Despite Microsoft’s claims that Windows 10 would be the “last version of Windows”, Microsoft has officially announced that it will be retiring Windows 10 October 14, 2025. From then on out, Windows 10, Home and Pro versions, will no longer receive new updates or security fixes. That being said, it may be possible the Microsoft allows businesses to pay for extended support for Windows 10. When Windows 7 Microsoft offered businesses extended support for Professional and Enterprise. With Windows 10’s retirement only 4 years away, Microsoft has begun teasing their newest version of their operating system (OS). While the rumor circulating is that this could be Windows 11, Microsoft has yet to officially announce a name for the new operating system. However, that is subject to change as early as next week, June 24th, where Microsoft is set to showcase their new OS, revealing “the next generation of Windows.” We will keep you updates as this story progresses. Update: 6/25/21 Well, its official. Microsoft has officially announced Windows 11; a free updated to all licensed users of Windows 10. Therefore, if you have not yet upgraded to Windows 10, now may be the time to jump ship. The good news is that there is still a free way to upgrade to Windows 10, if you have not yet left Windows 7 or Windows 8. While I recommend watching the official announcement video, allow me to give you a brief overview of all the changes that Microsoft is bring with the latest version of Windows. For starters, the Start Menu and Taskbar have undergone visual and performance changes. Live tiles are being replaced with Widgets, which now have there own predefined space on your computer. Along with this, Microsoft has also focused on performances increases, allowing for Windows to respond quicker to user input. This is just a portion of what Windows 11 will offer. For the full breakdown, click here to watch the Windows 11 team breakdown all the new features of their new operating system.
It’s finally time to say goodbye to our old friend. In a few months, January 14, 2020, to be exact, Windows 7 will officially no longer be receiving security patches and updates from Microsoft. Therefore, if you are one of the many still calling Windows 7 your home, it may be time to think about moving to Windows 10. Why is this Important to Me? Many of you are probably thinking, “Why should I worry about moving to a new operating system?”. The answer is security. When Microsoft pulls the plug on the extended support (January 14, 2020) that means Windows 7 will no longer receive any critical updates. Updates that would fix security holes and exploits. This means that the longer you wait to move to Windows 10, the more at risk you are of an attack. Why Not Move to Windows 8? If you are looking for an Operating System similar to Windows 7, you should look no further than to Windows 10. Windows 10, while there are differences between them, is more similar to Windows 7. Windows 8, on the other hand, is, for lack of a better term, a mess. The desperate attempt to mix the mobile and PC platform was a disaster and will ultimately leave you with a sour taste wishing for anything else. The other reason to make the jump to Windows 10 and not 8 is because Windows 8 will also cease support soon. In January 2023 the extended support for Windows 8 will end, and with it will come the same security risks of Windows 7. As we said earlier, for those of you looking to fill the void left from your goodbye to Windows 7, Windows 10 is there. If you find yourself needing assistance in migrating yourself or your company to Windows 10, please give us a call! We will be more than happy to assist you in the transition to Windows 10! To learn more about what we can do to assist your company’s growth, click here!