Posted on 06/01/2009 10:14:20 AM PDT by JoeProBono
According to NetApplications, Windows XP is still the OS of choice for users out there in ComputerLand, with some two-thirds of users still making use of the aging OS. By comparison, Vista is struggling to capture a quarter of the market share. Vista’s “WOW!” failed to capture the attention of users, as many chose to stick with their older OS.
If you are an XP user, has what you’ve seen of Windows 7 made you willing to ditch XP?
The way I see it, Microsoft needs to be putting effort into marketing Windows 7 to those currently using XP. After all, those already using Vista have shown a willingness to switch OSes already, and moving from Vista to 7 isn’t that much of a leap. It’s those entrenched XP users that present a problem for Microsoft. These people, for whatever reason, turned their backs on Vista, and it’s these people that Microsoft needs to win back.
But it’s not going to be easy.
While Microsoft tried to convince people that Vista wasn’t really as bad as they thought it was by resorting to a web ad campaign that was thinly disguised as an “experiment”, those still using XP weren’t buying it. In fact it wasn’t until Microsoft’s “Laptop Hunter” ad campaign that the Redmond giant started seeing its ad dollars really having an effect. Problem for Microsoft is that these ads spend their time selling Windows-based PCs rather than Windows itself. It seems that Microsoft knows that selling Windows is an uphill struggle.
Another problem for Microsoft is that there’s no easy upgrade path for XP users wanting to move to Windows 7. While I usually hate doing in-place upgrades on an OS (that’s where you apply the OS over the top of the existing one and keep all your old settings and programs) because it leads to more problems than it solves, I know that there are a lot of people out there who like this method because it saves them a lot of time and effort. You can’t do this going from XP to 7. You can use Windows Easy Transfer to move your stuff (data, not apps), which is probably the safest method, but it’s a multi-step hassle that many won’t bother with.
As I see it there’s another obstacle in the way of XP users adopting 7, and that is the fact that if you peel away the Windows 7 veneer, what you end up with resembles Vista. A lot. Sure, it’s Vista SP2, and not the poor quality RTM code that Microsoft shoveled into user’s faces, but it’s still Vista. There may be fewer comparability roadblocks than there was for those who tried moving from XP to Vista, but users going from XP to Windows 7 are still going to stumble across roadblocks. XP Mode will help, but ultimately it’s a kludge. A kludge that’s only available to people who buy the most expensive versions of Windows 7.
It’ll be interesting to see how Microsoft tries to win over the entrenched XP user. Microsoft may decide to throw ad dollars at the problem. Alternatively, Microsoft might stick with the current “Laptop Hunter” style ads and rely on user’s PC growing obsolete over time.
yeah. here we go again with vista drm. I use my vista box as a hometheater pc I even rip dvds with it. I am about to turn it into a win7 box as soon as my new sata drive comes in. I have had 0 issues with vista, I only had bluescreens from failing hard drive.
At this point, Microsoft needs to go “ala-carte” with its OS.
This means NOT selling a bunch of different versions in stores but going a step beyond that, and selling the *service* of custom designed OS. So what is this like?
The OS is broken down into modules of varying complexity that are universally compatible. Major end users such as business, media, games, scientific, educational, etc., select and choose the optimal modules for their primary use, which they then publish. Anyone can publish a configuration they like.
Then Microsoft can even give away a basic install disk. When you run it on an empty computer, it establishes an Internet connection with Microsoft, then offers you hundreds of pre-existing configurations to select from, and your own ala-carte module selections. As you do so, it runs up an expense account of the price of each module added together, which is what your OS will eventually cost. (Say you want to add “Solitaire”, for $2).
At that time, you identify the hardware and peripherals you use, and other user information. Microsoft takes all these selections and information, and creates what is a unique OS, fully compatible, just for you. Third party software might even be part of the game, by providing Microsoft with a list of their module needs.
And *that* is the OS downloaded to your computer. But there’s more.
Every time you add new hardware or software, Microsoft performs OS maintenance to integrate and optimize how it fits in your particular system, with additional modules as needed, replacements and upgrades for existing parts. And this maintenance is a separate payment to MS.
really, give ribbon a chance, yeah it takes some getting use to, but you will love it.
window 7 x64. trust me. I had it on 2 computers it works awesome
And I have heard that there can be trouble with SP 3, and that I should only upgrade to SP 2.
Do you have any comment?
Do them in sequence...I have had ZERO problems with SP3 - don’t know of any...would like to hear about them though? The problems could come from some glitch in jumping over 2 to 3...
I dont know about 7, but in vista I used replay radio and never had any issues with it, I will give it try on 7
UPGRADE = Continuous SW-DEVELOPER employment.
Sounds like Linux.
Vista’s “WOW!” failed to capture the attention of users, as many chose to stick with their older OS.
The only "WOW" I've experienced with Vista is "Wow my brand new computer with 2 gigs of memory and super duper processor sure is slow!"
You are unaware of how much chance I gave it.
So I'm supposed to pay for a premium version of Win7 so I can run a flawed emulator of the perfectly good OS I already have? Eh, no thanks.
The business idiots just don't get it.
For most XP works fine, and outside of necessities, most don't have ANY extra money, let alone for a new computer operating system.
I am building a PC (my first homebuilt) and it will have Win XP SP3 with Office 2000 Professional. I see no need for anything newer than that. The only downside I perceive in using XP is that I won’t be able to use more than ~4 GB of RAM.
I think windows 7 is ok but I can’t stand that product activation crap. I don’t think it will wow customers and get them buying like Microsoft thinks. Corp customers may start installing it just because they are nearing refresh periods, but lots of folks and small businesses are looking hard at Apple....interesting times.
Trouble with XP SP3 upgrade? Yes, I found out there can be, especially on HP/Compaq machines with AMD chips.
A crash late last year led to my doing a reinstallation of Windows XP. As the machine went through its updates and patches, it crashed repeatedly after loading SP3. I then remembered I had had this problem several years before and had found the solution. It has to do with some difference between Intel/AMD chips and the SP3 conflicts with some setting that AMD chips have. Anyway, if you’re in that spot, do a search for this small program that fixes it: removeIntelPPMonAMD
If you have AMD, you run it before installing SP3 and everything works as it should.
Nope, nope, nope, nope. Wouldn’t be prudent.
I’m holding off until we can afford two new Macs instead. If business continues to be as good as it’s been recently, that won’t be too long.
the activation is not that bad. I had to due it 2 time due to crappy western digital harddrives. took less than 5 minutes out of my time, i think the first time I activated it online, the next timeI had to call M$, just told them my harddrive crapped out and gave them my code, they gave me a new one.
oh boy — thank you . I have a feeling however this will be a humbling experience.. (thank heavens I am blond) HA!
This really rubs me the wrong way. I won't purchase an OS that requires me to do this. I do have one PC running a corporate version of XP Pro (no activation), that I use occasionally for games. My main computer is a quad core mini-atx Shuttle, running Ubuntu 8.04 64bit. I've been using it recently to rip my DVD/CD collection. I also have a Windows 2000 (again, no activation) virtual machine on it, that gets used more often than the XP machine.
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