Windows 7: The New XP?

[echrada]

When Windows 8 comes out, my guess is that people will stay away from the new version of the operating system and stick with Windows 7.

By Preston Gralla, Computerworld Jun 13, 2012 6:12 pm

Windows 7: The New XP?Windows XP was one of Microsoft's greatest successes and greatest failures: A success because it was so rock-solid, a failure because it was so good that many people didn't want to upgrade to Windows Vista. Based on initial looks at Windows 8, Windows 7 may well be the new XP.

Windows XP was first released in 2001, and because of its speed, stability, and simplicity, has been a winner ever since. Even though it's going on 11 years old, it's still the most popular version of Windows according to Net Applications, with a 44.85 percent market share as of May 2012, compared to 40.51 percent for Windows 7 and 6.88 percent for Windows Vista.

Not everyone agrees that XP is the most popular version of Windows. As of May 2012, StatCounter has Windows 7 with 48.93 percent market share, and XP with 31.06 percent market share. It reports Windows Vista as having 8.38 percent market share.

More HERE

 

[win7]

I think this is true. I have been testing out Windows 8 since the Developer Preview, but after trying the Consumer Preview and the Release Preview I have made the choice to go back to 7 and stay there, unless I end up owning some kind of tablet in the near future.

 

[echrada]

I fully agree, I tried Windows 8 and also went back to Windows 7 and will not be installing it on my laptop or PC but will definitely buy a windows 8 tablet later in the year.

 

[whs]

That is a real possibility. Worse even, a lot of people will stay on XP if they can manage with the hardware support. So there will be an impact on the PC sales too. But maybe the OEMs are smart and offer the Windows 7 option even when Windows 8 is out.

 

[Brds7t7]

I fully agree, I tried Windows 8 and also went back to Windows 7 and will not be installing it on my laptop or PC but will definitely buy a windows 8 tablet later in the year.

I feel the same, I've tried windows 8 and deleted it and will be sticking with 7.
If I ever did buy a tablet I'm sure 8 may work quite well. I personally would never install it on a desktop or laptop I just don't think it works well.

When they eventually release Windows 9 they should offer two different types, metro for tablets and a desktop version. That's if they do stick with the Metro UI.

 

[marsmimar]

Unless I missed an earlier announcement by Microsoft, this is the first time that I can recall they've admitted that Windows 8 was not meant for traditional desktop users.

According to Antoine Leblond, corporate vice president of Windows Web Services . . . Windows 7 is the last in a line of OSes that began with Windows 95, designed primarily for desktop PCs that are always connected to a power source and act as the main repository for users' applications, data and content. On the other hand, Windows 8 is designed for the world's shift to mobile devices that run on batteries and to applications and content that live dispersed in a variety of web sites and must be constantly available.

Microsoft tries to promote Windows 8 without hurting Windows 7 sales | ITworld

 

[craiga24]

I have treid the preview of windows 8 and I have to be honest I really did not like it and will definately be staying with windows 7 for the foreseable future

 

[HAVOC]

Nothing new to me. I usually skip over releases of software and hardware. I had XP, skipped Vista, have Windows 7, I'll Skip 8. Hopefully Windows 9 (or whatever it's called) is better).

 

[windude99]

For me, Windows XP works really well. Windows 7 is better, way better, but what works just works. I hate this new release new operating system every 3 years cycle. It should be every 5 years, so they can perfect the operating system. Microsoft isn't getting my money on Windows 8 or any new operating system that has Metro. I can't stand Metro. I, too, switched back to Windows 7 from Windows 8. If only Windows XP were supported longer then it will still be widely used, becasue it works. Microsoft needs to make 2 operating systems, one for tablets and one for pcs.

 

[pparks1]

I think a key reason why people used XP so much was that they got ahold of volume license keys and can run an unlimited # of machines without activation.

With the introduction of Vista and 7, and continuing with 8, you have to activate. While there are methods and hacks to circumvent these activations, they are much more involved that simply using a VLK for Windows XP.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

Actually if you wanted to run a whole slew of these types of machines W2K was just as good as XP in any case. 99% of the code was based on W2K (and you didn't need activation either !!!).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[M1GU31]

I agree I loved windows xp and when vista came out i waited.Then windows 7 came out and i left xp and now love windows 7.I am sure that I will skip win 8 and wait until Microsoft makes a OS I like that's more appealing to me then windows 8.

 

[alphanumeric]

I'll be skipping 8 on my two desktops and laptop, which are currently running 7. Windows 2000 is one of my all time favorite operating systems. Nice and stable, reliable, and I could still play all my old games. I Ran XP for quit a while too. At some point I want to get a tablet or slate, if it comes with Windows 8 on it I could probably live with that.

 

[pulsar68]

Partly true. When XP was released, we didn't talk about Social Network, App, Tablet and Co.
Now customers needs are different and Microsoft is trying to fill the gap in Tablet market.
I've tried Win 8 on my PC and, as many of you, I returned back to my trust 7.
I also installed Win 8 on a HP touchsmart TM2 and, I've to say, that experience in Tablet zone with 8 is pretty much easier than the desktop one.
So, I think that for job many people will stay on Win 7 but for tablet customers Win 8 will be, probably, a good alternative than the same OS, like Android and Apple.

 

[FerchogtX]

Well... I'll include myself on this list of users not using W8... just because is too early to buy another OS for me (I just have more or less 2 years with W7) and the second reason, because I usually skip certain releases, my only exception was Windows Millenium (yuk!!!) just because I had to stay with that machine (I could never install W98SE )

I also thing 3 years is just too short for a period of time between OSes... 5 or 6 should suffice, and as far as I could test Metro lacks SO MANY multitask features like the enhaced aero features (Aero snap, aero shake...) I work with tons of windows, and metro is just frustrating... at least for me...

 

[Trucidation]

Agreed, 3 years is short. Especially since many of the (understandably) cautious among us prefer to wait for a service pack or two to come out before taking the plunge. Plenty of <1 year old Win7 machines here. This step was particularly large since it also marked the transition to 64bit for many of us.

 

[Layback Bear]

Tablets and cell phones are toys compared to a P.C. or Quality laptops; Windows 8 is designed for toys. Windows 8 should be sold at Toys R Us.

 

[leathrpaws]

not really directly related but- Yes, I like 7, yes, I still have machines with XP that will stay that way until it is no longer supported, no, I will likely not get Windows 8 with its new Metro UI (what the heck- guess I better Google that)- and why the heck do so many of these geeks not know spelling and grammar and syntax?

 

[MilesAhead]

Tablets and cell phones are toys compared to a P.C. or Quality laptops; Windows 8 is designed for toys. Windows 8 should be sold at Toys R Us.

They should have called it Windows TS. The "TS" could mean what it means traditionally to most English-speaking people, or it could stand for Touch Screen. Either way then we'd know it wasn't meant for desktops. It would have saved some time. But I guess if you make money with something called '7' the next thing has to be '8' where these decisions are made.

 

[HammerHead]

XP Trick

I'll be sticking with Win 7 and wait for Win 9 or whatever they will name it. Have no interest in touch screens. In fact if some one touchs my screen I admonish them to not do that. I like my monitor clean and finger print free. I have three rigs and all are desktops (towers). I don't carry computer type gadgets with me. I have a cell phone and it does texting and joins to the Net which has fullfilled my needs.