The Last Days of Windows 7

[Dogz]

Since my machine died a couple months ago I am getting it replaced with a mac laptop running bootcamp. I will probably download and burn the windows 8 rc and take it for a test drive before I make my decision to go to 8 or to stay at 7.

 

[Dogz]

If it weren't for Steve Jobs, Apple may have eventually died out at the turn of the century. However, if it weren't for Microsoft (and Bill Gates, mostly), Apple may still have died out with Steve Jobs at the helm - $150 million in cash for non-voting stock and an agreement to continue selling Office for the Mac for 5 years (in exchange for dropping the lawsuit Apple had against Microsoft - it wasn't all altruism, or perhaps none at all) was ultimately what put Apple on their trajectory. Office for the Mac was important then (and Steve Jobs knew it, hence why he wanted the 5 year agreement to continue making it available on Apple's platform), probably more so than it is now. Also, there is rumored to have been much more cash exchanged (the schedule B portion of the deal that was secret) than the $150 million reported, as Apple lost over a billion or so dollars over the previous two years, and had another billion lost on revenues (and reported only $1.2 billion in cash holdings at the time) and yet ended in the black and maintained their investments (and even started accumulating cash) very quickly after that point, without a huge uptick in sales to account for it - interesting indeed, and it would still have been nothing for Microsoft (or even Bill Gates himself) at the time to do without affecting anything in either's lives. Also, Microsoft got access to Apple's labs and R&D over that same 5 year span, so it seems like both companies' cultures were affected positively by the deal, regardless of what it ultimately was behind closed doors.

Viewed in the lens of Apple as a hardware company, and Microsoft a software one (mostly, anyway), it makes sense Microsoft would write Office for the Mac, as that's what Microsoft does. It's a little odd because you'd think they'd want to push Office licenses for Windows instead of the Mac, but I doubt it makes a huge difference or impact on Windows' dominance in the market. It makes money, and probably isn't a threat to Microsoft's market position(s) at all; thus, as long as that stays true, Microsoft will gladly take money from whomever is willing to give it to them - be it a Mac user or a Windows user .

Microsoft had to step in and save apple:sarc:

 

[Dave76]

Yep

 

[giblets]

According to wikipedia, part of a settlement so Apple would drop a lawsuit alleging ip theft of quicktime code. How accurate that is, I don't know...... these companies must sue each other every day. haha

 

[cluberti]

It was probably part of it - it didn't hurt that Microsoft kept a rival afloat during the antitrust investigation (no matter how small), nor did getting access to Apple's R&D and a few other things (supposedly - again, the part B of the settlement is not documented, so this is all informed speculation).

 

[preiius]

People runs applications like browser or office in their daily use, not the os. That's why windows xp refuses to die after 10 years.

Happy birthday, xp!

 

[EarlGrayHot]

Now that those of us who ask questions have been told how stupid we are to want to arrange our files to suit our own needs and insulted because we have different opinions, or lack the technological genius of those who were clearly born knowing older technologies, we can move on. Computers are widely used precisely because they have become easier to navigate and you don't have to earn a doctorate in computer technology to use one. No doubt some people would be happier if we all still used punch cards so they could really show off their skills but a majority of people I know appreciate having a computer which is easy to use and which will do what they want without a huge amount of hassle. I would prefer not to spend all my waking hours trying to figure out my computer. Shockingly, Microsoft sells computers to billions of people who feel the same way.

I was actually talking about not being able to easily arrange filed in my documents to suit my needs rather than on the desktop where you can still arrange icons however you want.

I work at a major university with a very large tech department. They informed me that a lot of people are complaining about this issue; fortunately we won't be executed for the crime of disagreeing with Microsoft on this issue though I'm sure that will disappoint some. Someone was kind enough to post a fix for the autoarrange problem on another thread.

 

[caleb97]

After having a look at the developer preview of Windows 8, it looks like I'll be staying with 7 for a while yet.

 

[Vince53]

Keep an eye on netbooks and laptops running 7, and also keep an eye on their prices. There might be a sharp price drop around the time 8 comes out.

 

[carwiz]

Keep an eye on netbooks and laptops running 7, and also keep an eye on their prices. There might be a sharp price drop around the time 8 comes out.

Don't hold your breath for that. While the retailers have already been running sales on Windows 7, don't count on much of a drop for hardware and systems. I think the price increases due to market conditions (disk drives, etc.) will most likely hold through the spring and possibly summer. It's going to put a stumbling block in front of new technology machines. Fewer machines means higher prices that will keep the price for "old inventory" higher too. You'll most likely see this years models being "enhanced" with Eight and sold as new machines next year.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi all
I can't see any problem with MS writing office for a Mac or any software for any OS including android if it wants to.

IBM used to be a great hardware company knbown as "Big Blue" --all its mainframs and peripheral equipment was coloured blue --hence the name.

Now although it still has reseearch labs it concentrates almost its entire business on the servicing and consultancu sector suppling personel and services for such diverse systems as SAP, Oracle etc etc.

A successful business keeps abreast of the market (or ahead of it).

If its core business is fairly static - however successful it is then it will eventually have to diversify or whither away.

Tablets and mobile devices while they won't replace the traditional computer for all sorts of reasons do require a different type of OS --hence a good start with W8 Preview.

So Windows isn't going away yet -- and if you have an Android phone - well I suspect when W8 is ready for smart phones etc -- a lot will jump ship.

W7 of course will still be the mainstream OS for PC's with W8 as an option (Metro UI apps, Touch screens etc -- although using a touch screen on a PC with a large monitor is a hideously tiring experience when trying top run any type of Office App). - Another issue of course.

Cheeers
jimbo

 

[magnetite]

Windows 7 has been very stable for me. I might get Windows 8 with my next build, but I'm not going to be upgrading both my current systems with Windows 8 when it's released.

 

[zEric7x]

I have a laptop and I am not upgrading to windows 8. I will eventuality get anyways if I ever get a desktop probably or a better laptop.

 

[Maguscreed]

I don't really understand the title of this thread, as of now I see absolutely no indication that win 8 is even meant to be a replacement for win 7.

 

[panais]

I don't really understand the title of this thread, as of now I see absolutely no indication that win 8 is even meant to be a replacement for win 7.

 

[fseal]

?!?!?!

Of course Win 8 is going to replace Win 7... just as Win7 replaced vista and so on... (Ok Vista didn't really replace XP so much)

The title of the thread is at best, premature. Win7 days will be numbered... some day. And win 8's tire treads will be on Win 7's back... some day. Just a tad early to be talking about it now though

But Microsoft's Win8 plans seem to be pretty ambititious. Win8 on the phone, tablet, xpox, laptop and desktop. One giant Win 8 ecosphere at some point.

 

[Maguscreed]

I love my interface, I've just really gotten used to it. The fact they already want to completely revamp it again, is honestly a point of contention for me.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Windows 9

I have a laptop and I am not upgrading to windows 8. I will eventuality get anyways if I ever get a desktop probably or a better laptop.

Based on the old Windows adage, "every second release is an improvement", you should wait until Windows 9.

 

[Corazon]

?!?!?!

Of course Win 8 is going to replace Win 7... just as Win7 replaced vista and so on... (Ok Vista didn't really replace XP so much)

I assume lots of people are happily running Vista (or maybe not so happily) and have no desire yet to switch to Windows 7. Also, neither Vista nor 7 have really displaced XP just yet, that'll take some more time to happen.

I don't see Windows 8 replacing 7 so much as I see it adding to the available choices, at least for a certain amount of time. 7 is too young and too good to be abandoned so quickly.

 

[koolkat77]

are you seriously kidding me ? windows 7 got a long way to go. imo, MS should take a breathe of 7 to 8 years to plan another OS.for eg - Xp's UI compared to Vistas. would appreciate MS to create something totally different from its predecessors.or rather make different versions out of the OS like ubuntu?.
ps. i love windows 7