Windows 8 Dips Below the Support Line Next Week

Ed Bott has unsurfaced a dire warning today. When the first Patch Tuesday of 2016 rolls around next week, not only will certain Internet Explorer versions reach end of life, but so will the original version of Windows 8.

I can’t honestly say I know anyone that still uses Windows 8, or why someone wouldn’t have taken the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 8.1 by now, but it happens. And, it happens more often than you would expect. From, I don’t trust Microsoft to it takes too long, there’s no limit to the justification arguments.

But, with only a week to go before Windows 8 reaches an unsupported state, it might make sense to take the time to update. Upgrading Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 gives users another 8 years of support. Windows 8.1’s end of life is January 10, 2023.

There are many companies now invested in planning Windows 10 rollouts. Any PCs still running the original version of Windows 8 should be pushed to the front of the upgrade line – hopefully before the deadline. As Ed points out, while consumers get the upgrade to Windows 8.1 for free just by opening the Windows Store, Enterprises have to pay extra due to Software Assurance licensing. And, in this case, it’s probably best to just upgrade the PC to Windows 10 now.