From: Tobie Fysh, Systems developer, Freebridge Community Housing
Sir – In reply to the letter from Harneck Chilemba (finance director, Tower Hamlets Community Housing) in the January issue, a quick search at microsoft.com/lifecycle shows that Windows 8 Enterprise will reach ‘extended support’ on 10 January 2023 (just under a decade away at the time of writing!), whereas XP Professional with SP3 ends on 8 April 2014.
Based on Microsoft’s data, Windows XP will have a lifetime of 4,481 days and Windows 8 slightly fewer at 3,734 days, a difference of 747 day. So yes, Harneck is correct; Windows 8 does have a shorter shelf life, but at least it’s a published date that we know of now!