A screenshot of a computer running Windows XP.


I've got to tell it to you straight. If you're still on an old computer running the Windows XP operating system, D-Day is at hand. And by "D" I mean "dump it."

I understand if you don't want to face this. You have a computer and the setup works for you. Sure it's a bit clunky, but you don't want to switch. Why waste money on a new computer? I feel your pain.

Here's the deal. Microsoft is abandoning Windows XP on April 8, 2014. When you hear that euphemistic phrase "end-of-life," it means a lot of things. The big ones are no operating system fixes and no defenses against viruses and other online dangers.

Since the end of Microsoft's security updates is big news, hackers and scammers are going to be targeting computers still using XP. You're going to be very, very vulnerable.

Now, if you use an XP computer to, say, write a book or manage your photos and you never connect to the Internet, you should be fine. (Do please remember that your computer is quite old and could die at any moment, so you'd better have your files backed up!)

If you have an XP computer and just browse the Internet occasionally, without the use of passwords for anything ever, you're probably fine as well.

If you're doing anything else – signing into membership websites of any type, or doing any email at all – you really need to make a change. And if you're doing banking or using credit cards online for anything, you've really got to face reality.

The question is, what to do? I’m here to help.

Before you go shopping for a new computer, I want you to make notes about how you really use your computer. Are you basically just on the Web, looking at videos, reading email and occasionally sending a picture or two?

You sound like a perfect candidate for a tablet. They are light and versatile. The proliferation of tablet-only programs – they are called "apps" – means that you can easily find a game or tool that plays to an interest or brings some creativity out of you.

There are many different tablets available from Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Nexus and others. They range in size and weight. Some work on Wi-Fi only. Others offer more storage and better cameras. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone with a tablet who doesn't love it.

If you look at your list and see primarily reading books, watching television shows and movies, it's pretty hard to beat a Kindle. They're made by Amazon and are great gadgets for reading. Certain models let you also add apps for email, games, social media and more. You can read my comparison of the various Kindles here.

You should know that there are a lot of complaints about Windows 8, the latest version of Windows. Poke around online or at your local store and you should be able to find a laptop or desktop using Windows 7.

Just make sure you're getting a Windows 7 machine with at least 4 gigs of RAM. Better yet, upgrade to 8 gigs of RAM, and this computer might last you as long as your XP machine did.

Should Microsoft be ending its support of XP? Yes and no. Look – computers change, nothing lasts forever, and there's an argument to be made that a computer that old isn't giving you everything technology has to offer these days anyway.

On the other hand, we as consumers should have the freedom of choice. It's not like our old cars are summarily ordered off the road.

Truth be told, it's really the Internet's fault. Like it or not, the amazing offerings online come with some downsides. One of them is the vulnerability XP is going to expose you to if you keep using it. It's time to let go!