Windows XP
The iconic operating system appeared 20 years ago
Microsoft hit the jackpot in 2001 with Windows XP.
© Konektus Photo / Shutterstock.com
Five facts about the 20th anniversary of Microsoft’s cult Windows XP operating system.
Windows XP is still a pioneering operating system to this day. Since 2001 it has been indispensable for many users for years, some refused to update to newer versions as long as they could – sometimes until today! The pioneering Microsoft operating system appeared 20 years ago. To this day, many do not know these five facts.
The most famous desktop wallpaper
The location of the iconic desktop background of a green hill against a dark blue sky studded with white clouds has long been a well-kept secret. Many people even believed it wasn’t a real photo. Charles O’Rear, who took the photo in 1996, knows better: “25 years that I’ve worked for National Geographic will not be mentioned on my tombstone.” Because O’Rear also knows that it is the photo of the “Bliss” desktop background with which he made himself immortal. Today the landscape is a vineyardover which rows of grapevines stretch.
What does XP mean?
Microsoft not only released Windows XP, but also Office XP. Users all over the world wondered what the name was all about. The answer: XP stands for the English “experience”. “It stands for the extended user experience that we can offer Windows and Office users”, Microsoft released a press release at the time announce.
XP, the long runner
Because many people did not want to say goodbye to their beloved XP despite newer and more secure versions of Windows, it was even in 2017 the third most widespread operating system. And that even though Microsoft had already discontinued further support in 2014. That means more than 100 million computers worldwide that have been using XP for three years over their final time.
Long, longer, XP
No other Windows operating system was made by its manufacturer supplied with updates as long as XP. Official updates appeared between 2001 and 2013, a total of twelve years. Windows Vista (2007-2017), Windows 7 (2009-2020) and Windows 10 (2015-2025) each received ten years of support, Windows 8 (2012-2016) only had three full years. Microsoft calls the recently announced Windows 11 its final operating system, but that was already the case with Windows 10. So the future will show whether it can top the twelve XP years from 2033.
XP, the security risk
Because XP is still completely sufficient as the operating system for the vast majority of applications, many do not see the need to switch. But that is exactly what becomes a security risk, because Microsoft has finally stopped supporting XP for seven years now. So if you don’t want to part with your operating system dinosaur, you shouldn’t go online with the laptop or PC that goes with it.