Posted on Tuesday, November 27 2012 @ 15:23 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
ComputerWorld
came across news that Microsoft will continue support for its Surface RT tablet until April 2017. Microsoft products like Windows typically receive a total of 10 years of support, but because the Surface is considered as a consumer product it won't get updates, including security patches, outside its "Mainstream" support phase.
The support lifecycle for the Surface with Windows RT tablet is less than half the usual 10 years Microsoft allots its software products -- including Windows 8 -- but is considerably longer than what Apple has given the first-generation iPad, which has already dropped off the Cupertino, Calif. company's list.
ZDNet blogger Ed Bott first reported on Microsoft's publication of the Surface RT's lifecycle.
Microsoft will support the Surface RT only in the "Mainstream" support phase, presumably because it's considered a consumer product. The company typically supports consumer-grade software only during that five-year period; all business software, as well as some titles that are designed for consumers, such as Office Home and Student 2010, receive another five-year stretch, called "Extended" support, for a total of 10 years.
