Posted on 05/08/2015 3:24:04 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Internet woke up to a shock this morning. Microsoft MSFT +2.18% has used its Ignite 2015 conference to declare Windows 10 will be “the last version of Windows” . The reaction has been predictably alarmist, but what exactly does it mean and is this really the end for Windows as we know it?
First some context. The statement came from Microsoft employee Jerry Nixon, a self proclaimed ‘developer evangelist’ who stated: “Right now we’re releasing Windows 10, and because Windows 10 is the last version of Windows, we’re all still working on Windows 10.”
If this sounds strange, Microsoft didn’t help. The company today stepped forward to defend Nixon’s comment to The Verge saying it was “reflective” of the company’s opinion. So what is going on? Is Windows 10 really the end?
It’s Windows, But Not Like You Know It
The simplistic response is: No. Windows is not going anywhere. What is now clearly and undeniably changing, however, is how Microsoft will brand, develop, update and expect us to pay for Windows after Windows 10.
“Windows will be delivered as a service bringing new innovations and updates in an ongoing manner, with continuous value for our consumer and business customers,” explained Microsoft in its full statement to the Verge. “We aren’t speaking to future branding at this time, but customers can be confident Windows 10 will remain up-to-date and power a variety of devices from PCs to phones to Surface Hub to HoloLens and Xbox. We look forward to a long future of Windows innovations.”
Extract the marketing speak and what the future appears to be is ‘Windows’ – no version number, just ‘Windows’.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
I’m sticking with Windows 7 Pro as long as possible.
I’m stuck with Windoze unless Corel Draw comes up with a Linux version. I have 15 years of business files in Draw, all using True Type fonts for the artwork.
I could retire now if I had all the last nails in Microsoft's coffin to sell for scrap.
I have XP in the basement which I should probably get going again. My Vista is toast (good riddance!). Now I have Windows 7 Pro and I hope it lasts longer than Vista.
I’m not seeing any increased value to me of Windows past XPP.
RE: I’m stuck with Windoze unless Corel Draw comes up with a Linux version
How about all your word processing documents?
Libre Open Office comes with Ubuntu and handles most of MS Office chores. Sure when you open a DOCX document it complains about “lost formatting” but I have yet to figure out what got stripped out.
My Laptop is still XP. It is a notebook without a CD drive.
So I do not even have a way to upgrade to Windows 7 which is good. I do not want to buy an external CD drive just for Windows upgrade.
For me, anyway.
When my Windows 7 computer eventually does irreparably crash, I'm getting a Mac.
Fewer "issues" with the Mac?
Priceless!
.
Next, it will be microsoft Life.
Yup. No thanky.
The Linux shells themselves have Windows builds. I used ksh recently. Bash is also available...
In any case, you have to know where to look, especially if you want a Win32 or Win64 native app, as opposed to one that requires RedHat Cygwin.
For now, Office 2010, 2013, and most likely the upcoming Office 2016, continue to offer one-time purchase options...I was not aware of this option for Office 2013/2016 until yesterday.
“Isn’t that what made Win 8 such a wretched mess?”
Yes, and Microsoft has doubled-down on their “mobile first” (we don’t give a crap about our bread & butter PC users anymore) strategy with Windows 10, which is really just Windows 8.10 with a coat of paint and half-arsed Start Menu. There’s essentially nothing new in W8.10 that hasn’t been put there just for mobile.
Ready now for Office 2007.
“I’m sticking with Windows 7 Pro as long as possible.”
Isn’t everyone who has a PC?
I do everything in Corel.
I generate all artwork & purchase orders in Draw. One reason for doing the POs in Corel is that I can embed the artwork in it, export as a PDF and then my supplier will have a document that can be used to verify the integrity of the vector art that I include with the PO. That has saved me much grief.
I do my invoices in an Open Office spreadsheet, which I believe has a Linux version. But invoices are no big deal.
No thanks. I’ll stick with XP and W7.
Even the Beatles called it a day.
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