to my 65" TV. This will now be the main computer in my bedroom.
Of course going online with Windows XP isn't smart. So I've neutered internet capability. I dual boot with Windows XP and Windows 10 on the same computer. What this experience has taught me is how PRIMITIVE Windows XP actually is. It's hard going from newer OS's back to Windows XP. Honestly I thought it was going to be a breeze. After all, it was my main OS for 8 years. But in some ways.....a lot of ways......Windows XP is REALLY showing its age a lot worse than I anticipated. However, on a fundamental level there's really not a whole lot of difference. We could technically still be on Windows XP if Microsoft had kept up support for it. It's a very impressive OS for something that came out 15 years ago.
Now if I could run it on all my personal computers safely, would I? The answer is a resounding NO. Windows XP was impressive for a 15 year old OS, but I'd miss a lot of features in Windows 7,8, and 10. And things that are so easy nowadays like moving all the user folders to a secondary hard drive require modifying the registry in Windows XP. Each new version of Windows has a LOT of improvements. Even Windows Vista had a good number of improvements (I just wasn't willing to deal with such a buggy OS for those improvements).
However there's a certain amount of nostalgia that I get from using Windows XP again. I genuinely like the OS. And even though it's technically a dead OS now, it could still be a usable product today if Microsoft had kept up on it.
For anyone that's interested, here are the specs of my Windows XP computer:
- AMD A10-7850k 3.70Ghz Processor
- 8GB DDR3 1600Mhz RAM
- 250GB SSD (Samsung 850 Pro)
- 2TB WD Black Hard Drive
- Windows XP Pro & Windows 10 Pro Dual Booted
As you all probably know, I absolutely HATED Windows Vista when it came out in 2006. I absolutely refused to switch to it, and I advised all my clients to stay with XP. That was a long time ago and Microsoft has released some great OS's since then. Windows 7 was spectacular. I switched all my personal computers to Windows 7 in 2009 when it was first released because it was rock solid out of the box. Windows 7 was basically a polished version of Windows Vista with a new skin, but by 2009 all the kinks had been worked out and it was a pretty solid OS.
Windows 8 came out later in 2012. Underneath all the BS it was another rock solid OS. The issue with Windows 8 was too much focus on phones and tablets when it's really an OS for computers. Windows 8 introduced some VERY great features such as UEFI support and a volume indicator when you hit the volume hotkeys on the keyboard. It also updated to ancient file transfer protocol from Windows 95. It also secured the Administrator account even further. No longer would deactivating UAC give you full administrative rights. Because of this, it was a MUCH more secure OS compared to Windows 7.
Then Windows 10 was released in 2015. To be honest, it's a good OS, but not as good as Windows 8 under the hood. Usability wise and looks wise, it's miles ahead of Windows 8. But I'm most concerned with what's under the hood. Windows 10 has some driver issues, and it breaks compatibility with a LOT of older software. And there isn't much in the way of new features with Windows 10. It's basically Windows 8 with an updated kernel and a start menu.
Windows XP was released in 2001. So after 15 years, and 3 subsequent good OS releases, why would anybody still be on Windows XP by choice? Well to be honest, I haven't used XP on any of my personal machines since I upgraded to Windows 7 in 2009. But I just built a new machine and loaded Windows XP on it. The reason? Old programs and games.
There were some programs and games that I still use that were totally broken by Windows 7 and Windows 8. Unfortunately they don't work on Windows 10 either, so I've decided to keep a permanent Windows XP computer from now on. I put it in my bedroom and connected it to my 65" TV. This will now be the main computer in my bedroom.
Of course going online with Windows XP isn't smart. So I've neutered internet capability. I dual boot with Windows XP and Windows 10 on the same computer. What this experience has taught me is how PRIMITIVE Windows XP actually is. It's hard going from newer OS's back to Windows XP. Honestly I thought it was going to be a breeze. After all, it was my main OS for 8 years. But in some ways.....a lot of ways......Windows XP is REALLY showing its age a lot worse than I anticipated. However, on a fundamental level there's really not a whole lot of difference. We could technically still be on Windows XP if Microsoft had kept up support for it. It's a very impressive OS for something that came out 15 years ago.
Now if I could run it on all my personal computers safely, would I? The answer is a resounding NO. Windows XP was impressive for a 15 year old OS, but I'd miss a lot of features in Windows 7,8, and 10. And things that are so easy nowadays like moving all the user folders to a secondary hard drive require modifying the registry in Windows XP. Each new version of Windows has a LOT of improvements. Even Windows Vista had a good number of improvements (I just wasn't willing to deal with such a buggy OS for those improvements).
However there's a certain amount of nostalgia that I get from using Windows XP again. I genuinely like the OS. And even though it's technically a dead OS now, it could still be a usable product today if Microsoft had kept up on it.
For anyone that's interested, here are the specs of my Windows XP computer:
- AMD A10-7850k 3.70Ghz Processor
- 8GB DDR3 1600Mhz RAM
- 250GB SSD (Samsung 850 Pro)
- 2TB WD Black Hard Drive
- Windows XP Pro & Windows 10 Pro Dual Booted