Windows XP may be 10 years old, but that doesn't mean it is useless. It is a light weight OS compared to windows vista and 7, it was designed to be responsive on a computer with a 300MHz CPU and 64MB of RAM (though many programs have higher requirements than this).
" Absolutely, nothing wrong with it at all, Fully functional, just like my Pentium 3 windows 98 Box, I still have that is loaded with tons of legacy games, gotta love it but it will be relegated!"
On a modern computer, if windows XP is properly setup and the transition effects and other crap is disabled, the OS responds instantly to almost everything.
" On a Modern Computer, with a DEFAULT Windows 7 Setup and all the Aero Affects enabled, the OS responds instantly to almost everything!"
For most people, the OS run all of their programs and works well.For those who do not understand the use of an OS, consider this question. If when microsoft released windows 7, they locked it down in such a way that the only software that you could run was what came preinstalled through the retail disk, and no other software could be installed. Would you still use windows 7?
"What exactly do you mean, Ive found absolutely nothing locked down, purchase the corrrect version for your needs, how is that different to XP Home, XP Pro OEM or Retail!, More choice is Always Better!"
The OS is basically an environment that you use in order to run the software of your choice. Windows XP still meets this task, with the exception of 2-3 PC games, which aren't that good.While windows 7 has made some improvements, for what the average user does on heir computer, they can do it with both windows 7 and XP, which is why you probably wont find them buying a copy of windows 7 to upgrade the current OS on their PC, and when they actually get windows 7 will be when they purchase a new computer that comes with it preinstalled.
" I Upgrade many many a user from XP and Vista to Windows 7 because people do want the latest OS to run, especially if they have seen it working or use it on a friends PC or a new Office PC, they simply recognize it is far superior to XP"
Counting preinstalled copies when calculating popularity or like for an OS, is like saying that more new computer users prefer the sasser worm to adobe photoshop because more new computer users had it installed as compared to adobe photoshop. (not comparing windows 7 to a worm, i am just using this to back up my argument of why preinstalled or installed with out the user having a say, is not a good indicator of how many people actually like or want it over windows xp)
" You can count pre-installed, how would you like to buy a new car all spiffy looking, and find out it has a 10 year old engine in it!
Windows 7 is simply the very best OS Microsoft has released, second only to Windows 95 which was a Gamechanger!
I believe Windows 8 will be a massive step forward as well and cannot wait to see it released.