Discussion on:
@DonnieBoy
Can you get a Macbook with OS 10.5 or earlier? Can you buy any mobile device with any other OS than the one that they give you? No. You can still downgrade if you want you just have to ask for it and get a disc and key separately for FREE. Just face the facts. Most people have no need to downgrade and the sales show that the vast majority do not. So to cut costs they are ending it at the time of purchase but offering a way to get it if you want. Troll
Can you get a Macbook with OS 10.5 or earlier? Can you buy any mobile device with any other OS than the one that they give you? No. You can still downgrade if you want you just have to ask for it and get a disc and key separately for FREE. Just face the facts. Most people have no need to downgrade and the sales show that the vast majority do not. So to cut costs they are ending it at the time of purchase but offering a way to get it if you want. Troll
@bobirockhead
You can OS downgrade anytime you want to. The issue is the driver support. Will XP drivers still be available for new models?
Get a clue.
You can OS downgrade anytime you want to. The issue is the driver support. Will XP drivers still be available for new models?
Get a clue.
It's like selling computers with Windows 98 but downgrading them to Windows 3.1 for the sake of users who are still living in the early 1990s. Change is inevitable, XP is dead, deal with it!
@statuskwo5
XP is still supported and runs all my apps very well. I do not have malware problems of any kind. I cannot think of a single reason why I would spend time and money upgrading the OS. I do not have a problem and therefore nothing to fix. And I could not care less what you think.
XP is still supported and runs all my apps very well. I do not have malware problems of any kind. I cannot think of a single reason why I would spend time and money upgrading the OS. I do not have a problem and therefore nothing to fix. And I could not care less what you think.
@Economister
I agree 100%
I agree 100%
@Economister
+1 Right On, to hell with M$ need for money. If I want to buy a new system, it'll be preloaded with W7 and I'll quite happily learn how to use it. But can't see the point spending money on a new OS, just to do the same things - albiet some of them slightly differently.
If I wanted an entirely new experience, I'd change to Linux, not W7. I'm into at the most, 7 different things. W7 doesn't let me do them better, easier or with any increased degree of professionalism. It just makes me relearn the same stuff I know now. Better networking, security, folders??? Puh!!! Don't NEED it.
I'm keeping my money until I decide I NEED W7. Not when M$ wants my money.
+1 Right On, to hell with M$ need for money. If I want to buy a new system, it'll be preloaded with W7 and I'll quite happily learn how to use it. But can't see the point spending money on a new OS, just to do the same things - albiet some of them slightly differently.
If I wanted an entirely new experience, I'd change to Linux, not W7. I'm into at the most, 7 different things. W7 doesn't let me do them better, easier or with any increased degree of professionalism. It just makes me relearn the same stuff I know now. Better networking, security, folders??? Puh!!! Don't NEED it.
I'm keeping my money until I decide I NEED W7. Not when M$ wants my money.
@Economister
No one is saying you have to stop using it. Did you miss the part where Microsoft is going to allow downgrades through the sales life of Windows 7. That is at least a couple more years away and you have to admit that supporting an OS and allowing downgrades to it for over 10 years is pretty generous. No one else allows you to do it. Well linux does but that is free all around but some companies never let you downgrade for whatever reason like apple. Do you hear people crying because they cannot get OS 10.5 or earlier or even OS9 anymore? No because they have moved on. Win 7 supports today's modern hardware as well as much of the hardware of the past. It also works with the vast majority of software even if you have to use compatibility modes or in some cases XP Mode. Quit your bellyaching. You are complaining when there is nothing to complain about.
No one is saying you have to stop using it. Did you miss the part where Microsoft is going to allow downgrades through the sales life of Windows 7. That is at least a couple more years away and you have to admit that supporting an OS and allowing downgrades to it for over 10 years is pretty generous. No one else allows you to do it. Well linux does but that is free all around but some companies never let you downgrade for whatever reason like apple. Do you hear people crying because they cannot get OS 10.5 or earlier or even OS9 anymore? No because they have moved on. Win 7 supports today's modern hardware as well as much of the hardware of the past. It also works with the vast majority of software even if you have to use compatibility modes or in some cases XP Mode. Quit your bellyaching. You are complaining when there is nothing to complain about.
Did you miss the part where Microsoft is going to allow downgrades through the sales life of Windows 7.
@bobrockhead, that is utterly pointless if XP drivers aren't available.
I do agree that XP will have to phased out eventually, but I don't care for M$ spreading FUD about downgrade rights when the only thing in the future stopping consumers from doing so is OEM driver support.
So cut the bullsh!t, ok...
@bobrockhead, that is utterly pointless if XP drivers aren't available.
I do agree that XP will have to phased out eventually, but I don't care for M$ spreading FUD about downgrade rights when the only thing in the future stopping consumers from doing so is OEM driver support.
So cut the bullsh!t, ok...
@Economister I run 3 computers at home. One Linux Game Server, a Win7 Laptop and a Custom PC with XP. The XP gets used more despite the Win 7 laptop being hooked up to keyboard, mouse and 28" monitor while being used in the house. I like using Win 7 but it's still simpler to use and setup XP. Like Vista, Win 7 seems to lead you in circles and you end up getting a lot less done. In hiding more of the customizing setup features, they've destroyed the last remaining few bits of control we have in Windows XP! ..... LONG LIVE WINDOWS XP, cuz it just works and lets you customize and tinker without leading you on a wild goose chase! 
You shouldn't be so quick to judge. I would LOVE to ditch XP. In my profession, I am required to use software that WILL NOT run on Windows 7. Even if I could get it to run, the manufacturer will not support it. I am sure many others are in the same boat. Believe me, as soon as a compatible version is released I will be upgrading right away!
@ctleng76... Find another company that offers something that does the same thing. If we hung on to every last thing, we would still be running DOS.
@ctleng76
Unless your business app is one of those that does stuff with extended graphics (like games), then there's really a good chance it would run just fine as such. It should satisfy your vendor's support requirements AND give you the ability to have a more modern OS.
Unless your business app is one of those that does stuff with extended graphics (like games), then there's really a good chance it would run just fine as such. It should satisfy your vendor's support requirements AND give you the ability to have a more modern OS.
@ctleng76
Think yourself lucky you can at least run your software on XP. There are some companies out there still having to run DOS machines to be able to run DOS only software to talk to old but expensive manufacturing equipment via RS232 ports.
And @JM1981, don't say they should upgrade their equipment to make it compatible with a new versions of windows as the kind of equipment I'm talking about would be way to expensive for them to keep upgrading it to support the latest version of windows.
Think yourself lucky you can at least run your software on XP. There are some companies out there still having to run DOS machines to be able to run DOS only software to talk to old but expensive manufacturing equipment via RS232 ports.
And @JM1981, don't say they should upgrade their equipment to make it compatible with a new versions of windows as the kind of equipment I'm talking about would be way to expensive for them to keep upgrading it to support the latest version of windows.
@ctleng76
Software such as what? I have heard it over and over about apps not running on Win7 but every app I have seen that was not designed for Windows 7 I got to work fine in 1 of two ways.
1. Run in compatibility mode.
2. If you have WindowsPro install XP mode.
Done and done. I use XP mode for my scanner because visioneer would not even support Vista even though it was only a 2 year old scanner when Vista was released. XP Mode saved that and a couple older apps that did not play so nicely.
Software such as what? I have heard it over and over about apps not running on Win7 but every app I have seen that was not designed for Windows 7 I got to work fine in 1 of two ways.
1. Run in compatibility mode.
2. If you have WindowsPro install XP mode.
Done and done. I use XP mode for my scanner because visioneer would not even support Vista even though it was only a 2 year old scanner when Vista was released. XP Mode saved that and a couple older apps that did not play so nicely.
@statuskwo5
Not every business has the financial resources to rip and replace working systems and applications because of Microsoft's desire to drive the hardware sales channel.
I worked for a company that kept a Unix box using green screen terminals for some 18 years, because we had the application customized for our needs. The only reason we finally got rid of it was due to the fact that the hardware was obsolete. (Try to find 64K x 1 DRAMS today!)
As long as a company keeps the older hardware OFF the internet, then the simple fact that Microsoft wants to "rid the world" of XP; means s--- to me. Keeping my company IN THE BLACK is more important than going out and buying a bunch of shiny new boxes made in China.
Not every business has the financial resources to rip and replace working systems and applications because of Microsoft's desire to drive the hardware sales channel.
I worked for a company that kept a Unix box using green screen terminals for some 18 years, because we had the application customized for our needs. The only reason we finally got rid of it was due to the fact that the hardware was obsolete. (Try to find 64K x 1 DRAMS today!)
As long as a company keeps the older hardware OFF the internet, then the simple fact that Microsoft wants to "rid the world" of XP; means s--- to me. Keeping my company IN THE BLACK is more important than going out and buying a bunch of shiny new boxes made in China.
@statuskwo5
Well, I sure hope you enjoyed paying for your "Fisher-Price" graphics and the snap "feature" because that's all you got.
Well, I sure hope you enjoyed paying for your "Fisher-Price" graphics and the snap "feature" because that's all you got.
@Rodo1
Still can't see past the GUI can you. Shame on you.
Still can't see past the GUI can you. Shame on you.
Although XP is a good system- well proven, stable, etc- it's about time! I deal with some companies that use some older software not able to run on 7, but those same companies still use Win 2000 on a lot of their machines!
Eventually, it comes time to upgrade, as hard as it is.
Of course, it's easier to convince those companies to upgrade than it is to convince my wife, who is still using XP... she came kicking and screaming to XP when it was new... I don't even want to MENTION Windows 7 to her!
www.dfwsupergeek.com
Eventually, it comes time to upgrade, as hard as it is.
Of course, it's easier to convince those companies to upgrade than it is to convince my wife, who is still using XP... she came kicking and screaming to XP when it was new... I don't even want to MENTION Windows 7 to her!
www.dfwsupergeek.com
@unclefixer@... Even 98SE to XP wasn't that big of a change. Sure the colors changed, woopydo.
@JM1981
The change from XP to Win 7 isn't all that drastic either. There was a bigger paradigm shift going from Win 3.1 to Win 95.
Sure... The Start button no longer says "START" on it. It's still in the same place. It still does pretty much the same thing.
The change from XP to Win 7 isn't all that drastic either. There was a bigger paradigm shift going from Win 3.1 to Win 95.
Sure... The Start button no longer says "START" on it. It's still in the same place. It still does pretty much the same thing.
@JM1981
The big change between 98SE to XP was the option to format your harddrive to NTFS instead of Fat32 and be able to set up login accounts with limited access. Some older 9x software would only work on Fat32 formatted XP computers. Formatting your computer as Fat32 however leaves a large security hole preventing XP or higher from protecting your files.
The big change between 98SE to XP was the option to format your harddrive to NTFS instead of Fat32 and be able to set up login accounts with limited access. Some older 9x software would only work on Fat32 formatted XP computers. Formatting your computer as Fat32 however leaves a large security hole preventing XP or higher from protecting your files.
Mr. Gates (no longer the richest man) needs to force people and companies to finally buy new or upgrade to win7 so he can make more M$$$
@jasonemmg
You do realise he doesnt run Microsoft anymore and hasnt for few years right?...Xp is a good system and its not dead as mention many programs are not win 7 compliant and win 7 takes a nice machine to run it meaning machines 5 years old do not even have the option to run win 7. Windows 7 is a great os and gearing up for the windows 8 beta testing Im excited to see the tweeks
You do realise he doesnt run Microsoft anymore and hasnt for few years right?...Xp is a good system and its not dead as mention many programs are not win 7 compliant and win 7 takes a nice machine to run it meaning machines 5 years old do not even have the option to run win 7. Windows 7 is a great os and gearing up for the windows 8 beta testing Im excited to see the tweeks
@Fletchguy
I beg to differ. Win7 runs well on single core pentium 4 computers of 5 -7 years ago with 2GB ram and not so bad on 1GB really. Even with Intel Integrated Video chipsets even though aero is not supported becuase of the weak graphic power but throw in a $20 graphics card and walla. It's not a power house but it runs pretty darn well. I have it running on some old Dell Optiplex GX280's with 1 - 2GB ram with intel integrated video and some with radeon x300 video cards and runs just as well as XP does on the same system.
Now if you have a 5 year old $399 celeron special with 256 - 512mb of ram then maybe you have a problem.
I beg to differ. Win7 runs well on single core pentium 4 computers of 5 -7 years ago with 2GB ram and not so bad on 1GB really. Even with Intel Integrated Video chipsets even though aero is not supported becuase of the weak graphic power but throw in a $20 graphics card and walla. It's not a power house but it runs pretty darn well. I have it running on some old Dell Optiplex GX280's with 1 - 2GB ram with intel integrated video and some with radeon x300 video cards and runs just as well as XP does on the same system.
Now if you have a 5 year old $399 celeron special with 256 - 512mb of ram then maybe you have a problem.
@jasonemmg
Gee.. I have yet to see any gangs of roaming thugs at Best Buy or Fry's Electronics threatening people if they choose not to move to Windows 7.
Seriously... No one is holding a gun to anyone's head insisting anyone move forward.
Seriously... Sheesh.
Gee.. I have yet to see any gangs of roaming thugs at Best Buy or Fry's Electronics threatening people if they choose not to move to Windows 7.
Seriously... No one is holding a gun to anyone's head insisting anyone move forward.
Seriously... Sheesh.
@Wolfie2K3
The whole "forced" thing will never end. If they own a retail copy of Win98 they could still use that if they wanted but the hardware manufacturers wouldn't support it and somehow that is still Microsoft's fault. Some claim all these applications that do not work with Windows 7 and I have to say that is probably a much smaller amount than people say. Compatibility mode and XP Mode solves the vast majority of those issues. No other OS company has ever supported a OS as long as Microsoft has. Even the free linux loses support from the community pretty quickly and it is harder and harder to find help on it or hardware that will work with it. The people complaining just want to complain even though they have no grounds to complain on.
The whole "forced" thing will never end. If they own a retail copy of Win98 they could still use that if they wanted but the hardware manufacturers wouldn't support it and somehow that is still Microsoft's fault. Some claim all these applications that do not work with Windows 7 and I have to say that is probably a much smaller amount than people say. Compatibility mode and XP Mode solves the vast majority of those issues. No other OS company has ever supported a OS as long as Microsoft has. Even the free linux loses support from the community pretty quickly and it is harder and harder to find help on it or hardware that will work with it. The people complaining just want to complain even though they have no grounds to complain on.
@jasonemmg Yeah, that's right, he's hurting for money and is going to sell some of his stocks as soon as he can get them to go up by forcing people to buy Windows 7. Do you still have the big poster that says "Bill Gates is satan"?
Some people need a villain, and will manufacture their own in their imagination if necessary.
Some people need a villain, and will manufacture their own in their imagination if necessary.
It's about time ... though Dell WAS smart about it. They charge a PREMIUM for the downgrade.
@mwagner@... No they don't. I know, I used to work at Dell. It doesn't cost anything to order the downgrade. You might be confusing that with what they call CFI (Custom Factory Install) which is a payed per-unit service in which a customer can have their customized OS image installed in factory.
Obviously you can still install xp on the machine, seriously how many serious businesses with IT staff need their XP preinstalled? Who would actually use the preinstall anyway? I say stop supporting it so my company wont continue to ride old hardware and software 5 years beyond a 4 year planned cycle till it dies. If you are not good with change why on earth are you around computers in the first place? If xp was looked at as a dog it would be dead by now.
@turrenti@...
those in charge are concerned about cost vs benefits, but you would just like a new shiny OS. Sorry, but business does not work that way.
those in charge are concerned about cost vs benefits, but you would just like a new shiny OS. Sorry, but business does not work that way.
@Economister
Are you talking new computers, or upgrading older machines? We rarely upgrade older machines, but I would not think of buying a new system for one of my users with XP. All of our critical apps are tested and working very well on first Vista and now 7, so there is no reason (for us) to be installing new hardware with an outdated OS. Regarding cost, we would actually pay more for an XP machine than a 7 system, and we have found that our support is less on Vista/7 than on XP.
That being said, since we do not upgrade existing machines, we still have about half of our users on XP, and will be supporting it for the next few years. We still have a few 2K machines in service, and one 98 system still churning along.
Are you talking new computers, or upgrading older machines? We rarely upgrade older machines, but I would not think of buying a new system for one of my users with XP. All of our critical apps are tested and working very well on first Vista and now 7, so there is no reason (for us) to be installing new hardware with an outdated OS. Regarding cost, we would actually pay more for an XP machine than a 7 system, and we have found that our support is less on Vista/7 than on XP.
That being said, since we do not upgrade existing machines, we still have about half of our users on XP, and will be supporting it for the next few years. We still have a few 2K machines in service, and one 98 system still churning along.
@turrenti@...
"You can still install XP on the machine", as you said, but only if you can find a machine that has XP drivers, and that is getting harder every day. Especially with laptops, if the machine does not ship with XP the odds of finding XP drivers is not good.
"You can still install XP on the machine", as you said, but only if you can find a machine that has XP drivers, and that is getting harder every day. Especially with laptops, if the machine does not ship with XP the odds of finding XP drivers is not good.
@itpro_z
Really? I do repairs and upgrades and xp drivers are the easiest to find. Vista the hardest then windows 7 drivers. You must not deal with many computers
Really? I do repairs and upgrades and xp drivers are the easiest to find. Vista the hardest then windows 7 drivers. You must not deal with many computers
@itpro_z... If new hardware doesn't come preloaded with XP from the Factory, finding drivers for that new machine to use a dated OS would be impossible. And as he pointed out, a company running 9 year old machines, while saving some capital in the short run, may find they lose more capital in the long run. How productive can a user be on a dead 9 year old machine, and a new machine which will only run Windows 7, and their turnkey software only runs on XP. Can we say productivity loss...
@JM1981
"You must not deal with many computers."
Oh, I don't know about that. I have around 300 users on my network, and have been doing IT support for over 3 decades, so I would tend to think I deal with a few. I was not referring to older machines, but new ones. I have had quite a few computers brought to me that came with first Vista and now 7 preinstalled that the user wanted downgraded to XP. Before even attempting the job I look for drivers. The big OEMs like HP or Acer typically only supply drivers for what the machine ships with. Sometimes, if you can identify the specific chipset for things like the wireless, nic, or sound card you can search for compatible drivers, but with newer hardware the XP drivers simply may not exist.
For this reason, I caution people about buying computers if they truly need XP to be careful in selecting their hardware. Sometimes, it is better to buy a lease return or refurb with XP already on the system than to buy a brand new machine and then find out after the fact that it won't run XP. Besides, its not like you need a whiz bang computer to run XP anyway.
Oh, I don't know about that. I have around 300 users on my network, and have been doing IT support for over 3 decades, so I would tend to think I deal with a few. I was not referring to older machines, but new ones. I have had quite a few computers brought to me that came with first Vista and now 7 preinstalled that the user wanted downgraded to XP. Before even attempting the job I look for drivers. The big OEMs like HP or Acer typically only supply drivers for what the machine ships with. Sometimes, if you can identify the specific chipset for things like the wireless, nic, or sound card you can search for compatible drivers, but with newer hardware the XP drivers simply may not exist.
For this reason, I caution people about buying computers if they truly need XP to be careful in selecting their hardware. Sometimes, it is better to buy a lease return or refurb with XP already on the system than to buy a brand new machine and then find out after the fact that it won't run XP. Besides, its not like you need a whiz bang computer to run XP anyway.
@Fletchguy
"Really? I do repairs and upgrades and xp drivers are the easiest to find. Vista the hardest then windows 7 drivers. You must not deal with many computers"
Actually you must not deal with many computers. Above you posted that Win 7 will not run on a 5 year old machine and now you say that XP Drivers are easy to come by over Windows 7. Sure on some older hardware you may run into a few snags but Win7 has the best driver support out of the box I have ever seen. Heck if you upgrade or install it on your computer and it detects the NIC it will apply the drivers from Microsoft's driver database automatically. But I think you will see that driver updates have started to stop for XP on many devices and the drivers you find have not been updated in a while and the only updated drivers are for Win7 and Vista since they are usually very similar. I manage thousands of PCs every day and Win 7 works well on all of them and all the old applications the school I manage IT for uses work fine on Win7 despite them stating they would not.
"Really? I do repairs and upgrades and xp drivers are the easiest to find. Vista the hardest then windows 7 drivers. You must not deal with many computers"
Actually you must not deal with many computers. Above you posted that Win 7 will not run on a 5 year old machine and now you say that XP Drivers are easy to come by over Windows 7. Sure on some older hardware you may run into a few snags but Win7 has the best driver support out of the box I have ever seen. Heck if you upgrade or install it on your computer and it detects the NIC it will apply the drivers from Microsoft's driver database automatically. But I think you will see that driver updates have started to stop for XP on many devices and the drivers you find have not been updated in a while and the only updated drivers are for Win7 and Vista since they are usually very similar. I manage thousands of PCs every day and Win 7 works well on all of them and all the old applications the school I manage IT for uses work fine on Win7 despite them stating they would not.
Meh. It's about time. I was forced to use a Win98 machine at my old job from 2004-2007 because the company IT guy didn't want to deal with having to make a WinXP network- I was surprised I stayed with that company as long as I did with a machine so horribly glitch-ridden.
XP will be remembered as a good, stable OS but it's finally starting to show its age.
XP will be remembered as a good, stable OS but it's finally starting to show its age.
Remember that Dell gave up on XP the first time when Vista was The Next Big Thing. Customer demand dictated otherwise. You can bet your butt if enterprises stop buying PCs because they can't get what they need, then Dell will respond appropriately, like they did last time. And that is either by selling XP in some shape on their boxes, or by making it easier for users to get XP while buying a Dell box. Some perfectly legal loop-hole, perhaps, like supplying an XP "restore" DVD that lets the user self-install the XP they want, even though the box arrives with Windows 7 pre-installed.
BTW, I note that there isn't any public outcry about the need to continue selling Vista, and to allow Windows 7-to-Vista "downgrades." Again, the public is voting for what they want.
And as a last resort, if you need a new PC that run's XP natively (i.e., real XP, full use of all cores, all apps and drivers working... unlike Windows 7's single-core "XP Compatibility" mode), then perhaps getting a Macintosh is the right answer, and booting into XP.
BTW, I note that there isn't any public outcry about the need to continue selling Vista, and to allow Windows 7-to-Vista "downgrades." Again, the public is voting for what they want.
And as a last resort, if you need a new PC that run's XP natively (i.e., real XP, full use of all cores, all apps and drivers working... unlike Windows 7's single-core "XP Compatibility" mode), then perhaps getting a Macintosh is the right answer, and booting into XP.
@SteveMak
ewww a mac not likely windows users like machines that can do things and apple products do very little
ewww a mac not likely windows users like machines that can do things and apple products do very little
The reason that no one is crying foul about Vista being phased out for 7 is that 7 is simply Vista Release 2. Other than on inadequate hardware, Vista was very stable, reliable, and secure. 7 continues that trend, with a few minor tweaks and improvements. By now, most are comfortable with either, software has updated, and drivers have improved. I still run Vista both at work and on my personal laptop, and feel no great urge to move either machine to 7. Sure, I like 7, but the difference is minor.
On your other point, enterprise customers are now moving to 7 in large numbers. Yes, there are still some with old apps that won't work with 7, but those are either disappearing or being virtualized. 7 is a fine platform for moving forward.
On your other point, enterprise customers are now moving to 7 in large numbers. Yes, there are still some with old apps that won't work with 7, but those are either disappearing or being virtualized. 7 is a fine platform for moving forward.
@itpro_z
It has always been Microsoft's trend to release a couple OSes under the same basic kernel and style. Win98 (and even Win ME) was to Windows 95 as Windows XP was to Windows 2000 just as Windows 7 is to Vista. Very much the same but improved.
It has always been Microsoft's trend to release a couple OSes under the same basic kernel and style. Win98 (and even Win ME) was to Windows 95 as Windows XP was to Windows 2000 just as Windows 7 is to Vista. Very much the same but improved.
itpro_z, yes, I know Windows 7 is really "Fixsta", or Vista core with some tweaks and new UI. And that is why the pain that existed in moving from XP to Vista exists in moving from XP to Windows 7.
As for the "large numbers" of enterprise customers moving to Windows 7, we heard this also for Vista. Remember? Only later did we discover that Vista sales to those enterprises were actually being used as XP "downgrades", but counting towards Vista numbers. In other words, enterprises were still installing and using XP, while MS was counting these number as Vista sales, and "large numbers" of enterprise customers moving to Vista.
Now I am NOT saying that Windows 7 is the same dud as Vista was. But I am saying what I am seeing is not nearly as rosy as what you're seeing. I may be wrong, I know, but I am waiting for the dust to settle before swallowing the Big Pain Pill, and migrating to Windows 7.
The big things stopping me from migrating to Windows 7 are exactly those that made me dump Vista, and go back to XP: Legacy drivers not supported (that means buying new devices like video cams, GPS, smart phone), new apps (upgrades and replacements), and aside from this cost (!!!), the time and productivity losses needed to set up all this new stuff, learn it, and tweak it to my liking until the system is settled down for routine use.
As for the "large numbers" of enterprise customers moving to Windows 7, we heard this also for Vista. Remember? Only later did we discover that Vista sales to those enterprises were actually being used as XP "downgrades", but counting towards Vista numbers. In other words, enterprises were still installing and using XP, while MS was counting these number as Vista sales, and "large numbers" of enterprise customers moving to Vista.
Now I am NOT saying that Windows 7 is the same dud as Vista was. But I am saying what I am seeing is not nearly as rosy as what you're seeing. I may be wrong, I know, but I am waiting for the dust to settle before swallowing the Big Pain Pill, and migrating to Windows 7.
The big things stopping me from migrating to Windows 7 are exactly those that made me dump Vista, and go back to XP: Legacy drivers not supported (that means buying new devices like video cams, GPS, smart phone), new apps (upgrades and replacements), and aside from this cost (!!!), the time and productivity losses needed to set up all this new stuff, learn it, and tweak it to my liking until the system is settled down for routine use.
I'm confused. The article said in the last paragraph, "the computer maker" has agreed to continue to give customers with Windows 7 Professional the right to downgrade to XP through the entire life cycle of Windows 7." But it also says that Dell will stop this Tuesday. Then it says Dell said in a Blog they'll continue to support XP until 2012. so which is it...Tuesday, 2012, or until Windows 7 support expires? Or was that a typo and he meant that Microsoft "the Software company" would support Windows through the life of Windows 7, that Dell would stop Tuesday, and offer driver support through 2012?
@Socratesfoot
Dell says it will stop the downgrade rights 2. Dell will provide access to XP drivers on their web site to 2012 and 3. Microsoft will allow downgrade rights to XP through the life of windows 7
Dell says it will stop the downgrade rights 2. Dell will provide access to XP drivers on their web site to 2012 and 3. Microsoft will allow downgrade rights to XP through the life of windows 7
@MLHACK
I think some of the confusion is that WinXP downgrade rights will be available through the sales life of Windows 7. When Windows 7 is no longer available for sale then the Downgrade rights go away. Win7 will be supported for much longer. When Windows 8 is released and they no longer sell Windows 7 in any fashion then you will not be able to downgrade to XP.
I think some of the confusion is that WinXP downgrade rights will be available through the sales life of Windows 7. When Windows 7 is no longer available for sale then the Downgrade rights go away. Win7 will be supported for much longer. When Windows 8 is released and they no longer sell Windows 7 in any fashion then you will not be able to downgrade to XP.
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