[HIB]Heading for the clouds

NINE out of ten of the 1.2 billion personal computers in use around the world today rely on Microsoft Windows. Of the billion or so Windows machines, some 63% still use the hoary old XP version launched in 2001; in America, the proportion of XP users is over 80%. According to Qualys, a supplier of computer security services, only half of the 600m or so XP computers have been upgraded to the latest “service pack” (SP3) that came out in 2008 and fixed most of venerable operating system’s remaining quirks. In other words, more than 300m are still chugging along on the SP2 update released as long ago as 2004.So what? For most users, Windows XP—whether updated with the latest fixes or not—is a veritable workhorse that simply gets the job done. So, if it is not broken, why fix it? Unfortunately, Microsoft is to “retire” the SP2 version of Windows XP on July 13th. After that, no more security patches will be issued for SP2 computers, and users will have to pay for any technical support they seek from Microsoft. Those who have upgraded to the SP3 version of XP will continue to get free technical support and fixes for security issues until 2014. Then they, too, will be cast out into the wilderness.

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