Posted on 09/30/2009 10:48:19 PM PDT by JoeProBono
Microsoft unveiled the details of the Windows 7 logo program today. The requirements for earning the Windows 7 compatibility label are stricter this time around--partially to boost support and acceptance of 64-bit systems, and partially to avoid the pitfalls Microsoft encountered with the Vista logo program.
The Windows 7 logo program beefs up the testing requirements, while reducing the red tape and expense it takes for partners and vendors to certify their products as compatible. Products that achieve the Windows 7 logo certification should perform optimally and experience minimal crashes, reboots or other issues.
There is a key change from past Windows compatibility programs. According to this Windows 7 blog post, "To be granted the Logo, products are tested to work with all versions of Windows 7 including 64-bit.
This is an important change since 64 bit systems are becoming more mainstream." Microsoft also claims to have engaged partners earlier in the operating system development process to ensure they had sufficient time to develop and test Windows 7 compatible products.
The first of many mistakes with the launch of Windows Vista was the widespread lack of compatible drivers for critical devices like printers.
(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...
That I could see br for people with Windows 7 basic as Ultimate has everything already included and I have never come across a virtual environment within Win 7 Ultimate natively. Not that it doesn’t exist, I’ve never come across it nor needed it.
There was a whole forum devoted to that particular scanner problem. HP would not back what they told customers or their product. Their final answer was buy a newer HP scanner, so I did kind of, I bought an Epson ;^)
I need 4 monitors for my work. Tried Vista and no go. I could have spent more than the computer was worth to get new video cards, but it was cheaper just to stay with XP. What about 7? Anybody know if they ditched the WDDM driver scheme? If I have to run it in XP mode, will people laugh at me for buying new software?
I’m already stuck with an almost new printer that won’t work with Vista. HP could, but won’t, release drivers. I’ve bought my last HP printer!
I have a Dell -
works great with Vista but uses too much ink
See my post #13 and #22.
I should check when I walk by it again . . . it could be an Epson.
Thx.
W7 rocks. I’ve been using it all summer. I laughed outloud setting it up on my Laptop. I plugged in the internet cable to go download drivers for my pcmcia wireless card, but before I could, it did it for me! Just cool.
I’ve had no problems with any software I run. On my 64 bit gaming system I think it runs smoother than the Vista it replaced. I cannot quantify that statement with numbers, i.e. frames per second, etc. but I can feel the difference.
I’ve preordered it. I NEVER buy MS operating systems. I take that back. I bought 95 for my 3.1 machine. I paid $49 for the “upgrade” version. It’s well worth it. It acts like a linux distribution.
“certification should perform optimally and experience minimal crashes, reboots or other issues.”
“Minimal,” such a relative term at microsoft.
I did install and remove WIN 7 a few times due to a couple of ‘show stopper’ programs.
The first major problem FOR ME was if I deleted several files at once, the system would hang up. I would have to then delete each file one at a time and then reboot to delete the file which was hanging up. This happened EVERY time I tried to delete multiple files at one time. This happened under the release candidate, not the beta version.
The other major concern for me was that WIN 7 does NOT support Outlook Express natively. Outlook Express does run under the XP mode version of XP, but in order to run XP mode, it locks up extra memory for the XP mode application as well as the included Windows XP version which runs under XP mode.
Since I was running the 32 bit version of XP, I was limited to only 4 gig of available memory which was then severely depleted by running XP mode.
I don't know if one can run XP mode under the 64 bit win 7 and if so the XP mode must also be 64 bit. Regardless, since none of my applications are 64 bit, I have no need or desire to run the 64 bit win 7 just to increase the available memory since I couldn't use that extra memory anyway.
Both the problems I encountered were enough for me to decide to stick with XP.
One other problem for me was that even though the Beta version ran fine under my brand new machine, XP mode on the Relese candidate wouldn't run until I 'FLASHED' the BIOS on that same machine. It took a lot of digging to find this out. I just built that machine using the very best and latest processor and motherboard and I was stunned that the BIOS needed flashing for the Release Candidate to work properly. I liked WIN 7 for what worked on it, but it does several things differently and there is a learning curve to get it to look and run like the current XP. It makes no sense to get WIN 7 and run everything in XP mode because of the memory loss either for WIN 7 or XP mode and XP depending on where one runs their Apps.
XP mode only exists for those who have one or more apps that can only run under XP. It's sole purpose is to encourage people to upgrade to WIN 7 by providing those few incompatible apps the ability to run.
In my case, some incompatible apps included my Perfect Disk disk defragmenter and Acronis True Image backup. I don't want to have to buy the latest versions of those programs since I own versions that are still good under XP.
I have tried this with the Release Candidate and it works good.
Mucho? Is that Robert's brother? Cousin from Spain?
Yeah, the arrogance is mind numbing when companies shaft you, then tell you the fix is to give THEM more business! I may not be able to force them or their product to do the right thing, but if not, they’re not getting a reward for the fact.
What’s your perspective, roamer?
As others here will no doubt affirm, the RC and BETA which were released for testing were based upon "Win7 Ultimate". I participated in the program all the way along, and had no real problems with program compatibility, nor any problem with drivers whatsoever. That is largely due to it's inherent similarity to WinVista, in my opinion. In fact, even in the BETA, it identifies itself as Win6 (not Win7) in a cmd window.
Not to say that there are not differences, mind you - For instance, when hacking on it to make a miniaturized Win7 for a boot utility, I could never get Acronis' partition manager to run on it, no matter what I did... And that particular manager works fine in a MiniVista... So even in the very core files, there are significant differences.
Now, on the other hand, Paragon's partition manager, which I use personally (the other was for a friend), never had a problem at all. But all of the normal joe-office, joe home-owner type stuff worked fine.
Will it ALL work fine? Probably not. But it ALL didn't work fine in the jump from Win98 to Win2k either. And WinXP SP-2 busted a bunch of stuff too, software-wise and driver-wise.
There is a WinXP compatibility mode, but it basically causes a virtual copy of WinXP to run just to run that app, which is nuts unless you happen to have a swingin' big-dawg box, because the memory hit is significant. It is at best, a temporary fix, and one should upgrade to a newer version of the offending software, or find a software that isn't so picky, and shake those resources loose ASAP.
As to whether or not your peripheral equipment will run on Win7 or not, that is always a question. I lost a scanner going from Win2k to WinXP... UMAX would not make a driver available. That is not Micrsoft's fault. That is UMAX's fault. I have not bought another UMAX since, nor have I recommended, or sold any, even though they have made the drivers available on CD for a small fee. Dirty pool.
The hardware and software you buy is cheap to build. It is expensive to buy. What you are purchasing is good name, and that comes from supporting their wares. If the SOBs won't write a driver update or software upgrade to make their product continue it's useful existence, that is the very essence of "planned obsolescence", which is a damnable business practice. Throw their crap away, and buy from someone with more integrity. That includes Microsoft, btw...
The responsibility is only peripherally incumbent upon the Operating System to maintain backward compatibility. The real responsibility lies upon the software application author and the hardware manufacturer to extend their product to meet the new platform requirements.
EXCELLENT POINTS.
When I get some extensive time and better health [head cold]
I hope to get Gateway tech support to help me release at least one of my backup drives they locked up as RECOVERY and useit as a LINUX drive.
I gather the partitioning software you mentioned would be helpful in that task?
in the unlocking, no... (although I can be useful in that regard, perhaps, if other means fail) in the matter of partitioning, yes, though most Linux distros are fairly robust wrt partitioning on their own.
When you are ready, a little forewarning and some time, I can help...
Prayers for your health, Quix.
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