Windows XP Platform

MICROSOFT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR WINDOWS XP UNTIL 2014.  

This is an important announcement, as the question as to which version of Windows to use arises frequently - every time equipment is upgraded or replaced. From time to time the operating system platform is also reviewed from a strategic / architectural perspective.

We currently recommend Windows XP (NT5.1) for our store-level applications and sometimes we are asked about our intentions regarding Vista (NT6) or Windows NT7.

We periodically re-evaluate our operating system platform, but at this stage there is no intention to recommend Vista. One of the reasons is the smaller footprint of XP. 'The Economist' recently made comments that Vista started life in early 2007 with 50m lines of code, whereas XP used around 35m when it was launched in 2001. Even with all the service packs released since the launch, XP remains a relative lightweight compared with Vista.

Our operating system strategy is reinforced by the fact that Microsoft will continue to provide upgrades and security patches for XP until 2014. By then, not only will Vista have been out of favour, so too will Windows 7.

- RD Technical Support (23 Apr 2009)