Windows 7's new feature: Windows XP Mode

I'm confused on what's going on here..

This is what I got so far: "You can basically run XP on win7"... ?

kind of.
you can run programs in 'xp mode' so you dont need xp anymore and everyone can buy windows 7.

Scotteq said:

If I may add my two coppers...

I do not feel there is much value add for a home user for the simple reason that 7 runs any recent windows app just fine, and without any need for virtualization. I'm sure that enthusiasts can, and will, find the exceptions - even if only just to play with it. :) But Mom and Pop make due with whatever OS comes on the new computer.


For a corporate environment, it's a little different. And I'm a little surprised the obvious implication has so far been missed: The Virtualized environment is *not* there to transform your Pentium HT el~Cheapo~Corporate~sh*tbox into a modern machine by giving it a facelift. Because, well, face it: A sh*tbox is a sh*tbox is a sh*tbox. And you'd be wasting your time to give it a new OS, so you can virtualize the OS that's already there, and load down the old dog even more than it already is. As pointed out already, that would be pretty dumb and a lot of work for little to no benefit.

It *IS* there so when you finally do take the thing out back and shoot it - (as should have probably been done years ago, except nobody wanted to allocate budget for a new PC) - you can buy a new Win 7 PC as the replacement and have the confidence that you can run an XP SP3 environment. Why? So your new PC that replaced some 10 year old piece of garbage can present itself to the remaining 10 year old pieces of garbage as "One Of Their Own".

Then over time you can transition to a Win 7/Server 2006+

It's an upgrade path, existing to provide the necessary backward compatibility with whatever legacy stuff is laying around so nobody has to downgrade to XP any more. No more, no less.

I just have to say I agree with this 100 percent as someone who works in the business you described. The introduction of xp mode completely changes how I approach windows 7 for our business customers. For example, one of our customers runs an old insurance application that wont run in vista/win 7 by any means but does in xp. There is no upgrade to this software. This customer has been hindered from upgrading because of this one critical app. Now with xp mode, I can finally upgrade them without worry, sooner rather than later and start utilizing the benefits of Win 7/Server 2008 R2 Technology (DirectAccess..etc)

pretty boring...its just a pimped virtual pc version for win7 that will then run xp ... and be able to display them on your win7 desktop natively... however there won't be any direct hardware access so games will still be slow in 7.

segobi said:

pretty boring...its just a pimped virtual pc version for win7 that will then run xp ... and be able to display them on your win7 desktop natively... however there won't be any direct hardware access so games will still be slow in 7.

Game developers will make the best games for 7 :)

mdodge said:

I just have to say I agree with this 100 percent as someone who works in the business you described. The introduction of xp mode completely changes how I approach windows 7 for our business customers. For example, one of our customers runs an old insurance application that wont run in vista/win 7 by any means but does in xp. There is no upgrade to this software. This customer has been hindered from upgrading because of this one critical app. Now with xp mode, I can finally upgrade them without worry, sooner rather than later and start utilizing the benefits of Win 7/Server 2008 R2 Technology (DirectAccess..etc)

Not only Software -- but as I keep pointing out (in spite of people making totally OT comments like the new Games will run on 7 as well as a lot of old ones) but also EXPENSIVE LEGACY HARDWARE.

I can't understand how especially in THESE times people seem to have some mental block here. - The typical response is "Get manufacturers to upgrade device drivers - or simply buy new gear"

1) As I keep pointing out "Ad Nauseam" but few seem to grasp the simple concept -- the Manufacturer may be OUT OF BUSINESS often without a successor so no device driver available.

2)Some of this legacy Hardware is VERY VERY expensive -- you can't just go out to Wallmart or wherever and by some new gear - epecially at several 000's of dollars even if you COULD find a suitable replacement.

This upgrade approach is aimed primarily at BUSINESSES for which it is an EXCELLENT IDEA. As I also posted the way this is implemented of course will be critical.

For Home users software like Virtual Box, Vmware , and Virtual PC would be 100% OK. Corporates will want quick and fairly easy installation and maintenance without having to configure zillions of Virtual PC's.

Another possibility for Larger corporates would be to use something like a "Local Cloud". With one or more Virtual servers supplying the XP Images a very large number of people could continue using their legacy apps for as long as needed whilst the hardware was updated in stages and eventually replacement solutions for legacy gear sought.

More difficult to implement however and is a longer term solution. The advantage here would be that eventually as the legacy apps are phased out the same approach could be used to install any OS upgrades on the virtual servers -- client machines would be unaffected.

To repeat --this is a BUSINESS type solution (although as an individual there would be nothing to stop you using it) and if you view it in THAT context -- not as a leading edge home user probably more interested in gaming and multi-media steaming then you will see it makes perfect sense -- and certainly far better than that totally cretinous idea of a W7 ==> XP "downgrade".

Cheers
jimbo

most business are still and will be running XP :)

why should they upgrade to 7 ? WHY ?

Well they could also just run Linux and VirtualBox or VMware etc. lol...

MS releases OS after OS that does not offer any real benefit...

nechan said:

does anyone have a download link for the XPM feature?

All you need to know about it is here:

Coming Soon: Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC - Windows for your Business - The Windows Blog

So, by the looks of that, it's not out anywhere yet.

segobi said:

why should they upgrade to 7 ? WHY ?

Because new hardware are sold with new OS. Enterprise never upgrade the Os, but the hardware, and the OS come with it.
Because XP is totally out to date (9 years old when Seven will go out!!!)
Because XP is totally unsecure compare to Vista/Seven
Because there's lot of many little improvment in Vista/Seven. Kind of improvment that linux/Mac users are proud, but totlly denigrated when it's for Windows.
Because you cant stay on old things all your life
Because XP must die on time for all!

MS releases OS after OS that does not offer any real benefit...

And if you do not understand what Vista/Seven have more than XP... what are you doing here ?

I say out with the old, in with the new!