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Microsoft Extends Again Support For Windows 7, 8.1 Skylake-based Devices (zdnet.com)
Microsoft says it is giving more time to users on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices running sixth generation Intel Skylake chips. Earlier the company had said that it would end support for such systems on July 17, 2018 (before that the end date was July 17, 2017). Today's announcement further pushes the deadline, giving Windows 7 users till January 14, 2020, and Windows 8.1 users till January 2023. ZDNet adds: Today's latest change to the Skylake support cut-off dates also applies to Windows Embedded 7, 8 and 8.1 devices. As of this latest change, supported devices running Skylake -- here's the list of PCs that qualify, along with embedded devices -- will get all applicable security updates for Windows 7 and 8.1 until the end of support dates for each product. What we don't really know is why Microsoft made this latest change. Did Intel "fix" Skylake? Did customers, especially those wanting to downgrade to Windows 7, complain a lot? The official word is "This change is designed to help our customers purchase modern hardware with confidence, while continuing to manage their migrations to Windows 10."
I use win7 for windows based things. I almost never have it access a public network, if I can help it.
I have turned off updates a year ago or more; when the ftdi-gate first happened, I gave up trusting any MS updates. with win10 madness, I was reassured my decision was still valid.
win7 is fine and if you avoid the bad patches and ignore updates, PLUS you stay the full off the internet and use linux or some other safer os to do online stuff, 'support' from MS is now meaningless.
I won't ever take another MS update. that ship has sailed. but again, I am careful not to put my machine online; which really was always the smart way to deal with windows.
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"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
Well, considering that MS made their OS into a service as a way to push ads for the app store, which really has nothing to do with desktop computers, and took away lots of control from users, it is not surprising that half the user base stayed with Windows 7 despite Microsoft's underhanded tactics in trying to force the "service" onto people's computers. I still think they might be able to get more people to switch if they made a Windows 10 Ultimate version that people could buy that was based on the Enterprise version, just like they did with Windows 7 Ultimate. But turning the OS into an app store ad interface while taking lots of control away from users is never going to fly with the remaining Windows 7 user base. MS could not have screwed up much worse.
A brain is a terrible thing to waste... Mind? That's debatable.
Windows 10 interrupts workflow by doing updates (wasting bandwidth, CPU time and RAM) and rebooting when it wants. Windows 10 wastes bandwidth by constantly sending personal information back to M$. Windows 10 wastes system resources by constantly running a lot of unneeded and unwanted background services, like Cortana, Xbox and the entire Metrosexual mobile phone subsystem. Windows 10 reverts all user changes, defaults or hacks with every single forced update resulting in lost time by making the user have to set everything back to their preferences every single time. The user has zero control over any of this.
Sorry but I would rather use my computer, not engage in a perpetual battle with it as Windows 10 requires.