windows xp

just keep running what your running until it dies
all the computer stores will still maintain them
just means no new updates with support

 

If most of what you do is browser based, you can put a Linux distro like Ubuntu and you'll barely notice the difference, plus you'll have access to loads of free software if you ever do want to do more with your computer. free upgrades forever, probably run quicker and smoother and never have an issue with virus's again.

 

So dannythetrucker --it is about being protected and keeping viruses out more then anything else?
Is the Linux distro Ubunto a search engine ?
I run Mozilla Firefox and clean and virus scan very often-- do you recommend any free virus detection ?

 

Look everyone, it isn't a big deal if you keep the computer clean and not go where you shouldn't go or open those emails from those Nigerian princes'

XP wasn't really supposed to last this long, I am surprised that Microsoft has been supporting it until now but than again I will be using it for the next five years on my laptops and virtual machines and not worried at all.

AS for Linux, it isn't for everyone and never was intended for everyone. Ubuntu is good enough for much of the surfing, email and so on (I am using Kubuntu and still have printer issues) but there is a limited amount of software that we use, like mapping software or other apps that are related to trucking (I also use DDL on the laptop which has XP on it) so even with WINE, some of this stuff won't work unless it is put on a virtual machine with VirtualBox or something like it (which is also a pain to setup for most).

 

Just a word of advise on using Firefox. Stop using firefox. Firefox was found to be the easiest of the browsers to hack. Granted all browsers can and have been hacked, but firefox was hacked faster then the others. I use chrome and have for years. Even though XP is no longer supported you can still get away with using it, just make sure you have a solid antivirus program like AVG, or Avast. Both are great programs and Ive been using AVG for several years. I refuse to use McAfee, or Nortons because they are heavily based in using physical memory for scans and monitoring where AVG and Avast use virtual memory for scans. Use what you want. If you dont know jack about computers and running command line, then stay away from Ubuntu and any other Linux based OS. They arent for beginners.

 

I couldn't disagree more about Linux distro's not being for beginners. the installations cd practically loads itself, but if you don't feel comfortable have a friend so the install for you.

I have several friends who aren't computer savvy at all whom I set up with Ubuntu. All they want to do is get online for facebook, email, youtube vids, etc... Ubuntu is perfect for them, the additional security makes it better than a Windows machine IMO. Now if they want to type something, mousepad or Open Office is available. No big deal, they don't need a command window for any of that just click the icons on the desktop, they don't even know it's not Windows.

 

Im saying I wouldnt use it based on the way it is designed it makes it easier to hack

http://www.extremetech.com/computin...er-falls-to-four-zero-day-exploits-at-pwn2own

 

Linux and any version is no more secure then Windows. It just happens that there are more people who use a version of windows so there are going to be more exploits and viruses for it. There are still viruses and hacks used to circumvent Linux