มกราคม 2020 Windows 7 จบ Supported Lifecycle ที่นับถือ หลังจุดนี้ ไม่มี Updates จาก Microsoft มี ~500 ล้าน Active Windows 7 Devices ปัญหาสำคัญ: Existing Users ทำไรตอนนี้? และใช้ Windows 7 ได้อีกนานแค่ไหน แบบ Safe, Smart, Logical?
โอกาสยอดเยี่ยม Address Concern สำรวจ Windows 7 จาก 3 มุม: Security, Hardware/Performance, Functionality ทำตอน XP Retire ทำใหม่ กฎ #1: Don't Panic!
Note: Image from Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Security
Most People Assume Most Important Aspect ไม่ใช่ ไกลมาก มี Security Considerations แต่ว่างจาก Fearmongering Noise อินเทอร์เน็ต Guides/Articles พูด Updates Important (แตไม่ Why) 忽略 Philosophical Element: Understanding What You're Doing for Security to Have Meaning
Good Computer Security Practice = Layers:
- Reasonable Network Solution: Robust/Reliable Firewall - Spesso Solved by Router Not Lax Defaults
- Internet-facing Element: Robust/Up-to-date Browsers - Firefox/Chrome OK
- Foobar Element: What Happens When Things Go Wrong - Minimize Damage, Ensure Data Integrity
ผมพูดเรื่องนี้ 1.5 Decades ใช้ Standard User Account ลด Accidental Damage Risk ใช้ EMET (Works Beautifully Win 7/8) 確保 Apps Behave Correctly - Program 做 Wrong = Terminated No Questions "Wrong" = Software Instructions Could Lead Problems 任何 Software Beauty of EMET: Not Discriminate
Finally: Reliable Tested Data Backup Plan 不只是 Security Protect Important Files: Theft, Fire, Lightning, HDD Failure, Coffee Spillage 事實上 Regardless OS Data Backups = Most Critical Part
System Updates ไง?
ใน List ผม ไม่ได้ Mention System Updates Most Cases: Not That Important Useful Address Bugs/Stability Fixes 但 Not Do-or-die World Not End If Don't Patch Some Time Especially With Other Layers Above
Disclaimer: Advice for HOME Users, HOME Setup Not Business Strategy Business/Server = Different Rules Home Users (Often Only User on Machine) User-to-admin Exploits/Local-access Exploits Not Important System Updates Rarely Matter If Good Network-facing Security (Router/Browsers)
หมายความ: หลัง Windows 7 Support Ends ใช้ Box ได้ต่อ Quite Some Time Most Security Issues Not Necessarily Applicable Daily Usage Unless Stupid Things They Won't Matter If Do Stupid Things No Security Ever Helps
Summary: Windows 7 (或 Any Version) Security Consider:
- Good Router, Better than Admin:admin Nonsense
- Good Browser - Firefox + Noscript + Adblocking, 或 Chrome + Noscript + Adblocking = 99% Job Done Extra: Non-default Software (Mail Client, Media Player)
- Standard User Account - SuRun Optional Healthy Practice
- EMET - Superb Framework Mitigate Nonsense Behavior Programs Not Just Win 7 Thing Win 10: EMET -> Exploit Protection Concept Identical Use It
- Data Backups - Karen's Replicator หรือ SyncBack Free Copy Stuff
- Don't Do Stupid Things: Randomly Open Files Obviously Nonsense
That's All No Magic/Drama No Fearmongering Yes Rough Things Out There 但 Not New/Special You More At Risk Company Losing/Leaking Data Than Actively Pwning Box Move On
Hardware & Performance
Replace Old XP Desktop: Hardware Considerations Single-core Athlon Rusty Win 7 Better 64-bit Support 2 Factors Convinced Upgrade New Beefcake Computer 還是 Majestic Strong
Since 2012-2013 Desktop Space ไม่เปลี่ยนมาก Hardware Space New Processors ไม่ Significant Advantages Previous Generations Clock Speed Same, Cores Same, Parallelism Still Not Caught On Software Space Most Programs Single Processes
หมายความ: Existing Win 7 Box 不會見 Great Disadvantage Performance vs Newer Machines Nor Likely Change Soon Mobile Shift: Vendors Keep System Requirements Light 影響 Desktop Arena Win 10 不 Require Much More Than Win 7 Disk Space Mostly
New Systems
如果 Intend Purchase New Hardware: Don't Use Windows 7 1) No Sense Install Out-of-support OS on Brand New Rig 2) New Processors Additional Features (CPU Extensions) Win 7 Most Likely Won't Support 還有 Peripheral Hardware: New/Updated Connectivity (USB, Thunderbolt), Hard Disks, etc.
For Me: Hardware Replacement = Primary Consideration New Machine (Presumably DIY Desktop) -> Other OSs (Win 10 或 Recent Linux Distro) Make More Sense
Functionality
Real Deal: Your Programs 只要 Run Well on Win 7 = Covered 問題: Time Before Companies Stop Supporting EOL OS?
Look at XP Guidance: Took Solid 2-3 Years Before Shift Situation Not Likely Different Might Take Longer: XP 14 Years Support Extended Companies Sufficient Time Move Next Windows (Skipped Vista -> Win 7 Obvious) Win 7 Enterprise Customers: Buy Extended Support Highly Likely 只要 Service Around 沒 Compelling Reason Software Companies Cull Win 7
Important: Internet-facing Software Want Patched = Browsers Mostly 只要 Large Numbers Win 7 Users Browser Vendors Likely Continue Updates 2-3 Years At Least
Practically: Most People Compelling Hardware Reason Switch By Then Not Probable Bought New Win 7 Machine Recently Whatever You Have Probably 4-5-7+ Years Old Add Few Summers = Justification Full Hardware+Software Upgrade Until Then Software Continue Working Without Major Complications
Numbers: XP EOL Market Share ~20% Win 7 Currently ~30-35% Quite a Share Not Disappear Overnight 但如果見 Problems: No Graphics Drivers, Games/Steam, Software Not Updated = Time to Move On Sad? Perhaps Inevitable? Absolutely
Looking Ahead, Alternatives. Should You Windows 10?
Covered Security, Hardware, Software Support Prediction 只要 Machine Functions Well 不見 Major Issues Programs Next 2-3 Years By Then Most Win 7 Rigs Old Enough Justify New Purchase + Obvious Switch New OS If Microsoft = Windows 10
Reviewed Win 10 Many Times Years Various Builds Bottom Line: Same As Predecessors + Surplus Annoyances/Low-IQ Features Common User But Essentially: Remove Nonsense = Fairly Solid Reasonable OS Pro Edition = What You Want: Features Advanced/Intelligent Users Expect (Offline Account Without Tricks, Disable Forced Auto Updates)
Update Quality < Before (One More Reason Not Install Blindly) Performance ~ Same Things Change Too Often Sense Super-polished/stable Eroded
But Don't Delude: Only Windows Version Now If Must Have Windows = Windows 10 No Sentiments Simple Needs For Me: Microsoft Office 和 Games Cry River But This Is It If Anything: Angry No Viable Alternative
Linux ไง?
Yes and No 用 Kubuntu Production บน Slimbook Pro2 Laptop Works Great 但仍 Happy 用 Win 7/8 Machines 因為 Also Work Great Reliability/Software Need 最重要的是 Microsoft Office for Book Editors Full Gamut Games (Some Still Not Linux)
'Just Use Linux' = Wishful Dream Not Like That Most People Can't Cope Switch Hardware Question = Gamble End of Day: Applications You Don't Get Compromise Ideology Not Worth It If Full Productivity Without Problems Linux = Good Smart Choice Alas Most People = Science Fiction
สรุป
Windows 7 Machine: ใช้ได้ Past EOL Date Recipe Good Security Laid Down Hardware Works As Long As Lasts Software Won't Vanish Time to Adjust = Coincide Hardware Replacement Once Happens: Definitely Leave Win 7 Behind, Get Modern Up-to-date OS Match New Machine Capabilities
Long(er) Run: Most/All Current Win 7 Users Switch to Win 10 Simple Reality Not Happy But No Self-pity Changes It Some May Go Linux 但 Not Trivial Not Option Gamers Speaking Win 10: New System = New Internet: More Annoying, In-yer-face, Hyperactive, Buzzwords Peel Modernistic Crap Layer = Essential Windows Use Happily/Reliably Another Decade Or So
There: Your Win 7 EOL Options Might Not Happy But At Least Know Where You Stand Know What's Bugging You: Sense of Choice/Control 少กว่า Before Win 10 Less Benign Than Win 7 如 Win 7 Less Benign Than XP (ยังมี Original Pre-activation License) Don't Blame Microsoft
Blame Everyone, Especially Smartphone Vendors Perpetuate Online-cloud Nonsense Innocence of Yore Gone Future Illusions: Don't Expect Better OSs Narrower, More Restrictive Like TV Like Internet Commercial Model One Direction: Shareholders Bottom Line Remember This, Emotions Aside, Focus Get Job Done Least Pain Nothing Else
Cheers.
