Windows XP has only a year or so to live. At the same time, several businesses have already suggested that Microsoft’s deadline of April 8, 2014 is a bit too soon for them.
Nevertheless, Redmond is still keen on sticking to the date, as it continues urging the user base of its 11-year-old operating system to make the move to a newer version, preferably Windows 8. Still, not everyone is all too eager to abandon XP, as the latest statistics reveal.
Analysts are of the view that Windows 8’s disappointing start is not the only reason behind the lack of interest for Microsoft’s newest operating system — weak, faltering economy is playing its part as well.
In fact, so decisive a factor is the economic recession that many businesses are not willing to invest in moving to a new OS, particularly if the one they are using is not broken.
The chief executive of Camwood, Adrian Foxall, talking to Financial Times said:
“In these tough economic times, it is not surprising that business leaders do not want to invest a substantial amount of money in something that essentially isn’t broken, as is the case with Windows XP today.”
A report released by Camwood, the UK consultancy firm shows that only 42 percent of the businesses in the United Kingdom have started the migration to a newer version of the operating system, but only around half of them said that the process will be complete by April 2014.
Even more interesting is the fact that no less than 16 percent of IT managers admitted that a lack of budget to upgrade to a newer version of Windows delays their transition from Windows XP.
Sign, then, that Microsoft’s deadline for Windows XP may still prove to be too soon? Time will tell.
