Microsoft Windows 7 support and sales cutoff dates

[whs]

I think the times of 1GB and 2GB machines are over. Most PCs today come with 4GB or more. So RAM is no more the problem.

At the same time I understand that there are still a few of the old bangers around that have little RAM. Nothing wrong with them staying on XP or 2000. If it works, no need to change.

 

[LaptopDan757]

It's not so easy to move from Win XP to Win 7. Windows XP ran fine in with under 1 GB RAM, and I suspect most boxes come in at under 2 GB. Windows 7 would choke on such a computer. So I don't see XP-to-7 upgrades happening much.

Margrave, I have to prove you wrong on ALL counts. I have upgraded multiple XP Laptops (some 8 years old) running as little as 512MB of RAM to Windows 7 Home and while they run faster and can have more programs open at the same time with 2GB of RAM...they work just fine for Internet and Basic PC users.

Dan

Saying ALL for almost anything can get you into trouble. in this case, I had a five year old XP machine that, according to M$'s compatibility program, was only partially compatible with Win 7. No Aero was the killer point for me (other than I never liked that particular machine); I depend heavily on AeroSnap, something I was able to get on XP via a third party program that, ironically, wasn't compatible with Wind 7.

Jeanne,

I agree that AERO seems to be the Breaker in Windows 7 as well as Movie Maker during the Win 7 upgrades. Most of the Older Laptops Video Graphics Cards cannot handle the Aero or Movie Maker programs and Windows 7 will not even run them unless your WEI is high enough. Some of the older Laptops had WEIs around 2.5 but it was mainly due to inadeqate Video Cards and NOT the amount of installed RAM. From my original post I mentioned normal Internet users and basic Windows functions. Anything more than that will require an upgraded / new video card and more RAM.

Thanks for keeping me in check.

Dan

 

[richnrockville]

Oh for the days of putting those 16kb chips on an extension board for my old pc. I think that 264K was a couple of hundred dollars and the board costs almost the same. Back to the good old days

Rich

 

[Computer0304]

Margrave, I have to prove you wrong on ALL counts. I have upgraded multiple XP Laptops (some 8 years old) running as little as 512MB of RAM to Windows 7 Home and while they run faster and can have more programs open at the same time with 2GB of RAM...they work just fine for Internet and Basic PC users.

Dan

Saying ALL for almost anything can get you into trouble. in this case, I had a five year old XP machine that, according to M$'s compatibility program, was only partially compatible with Win 7. No Aero was the killer point for me (other than I never liked that particular machine); I depend heavily on AeroSnap, something I was able to get on XP via a third party program that, ironically, wasn't compatible with Wind 7.

Jeanne,

I agree that AERO seems to be the Breaker in Windows 7 as well as Movie Maker during the Win 7 upgrades. Most of the Older Laptops Video Graphics Cards cannot handle the Aero or Movie Maker programs and Windows 7 will not even run them unless your WEI is high enough. Some of the older Laptops had WEIs around 2.5 but it was mainly due to inadeqate Video Cards and NOT the amount of installed RAM. From my original post I mentioned normal Internet users and basic Windows functions. Anything more than that will require an upgraded / new video card and more RAM.

Thanks for keeping me in check.

Dan

Two friends of mine could run it (aero) but dont use it anyway.

 

[margrave]

I'm guessing that Microsoft will continue to sell bulk-licensed (corporate) versions (because large-volume buyers get attention in the marketplace).

If you're not part of that establishment, you (eventually) move on to Windows 8.