The default background for Microsoft's Windows XP operating system -- a perfect blue sky full of cotton-candy clouds above rolling hills with impeccably trimmed grass and daffodils -- is the spring day we wish could last forever.
微软公司(Microsoft) Windows XP操作系统的默认背景是一副春日景象――湛蓝的天空上漂浮着棉花糖般的朵朵白云，绿草茵茵、水仙成簇的山丘连绵起伏――真希望这幅景象可以一直持续下去。
And fittingly, many people wish the operating system would last just as long. Introduced in 2001, Windows XP became so successful that Microsoft extended its support for an industry record of 12 years. Yet come April 8, XP's sunny day is over.
同样的，对于Windows XP操作系统，很多人也希望它可以一直运行下去。由于Windows XP操作系统在2001年推出后大受欢迎，微软公司将对该系统的支持延长至了创业界记录的12年。然而，随着4月8日即将到来，XP系统的艳阳天将不复存在。
At that time, Microsoft will cut off all user support and halt security updates, leaving the software vulnerable to newly discovered attacks. XP computers will still work, but the 'Bliss' background image will just be a facade. The operating system will no longer be a safe place to work or play.
届时，微软公司将不再向Windows XP的用户提供支持，并不再提供安全更新，这将令Windows XP上搭载的软件易于受到新型病毒的攻击。使用XP系统的电脑仍可工作，但是“春光明媚”的背景图片将成为假象。不管对工作还是娱乐而言，XP系统都不再安全。
'Our guidance is that you need to get off XP. It's really that black and white,' says Tom Murphy, Microsoft's spokesman handling the end of XP support. The company's party line is that Windows 8.1 -- the latest in Microsoft's foray into touch-friendly interfaces -- is a 'fully modern operating system.'
微软公司负责结束XP系统支持的新闻发言人汤姆・墨菲(Tom Murphy)表示：“我们的建议是，你应该放弃XP。这是毫无疑问的。”微软公司宣称，Windows 8.1是一款“非常时尚的操作系统”。 Windows 8.1是微软公司在触控界面领域的最新力作。
Since Windows XP first gained popularity, other alternatives have arisen. There's Windows 7, of course, and offerings from Microsoft's rivals, Apple and Google. Where is the best place for an XP refugee to go? I've been weighing each option.
自从Windows XP开始风靡以后，其他的操作系统也不断地涌现了出来。目前在市面上除了Windows 7以外，还有微软公司的竞争对手苹果公司(Apple)和谷歌(Google)研发的操作系统产品。XP系统的原有用户应该何去何从呢？我权衡了每一种可能的方案。
Moving to Windows 8.1
升级至Windows 8.1
If you have any doubt that Microsoft wants everyone to move to Windows 8.1, just visit amirunningxp.com. Designed to detect if users are running Windows XP, the site immediately suggests XP users upgrade to Windows 8.1 or buy a new Windows 8.1 computer.
如果你对微软希望每名用户都升级至Windows 8.1的意图持怀疑态度的话，那么你可以访问网站amirunningxp.com。该网站能够对用户是否安装了Windows XP进行检测，它会马上建议XP系统的用户升级至Windows 8.1或者购买全新的Windows 8.1电脑。
Lots of computers from the age of XP can technically run the latest version of Windows. You just need a 1 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of hard drive storage. The biggest catch is your display has to have 1024 x 768 resolution. You can download the Windows Upgrade assistant to see if your system meets the requirements.
从技术上讲，在XP系统诞生之际购买的很多电脑都能运行Windows系统的最新版本。你只需要1 GHz的处理器、1 GB的内存和16 GB的硬盘存储空间。最大的问题在于你需要拥有一台分辨率为1024 x 768的显示器。你可以下载Windows升级助手来查看你的电脑是否满足XP的系统需求。
The Windows 8.1 upgrade DVD costs $120, and Microsoft has teamed up with a backup service called Laplink to offer a free and easy way to transfer files.
Windows 8.1的升级DVD售价120美元，微软已经与一个名为Laplink的支持服务团队联手，推出了免费进行文件转移的服务。
If you don't meet the system requirement, or view the upgrade process as a hassle, you could, of course, buy a new machine. But I am ambivalent to recommend Windows 8.1 to XP users. Microsoft revamped Windows, replacing the beloved classic desktop with a Start Screen of tiles that point to programs, files and services. You can still get to the desktop (there's a Desktop icon), but there's no Start menu in the corner.
如果你的电脑未能满足系统要求，或者你不愿为系统升级之事费心，你当然可以购买一台新电脑。但是，我对向XP用户推荐Windows 8.1颇感犹豫不决。微软对Windows系统进行了大刀阔斧的改革，把深受用户欢迎的传统桌面换成了由不同颜色的磁贴构成的开始界面，这些磁贴代表的是不同的程序、文件和服务。你仍然可以回归到传统桌面（按桌面键），但是“开始”菜单已经不在传统桌面上了。
Windows 8.1 is better than the original Windows 8 when it comes to the mouse and keyboard, and a forthcoming update will bring even more mouse-friendly enhancements, such as a close-window button inside apps. Ed Bott, Microsoft watcher and author of many Windows guides, says people should make the jump to 8.1, and that the next updates will make the system more similar to Windows 7.
在鼠标和键盘的使用感受上，Windows 8.1的表现要好于Windows 8，并且即将推出的更新版本还将带来更友好的鼠标使用体验，比如应用程序内的系统关闭按键等。微软监察员、多款Windows指南的作者艾德・博特(Ed Bott)表示，用户应该直接升级至Windows 8.1，今后的更新将令系统越来越像Windows 7。
Moving to Windows 7
升级至Windows 7系统
Still, Windows 8.1 may be a radical change of pace for old-school Windows lovers, which is why I think Windows 7 makes a lot more sense for XP exiles.
然而，对于守旧派的Windows粉丝来说，Windows 8.1带来的变化可能太大了，这也是为什么我认为Windows 7对XP的原有用户来说更合适。
Despite Microsoft's arguments that 8.1 is faster, safer and more reliable than Windows 7, everything in 7 is mostly in the same place as it was in Windows XP. You'll find the traditional desktop, the trusty Recycle Bin and the Start Menu.
尽管微软声称，Windows 8.1比Windows 7更高效、更安全、更可靠，但是Windows 7的大多数功能都与Windows XP处于相同的位置上。你能够在Windows 7中看到传统桌面、值得信赖的回收站和开始菜单。
The problem is that, in its Windows 8 push, Microsoft has made Windows 7 harder to come by. But there still are two main ways to get it. The first and best choice is to buy a Windows 7 laptop or desktop from select manufacturer websites, including Acer, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo. They aren't featured prominently, but go digging in the business-products sections of the companies' sites and you'll find them. Microsoft and the PC makers still provide support, too. Dell's Latitude 330 and Acer's Aspire V3 are both good choices under $700.
问题在于，在微软推广Windows 8的过程中，Windows 7越来越难觅踪迹了。但是，仍然有两个方法可以获取Windows 7。第一个方法―也是最好的方法―就是从电脑厂商的官网上购买一台Windows 7台式电脑或笔记本电脑，这些厂商包括宏基(Acer)、戴尔(Dell)、惠普(Hewlett-Packard)和联想(Lenovo)。电脑厂商并未对Windows 7电脑进行大张旗鼓的宣传，但是通过搜寻电脑厂商的销售官网，你一定可以找到这些产品。微软和上述电脑厂商也仍将为Windows 7提供支持。戴尔的Latitude 3330和宏基的Aspire V3都是售价在700美元以下的不错选择。
If you don't want to buy new hardware, things get trickier. Microsoft doesn't sell box copies of Windows 7 anymore. And if you buy the $99.99 version sold by online computer suppliers like Newegg, you don't get Microsoft support. You will get security updates until 2020, however.
如果你不想购买新的硬件，事情就棘手多了。微软不向任何人出售盒装的Windows 7操作系统光盘。如果你从新蛋网(Newegg)等电脑产品网络销售商那里购买99.99美元的Windows 7版本的话，你不会得到微软的技术支持。不过，在2020年前，你都会获得安全更新。
Moving to a Non-Microsoft Camp
转移到非微软阵营
Of course, there are other places to go if you venture outside of the world of Microsoft.
当然，如果你想走出微软世界，外面的天地也很精彩。
If you're willing to spend more money than the average Windows PC, there are Apple's Mac computers, which run OS X. That system will take some learning, but once you get the hang of it, it has a ton of great features. Apple also offers free classes for new Mac users at its stores.
如果你愿意支付比一般Windows电脑更高的价钱，那么你可以选择苹果公司搭载了OS X系统的Mac电脑。你需要学习才能掌握OS X系统，但一旦你熟悉了该系统，你会发现它拥有很多很好的功能。苹果公司还向新Mac用户提供免费的店内课程。
Chromebooks tend to be cheap since they just run Google's browser. If you just need email and the Web, Acer's C720 Chromebook is plenty powerful -- and only costs $200.
Chromebook更便宜些，因为这款笔记本只能运行谷歌的浏览器。如果你只需要阅读邮件、浏览网页的话，那么宏基的C720型Chromebook就非常强大了，并且它的售价只有200美元。
For the extreme computer literate, there are Linux options like Ubuntu, which run fine on older Windows XP computers. However, installing Linux requires patience and many popular programs won't work there.
对于电脑高手来说，他们可以选择Linux操作系统Ubuntu，该操作系统可以在更老的Windows XP电脑上良好地运行。然而，安装Linux系统需要一定的耐心，并且很多热门的程序无法在该系统上运行。
You're best bet is to buy a Windows 7 computer. Whatever path you do choose, don't be sad: You can always bring that perfect spring day wallpaper with you.
你最好的选择就是购买一台Windows 7电脑。无论你选择哪种办法，都不要悲伤：你总是可以将春光明媚的背景用作电脑桌面。