New
#20
Well first of all XP isn't available anymore. The article says the usage % has gone up that means people are coming form other OS's for it to gain %. Basically people that are linked to software that only runs in XP means that that software has been discontinued by the creator or the creator is not in business anymore. Software companies can't exist if they don't make money with their products. The biggest reason software runs in XP and not in Win 7, 8 or 10 would be it's 16 bit software. Processors have been 64 bit with AMD around 2000 and Intel shortly there after.
quite a few xpp loaded machines move via Ebay, but MS stepped in [to their credit] and offered big recyclers a deal they can't refuse, apparently, on volume licensing of Win7 specifically for refurbs. So if one is a careful shopper, the same corporate/gov't off-lease systems that a few months ago would ship with XP COA if not load, now can be had with Win7 at no real additional cost. i've bought them as low as $70 or so in fine shape [dell/HP top-tier machines]
how many units are there out there with Linux Distros? See, in my view XP is a better "linux" than linux. its essentially free, way more compatible with a zillion devices, solid, efficient, runs well on light hardware, quite networkable, etc.
Just for information from my own trial and error. Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 preview will run some 16 bit program using NTDVM but not all. However, if using 64 bit windows you won't be able to use 16 bit software. So, here is what I did. I searched for a Linux version and experimented for awhile. I found Lubuntu 64 bit 14.10 LTS (Yes, I said 64 bit) then added Xfce desktop, then added wine 32 bit. Now, I have no issues running 16 bit windows programs using Linux.
I can't claim responsibility for the extra XP's as in the last year, I have replaced one with 7, retired two, and the last one I,m keeping for old times sake. I have given the only full retail copy to a friend for a spare as he has a legacy program for his cnc mill which doesn't want to run on later Windows.