A decade's worth of Windows mistakes that changed Microsoft (for better and worse)
by Ed Bott | October 26, 2011 7:12pm PDT | Image 1 of 11
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10 years of Windows mistakes: what have they cost Microsoft?
Windows celebrated two birthdays this week. Windows XP was a decade old on October 25, and Windows 7 marked its second birthday on October 22.
Both operating systems have been insanely popular. In computing terms, XP is downright ancient, and yet it still accounts for roughly half the installed base of Windows users worldwide.
Meanwhile, Windows 7 is selling briskly. It’s earned overwhelmingly positive reviews, and the massive Windows user base is slowly but surely embracing it and moving inexorably away from XP.
Those two products represent high points for the Windows family, but there were plenty of low points in between. In fact, an unvarnished history of Windows over the last decade turns up its fair share of failures and big mistakes.
As a longtime Microsoft-watcher, I’m as fascinated by the company’s missteps as I am by its successes. Anyone who worked at Microsoft in the first decade of the 21st Century knows the impact that those wrong turns had on the company and its culture. How the company responded to those mistakes had an indelible impact on products that are on the market today and those that are planned for the future.
For this list, I deliberately ignored everything that happened before the public launch of Windows XP. That means, thankfully, we don’t have to rehash Microsoft Bob or Windows Me, nor do we have to go through the long and painful antitrust trial that ended earlier in 2001.
But that still leaves plenty of history. The ten case studies I've gathered here represent a mix of security gaffes, bad business decisions, and user experience failures.
They say every mistake is a teachable moment. So what has Microsoft learned from its miscues over the past decade?
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RE: A decade's worth of Windows mistakes that changed Microsoft (for better and worse)
I still find myself annoyed at that damn search dog. Words cannot describe how much hatred I have for that dog.
@Cylon Centurion ...but you wouldn't believe how many end users still ask me if there is any way I can put it back. Seriously....
@cornpie
A lot of users with kids tell me they found it "cute", but I for one, am glad he is gone.
A lot of users with kids tell me they found it "cute", but I for one, am glad he is gone.
@Cylon Centurion Got to be better than Clippie though surely?
@alison.arney@...
I'll take Clippy any day.
I'll take Clippy any day.
@Cylon Centurion
And to make it worse Win7 search still defaults to the dog....
My biggest beef that keeps me from moving way from WinXP is the total lack of backwards compatibility on ALL post XP MS products. With Win7 I cannot use most of the programs I've purchased, written, or have become very proficient at without using a program like VMware. Even the Win7 XP emulator restricts to 32bit.
MS has taken the arrogant lazy position of FORCING us to ugrade our older programs (if there is a 32/64bit product to be purchased/re-learned) or SCREW US! This is not some new MS arrogance issue --- MS has always required upgrading hardware/software each time a new OS comes out or you get bogged down with the slows or will not work syndrome. So MS I've now taken the position of SCREW YOU --- unless future MS OS's are fully backwards compatible (or free patches) to 8/16/32bit programs. [And NO Cloud crap - big brother knows enough and many places I go have no internet, I'll stick with my HD, thank you!]
I design/build/program EE Test Stations - we do not connect to the internet due to the obvious security/mal-virus-etc issues, hence we are sticking with WinXP. If MS does not overcome their jam-it down our throat methods I'll switch to Linux!
N6JSX, MS-EET
And to make it worse Win7 search still defaults to the dog....
My biggest beef that keeps me from moving way from WinXP is the total lack of backwards compatibility on ALL post XP MS products. With Win7 I cannot use most of the programs I've purchased, written, or have become very proficient at without using a program like VMware. Even the Win7 XP emulator restricts to 32bit.
MS has taken the arrogant lazy position of FORCING us to ugrade our older programs (if there is a 32/64bit product to be purchased/re-learned) or SCREW US! This is not some new MS arrogance issue --- MS has always required upgrading hardware/software each time a new OS comes out or you get bogged down with the slows or will not work syndrome. So MS I've now taken the position of SCREW YOU --- unless future MS OS's are fully backwards compatible (or free patches) to 8/16/32bit programs. [And NO Cloud crap - big brother knows enough and many places I go have no internet, I'll stick with my HD, thank you!]
I design/build/program EE Test Stations - we do not connect to the internet due to the obvious security/mal-virus-etc issues, hence we are sticking with WinXP. If MS does not overcome their jam-it down our throat methods I'll switch to Linux!
N6JSX, MS-EET
@Kuby
This is ridiculously untrue:
"Win7 search still defaults to the dog."
You're either clueless or trolling. I honestly dno't care which, but it would be nice if you would cop to it.
This is ridiculously untrue:
"Win7 search still defaults to the dog."
You're either clueless or trolling. I honestly dno't care which, but it would be nice if you would cop to it.
@Kuby I don't know what you are talking about. I've never had a problem running programs that I had on XP on Windows 7. Are you still running DOS programs? Seriously, it might be time to upgrade that software.
I run Linux on a few of my machines, and I'm not sure why you believe the experience for backward compatibility will be any better there. Every time there is a kernal update, seems like I have to go get updated versions of my software, so again, what are you talking about?
I'm afraid, you misrepresent the Linux community with this type of babble, and frankly, we don't want you here.
I run Linux on a few of my machines, and I'm not sure why you believe the experience for backward compatibility will be any better there. Every time there is a kernal update, seems like I have to go get updated versions of my software, so again, what are you talking about?
I'm afraid, you misrepresent the Linux community with this type of babble, and frankly, we don't want you here.
@Kuby Honestly, I've got applications that were written in 1996 which were originally written for Windows 95 that still work fine today. The only issue I have ever had was some extra gyrations to set up 32 bit data sources for them when using 64 bit Vista or Windows 7. And those work arounds were pretty easy once we figured out what the issue was.
@gomigomijunk
I *really* wish that zdnet would put a "Like" button in the comments as I would surely click it for your comment above.
I *really* wish that zdnet would put a "Like" button in the comments as I would surely click it for your comment above.
@Kuby, actually not all builds include a virtual machine that allows backward compatibility. For backward compatibility with XP (unless you are a high level expert) you will need a second virtual machine loaded. I returned a new laptop purchase for this exact reason.
@Kuby
I fail to see your argument. In no way, shape, or form does the search dog appear in Windows Vista or Windows 7.
Also, ALL operating systems require the purchasing of new hardware. Try running Linux on that old 8-bit processor you're running and see what happens.
Progression, my friend. If you're coding your own apps, then you should have upgraded the coding. It's not Microsoft's fault your software is falling out of date. purchased or otherwise.
I fail to see your argument. In no way, shape, or form does the search dog appear in Windows Vista or Windows 7.
Also, ALL operating systems require the purchasing of new hardware. Try running Linux on that old 8-bit processor you're running and see what happens.
Progression, my friend. If you're coding your own apps, then you should have upgraded the coding. It's not Microsoft's fault your software is falling out of date. purchased or otherwise.
@Kuby
Wow, buy an Apple and tell me how you feel. All my hardware works on XP->Win7. Don't mistake a manufacturer's unwillingness to write device drivers with windows not working on your hardware.
Mr Jobs made sure old hardware got shut off, forever... When a new version of his apps came out, the previous ones stopped getting fixed; period! You have XP working for 10 years, without paying for any fixes or upgrades. Ask a MacOS user about that.
Some people need to look out of their caves now and then.
Wow, buy an Apple and tell me how you feel. All my hardware works on XP->Win7. Don't mistake a manufacturer's unwillingness to write device drivers with windows not working on your hardware.
Mr Jobs made sure old hardware got shut off, forever... When a new version of his apps came out, the previous ones stopped getting fixed; period! You have XP working for 10 years, without paying for any fixes or upgrades. Ask a MacOS user about that.
Some people need to look out of their caves now and then.
@Kuby
Mr. Kuby, I was the same as you for about a day. I use to have (for example) this photo enhancing/manunipulation program--Picture it 2001. I thought I could not make it without this program. Then I found Photpscape, makes PI 2001 look like a kindergartner vs a PHD. Much better and about 1/4 the real estate. And the best thing, it's free, as in water and beer! There are several others to numerous to mention, including Open source and people just programing for the heck of it. You will be surprise what you can find if you "Bing" free software. You can spend months in an orgasmic frenzy! Try it--you will like it! I guarantee but will not stake my life on it!!
Mr. Kuby, I was the same as you for about a day. I use to have (for example) this photo enhancing/manunipulation program--Picture it 2001. I thought I could not make it without this program. Then I found Photpscape, makes PI 2001 look like a kindergartner vs a PHD. Much better and about 1/4 the real estate. And the best thing, it's free, as in water and beer! There are several others to numerous to mention, including Open source and people just programing for the heck of it. You will be surprise what you can find if you "Bing" free software. You can spend months in an orgasmic frenzy! Try it--you will like it! I guarantee but will not stake my life on it!!
@Kuby :
Very badly written XP programs have problems running on Win 7. But even badly-written ones can run if you create 'shims' that correct incompatible behaviours using MS-provided tools.
Very badly written XP programs have problems running on Win 7. But even badly-written ones can run if you create 'shims' that correct incompatible behaviours using MS-provided tools.
@Kuby
Now you know why, after reviewing our computing needs; our 1000+ employee company kicked Microsoft to the curb and switched to Linux.
Now you know why, after reviewing our computing needs; our 1000+ employee company kicked Microsoft to the curb and switched to Linux.
@gomigomijunk - what Linux programs do you have to upgrade with each kernel update? I can't think of any that are required because of a kernel update. Device drivers are different, and modules that plug directly into the kernel as a kernel extension may require updates as they are usually specific to a particular version of the kernel.
@Kuby
You say:
" MS has always required upgrading hardware/software each time a new OS comes out or you get bogged down with the slows or will not work syndrome"
Thats a horribly misleading statement. It makes it sound as if Microsoft creates an operating system then the hardware manufacturers have to cobble up better hardware they wouldn't have bothered with if Microsoft hadn't created a more complex operating system.
Not an accurate depiction at all. First off, facts are facts. We know how fast hardware improves and its a fact various bits of hardware, be it memory, hard drives, CPU's or video cards have a much much faster turn around time then any MS operating system. Look at XP. By time Vista came out hardware had been upgrading for many years.
Then let us not forget that practically every major bit of software will often take more resources to run in their most current versions as opposed to versions that are 3,4,5 years or more old.
You have the situation entirely backward. Software manufacturers look to the state of hardware as some indication of how much load their program can reasonably put on a modern system when they are developing the program. Sure, Office 2010 for example isn't going to run as hot on 5-10 year old hardware, but then again, why would anyone develop a major program restricted by wanting to make it run on hardware thats years old? Operating systems in particular last for years and there has never been a case where 2-3 years after a Windows release that even whats considered low end modern hardware is significantly more then whats needed to run the OS.
How would one justify that? It quite frankly makes no sense.
Try thinking about that. Design an entire operating system with all the related costs, cut it where ever you have to to make sure it will never have a problem running on what would be hardware thats middle of the road 5 years ago. It would be considered to be junk hardware by most, but do it anyway. And the end result may be more streamlined, but in many respects its actually going to be considered to be more stripped down.
If that was the case Windows would be a lot more like Linux has been and at that point why would one want Windows when Linux cost zero. Sure, Linux users have no issue with that but Linux enthusiasts are not of a breed that generally appreciates any of the differences Windows brings, much unlike the 90% of the world that uses Windows.
Where is the mileage in creating an OS like that? People get used to, and love massive backward and forward compatibility with all the popular hardware and software that Windows brings along with the many user friendly aspects to the OS and the more features added, well, it makes for a more complex OS.
Its pretty hard to justify paring down a newly designed OS because it will be sluggish or even stall on 5 year old hardware. Maybe.
And further, its not at all unusual that someone who gets some good hardware can still get great performance out of their computer even if they install a newly released OS 4-5 years after they bought the hardware, perhaps less so agreed, as the quality of that hardware goes down.
And I really don't know what your software complaint is about. I now run Windows 7 and everything that I have that would run under XPSP2 still runs fine on Win7. Agreed, there are likely programs out there that will not, butt if you think one huge company is going to stymie their product development due to rare issues like that you have got to be kidding.
If you want to go with Linux, certainly be my guest. I've used Linux before and I think its alright. Impressive in many ways for an OS. But for the long term, its not for me, its no Windows thats for sure, and if thats a good thing for you then boy, you SHOULD go to Linux. Give it a go, its free, there are plenty of choices and it works well.
The one place I can agree with you is the no cloud crap. I don't even get why some people entertain the idea. Sure, like anything there are people in this world of 7 billion that the cloud may be the better way. But for many people, they could store all the stuff they would use in the better part of a lifetime on a $100 HD. And it will be even cheaper for those buying hardware next year, and even more so as time goes by. At least then, so long as your computer can start, you always have access to your stuff. And of course, if the comp don't start, the cloud wont help with that anyway.
You say:
" MS has always required upgrading hardware/software each time a new OS comes out or you get bogged down with the slows or will not work syndrome"
Thats a horribly misleading statement. It makes it sound as if Microsoft creates an operating system then the hardware manufacturers have to cobble up better hardware they wouldn't have bothered with if Microsoft hadn't created a more complex operating system.
Not an accurate depiction at all. First off, facts are facts. We know how fast hardware improves and its a fact various bits of hardware, be it memory, hard drives, CPU's or video cards have a much much faster turn around time then any MS operating system. Look at XP. By time Vista came out hardware had been upgrading for many years.
Then let us not forget that practically every major bit of software will often take more resources to run in their most current versions as opposed to versions that are 3,4,5 years or more old.
You have the situation entirely backward. Software manufacturers look to the state of hardware as some indication of how much load their program can reasonably put on a modern system when they are developing the program. Sure, Office 2010 for example isn't going to run as hot on 5-10 year old hardware, but then again, why would anyone develop a major program restricted by wanting to make it run on hardware thats years old? Operating systems in particular last for years and there has never been a case where 2-3 years after a Windows release that even whats considered low end modern hardware is significantly more then whats needed to run the OS.
How would one justify that? It quite frankly makes no sense.
Try thinking about that. Design an entire operating system with all the related costs, cut it where ever you have to to make sure it will never have a problem running on what would be hardware thats middle of the road 5 years ago. It would be considered to be junk hardware by most, but do it anyway. And the end result may be more streamlined, but in many respects its actually going to be considered to be more stripped down.
If that was the case Windows would be a lot more like Linux has been and at that point why would one want Windows when Linux cost zero. Sure, Linux users have no issue with that but Linux enthusiasts are not of a breed that generally appreciates any of the differences Windows brings, much unlike the 90% of the world that uses Windows.
Where is the mileage in creating an OS like that? People get used to, and love massive backward and forward compatibility with all the popular hardware and software that Windows brings along with the many user friendly aspects to the OS and the more features added, well, it makes for a more complex OS.
Its pretty hard to justify paring down a newly designed OS because it will be sluggish or even stall on 5 year old hardware. Maybe.
And further, its not at all unusual that someone who gets some good hardware can still get great performance out of their computer even if they install a newly released OS 4-5 years after they bought the hardware, perhaps less so agreed, as the quality of that hardware goes down.
And I really don't know what your software complaint is about. I now run Windows 7 and everything that I have that would run under XPSP2 still runs fine on Win7. Agreed, there are likely programs out there that will not, butt if you think one huge company is going to stymie their product development due to rare issues like that you have got to be kidding.
If you want to go with Linux, certainly be my guest. I've used Linux before and I think its alright. Impressive in many ways for an OS. But for the long term, its not for me, its no Windows thats for sure, and if thats a good thing for you then boy, you SHOULD go to Linux. Give it a go, its free, there are plenty of choices and it works well.
The one place I can agree with you is the no cloud crap. I don't even get why some people entertain the idea. Sure, like anything there are people in this world of 7 billion that the cloud may be the better way. But for many people, they could store all the stuff they would use in the better part of a lifetime on a $100 HD. And it will be even cheaper for those buying hardware next year, and even more so as time goes by. At least then, so long as your computer can start, you always have access to your stuff. And of course, if the comp don't start, the cloud wont help with that anyway.
@Kuby AFAIK the dog doesn't exist in Windows 7. The search is either in the start menu or next to the address bar in an Explorer window. And I've never seen an option to bring the dog back either.
To be honest, I've had no major issues with compatibility, and the minor issues I've had were easy to fix.
If you're really having so many compatibility issues, may I suggest double checking your Data Execution Prevention settings? Older software often wasn't aware of DEP.
Being somebody who takes security seriously enough to stay off the 'net, I wouldn't be surprised if you switched DEP to the stricter setting at one time and forgot about it.
"And NO Cloud crap - big brother knows enough"
Indeed. Try looking up your ham radio call sign in a search engine. You'd be surprised how much info is public.
Former ham, Computer Science graduate, A+ Certified.
To be honest, I've had no major issues with compatibility, and the minor issues I've had were easy to fix.
If you're really having so many compatibility issues, may I suggest double checking your Data Execution Prevention settings? Older software often wasn't aware of DEP.
Being somebody who takes security seriously enough to stay off the 'net, I wouldn't be surprised if you switched DEP to the stricter setting at one time and forgot about it.
"And NO Cloud crap - big brother knows enough"
Indeed. Try looking up your ham radio call sign in a search engine. You'd be surprised how much info is public.
Former ham, Computer Science graduate, A+ Certified.
@Kuby
.......Can I get some of what you're smoking ???
You have to be nuts to think that MS is forcing you to update your s/w every time there's a new Windows release......
......It's plainly evident you don't know what you're talking about.
......sort of like the one person in a particular newsgroup that STILL uses Windows98 because XP runs "too many services"
......or another newsgroup loser that is a full on Lintard, beyond belief, and has never personally used XP, Vista, *or* Windows7, yet claims to know all about all Windows OSs because he 'reads' about it.
.......Can I get some of what you're smoking ???
You have to be nuts to think that MS is forcing you to update your s/w every time there's a new Windows release......
......It's plainly evident you don't know what you're talking about.
......sort of like the one person in a particular newsgroup that STILL uses Windows98 because XP runs "too many services"
......or another newsgroup loser that is a full on Lintard, beyond belief, and has never personally used XP, Vista, *or* Windows7, yet claims to know all about all Windows OSs because he 'reads' about it.
@Kuby
You should go ahead and switch to Linux already. I've been using Linux and playing with Linux for almost 20 years. The using part has to do with routers, email servers, DNS servers, DHCP servers and such as that. The user interface has been possumatic (as in Opossum).
But the newer free Linux is stunning and I even have a way to watch avi, mp4, wmv, mpg, etc. and listen to mp3, wav and whatever. All free! OpenOffice.org is of course available.
AND, while I cannot get my files in the Linux partition when using WinXP, I can easily get my Windows files read, write, execute while running under Linux.
My favorite distro is Opensuse and I highly recommend you try it. All you need is a computer which has some hard drive space available -- a few hundred MB is enough, but you're a pro -- you'll figure it out.
By default, Linux will assume you want to sometimes boot to the existing Windows O/S, so it won't hurt it. It will installa boot manager which will let you decide which O/S is default and how many seconds you have to break from default --
I love it!
I do not see myself spending any money on a MS O/S in the future. I like XP, but it is limited and it won't properly install on some of the new hardware, so F--- it!
Bill can give his money to Obama; I'll find some good developers and make donations via PayPal.
Cheers!
Chuck - aka Penguin
You should go ahead and switch to Linux already. I've been using Linux and playing with Linux for almost 20 years. The using part has to do with routers, email servers, DNS servers, DHCP servers and such as that. The user interface has been possumatic (as in Opossum).
But the newer free Linux is stunning and I even have a way to watch avi, mp4, wmv, mpg, etc. and listen to mp3, wav and whatever. All free! OpenOffice.org is of course available.
AND, while I cannot get my files in the Linux partition when using WinXP, I can easily get my Windows files read, write, execute while running under Linux.
My favorite distro is Opensuse and I highly recommend you try it. All you need is a computer which has some hard drive space available -- a few hundred MB is enough, but you're a pro -- you'll figure it out.
By default, Linux will assume you want to sometimes boot to the existing Windows O/S, so it won't hurt it. It will installa boot manager which will let you decide which O/S is default and how many seconds you have to break from default --
I love it!
I do not see myself spending any money on a MS O/S in the future. I like XP, but it is limited and it won't properly install on some of the new hardware, so F--- it!
Bill can give his money to Obama; I'll find some good developers and make donations via PayPal.
Cheers!
Chuck - aka Penguin
@Kuby XP is 10 years old. give it up. microsoft isn't trying to screw anyone ... everyone who still uses xp is holding back advancement by demanding programs be written for that ancient os. They let you use it for 10 years, something the other guys would laugh at.
@Kuby
I have been using Gnu&Linux most days almost all day for about 2years but still go back into Windows sometimes.
Just install Ubuntu or something as a dual-boot alongside Windows. It's often a default way of installing. You could practice by installing on a VM (such as VirtualBox (free)) or an old machine just to see the options you get in the installer.
The Gnu&Linux boot-loaders automatically create a boot menu that includes the other OSes on a machine.
I tend to set works machines to automatically boot into Windows but to display the boot-menu for 5-10seconds to let me in without creating undue distress to people that prefer "Freedom from Choice" as given by Windows. Of course i sometimes get distracted and end up in Windows until my first tea-break. [shrugs] If so then i can update all the adobe stuff & update the virus definitions etc to help the Windows users avoid some of the typical Windows problems that people tend to stumble into.
I don't know how Gomigomijunk is managing to make life difficult for himself in Gnu&Linux. I've not had to upgrade any programs due to linux kernel updates. He might be "running a tight ship" using something unfriendly such as Arch or Slackware instead of the noob-friendly Ubuntu that i usually use.
So, don't wait to be pushed out of using Windows. Don't switch. Migrate slowly instead. Just try a dual-boot and use that to help you migrate slowly at your own pace. It takes a while to get used to the different ways of thinking about things and it's good to be able to continue with the OS you are familiar with during that process.
Regards from
Tom
I have been using Gnu&Linux most days almost all day for about 2years but still go back into Windows sometimes.
Just install Ubuntu or something as a dual-boot alongside Windows. It's often a default way of installing. You could practice by installing on a VM (such as VirtualBox (free)) or an old machine just to see the options you get in the installer.
The Gnu&Linux boot-loaders automatically create a boot menu that includes the other OSes on a machine.
I tend to set works machines to automatically boot into Windows but to display the boot-menu for 5-10seconds to let me in without creating undue distress to people that prefer "Freedom from Choice" as given by Windows. Of course i sometimes get distracted and end up in Windows until my first tea-break. [shrugs] If so then i can update all the adobe stuff & update the virus definitions etc to help the Windows users avoid some of the typical Windows problems that people tend to stumble into.
I don't know how Gomigomijunk is managing to make life difficult for himself in Gnu&Linux. I've not had to upgrade any programs due to linux kernel updates. He might be "running a tight ship" using something unfriendly such as Arch or Slackware instead of the noob-friendly Ubuntu that i usually use.
So, don't wait to be pushed out of using Windows. Don't switch. Migrate slowly instead. Just try a dual-boot and use that to help you migrate slowly at your own pace. It takes a while to get used to the different ways of thinking about things and it's good to be able to continue with the OS you are familiar with during that process.
Regards from
Tom
@Kuby Obviously you don't know what you're talking about, as with 7 there is no dog...Troll much?????
@Cylon Centurion How to remove it is covered in the MS website or just google it. Mine's been gone for along time.
@jcurran516
Yeah, it was usually one of the first things I disabled on my Windows XP systems.
Yeah, it was usually one of the first things I disabled on my Windows XP systems.
@Cylon Centurion
They could use a weasel to search for words.
They could use a weasel to search for words.
@Cylon Centurion
I am not sure which I hated more - that dammed dog or 'clippy'!
At the time, I had several co-workers beg me to neuter that thing.
I am not sure which I hated more - that dammed dog or 'clippy'!
At the time, I had several co-workers beg me to neuter that thing.
@Cylon Centurion There's heaps I dislike also, but all can be changed, why wing, go fix it!
@Cylon Centurion
That damn dog showed up in the middle of my Battlefield 1942 game several years ago due to a keyboard glitch. It really was wierd and since I had never used the search dog I didn't recognize it. Later it was funny but at the time I was really angry and thought I was being hacked by another teammate as a joke.
That damn dog showed up in the middle of my Battlefield 1942 game several years ago due to a keyboard glitch. It really was wierd and since I had never used the search dog I didn't recognize it. Later it was funny but at the time I was really angry and thought I was being hacked by another teammate as a joke.
@Cylon Centurion
you could change it to a Wizard (the character, not the guided user install/configure wizard)
these were created when animated characters on your desktop were cool. Gone too is the Paper Clip character from MS Office.
But all pails in comparison to Nanami the windows animated chatacter that appears on specail japanese vesions of windows 7. Search Nanami on google. It's the kind of thing Otaku go for. Yes it's real you can install a leaked nanami msi for your own windows 7.
you could change it to a Wizard (the character, not the guided user install/configure wizard)
these were created when animated characters on your desktop were cool. Gone too is the Paper Clip character from MS Office.
But all pails in comparison to Nanami the windows animated chatacter that appears on specail japanese vesions of windows 7. Search Nanami on google. It's the kind of thing Otaku go for. Yes it's real you can install a leaked nanami msi for your own windows 7.
@Cylon Centurion - I don't know. I turn that thing off on my computer, but my wife insists on keeping it on hers--she calls it "cute". More importantly, it provided an easy and safe way to distract my two-year-old for a few minutes every now and then (I'd set it up so she could press the Space bar to get it to do a trick). That was nice while that lasted...
@Cylon Centurion You misinterpet LIBERTY, much. You don't have the liberty to tell a manufacturer how to make a certain product. You do have the "liberty" to make suggestions, and the grandaddy of them all, the "liberty to not to buy the product. See, "liberty" is intact pellet burning fireplace
@Cylon Centurion This is a fairly solid and permanent security, that only a digitally signed OS will boot with UEFI. Whitelisted operating systems is a good security solution. pellet burning fireplace
Oh, and if you ask me, the "Ultimate" SKU should be done away with. I'm fairly sure that SKU brings in the least revenue.
@Cylon Centurion: It makes even less sense with Win7 than it did Vista. The difference between Pro and Ultimate amount to BitLocker and multiple languages, so basically Bitlocker.
@bradavon The only other version of Windows that comes with bitlocker is the Enterprise Edition which is only available to volume license customers. Bitlocker works and its easy (if your laptop has a TPM) so for a lot of people without the Enterprise option - Ultimate would be a good idea.
What I would like to see is for MS to ditch ultimate and just include bitlocker in all versions of Windows 7 - or at least put it in Pro and Home Premium.
What I would like to see is for MS to ditch ultimate and just include bitlocker in all versions of Windows 7 - or at least put it in Pro and Home Premium.
...that will do the same thing as bitlocker does. No big deal.
@Ed Bott
Very true. It would be best just to take those features and just add them to the Home, and Pro lineups. Ultimate just isn't worth the price gouging. I'm a huge Windows fan, but Pro is the highest SKU you'll ever see me buy.
Very true. It would be best just to take those features and just add them to the Home, and Pro lineups. Ultimate just isn't worth the price gouging. I'm a huge Windows fan, but Pro is the highest SKU you'll ever see me buy.
@Cylon Centurion - I think Microsoft should get rid of all the different SKUs and just have two versions of Windows: server and desktop. Having different versions just confuses customers or, worse, upsets them when they find out the version they have doesn't have a feature they want. Lowering the price would be nice too. Works for Apple!
>the massive Windows user base is slowly but surely embracing it and moving inexorably away from XP
That makes it sound as if XP users are voluntarily replacing existing XP installations with Win7. Nope. Win7 "growth" is due to sales of new computers, on which XP isn't an option, not XP upgrades.
That makes it sound as if XP users are voluntarily replacing existing XP installations with Win7. Nope. Win7 "growth" is due to sales of new computers, on which XP isn't an option, not XP upgrades.
XP users are replacing existing XP _systems_ with new systems running Windows 7.
@cardhun@...
If it was Windows La De Da in the channel, it'd be Windows La De Da. And if Windows 8 was one year old, it'd be Windows 8. If Vista was still the only one in the channel, it'd be Vista. (Or Vista SE because they really had to do something to get it to work with netbooks.)
Microsoft's best customers are OEMs. Pricing of Upgrades and Retail versions is set to encourage people to buy a new computer. As long as pc sales grow, os sales grow. PCs still have a 3-7 year lifespan so eventually, in the consumer market, Microsoft will sell the current version to someone who was hanging on to the old.
Successful? Absolutely. Wildly? Well, I'd use the adverbs ploddingly or steadily, at least until that semi-annual chart comes out and the slope of share increases. But, adverbs are subjective so, sure, wildly.
I would like everyone to ask themselves, how can Microsoft reveal the next greatest thing 12-15 months in advance and not have an Osborne effect? People are either not in a position to say "I'll wait for the better one." or no one really gives a hoot about the version, unless they hate it, as they did for Vista.
If it was Windows La De Da in the channel, it'd be Windows La De Da. And if Windows 8 was one year old, it'd be Windows 8. If Vista was still the only one in the channel, it'd be Vista. (Or Vista SE because they really had to do something to get it to work with netbooks.)
Microsoft's best customers are OEMs. Pricing of Upgrades and Retail versions is set to encourage people to buy a new computer. As long as pc sales grow, os sales grow. PCs still have a 3-7 year lifespan so eventually, in the consumer market, Microsoft will sell the current version to someone who was hanging on to the old.
Successful? Absolutely. Wildly? Well, I'd use the adverbs ploddingly or steadily, at least until that semi-annual chart comes out and the slope of share increases. But, adverbs are subjective so, sure, wildly.
I would like everyone to ask themselves, how can Microsoft reveal the next greatest thing 12-15 months in advance and not have an Osborne effect? People are either not in a position to say "I'll wait for the better one." or no one really gives a hoot about the version, unless they hate it, as they did for Vista.
@cardhun@...
It wasn't me. I said "briskly," and I thnk 400 million copies of Windows 7 sold deserves that adverb.
It wasn't me. I said "briskly," and I thnk 400 million copies of Windows 7 sold deserves that adverb.
and Windows 7 does offer "upgrades" in power and efficiency from XP.
So, I got me some Windows 7 machines, while keeping my trusty old XP machine by my side. It's hard to give up on something that "just works".
So, I got me some Windows 7 machines, while keeping my trusty old XP machine by my side. It's hard to give up on something that "just works".
@cardhun Unfortunately I have to support friends with Win 7 and they complain about having to learn new programs. I did not replace my XP system with Win 7. I was able to buy a replacement PC with no operating system and put in the spare copy of XP I bought as insurance. I feel sure it was a wise move as several programs I like do not run on Win 7. When this PC dies I will try Linux.
@cardhun@...
And on any new system I get that I'm forced to have Win7 installed --- I wipe out Win Vista/7 and install WinXP, so I can remain using my 8/16/32bit programs I own, write, and have become very proficient at using.
And on any new system I get that I'm forced to have Win7 installed --- I wipe out Win Vista/7 and install WinXP, so I can remain using my 8/16/32bit programs I own, write, and have become very proficient at using.
@Kuby
You sound like an old college professor of mine. Sadly he was teaching a course called "Microsoft Windows OS". Not a class period went by that he chastised Microsoft for changing this or that.
Seriously, things change. Get up to date or be left behind. If you're thinking you'll be able to natively run Windows XP in a few years, let alone your programs you "own, write, and have become very proficient at using", you're sadly delusional.
You sound like an old college professor of mine. Sadly he was teaching a course called "Microsoft Windows OS". Not a class period went by that he chastised Microsoft for changing this or that.
Seriously, things change. Get up to date or be left behind. If you're thinking you'll be able to natively run Windows XP in a few years, let alone your programs you "own, write, and have become very proficient at using", you're sadly delusional.
Yes, when compared with XP and simplicity, Vista was a disaster for MS.
I bought a HP desktop computer with it in early 2007. After a 2 1/2 year experience of hangs and other issues, I gave up. Already bored with MS haughtiness, rather than risk further disappointments with Win7, that machine now runs Ubuntu and I like it more and more. For me, desktops have died, laptops too. I'm moving toward Android, thanks to my phone.
I bought a HP desktop computer with it in early 2007. After a 2 1/2 year experience of hangs and other issues, I gave up. Already bored with MS haughtiness, rather than risk further disappointments with Win7, that machine now runs Ubuntu and I like it more and more. For me, desktops have died, laptops too. I'm moving toward Android, thanks to my phone.
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