History of an announced abandonment. Even though several statistics services place Windows XP's market share above 10 percent, many software developers have decided to continue with their projects and at the same time formalize their separation from Microsoft's historic operating system. Now it's Google's turn, who confirmed through a brief announcement that the browser Chrome will end support for XP, Vista, and three editions of OS X in April 2016.
The cost of ending support
The relationship between developers and users can go up in flames with something as simple as the announcement of a new program, or an update for an existing one. I remember very well one of the Windows 8 presentations, where a member of the audience asked how to deactivate the Metro interface to return to the desktop, and the answer was that it couldn't be done. We all know what happened afterwards, but there is an even more bitter example: when a company decides to end support for one or another platform. It is too easy to say "it is time to move to a more modern environment", ignoring the detail that a change in the operating system will probably also demand a new computer. This is (in part) what has sustained Windows XP for so long. Officially, it has been without support for over a year and a half, yet the computers running it resist, despite the massive withdrawal of software.
Google Chrome ends support for XP and Vista
Another one to join the list is Google Chrome. At the time, the Mountain View giant committed to keeping its browser compatible throughout all of 2015, and while there was hope it would continue that line for a couple more years, it seems that won't be the case. With a brief announcement on the official blog, Google confirmed that Chrome will end support for Windows XP in April 2016. It is worth noting that installed versions of the browser will continue to work as usual, but there will be no more security and/or performance updates.
The most curious thing is that Windows XP is not alone. The end of support will also extend to Windows Vista, and to three builds of OS X: 10.6 (Snow Leopard), 10.7 (Lion), and 10.8 (Mountain Lion). The case of Windows Vista catches our attention because Microsoft will provide extended support until April 11, 2017. I imagine the decision responds to Vista's low market share today (less than 2 percent), but its licenses are still valid, and there are users out there willing to use them until the last day, who will have to look for another browser.
