Microsoft Should Keep Both Windows 7 and Windows 8

Microsoft keeps advertising Windows 8, but Windows 7 remains the top choice for many users out there who are looking for a more familiar working environment.

That’s why tech analyst Jeff Kagan thinks that Microsoft should keep both operating systems alive, as customers must be allowed to choose if they wish to go for the traditional desktop UI, or pick the one that also packs the touch-optimized Metro interface.

“Microsoft needs to focus on keeping customers happy and innovating. Since Windows 8 is a total re-write, and since many customers prefer Windows 7, my recommendation is they keep both. Let the user choose the operating system they want. Don’t force a round customer into a square hole.”

Analyst: Microsoft Should Keep Both Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[labeeman]

Prediction Windows XP in 2020 will have more market share than Windows 8.

 

[pulsar68]

Hey Vertex... relax Windows 7 will be the next XP. Microsoft 7 support end on 2020 but I bet that they will be forced to extend it.
If you buy a new PC/Laptop with 8 on board you can still downgrade to 7.
People that didn't like Win 8, I'm pretty sure, won't like Win 8.1 'cause there's NOTHING seriously improvement about the classic desktop experience.
Microsoft is very sensible to the market... let's see what will be their next step after the Win 8.1 flop!

P.S. Maybe a Ballmer's substitute??

Well XP had 3 service packs. Just wanna see more for Windows 7 and yes 2020 is still some time to go.

And about Ballmer's replacement, they should have replaced him long ago lol

We must say that XP had some issues and, particularly, security issues.
Win 7 is PERFECT "out of the box".

Obviously, I totally agree with you about the Ballmer's replacement

Prediction Windows XP in 2020 will have more market share than Windows 8.

Prediction #2, Windows 8 will have less market share than Vista... in 2020

 

[mdmd]

Win 7 is PERFECT "out of the box".

NOT in my experience. Windows 7 was completely unusable out of the box.

There was no internet connection. A driver needed to be installed.
There were many errors in the device manager without motherboard drivers.
USB 3 did not function out of the box in Windows 7.
Direct X drivers had to be installed.
Dot Net needed to be installed to make pop email function (still required in 8) .
Silverlight needed to be installed.
Adobe flash needed to be installed or updated.
Defender needed to be installed or other 3rd party anti virus. etc...

Prediction #2, Windows 8 will have less market share than Vista... in 2020

By 2020, some folks will be using Windows 12. Windows 7 or 8 will be irrelevant.
Or Unix Linux 21.

 

[alphanumeric]

Yeah they should continue to support Windows 7. They should even release a Service Pack 2 for that but we know that's not gonna happen after their statement saying there won't be an SP2 for Windows 7 and that they'll just continue to support it with rolls of updates. They can't let anything hinder Windows 8 which right now is not doing as well on the sales as they expected.

What purpose would a SP2 be for Win 7. If all you are looking for are the updates MS has a page that contains all the updates that have been put out to date. You can download an ISO that can be used to do the updates vs going online. With the ISO you can determine which updates you want or don't want. The ISO can be used across the all flavors of Windows OSs.

Can you install those updates from that ISO/disk in one shot like you can with a service pack? If it's a install one update reboot install another update reboot type of deal I don't see the benefit. I'd just as soon hit windows update. It might be advantageous for an IT pro to have updates for the different Microsoft platforms on a DVD but for the average joe not so much. Don't get me wrong, its nice that Microsoft offers it but I'd rather have a SP or even better yet, install media with SP2 integrated. just my 2 cents.

 

[SIW2]

If there was service pack, there would also be iso files with it a;lready integrated, like win7SP1 iso for example. It is very convenient for the customer.

Looks like MS have decided it is not in their best interest.

 

[alphanumeric]

If there was service pack, there would also be iso files with it a;lready integrated, like win7SP1 iso for example. It is very convenient for the customer.

Looks like MS have decided it is not in their best interest.

I wonder what the threshold is for the actual release of a SP? How many updates etc do you need before they roll it all into a SP? They aren't actually stamping DVD's for Windows 7 anymore are they now that they have released Windows 8? ISO's are nice if you can get a hold of one, Microsoft doesn't seem to want to make that easy. Not for the average joe anyway.

 

[SIW2]

ISO's are nice if you can get a hold of one, Microsoft doesn't seem to want to make that easy. Not for the average joe anyway.

Yes, it is not clear to me why.

 

[alphanumeric]

ISO's are nice if you can get a hold of one, Microsoft doesn't seem to want to make that easy. Not for the average joe anyway.

Yes, it is not clear to me why.

I don't get it either? There would certainly be a lot less compromised systems out here if there was an easily accessible source for official unaltered images to do clean installs with. Pirates are going to pirate regardless of where they get their images from.

 

[mdmd]

Looks like MS have decided it is not in their best interest.

Forgive me, but this is a little annoying. You can ignore if you like.
MS = "Microsoft" is singular = "Microsoft" is a single corporation = MS

It's singular, the correct wording is "Looks like MS has decided..."
For those that like "M$" ... > it's "M$ has" not "M$ have" or "MS have" sorry.

You can say "those companies have" etc... but "Microsoft has" etc. thanks.

 

[alphanumeric]

Oh the grammar police have arrived, its a for you SIW2.

 

[SIW2]

LOL. It is normal usage in the UK. A corporation is a single legal entity , it is also a collection of people. A corporation cannot commit a crime, a corporation cannot make decisions. Only people can do those things.

 

[alphanumeric]

Parson ally eye all weighs spall cheque my posts bee four posting but eye don't worry about the grammar.

 

[Lee]

Yeah they should continue to support Windows 7. They should even release a Service Pack 2 for that but we know that's not gonna happen after their statement saying there won't be an SP2 for Windows 7 and that they'll just continue to support it with rolls of updates. They can't let anything hinder Windows 8 which right now is not doing as well on the sales as they expected.

What purpose would a SP2 be for Win 7. If all you are looking for are the updates MS has a page that contains all the updates that have been put out to date. You can download an ISO that can be used to do the updates vs going online. With the ISO you can determine which updates you want or don't want. The ISO can be used across the all flavors of Windows OSs.

Can you install those updates from that ISO/disk in one shot like you can with a service pack? If it's a install one update reboot install another update reboot type of deal I don't see the benefit. I'd just as soon hit windows update. It might be advantageous for an IT pro to have updates for the different Microsoft platforms on a DVD but for the average joe not so much. Don't get me wrong, its nice that Microsoft offers it but I'd rather have a SP or even better yet, install media with SP2 integrated. just my 2 cents.

You can pick the updates you want to install. If you don't want to install all of them then just install the ones you one.

 

[mdmd]

You say "Microsoft have" in the UK?

 

[mdmd]

Parson ally eye all weighs spall cheque my posts bee four posting but eye don't worry about the grammar.

Well, I do.

 

[alphanumeric]

What purpose would a SP2 be for Win 7. If all you are looking for are the updates MS has a page that contains all the updates that have been put out to date. You can download an ISO that can be used to do the updates vs going online. With the ISO you can determine which updates you want or don't want. The ISO can be used across the all flavors of Windows OSs.

Can you install those updates from that ISO/disk in one shot like you can with a service pack? If it's a install one update reboot install another update reboot type of deal I don't see the benefit. I'd just as soon hit windows update. It might be advantageous for an IT pro to have updates for the different Microsoft platforms on a DVD but for the average joe not so much. Don't get me wrong, its nice that Microsoft offers it but I'd rather have a SP or even better yet, install media with SP2 integrated. just my 2 cents.

You can pick the updates you want to install. If you don't want to install all of them then just install the ones you one.

That's what I thought, in that case its not much good to me personally. I'd just as soon hit windows update and let Windows sort out what I need and don't need.

 

[Lee]

Oh the grammar police have arrived, its a for you SIW2.

That is a sad statement. Sometimes folks just get tried of attempting to read bad verbiage. I had a college Professor that just went crazy over those who could not get it in their head that "alot" was not a word (a lot). . .

 

[SIW2]

It depends on the context. If you are referring to a corporation as a single legal entity, or if you are clearly indicating it is a collection of people.

I could have gone into a great essay about the board of directors, and possibly the shareholders - if they have any say - but we can't know that, and possibly even the employees, etc

It is called metonymic merging.

e.g.

The team have won. Normal in the UK. You can say the the team has won if you like. I think the former is better as it acknowledges the team as a collection of people, all of whom did well, deserve congratulating, or whatever.

 

[Lazure]

Win 7 is PERFECT "out of the box".

NOT in my experience. Windows 7 was completely unusable out of the box.

There was no internet connection. A driver needed to be installed.
There were many errors in the device manager without motherboard drivers.
USB 3 did not function out of the box in Windows 7.
Direct X drivers had to be installed.
Dot Net needed to be installed to make pop email function (still required in 8) .
Silverlight needed to be installed.
Adobe flash needed to be installed or updated.
Defender needed to be installed or other 3rd party anti virus. etc...

Prediction #2, Windows 8 will have less market share than Vista... in 2020

By 2020, some folks will be using Windows 12. Windows 7 or 8 will be irrelevant.
Or Unix Linux 21.

I've never had an install of Windows 7 on a machine go without having basic ethernet (or even wifi) functionality right at the desktop. I even get working audio. On some systems, even picked up and installed a working graphics driver that made Aero work in the monitor's native resolution. Basically, in 15-20 minutes, from boot of the USB installer for win7 to a working desktop, I have everything I need to get the system into tip top shape.

◘ No internet connection? Worked for me out of the box on every machine. Really, most onboard NICs work with supplied generic drivers.
◘ Errors in device manager? Visit mobo website and grab the pack of drivers. Install. Done. Most of these aren't even necessary anyhow!
◘ USB 3.0 did not function? Makes sense. USB 3.0 didn't come out mainstream until AFTER Windows 7 was released. Without slipstreaming SP1 or other updates, you're not going to see this supported in a vanilla Windows 7 disc. This would be fixed anyways if you dealt with the device manager bit (grab mobo drivers). Every computer has at least one USB 2.0 port that'll work just fine until you reach this step.
◘ Direct X drivers had to be installed? What? DirectX doesn't have drivers, just end-user runtimes. You only need to get the latest end-user runtimes for certain games or software (and most of them install this when required!). If you meant video card drivers, yeah some cards require you to manually grab the driver from their site and install... this is true even in Windows 8 in some cases and most definitely was true in XP.
◘ Dot.Net needs to be installed? I can't think of a single program I installed that didn't bundle this in the installer if you didn't already have it, if the program needed it. Same with the Visual C++ runtimes and other things. Steam definitely takes care of all these things when you install games.
◘ Silverlight needed to be installed? You know, I've yet to find a single program or website in the universe that actually relies on this. Who cares? It's a simple install anyways. In fact, I think Windows Update offers the stupid thing if you really wanted it.
◘ Adobe Flash needed to be installed? Ok, this is third party software. This has NOTHING to do with Microsoft or Windows' OOBE. In fact, you ONLY ever need this to meet certain website requirements. Google Chrome automatically maintains this plugin. Not required for a working computer, however, if you don't utilize any flash-based sites.
◘ Defender/Anti-Virus/etc? This is up to the user and their level of paranoia or their internet browsing habits. Windows 7 does have a built-in defender service, granted it's very shallow in functionality. MSE is offered on Windows Update or can be installed manually with little effort. Hardly a huge problem, as Windows 7 is secure enough out of the box that you don't need anti-virus installed RIGHT AWAY to have it a usable machine. I largely used Windows 7 without any anti-virus software and did just fine.

Now, compare this all to Windows XP? Windows XP never picked up audio, ethernet, video, or anything out of the box. Working desktop was always a VESA-based 800x600 16-bit color screen with an X on the network and an X on the speaker. You better hope you have a USB stick or CD/DVD with your drivers! Once you had working internet, Vanilla XP could be infected within moments of opening IE6 even long enough to grab a better browser, if your router wasn't doing a good job of protecting your ports especially! Windows Update was a huge mess, and didn't have a built-in interface to manage it if you didn't want it updating automatically (which basically never happened anyways unless your computer was on at 3 in the morning). Wi-Fi was not built-in with Windows XP and the infrastructure required custom made software by the vendor to even display how many bars you had. The built-in XP firewall is a total joke, even. Nevermind anti-virus software. If you're not into slipstreaming, you likely had to sit through monumental amounts of time of upgrading through the service packs. XP is a total, hideous mess and the fact it's still being used so much sickens me. The fact people even go as far as installing it on CORE i7 computers with more than 4GB of RAM despite the fact it can't use those things properly blows my mind!

Yeah, try again to tell me that windows 7 doesn't have a good OOBE experience..

 

[alphanumeric]

Oh the grammar police have arrived, its a for you SIW2.

That is a sad statement. Sometimes folks just get tried of attempting to read bad verbiage. I had a college Professor that just went crazy over those who could not get it in their head that "alot" was not a word (a lot). . .

Come on, I was just having a little fun, I meant no offence, I did post a at the end. I'm usually happy if the spelling is close enough to understand let alone worry about grammar and syntax. English is a second or even third language for some forum members and I try to cut them some slack. I'm sorry if my comment offended anyone.