Skipping Vista

Onkel Neal · 04-07-09, 09:37 AM

Interesting!

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=4109

Quote:

Despite the fact that Windows 7 is almost cooked, a leaked Microsoft memo suggests that XP may live on past its May 30, 2009 retirement date.

The leaked internal memo outlines how Microsoft will grant HP the right to continue to downgrading Vista systems to XP. The memo does however go on too suggest that HP should be clear with customers about support:

It’s important to remind customers that Microsoft are still planning to retire XP Pro Mainstream support on April 14, 2009 and will only provide OS security updates beyond that date unless the customer has an Extended Hotfix Support contract. MS Extended Support for XP Pro ends on April 8th, 2014.

Unconfirmed rumors go further and suggest that Microsoft will allow HP to ship XP until April 30, 2010. If this XP extension has being granted to HP, it will almost certainly be extended to other OEMs.

It is worth bearing in mind that the EULA for both Vista Business and Ultimate allow users to downgrade, so this will remain in effect for the entire lifetime of the OS.

With Windows XP still commanding a 63% market share, netbook popularity continuing to rise, and Windows 7 still several months away, Microsoft needs an OS to cater for those who won’t touch Vista with a 20 foot pole. Rather than give those folks an excuse to look at Linux, it’s in Microsoft’s interests to continue to make XP seem relevant. That said, since downgrade rights exist for Business and Ultimate, as well as volume licensing customers, I think that all this leaked memo is about is making sure that OEMs remind customers of the support implications of choosing to downgrade from Vista.

XP is the OS that won't die!

But this is going to seriously derail my strategy

http://www.trustedreviews.com/software/news/2009/04/07/Windows-7-Will-Downgrade-To-But-Not-Upgrade-From-XP/p1

Quote:

Hopefully it's not too late to ask Microsoft to reverse this...

In a classic case of not giving the public what they way, the Redmond giant has today confirmed that Windows 7 users will be able to downgrade their operating systems to Windows XP, but XP users will be unable to upgrade to Windows 7.

Speaking on its Windows 7 blog, the team confirmed: "Many have asked about upgrading from Windows XP. There's no change here to the plan as has been discussed on many forums. We realized at the start of this project that the "upgrade" from XP would not be an experience we think would yield the best results. There are simply too many changes in how PCs have been configured (applets, hardware support, driver model, etc.) that having all of that support carry forth to Windows 7 would not be nearly as high quality as a clean install."

Jeez, the stupid MS tricks continue....

Skybird · 04-07-09, 10:05 AM

If mainboard and CPU live on over here, I will be a happy XP customer until 2014.

Fincuan · 04-07-09, 10:07 AM

Having used the W7 beta quite a lot I don't see any reasons to stay with XP after it comes out. Unless your PC is really really old there's no reason not to upgrade, and even then W7 would probably run better on it than XP.

AVGWarhawk · 04-07-09, 10:21 AM

I agree with Neal, sneaky deal with the XP downgrade and not being able to get the 7 upgrade.

. In my minds eye, MS keeps downing their own OS called Vista by pulling things like downgrading to XP and wait for 7 that we will charge you for. It makes no sense. I agree with Fincuan, no reason to stay with XP in my view either. Vista runs fine for me and I suspect 7 will be better. However, 7 would have to really show me something to spend my money on it. So far, I see no reason for me to go to 7.

SteamWake · 04-07-09, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fincuan

Having used the W7 beta quite a lot I don't see any reasons to stay with XP after it comes out. Unless your PC is really really old there's no reason not to upgrade, and even then W7 would probably run better on it than XP.

Except for all that pesky incompatibility stuff.

AVGWarhawk · 04-07-09, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Except for all that pesky incompatibility stuff.

I have read quite a few with that issue. It is still beta but even so, I suspect incompatibility will happen even after release.

goldorak · 04-07-09, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

If mainboard and CPU live on over here, I will be a happy XP customer until 2014.

Well said.

I'll keep xp as long as the hardware/software supports it. And if I really need to boost my ego with a computer having 8 GB of ram

I'll get xp 64.

FIREWALL · 04-07-09, 01:29 PM

DUAL BOOT and have both for ALL your gameing needs.

A no-brainer.

longam · 04-07-09, 01:58 PM

So you should purchase your system with Vista, Dual boot to your old copy of XP, then upgrade from Vista to W7. Was that your plan Neal??...

This story just keeps getting better...

FIREWALL · 04-07-09, 02:08 PM

I'm a hardhead. If you can't afford the software for this hobby.

You shouldn't buy the hardware.

This is to no one in particular.

Onkel Neal · 04-07-09, 02:52 PM

Actually, I was going to skip over Vista completely. I have it on my laptop, but for gaming I was not planning to messing with it.

I guess I can get Win 7 without upgrading.... honestly, I don't know what Vista or Win 7 can do for me that XP doesn't already do, at half the system resouces...

Quote:

Originally Posted by longam

So you should purchase your system with Vista, Dual boot to your old copy of XP, then upgrade from Vista to W7. Was that your plan Neal??...

This story just keeps getting better...

04-07-09, 10:05 AM	#2
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,660 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	If mainboard and CPU live on over here, I will be a happy XP customer until 2014. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

04-07-09, 10:21 AM	#4
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,276 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	I agree with Neal, sneaky deal with the XP downgrade and not being able to get the 7 upgrade. . In my minds eye, MS keeps downing their own OS called Vista by pulling things like downgrading to XP and wait for 7 that we will charge you for. It makes no sense. I agree with Fincuan, no reason to stay with XP in my view either. Vista runs fine for me and I suspect 7 will be better. However, 7 would have to really show me something to spend my money on it. So far, I see no reason for me to go to 7. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

04-07-09, 01:29 PM	#8
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	DUAL BOOT and have both for ALL your gameing needs. A no-brainer. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

04-07-09, 02:08 PM	#10
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	I'm a hardhead. If you can't afford the software for this hobby. You shouldn't buy the hardware. This is to no one in particular. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

04-07-09, 10:07 AM	#3
Fincuan Admiral Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Suomi, sauna, puukko, perkele Posts: 2,346 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	Having used the W7 beta quite a lot I don't see any reasons to stay with XP after it comes out. Unless your PC is really really old there's no reason not to upgrade, and even then W7 would probably run better on it than XP.

04-07-09, 01:58 PM	#9
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	So you should purchase your system with Vista, Dual boot to your old copy of XP, then upgrade from Vista to W7. Was that your plan Neal??... This story just keeps getting better...