They have a downgrade option NOW.
Posted on 04/07/2009 6:01:31 AM PDT by big'ol_freeper
After a flurry of blog activity over the weekend, leading into today, concerning the extended availability of Windows XP, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to Betanews early this evening that general Windows 7 users will be given the option of downgrading right over Vista to Windows XP.
(Excerpt) Read more at betanews.com ...
I have windows 7 on a vm environment and it runs pretty well other than it likes to lock up if I use firefox. I misplaced my download and was going to redownload it last night for some real hw but found they have pulled the beta....what a bummer.
I have had a good experience with Vista. It is more stable than XP and the auto-defrag feature is nice. The problem is that I had to buy a lot more computer to run it and it’s not really a great bargain.
I would like to hear more about what Windows 7 has to offer and what the system requirements are. My suspicion is that new operating systems are a way of forcing consumers to buy higher model computers at a time when “simple” computers are reaching all time low prices.
Windows 7’s driver model is virtually unchanged from Vista. Vista sucked at first because companies had to rewrite drivers, but now that it’s all been done, most modern peripherals now work with Vista, and hence Windows 7.
As several of the posters have been saying, Windows 7 beta was available in February and I’m on it - and it’s fantastic.
Look for a Windows 7 Release Candidate (the final prerelease version) next month for another testing period, if you’re interested.
There are rumors going around the internet that are absolutely false. Vista and Win7 do have DRM, but it's only on specific DRM'd files and discs.
ping
For sure the DRM stuff is nothing for Microsoft to brag about, nor is their OS activation process. Their biggest problem will be the fact that people are now looking for alternatives to Microsoft and unless Windows7 really wows folks, their problems are just beginning. I know a number of individuals and non-profits seriously looking at Linux and even MacOS as alternatives. Each OS has its issues, but perceptions are not in Microsoft’s favor.
I don't know that they are. It's a necessary evil when you're the big player in the market and you want to co-operate with media companies. By the way, Apple is at least as bad if not worse with DRM - you just don't hear the chronic Mac fanboys talk about it.
I can't say the same about people looking for alternatives. I run a software company with several Linux (Fedora Core 9) servers that run very well, but for the desktop, I'll stick to Windows. The people I work with aren't nearly tech savvy enough to learn something new.
Not Internet rumors. My long-time developer friends who are checking out version 7.
I agree, but perceptions are what they are, especially with Mac.
An additional change I would like to see Microsoft make is not have so many different versions of the same OS. I have not read up on what they are doing with windows 7, but vista having 5 or so versions was just nuts.
I agree. My clients and I use a lot of specialty programs and legacy apps that Vista won’t even install! MSFT makes it so even old versions of their Microsoft Access code can’t even be converted to newer versions - it is only partly backwards compatible! I use my Mac for everything that doesn’t require a specialty program. I won’t corrupt my Mac by having Windows software on it.
I’m running build 7068, which is widely available via torrent sites in x86 and 64 bit flavors. I think it’s RC1. So if any of you want to give a release candidate a spin, look for that build or later. I like the new look and feel and it seems pretty stable thus far. Truthfully, except for directX10, I haven’t seen anything this OS provides that was lacking in XP. MS gets a lot of grief, some deserved some not so much. In my opinion, MS may be a victim of it’s own success in that XP is such a good OS, it’s going to take a near flawless OS to replace it. As good as it is, XP wasn’t delivered in it’s current form overnight. Many years of patching and service packs have brought us to a really good OS just in time to have it replaced :) It will be interesting to see what Win 7 will evolve into in 3 years. My guess, unless MS intentionally hobbles XP, many if not most will still be on XP... It’s just that good!
I agree with almost everything you say - but I think the hassle of downgrading to XP, combined with the lifespan of computers running XP (most are now 3+ years old unless they themselves were downgraded from Vista) will mean the migration to Windows 7 will be large. And deservedly so, Microsoft has a very good product on their hands.
They have a downgrade option NOW.
I'm currently on-site installing a cluster, so I may not be able to respond to all pings for this week.
I know many people with huge problems with Vista.
Like what?
I’ve worked with clusters in the past. They can give new meaning to the term “cluster F***.”
Sounds very encouraging.
I’ve usually been a beta person but been stung enough by Microslop have hesitated this time.
I have a fine 64 bit Gateway. Running non64 bit XP-P.
Would love to operate at 64 bit.
I have Office 2007. Would that be . . . functional?
actually I think this is a good marketing move.
It allows the transition with the comfort of an escape clause. Thus you are not “stuck” with the upgrade that you don’t like.
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