Windows XP’s and Office 2003’s Mainstream Supports End

Mainstream support for Windows XP and Office 2003 ends tomorrow, April 14, 2009. What does this mean?  For those still using these products, and many or most café owners are, many in the know says you need not worry.  All this means is that you can no longer call in to Microsoft for free support (how many café owners do that?), and that they are no longer releasing bug fixes.

It must be considered that most of the largest bugs and security holes were already plugged and up-to-date-features are already in-place and this should make the users of the software to be not worried a bit. Feedback show that from way back in 2004 when the Service Pack 2 update was released  and up to present, XP proved itself as a reliable operating system. This is so as long as you have good security software such as effective anti-virus and system rollback working with it.

By April 14, 2009, both Windows XP and MS Office 2003 will enter the “extended support” phase,  lasting until 2014.  During this time Microsoft will still release security fixes, and phone support will still be available but callers will have pay a fee.

What does this mean to the average person or a café running on Windows XP?  Essentially nothing is discouraging you from continuing to use it until 2014.   You just have to rely on your own or your technician’s knowhow in fixing troubles that will come you way till the next new usable MS software come your way.

Many questions about this situation were already asked in different forums since last year when the news came out of Microsoft itself but if you happen to have some more queries, you may post them here.

NOTE: Your comments are welcome here but you may wish to proceed to Café Forum for your questions and comments.