Windows 7 heads for the retirement home

Believe it or not, Windows 7 has retired. Official Microsoft support ended on 13th January. You can read up on this here. The system has now entered what Microsoft call "extended support". It might seem a bit premature, but the operating system has been with us since July 2009: and 5.5 years is a good run. "Extended support" for Windows 7 will run until 2020, so you won't be left high & dry for a few years. Nevertheless the writing is, as they say, on the wall.

But another act by Microsoft was, perhaps, even more surprising. They are planning to give Windows 10 free to existing Windows 7 & 8 license holders. Now, we're sure that it won't be a simple as that - and there are bound to be a load of T's & C's to negotiate. But it seems a bit out of character for them, and maybe shows the depth of their embarrassment over the Windows 8 debacle.

Fortunately, Windows 10 looks to be a good 'un.