downtheroad wrote: much ado about nothing.
a bunch of techie nerds with nothing else to do but snit and bicker back and forth in their "blogs."
Exactly. Everyone loves to hate Microsoft. I recall when Windows 95 came out that it too was predicted to fail because of the new, scary, and confusing thing called a Start button.
I haven't found any old software yet that doesn't work in Windows 8. Older printers that weren't supported in Win 7, are supported in 8. The "Metro Start Screen" is nothing more than a more graphical version of the Start Menu. Once you take a few minutes to learn how it works, its highly customizable and the desktop is only one click away.
Chuck D.
“Adventure is just bad planning.” - Roald Amundsen
Kart-Racer wrote: Enjoy XP until early 2014, that is end of support from Microsoft
That won't stop some people from using it, support or not, security fixes or not. The quote about "cold, dead hands" is probably applicable for many!
I wouldn't consider the April 2014 date for WIN XP set in stone, as Microsoft has been well known for pushing back end of support dates. In some instances, multiple times. Still, WIN XP appears to currently remain the most popular OS with a 47% user base according to NetApplications. Especially, in the enterprise sector, where it remains the most common OS I personally come across. In fact, one government organization I work with routinely downgrades the most current shipping OS that comes installed with new computer hardware. Back to WIN XP for PC, Snow Leopard for MAC. As many know, it's a costly, time consuming, and often risky proposition to upgrade to a new OS, especially for large enterprise organizations.
Personally, I tend to wait before upgrading to a new OS, and never jump on the initial marketing frenzy. At least until the first major patches are released. Even then, I generally test drive the new OS with my existing hardware/software before purchasing. Considering that the cost of an OS upgrade tends to pale in comparison to any required hardware/software upgrades, makes it even more prudent to do so.
Microsoft tends to offer options for doing such a OS test drive, before and after a new OS release, though not always known or really targeted at the consumer end user. You can still test WIN 7 for ninety days for free. I'm sure they will have similar options even after WIN 8 is well into its release.
There is something to pay attention to here. I have read several reports from Win 8 beta testers who are saying very similar things - and Win 8 could be Microsoft's downfall. This is not like other versions of Windows that have come out in the past. There are three versions of Win 8 to be released and only two are compatible with 32/64 bit current software. MS is looking to make an app based desktop/laptop environment without anything but their starting apps to run. And it is not unlike MS to start out with a system that will run current software and then advance it toward their goal of it all being app based.
Those who have used the new touchscreen interface like it - BUT have commented that if using it with a standard monitor, keyboard, and mouse it is difficult to operate and frustrating. Apple saw years ago that a vertical touchscreen monitor with no keyboard is very impractical and the monitor with its virtual keyboard - one of the features MS is touting - needs to be lying flat to use. So, how many are ready to abandon their software that they rely upon for business and buy a new touchscreen monitor that will need to lay flat on a desk.
MS has been trying to introduce this new concept in their Windows cell phone OS and it is not going well at all - and Win 8 is supposed to incorporate Win Tablets and Win phones. There is no one of significance writing apps - it still is an Iphone and Android world. Many pass the MS phone OS by and laugh when they see what the MS app store has to offer. MS is putting all of their eggs into one basket and this is a mistake. Plus - MS wants to transfer all of their software to the Cloud - the new release of MS Office will be Cloud based - no disk based, independent of the internet version. There are plenty of businesses and people that don't want to stop working if their broadband connection goes down. (I don't know about you but that it not so unusual where I am - and I am near metro NY.)
I have a feeling that after the release of Win 8 there will be a quick shift back to a Win 7 compatible OS. They are making too great a leap hoping everyone will jump on the bandwagon.
And I don't hate MS. I have stuck with MS since DOS. I just don't think that they are moving in the right direction and I will not be upgrading to Win 8. I will exist with Win 7 for as long as I can then look toward alternatives.
Win7 will be supported until 1/14/2020 so there is no rush to switch to Win8. If using Win7 already, an upgrade to Win8 will be only $40. One can always buy the upgrade, then sit on it.
rmmpe wrote: Camperforlife,
But the new methods of play did not obsolete music or videos.
Mammoth,
I like XP too and don't feel it needed change for the sake of change.
Windows 7 was NOT my idea.
Nor will Windows 8 make your programs obsolete as long as you have a machine running with XP just like the old 8 track players, without the player, the music was obsolete.
I understand your angst when you have a favorite and expensive program that is nearing that point of no return. Face it though, at some point you will have to upgrade anyway and the cost will never feel good
I am running XP on a couple machines in the office, 1 Vista and 2 Windows 7 machines. The Vista will go Windows 7 soon and the XP's won't go until the machines die or it is no longer safe or practical to use. We have not experienced any major problems forcing us to abandon any programs. I am surprised but I have found win 7 to be my personal system of choice.
I have not found a program yet that will not run on windows 7. The only problem I found was with Microsoft's combat flight sim 1,a program from 1998. And after some fooling around we got the joystck to work in vista and windows 7 by replacing a text file the program reads with one from an xp install,that was it.(it builds the file from scratch when you install the stick)
I honestly have not found anything else to be a problem run in compatability mode and as the administrator.
Microsoft gives plenty of warning that there will be a new OS, 2 years or more. It is up to the venders to get a copy of the OS and update their software and DLLs. This is especially true for hardware devices that require software changes. See especially Vista and printers where a lot of venders thought they could get away with making their printers inoperable and you needing to buy new hardware.
Microsoft doesn't control the PC venders (unlike Apple) nor the software vendors and if there are any issues, your complaints should be toward them.
Also, in today's environment, hard drives are so large, that it is easy to partition and dual boot Vista or Windows 7 along with Win 8.
Myself, my XP Epson printer works under preview Win 8, Win 7, Vista, and XP. My over 125 installed programs all work on the first 3 OS, and when I have the time to install all of them on Win 8, I expect most if not all will work.
The new Metro interfact is a major departure from any prior Win version. Among the posts from beta testers many don't care for it. The jury is still out on W8 but you can expect many negative posts along with positive posts. It may/may not be better once users get past the training and unless MS changes the Metro interface before release there will be training required.
MS is in a losing battle with the tradional PCs and they know it - W8 is part of that reality. Mobile devices are taking away much of the revenue stream and MS really has no choice but to step up to that plate.
I now have a iPhone and what a fantastic way to communicate. Small screen and no keyboard but a fantastic interface that MS can only dream about. I can get email and websites everywhere with a device that easily fits in my pocket. Yes there are tradeoffs due to the small size but mobility is a plus.
From what I've read the Win revenue stream isn't so great for MS any more. I'm betting that their office revenue will face similar problems going forward.
I do want MS to suceed. My DD is a former employee and now a consulant for another company involved with MS. My SIL is a current employee.
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