Good man, welcom to the Dark Side!
There was nothing wrong with XP Pro.
Windows 7 is actually fine.
Windows 8 is simply horrid.
Micrsoft have not completly withdrawn support for XP Pro, just for retail customers. For many, many B2B clients and Governments, including the UK, Netherlands and German Governments, they have agreed to continue support on a "fee for service" basis.
Also all NCR Cash dispensers, world wide, run a version of XP and can't be upgraded. So Microsoft will continue to support that product too.
So all they have done is pushed perfectly contented users towards a horrid bit of rubbish called Wondows 8. Why? to support the sale of new machines and the licence revenue. Cynical? surely not!
For Business users Windows 7 is still the default option. But Mac OS is gaining ground.
My employer is conducting an "all Mac" trial with 100 users. If successful they will replace all 12,000 or so PCs with Macs and say "good bye" to Windows and Microsoft.
I have a windows PC running 7 and a MacBok air. When the PC needs replacing it will not be a PC, that much is certain.
