Downgrade plan for Windows 7 PCs

[echrada]

Anyone buying a PC with Windows 7 pre-installed will be able to swap it for XP or Vista.

Microsoft has confirmed that the licence conditions under which the software will be sold will allow people to downgrade.

The conditions will apply to both businesses that buy licences for Windows in bulk and consumers that get the operating system on a PC or laptop.

No firm date has been given for the release of Windows 7's final version.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Downgrade plan for Windows 7 PCs

 

[Romulinx2]

The worst marketing decision ever by Microsoft? :huh:

 

[Da Master]

I wonder who could ever do that. Well 7 to XP is a bit explainable, there are and always be some people who simply don't wanna do anything at least a bit different after they get used to do something in one way. There also might be some kind of rare software that some of the companies use for their own purposes and which somehow doesn't work under comaptibility mode in Vista/W7. But 7 to Vista, that would be simply ridiculous .

 

[Quantum]

wow, this is some piece of strategic decision.... daim it

 

[josh3306]

Microsoft is possibly trying to give back confidence to a lot of the people they lost when they flopped out vista :huh:

 

[Barman58]

The thing is with this is that although under the existing agreements customers of suppliers who decide to offer the facility, (possibly for a fee).

Microsoft has not as far as I am aware changed the fact that XP will only covered by security fixes from the 14th of April 2009 (in about 5 days).

Is an unsupported XP OS such a big draw as it was when Vista was released

 

[Adamd]

The only reason I can think of to go back to XP would be for business use.

As for Home users people really need to step up and give something else a try.

I am sure they are getting tired of the countless spyware, malware, viruses etc that Xp seems to so easily get.

Windows 7 at least for me I have noticed a HUGE cut down on the crap I get to almost none with my normal internet browsing. Unless Spybot etc don't scan 7 right lol... Then I am screwed.


But then again I can't remember the last time I got a virus. I guess I am just not retarded and don't download everything that shows up on my screen. To be honest getting viruses should be a thing of the past. I wish people would just learn now to download/click on anything that looks like it is not right.

 

[Jv5T W3]

lol, who the hell would DOWNgrade their PC? )
XP looks a bit too old, while Vista has its problems. if they say that Win7 will be all fixed and okay, this announcement has just proven that even they aren't sure about how well it will be. omg, looks that all those unhappy customers who have bad-reviewed vista have scared quite a lot the MS team )

 

[Crunchy Doodle]

I work for a large corporation. In spite of the high-tech engineering and manufacturing we do, the standard desktop PC, workstation or laptop is running XP Pro SP2, with IE6. My Dell T5400 workstation, which is only a few months old, has a Vista Business OEM license sticker on the top, but came to me with XP Pro SP2 with IE6. My biggest shock was some months ago was when corporate IT pushed down Microsoft Office 2007 onto everyone's machine. They decided they needed some of the cool features of Active Directory that are supported only in Office 2007. I expect to be retired before they switch to Windows 7. That's the way many big companies do things.

Bye.

 

[UKForce]

Microsoft is possibly trying to give back confidence to a lot of the people they lost when they flopped out vista :huh:

I agree, it makes good business sense, and it also shows they must be happy with their new OS, this time.

Lets be fair so far, Win 7 has done pretty good compared to previous OS's ?


.

 

[Adamd]

I work for a large corporation. In spite of the high-tech engineering and manufacturing we do, the standard desktop PC, workstation or laptop is running XP Pro SP2, with IE6. My Dell T5400 workstation, which is only a few months old, has a Vista Business OEM license sticker on the top, but came to me with XP Pro SP2 with IE6. My biggest shock was some months ago was when corporate IT pushed down Microsoft Office 2007 onto everyone's machine. They decided they needed some of the cool features of Active Directory that are supported only in Office 2007. I expect to be retired before they switch to Windows 7. That's the way many big companies do things.

Bye.

I feel bad for you being stuck with IE6 lol. No tabs, no security, nothing but crap crap crap

 

[wysiwyg]

Can't really see why downgrades should be offered, its a retrograde step, its trying to keep obsolete systems, that need to discarded,

Computing is an ongoing thing, 8 years of XP is enough, how many have tried to "tart it" up with bits from Vista, they're living in a dream world.

I think one of the main reasons (excuses) is upgrading the hardware.

Sorry M/S, its a mistake, you're making a rod for your own back, there are too many dinosaurs out there.

 

[whoosh]

Yes would not take the option to go with an earlier system . Windows 7 rocks ennit ;.)

 

[Romulinx2]

The worst marketing decision ever by Microsoft? :huh:

I think it gives a bad impression and shows a lack of confidence.

 

[Lebon14]

Can't really see why downgrades should be offered, its a retrograde step, its trying to keep obsolete systems, that need to discarded,

Computing is an ongoing thing, 8 years of XP is enough, how many have tried to "tart it" up with bits from Vista, they're living in a dream world.

I think one of the main reasons (excuses) is upgrading the hardware.

Sorry M/S, its a mistake, you're making a rod for your own back, there are too many dinosaurs out there.

This is what I exactly thinks of this downgrade. People has to stop thinking that their computers are everlasting like they are. An hardware upgrade, when done correctly, will be worth another 10 years for some people/enterprise. Upgrading from a Pentium III to a Core 2 Duo is huge difference and you will stop having performance issues.

 

[Adamd]

I kind of want to say anyone with a Pentium 2,3,or 4 should be or already have replaced the systems if you can afford it.

The speed difference between Pentium 4 and a core 2 duo or quad is just outstanding.

 

[djfirestorm]

I am with Adamd. I NEVER get viruses on XP...viruses are caused by stupid users. The one time I got infected, I had a feeling before I clicked on that porn banner my computer would get screwed up.haha Jk about the banner, but it is a point I would like to get across to parents with kids that compling about XP being so slow (thank god they dont have vista lol)!!! Although I will use XP for years to come, due to business reasons...I would recommend 7. I have been using it extensively and to be honest...except for no X-Fi on my ROG sound card, and the punkbuster issue, I have not had ANY problems afte build 7057. 7070 is faster I noticed though.
Now back to the issue, downgrading is still usable to many companies, but like some have said, unless there is a specific reason to use XP, Windows 7 will be a fresh change. The one thing that irritates me, is Ultimate editions, which cost the most, dont downgrade??? WTF is that, anything that costs more than buisiness edition should have it in. And for Home Premium, should be able to downgrade to XP Home at least. It is fair...after all if XP is being dropped for support, by any other legal standards (similar to royalties) it should become open lisence. But I forgot, Micro$oft is exempt from following copyright and privacy laws.

 

[JerzeyLegend]

The thing is with this is that although under the existing agreements customers of suppliers who decide to offer the facility, (possibly for a fee).

Microsoft has not as far as I am aware changed the fact that XP will only covered by security fixes from the 14th of April 2009 (in about 5 days).

Is an unsupported XP OS such a big draw as it was when Vista was released

I thought support was going to end in 2014.

 

[djfirestorm]

I thought support was going to end in 2014.

Microsoft does whatever it wants. I highly doubt it would go to 2014, that would defeat the purpose in selling copies of "more secure" operating systems. If you keep updating a program then there is no need to upgrade to a new one!!!

 

[Barman58]

The provision of free support ends for XP Today, although Microsoft will continue to supply security updates only until 2014.

All development and bug fixes for XP has now finished.

If you are a business user who wishes to continue using XP, various support options are available for purchase from Microsoft, (and others).

This is a part of the normal life cycle for a Microsoft operating system, although, due to various external pressures, this has taken longer than usual with XP