What will you do when Windows 7 ends?

[Barman58]

Good post Jack,

I would split the enterprise category into two, the enterprise which would include large multinationals, National Governments, (education, Health Etc), National armed services Etc, and the second group would be what the UK know as SME (Small to Medium Enterprises), which are the small 1 to 100 employee companies,

The first group Microsoft will treat like everyone else does, just like The phone company, the electric and gas company, and indeed parts of the government, they will fawn over them adjust the workings of the OS for them - Why do they do this, simply because they are the majority market for everything, they certainly are for Microsoft, Even though they get great deals to keep cost down and support they are the market that does not run pirate software and orders not in tens or hundreds but thousands of units. The Software as a Service ideology actually appeals to them, they prefer a number of small developmental changes that can be integrated into their systems, rather than the major change every few years - The way they look at software is that as they lease the hardware why not the software.

The second group are valuable to Microsoft and the reason there is a pro version of each windows, they purchase software at a slight discount over the man in the street, and some use networks, with or without servers, but are normally not cash rich. Some even still share computers - especially if they are running a shift system for employees.

The Poke and Go, ( or Peek and Peck), consumer market is large but has never been a great cash cow for any Tech company, as most of this group purchase a computer with OS from one of the big Box Shifting OEMs, and these OS copies are heavily discounted almost down to cost level - the Home versions of windows are designed for this market - simple to use, automatic everything, a consumer product similar to a washing machine or TV, Can anyone remember Starter versions, with less settings to change than a TV

The last group the Betweeners as you call them the hobbyist/IT pro/enthusiast users make up a tiny proportion of Microsoft's customer base, OK they upgrade often, are willing to beta Test software, so they are not ignored - of course they should not really be using a home version of software and expect any real ability to control settings, They are very vocal, and Microsoft does listen, but they have to produce a saleable product for their main markets.

I've not mentioned Phones as this is a completely different horse, One that I think was long out of the gate before Microsoft even arrived at the track. They were similar when XP was King and this new fangled Interweb's came along, but they eventually realised that it was real and jumped on board and are now up with the leaders.

The Phone market is another Long distance race and you never know, but I think they have a long way to go to even see the rest of the field

 

[mjf]

I would call myself a hobbyist/enthusiast and have used Windows 7 Home Premium on all 4 PCs (3 built, 1 recased Acer) not pro. This was because of the non US price gouging cost MS applied to the pro version. Some possible networking advantages were offered by the pro version I think but not much more.
When I eventually build using Windows 10 I may consider the extra $ for the pro version because of the extra control.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yea I couldn't use 10 without group policy

 

[Benteke]

....And using Sandboxie with it (as I have stated in these forums upteen times before) negates the need for a real-time AV, protecting the OS from any online threats by keeping all online activity within the sandbox which can be configured to be deleted after each session, or persist if one prefers, which is still perfectly safe.

I would love to know more about this... My AV subscription runs out fairly soon and I'm not planning on renewing. Any info/further reading you could suggest?


w/regards to the OP, for me it's difficult to say.... 2020 is a ways off. If my MS experience continues along the same path as it has over this past year, OS X will be used for the majority of my computing needs. It's that simple.

 

[mjf]

Yea I couldn't use 10 without group policy

Your initial post puzzled me but not the edited one. I'd like access to gpedit as well. There some claimed fiddles to get gpedit working on the Home version but I don't trust them at this stage to try on Windows 7 or 10 if/when I install it.

 

[Callender]

There some claimed fiddles to get gpedit working on the Home version but I don't trust them at this stage to try on Windows 7 or 10 if/when I install it.

Some settings stick and some don't. See Posts #12, #14 & #15 here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/software...l-gpedit-msc-my-windows-7-home-premium-2.html

I added gpedit.msc mainly to configure the following the Notify AV when opening attachments setting which is not enabled in Windows 7 by default. (Shocking)

   Note

This policy setting allows you to manage the behavior for notifying registered antivirus programs. If multiple programs are registered, they will all be notified. If the registered antivirus program already performs on-access checks or scans files as they arrive on the computer’s e-mail server because further calls would be redundant.

If you enable this policy Windows tells the registered antivirus program to scan the file when a user opens a file attachment. If the antivirus program fails, the attachment is blocked from being opened. - In other words if the AV doesn't scan the attachment for any reason it cannot be opened.

If you disable this policy Windows does not call the registered antivirus programs when file attachments are opened.

If you do not configure this policy Windows does not call the registered antivirus programs when file attachments are opened.

In other words unsafe attachments can be opened if the AV doesn't scan them.

​

Example of a Group Policy setting that doesn't stick in Home Premium:

http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...b3035583-reappeared-after-being-hidden-6.html

As Shawn says it's better to find the appropriate registry setting.

 

[remm]

....And using Sandboxie with it (as I have stated in these forums upteen times before) negates the need for a real-time AV, protecting the OS from any online threats by keeping all online activity within the sandbox which can be configured to be deleted after each session, or persist if one prefers, which is still perfectly safe.

I would love to know more about this... My AV subscription runs out fairly soon and I'm not planning on renewing. Any info/further reading you could suggest?

Can read about Sandboxie here, and can Google "what is a sandbox" for general info to read about the concept which is not new, and not specific to Sandboxie. Sandboxes have been used for many, many years to study sftw viruses among other things. Sandboxie just packages one for easy use.

 

[hazel123]

I bought a copy of Windows 8 on ebay recently and thought I'd try it on a 10" netbook that had Windows on but was a bit slow. Found the resolution wasn't compatible and it couldn't upgrade to 8.1 so I clean installed Windows 10 on it, using the Windows 8 product key. Windows 10 worked perfectly on it, with all the drivers downloaded (which is weird when it isn't compatible with our 3 newer laptops). So I've had a good fiddle around with Windows 10 now. Set it up how I wanted it - to be more like Windows 7. I can't see any advantages at all. It doesn't seem any faster really - the menu layouts aren't as good and I absolutely hate the apps. With adverts in them! Of course you don't have to use them. Maybe it is slightly quicker on the netbook than Windows 7. But after playing around with it for a few days, there is no way I am giving up Windows 7, even if it means not connecting to the internet after it is no longer supported - because then I can still play chess titans and solitaire. If I can't actually have non internet programs I like then I don't consider it an upgrade. Windows updates seemed slicker and faster, that's about all.

It may sound like a small thing - not having Chess Titans and Solitaire, but I use them a lot when chilling, and as far as I can see there is no comparable alternative - without connecting to the internet and having adverts on the games. Particularly for the chess. Apparently the links to install Windows 7 games on Windows 10 don't work any more - Windows updates removed them again I believe.

The changes in look and functions on Windows 10 reminded me a lot of the newer Xubuntu Linux, and if my favourite programs aren't there I think the only reason I would not go with Linux instead of Windows 10 would be video editing software.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yea I couldn't use 10 without group policy

Your initial post puzzled me but not the edited one. I'd like access to gpedit as well. There some claimed fiddles to get gpedit working on the Home version but I don't trust them at this stage to try on Windows 7 or 10 if/when I install it.

Yep that was a boo-boo

 

[groze]

I would of said, disable the network connection in windows 7 use Xubuntu 16.04 LTS but some issues have or will be a problem. Google Chrome no longer supports 32 bit in Linux. In 2017 adobe flash will not be supported on Linux at all regardless of architecture. Which means you might have trouble watching protected content in Linux unless something new pops up. When I was testing a daily build of Xubuntu 64 bit, I couldn't get the EPSON printer working with the deb file, hopefully this will be fixed by release time.

What I probably end up doing is dual booting with windows 10 and unfortunately getting rid of windows 7

 

[lehnerus2000]

What I probably end up doing is dual booting with windows 10 and unfortunately getting rid of windows 7

You could just run W7 in a VM on Linux.

I run a W10IP VM using VMware Player on Linux Mint.

 

[hazel123]

I would of said, disable the network connection in windows 7 use Xubuntu 16.04 LTS but some issues have or will be a problem. Google Chrome no longer supports 32 bit in Linux. In 2017 adobe flash will not be supported on Linux at all regardless of architecture. Which means you might have trouble watching protected content in Linux unless something new pops up. When I was testing a daily build of Xubuntu 64 bit, I couldn't get the EPSON printer working with the deb file, hopefully this will be fixed by release time.

What I probably end up doing is dual booting with windows 10 and unfortunately getting rid of windows 7

I was going to say, using Google Chrome gives you Flash in Linux - I didn't know it wasn't being supported in 32 bit any more. They had better get writing their own flash program or something.

 

[ThrashZone]

Why html5 is getting more of a reality.
Most browsers give stern warnings to activate flash player
Only Microsoft has embraced flash player I kind of wondering if Microsoft plans on buying it from Adobe

 

[groze]

I would of said, disable the network connection in windows 7 use Xubuntu 16.04 LTS but some issues have or will be a problem. Google Chrome no longer supports 32 bit in Linux. In 2017 adobe flash will not be supported on Linux at all regardless of architecture. Which means you might have trouble watching protected content in Linux unless something new pops up. When I was testing a daily build of Xubuntu 64 bit, I couldn't get the EPSON printer working with the deb file, hopefully this will be fixed by release time.

What I probably end up doing is dual booting with windows 10 and unfortunately getting rid of windows 7

I was going to say, using Google Chrome gives you Flash in Linux - I didn't know it wasn't being supported in 32 bit any more. They had better get writing their own flash program or something.

I use 64 bit system anyways but I do test out 32 bit system at times. They actually have replacements but they are in early development. Even if it worked, it still might not work in Firefox due to the new add-on signage requirement. When adobe flash support ends on Linux, it will take awhile before sites refuse to play on systems that have the old flash installed.

I would put the retail version of windows 7 in VM and use Linux as my main system but I couldn't get windows 7 sp1 activated in Virtual Machine. I will probably end up biting the bullet and upgrading to windows 10. My system already has digital entitlement.

Why html5 is getting more of a reality.
Most browsers give stern warnings to activate flash player
Only Microsoft has embraced flash player I kind of wondering if Microsoft plans on buying it from Adobe

Microsoft buying flash

Comcast, Hulu, IMDB needs to get updated to html5. Note, IMDB free movie are not all flash based.

 

[colt]

I'm going to Ubuntu (Linux) with a Windows 7 virtual machine (already using this setup on my secondary computer). I'll pass on MS telemetry in Windows 10 and their heavy handedness in general.

I think Windows market share (as the main OS; lots will use it for a virtual machine) is in for a serious and extended decline, and lots of people will have moved on to something else by 2020 - Mac, Linux, Chrome and whatever else sprouts up. And that means lots of developers will write for other operating systems.

By 2020, I'm hoping most of the apps I use will have been ported over to Linux or have good alternatives, and at that point, I can eliminate even the Windows virtual machine.

They may annoy a lot of people and lose some respect but they've got us over a barrel really! What alternative is there but to get the next version of Windows They know that some people can't afford Macs and don't understand Linux. But it would be nice if they could 'sell' Windows 10 rather than push it.

Linux has come a long way. I looked and passed on it a decade ago. I revisited recently and now run Ubuntu and love it. And with the free virtualization software, it's inexpensive and easy to run a Windows virtual machine for those Windows-only apps that you need.

 

[genetics73]

My gut feeling was to get an Apple Mac, even though I'm not keen on them - but they're too expensive for us lol. I already use Linux on another computer but like to have Windows as well. I like that Windows 10 seems to have made laptops more popular again (rather than everyone going tablet crazy), but I don't like the uncertainty over user control and all the advertising thingies.

My advice, and it's just that, is to get a Linux distribution. Almost every version of Linux is now capable of reading, writing and using Windows programs of all kinds. The LibreOffice suite of programs is fully compatible with Microsoft Office; the browsers and the mail programs also are fully compatible. The only exception seems to be that of games - there, Windows is still incompatible.

I have 3 different Linux distros (basic and advanced) installed on my machine, alongside Windows. My preferred Linux is PCLinuxOS, which comes in various flavors. It is quite Windows-like, and if you want to use it on a laptop, an LXDE or XFCE version should be suitable.

 

[FerchogtX]

My gut feeling was to get an Apple Mac, even though I'm not keen on them - but they're too expensive for us lol. I already use Linux on another computer but like to have Windows as well. I like that Windows 10 seems to have made laptops more popular again (rather than everyone going tablet crazy), but I don't like the uncertainty over user control and all the advertising thingies.

My advice, and it's just that, is to get a Linux distribution. Almost every version of Linux is now capable of reading, writing and using Windows programs of all kinds. The LibreOffice suite of programs is fully compatible with Microsoft Office; the browsers and the mail programs also are fully compatible. The only exception seems to be that of games - there, Windows is still incompatible.

I have 3 different Linux distros (basic and advanced) installed on my machine, alongside Windows. My preferred Linux is PCLinuxOS, which comes in various flavors. It is quite Windows-like, and if you want to use it on a laptop, an LXDE or XFCE version should be suitable.

I agree, getting a Linux will become a must...

I've been using Linux Mint KDE, no regrets here. I know what to do when Windows 7 support finally ends...

 

[AddRAM]

I`m gonna have a party

 

[jadinolf]

I`m gonna have a party

Me too because when Windows 7 ends, I'll be 86 and if I am still around I will be happy to install a new operating system.:roflmao:

 

[michael diemer]

I have already transitioned from sonar to reaper (music creation software). I'm currently running Ubuntu, but will return to Zorin when their next LTS comes out. The fact that reaper is working on a Linux version was part of my rationale. In fact, it's already in pre-release. Their software developer is tops. Reaper will definitely be running flawlessly on linux long before Windows dies it ignominious death.