Actually, quite a lot of people. As of April 2020, the user base of Windows 7 in the desktop/laptop segment stands a little over 25 percent. The main reason it’s so popular is due to its excellent compatibility with legacy apps Many people want to continue using the same software they have been comfortable with for a long time.
So, should you still use it?
I would say a clear NO!
Until the end of 2019, it is OK (not great just usable), but after that it becomes extremely dangerous. To the point where it’s just as bad as using XP currently.
You have but 2 choices: Upgrade to a newer version, or choose an alternative. There isn’t anything else you can do, unless you are willing to live with the fact that you are probably going to get infected by some virus or malware at some point (no matter how good you are at avoiding bad practises and what AV you install).
It’s likely also going to mean you’re not able to upgrade your computer. Neither using new hardware, nor with new programs. They’re already starting to drop support for Windows 7, it will just get worse from next year onward.
If your computer runs W7 decently, then it’s highly likely it can do so for W10 as well. Thus from a purely hardware perspective, there’s no reason to avoid W10. If this was XP it would have been a different story, and you’d need new hardware to fit the new Windows versions.
As far as I can see, the only people who have a valid reason to stick to some defunct, no longer supported, discontinued, operating system are those using a specialized program which has no new version or cannot run on the new stuff. For everyone else, there is no reason (valid instead of just subjective) to avoid upgrading to switching to some alternative.
I would say to anyone still on W7: Think very hard why you’re not upgrading to W10, forget W8/8.1 it would just lengthen the time until you have to do the exact same choice again. If for whatever reason you do not want W10, then look for alternatives right now. Yet even for these they should avoid letting that machine anywhere near an internet connection, or really try to see if there is an alternative to that “specialized” program which ties them onto the old OS.
For the most part your alternatives are either Apple or some Linux (possibly a Unix derivative). There are some esoteric stuff, but those are the main things you could use as replacements.
Going for Apple means you need specialized hardware. Preferably Apple branded stuff, but it is possible to build a Hackintosh with lots of effort. The easiest replacement fro W7 on the exact same hardware is one of the slew of Linux distributions, nearly any of them.
If you do intend going for an alternative, then research what programs are available there. You are very likely going to need to also learn a new program or two. Even going to Apple you’d likely need to learn new stuff. It comes with any change, even just an upgrade to W10 is also going to cause some re-learning.
If it means you’re going to have to start a new program, try getting a version to install onto your current Windows. Many of the things available in Linux also work on Windows. This way you can start to learn them now, and be more prepared for when you actually do switch. You still have around 5 to 6 months before W7 becomes officially defunct, so there is still a bit of time left. I’d say use it to its utmost, time is the one thing you cannot get back.
