For Windows XP Luddites who are simply unwilling or “unable” because of feared incompatibility with a cherished–or even essential–piece of software, to change to a more modern OS (whether it be a ‘nix OS or Windows 7), there are alternatives to sticking with XP or, worse, downgrading a new computer from Windows 7 to XP (so many opportunities for a fail there that it puts $$ signs in my eyes *heh*).
One decent option: Windows XP Mode, available in Win7 Professional and above. (Caveat: the video uses the common pejorative vulgarity, “loud and clear” where “loudly and clearly” is more appropriate *heh*) While I’m not a big fan of Windows XP Mode, I can see where it would be very, very useful in the case of people attempting to run a program that simply refuses to run in anything but XP. It’s easy-peasy to install and run, too. I recommend it for folks stuck with, say, an edition of QuickBooks that they really, really don’t want to be forced to pay the “upgrade tax” to Quicken for, just to continue using the thing.
Another option would be to install XP in a third-party virtual machine and install one’s essential apps that won’t run on one’s chosen OS–‘nix or a more modern Windows–in that VM. Of the options available for such implementation today, I prefer Virtualbox, now from Oracle. While it’s just as easy to download and install, and works on many more OSes than Windows XP Mode, which is available ONLY for Win7 Pro and above, there are a couple of small “gotchas” for some folks. First, with a Virtualbox installation, you really MUST have a licensed copy of XP to install that is NOT in use on another computer in order to legally install XP on a Virtualbox machine. And then there’s the fact that Virtualbox is kind of “fiddly”. It does take more work getting it configured for comfortable use.
Either way, only Luddites (or, I’ll grant you, those who simply cannot afford to purchase a new, Win7-capable machine and are too timid or stubborn to install another modern OS that their older hardware can handle) have any reason to avoid ditching XP.
Note: I’ll admit bias. I have never liked XP, for myriad reasons. Heck, were I offered gift of a computer with a choice between an XP computer and a Mac OS straitjacket, I’d probably elect the straitjacket. *shudder*