The Problem With Microsoft’s Windows 8 Timetable.

[Barman58]

I do not think that you can blame Microsoft for hardware compatibility issues with win7 due to the non compliance of drivers. some manufacturers see the release of a new Microsoft OS as a sales opportunity and purposely do not release updated drivers in an attempt to force users to upgrade their working hardware. Members here have made these work by the simple replacement of version strings in installers proving that the issue is an artificial one.

Software is a more complex issue but if an application is written in the correct way for say XP and fully follows the SDK then it should and normally will work on win7. some developers however do not follow the proscribed coding practices and when the loophole they use is closed in a later OS they fail. Also any software working at a low system level may fail if it addresses locations that change due to optimization of a new OS.

 

[HerrKaLeun]

I do not think that you can blame Microsoft for hardware compatibility issues with win7 due to the non compliance of drivers. some manufacturers see the release of a new Microsoft OS as a sales opportunity and purposely do not release updated drivers in an attempt to force users to upgrade their working hardware. Members here have made these work by the simple replacement of version strings in installers proving that the issue is an artificial one.

Software is a more complex issue but if an application is written in the correct way for say XP and fully follows the SDK then it should and normally will work on win7. some developers however do not follow the proscribed coding practices and when the loophole they use is closed in a later OS they fail. Also any software working at a low system level may fail if it addresses locations that change due to optimization of a new OS.

That is very true. unfortunately some manufacturers make it a habit to artificially limit their software. When i bought an energy simulation last year I looked into various products and one that actually looked nice was limited to 32 bit OS. I tried it on 64 bit, no working. The same simulation engine (EnergyPlus) is used in other products that work in 64 bit. And we talk about software that typically costs $ 2000 with $ 500 annual subscription. The only reason I can imagine is that they want you to force to stay on subscription to eventually get 64 bit OS. Needless to say I gave my (employer's) money to a software company that doesn't do such tricks. I assume the same holds true for W7 compatibility when it worked in Vista. My Dell printer officially doesn't work in W7 either. When i had Vista 64, I used some other printer's driver and it worked. For W7 i had to so some more trying and managed to get it done. Obviously, If it hadn't worked I would have bought any printer BUT Dell.