Windows Vista no longer supported
As of 2011 Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is no longer supported. Also Vista Service pack 2 not supported since 2017. Means you won't get any more Microsoft security updates. You may be eligible to update to Windows 10 or 11 for free.
Windows 10 vs 11 support
Home and Pro versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11 will end security support updates in October 2025 and October 2024, respectively. Yes, Windows 11 support ends before Windows 10 does. Please note that this applies to the latest subversions, specifically 22H2. Windows 10 revision 21H2 was already discontinued as of June 2023. Usually, 21H2 can be easily upgraded to 22H2 automatically or through a free USB installation disk downloaded from Microsoft.
As for Windows Server, the logic remains normal. Support for Server 2019 ends in January 2029, while Server 2022 support ends in October 2031.
Apple Mac software support
The latest macOS system is Sonoma, released in June 2023. MacOS Ventura precedes it. Apple does not explicitly publish support dates for macOS versions. Typically, macOS is released yearly with feature and security updates, usually supported for around three years. Mac computers are generally upgradable to the next OS within five years.
Windows vs Mac lifespans
Since Windows computers are usually upgraded from Windows 8 to 10 and 11, and Windows 8 was released in 2016, the lifespan of Windows computers is typically around nine years. In contrast, Mac computers typically have a lifespan of 5 years, although they can last much longer even after the software becomes outdated.
Why to update ?
Upgrading your system is essential to safeguard against security vulnerabilities. One of the most severe vulnerabilities occurred in the WannaCry attack in 2017, where computers could be taken over without user interaction. Fortunately, Microsoft released a relevant security patch before the virus exploited this vulnerability, ensuring that patched computers were not affected.