Microsoft offers customers $100 to stop using Windows XP

At first Microsoft asked really nicely, but now the company is resorting to all-out bribery.

In an effort to get its Windows XP users to stop using the dated operating system, Microsoft is offering a $100 credit toward a new PC as incentive. 

There are, of course, some stipulations tied to this deal. For one, the new PC must cost more than $599. Also, it HAS to be purchased through the Microsoft Store (online or in-person) between now and June 15.

Minor hurdles, if you ask me. Those who take the company up on its offer will also receive 90 days of free support and a free data transfer session from their old XP-powered computer.

Microsoft is making some serious efforts to cut support to XP. Just a few months ago, we covered the company’s announcement that it was going to begin the process of no longer providing support to ATMs that still ran on Windows XP. It’s for good reason: the operating system will be 10 years old this April, and continuing to roll out new patches and fixes for the system is too costly — both from a financial standpoint and in terms of time — for the company to continue to invest in.

Those who don’t update their system will be putting their computers at risk, as they’ll be leaving open security flaws that can be exploited by hackers.

Users interested in the offer, but who would prefer to do the handover in person, can bring their old XP machines to a Microsoft retail store, where an employee will help transfer the data on-site.

The company did previously offer something similar, but it was just a $50 Microsoft Store gift card to switchers. With this new deal, Microsoft is hoping to attract users afraid of making the switch because they’re worried about how much they’ll spend on a new PC.

Those afraid of the headache they’ll have to deal with in moving from an OS like XP to something so drastically different like Windows 8 will either simply have to come to terms with it, or otherwise run the risk of putting their computer at risk.

Story via geekwire.com