Applies to: People who have friends who use Windows Vista. Or if you use Windows Vista yourself.
Hello!
This is the first (and not the last) time I will mention Windows Vista this year.
Please pass this article on to your friends if they are using Windows Vista (Copy and paste this page into an email).

A (brief) history of Windows Vista

Launched in January 2007, Windows Vista was released 5 years after Windows XP (which I liked) was introduced to the world. It was replaced (not soon enough) in 2009 by Windows 7 (which I liked), then came Windows 8/8.1 (which I didn’t like) and most recently Windows 10 (which I like). I see a pattern of Like / dislike appearing here…

In January 2009 an estimated 20.61% of people used Windows Vista. In 2017 it is 1.06%.*

Read more on Wikipedia

What is happening in April 2017?

In April 2017 Microsoft will no longer provide security updates (or any updates) to Windows Vista users.

This means that from April it will be unsafe to use Windows Vista on the internet. This is true even if you have extra security such as anti-virus and firewalls installed.

What should you do if you have Vista?

If you have Windows Vista installed we would recommend you look at upgrading your operating system. Windows 10 is the latest from Microsoft and a local computer shop should be able to tell you if you can upgrade your current computer or not.

If you can’t upgrade your current computer, you can continue to use it, but not on the internet.

Don’t forget, if you are going to update your computer (to Windows 7, 10, anything else) to do a backup of any important files to an external device (USB Hard drive / Pen Stick). This means if something goes wrong with the update you have a copy of important photos / documents etc…

As ever we can help you with advice on upgrading, or if you are helping a friend out we will do our best to help you help them, just pop any questions below or on The Clubroom 
I leave you with this quote from The Big Bang Theory

Sheldon Cooper: “My new computer came with Windows 7. Windows 7 is much more user friendly than Windows Vista. I don’t like that.”

Mike 🙂

* Based on Internet Users. https://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10&qpcustomd=0 “The internet-usage market share”

Image: Used with permission from Microsoft. And taken from Wikipedia.