Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it will stop supporting Windows Vista, the infamous successor to Windows Xp. It means that the operating system will no longer receive security updates, thus making it highly vulnerable to hacks, malware and several other attacks.
Microsoft stated, “If you continue to use Windows Vista after support has ended, your computer will still work but it might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses,” CNBC reported. The announcement means that the company will stop supporting Internet Explorer 9 as well, which may expose the desktops connected to the internet to additional threats.
Windows Vista’s bad reputation
Vista had problems right from the start. It was supposed to be released in 2003 but was delayed until 2007 due to development problems. When it was finally launched, users were underwhelmed with its performance and features; file transfer was slow, games were sluggish and the User Account Control kept appearing. The company was able to fix the problems with a patch after six months, however, the damage was done and users were unimpressed. In addition, the Vista had a reputation for being a resource hog.
Most people already left the unpopular operating system years ago. It was reported that its current market share among desktop owners is less than one percent. Many PC users opted to stay with the much more reliable Windows XP.
Vista’s ambitious ideas
Years before it was released, Microsoft had very promising ideas for the Vista. This included the Windows Future Storage file system or WinFS. It was an attempt to turn its file system into a database that could be searched in a small amount of time. The idea failed and ended up incorporating parts of the WinFS into its SQL Server.
The Vista received graphical upgrades including windows that turned into panels of glass with blurred borders called Aero Glass. However, some criticized that older hardware was not able to perform as well with the new user interface.
Windows 7
Due to the problems the Vista has faced, Microsoft was prompted to release Windows 7, which became highly popular upon its release. The operating system was able to achieve everything the Vista could not, including cheaper upgrades.
Do you still use Windows Vista as your operating system?
