Believe it or not there are a lot of people still using Windows XP. A lot of offices are still using XP as well and even bank ATM’s are using the decade old version of the Windows operating system. For many, Windows XP was the last “good” version of Windows that Microsoft put out. Hopefully, Microsoft can lure them to Windows 8, the newly rebooted Windows, that the company believes is their best operating system to date.

Microsoft is now offering people who defect from their old Windows XP system to a new computer, a $50 gift card incentive to the Microsoft store. They’re hoping this gift card offer, along with some other incentives, will get people to upgrade their computers.

Microsoft is discontinuing updates to Windows XP beginning April 8th. With just a few weeks to go, Microsoft hopes people will get the message and make the switch.

As geek.com pointed out, those who upgrade from Windows XP to a new Windows 8 machine will also get 90 days free premium support, and finally for those who are afraid they will lose all their data by switching, Microsoft will do the data transfer for you, much like wireless carriers do for you in store.

Windows 8 machines are the cheapest yet for any new hardware running the latest version of Windows. There are several sub $250 Windows 8 machines on Amazon and at big box retailers like Best Buy. The Microsoft store has the ASUS Vivobook for just $279, and with that $50 gift card you would be at $229, something definitely worth considering.

If you’re ready to take the plunge head over here.