>>>>>>>>Thanks Sergey for your comments. Question: how much longer can a person really use Windows 7 once it is no longer patched, etc.? I know we have a few more years I would assume.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>You can use it until you need driver for new devices or some application you need wouldn't install on it
>>>>>>.
>>>>>>https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet
>>>>>
>>>>>Irrelevant
>>>>
>>>>But when does Microsoft stop giving you security patches for it? Isn't that when mainstream support ends? Or am I mistaken about that? Because that would be pretty darn important I would think...
>>>
>>>Like VFP, Windows 7 will not stop working just because M$ ends support
>>
>>I realize that - but if you're not getting security patches for the OS I'm not sure how good of an idea it would be to continue to use it.
>
>let me ask you another question, How good is idea to use OS that requires constant security patches?

Better than using one that never gets patched.

Thing is that windows is the biggest target as far as OS's are concerned. Since they have the biggest market share, that is what the hackers are going to try to poke holes in the most. Why bother to hack something that no one uses?