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

 

[mdmd]

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.

Depends on the motherboard. My experience is about hardware built in 2012, not when 7 was released in 2009.
I'm not complaining. All those tasks were a piece of cake to me. As for DirectX, well..., I use Media Player Classic which requires a download from MS of those runtime things. About Adobe, flash is everywhere, at this time. About Defender, the action center would give a notice if nothing was installed. Silverlight used to be (and still is) required by Netflix. I don't have TV at home. Dotnet is necessary for Windows Live Mail to function.

My new Asrock board needed drivers to get online in 7 but not in 8.

 

[SIW2]

For the pedantic, I have just looked it up:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_noun

A good example of such a metonymic shift in the singular-to-plural direction (which, generally speaking, only occurs in British English) is the following sentence: "The team have finished the project." In that sentence, the underlying thought is of the individual members of the team working together to finish the project. Their accomplishment is collective, and the emphasis is not on their individual identities, yet they are at the same time still discrete individuals; the word choice "team have" manages to convey both their collective and discrete identities simultaneously.

 

[mdmd]

I apologize. I am not familiar with British English.

 

[mdmd]

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

I never said 7 had a bad OOBE. I was responding to the quote that 7 had a "PERFECT" OOBE.

 

[Lazure]

I see. Never used Windows Live Mail, as I've gotten away from POP3 a long time ago. Even then, I always installed Office. MPC-HC does require directx stuff, but it doesn't seem many people use that one over VLC. I use MPC-HC, though. Because many games require the runtimes, though, I always end up with it pretty much by default. I always thought the Windows Live suite installer came with the .NET and whatever requirements? I remember Silverlight being required if you were installing certain components even and it being installed as well automatically.

Anyhow, I wasn't aware ethernet protocols changed so much in the past few years that Windows 7's generic whatnots couldn't handle the onboard nics anymore.

 

[mdmd]

Installing these systems is easy for those of us that know what we are doing. Complete the setup, then perform tasks 1 thru whatever to get it the way one likes it.

The Windows Live install process requests a .NET download first. I have no idea what the engineers at Asrock have done to make it require a driver for 7. Linux connects online with no problem with this board. Yeah, Silverlight would be installed automatically if one hits Netflix without it. I just take 20 seconds and install it first. Windows 8 is messy. I have spent countless hours configuring the start screen and have now given up on it. I do not use the start screen except for access to the desktop or apps area. My apps area is highly edited. My preference is also to use a floating start menu on the desktop that reads hidden files and folders and that can be turned on and off like an application.

I don't see Microsoft leaving WinRT to mobile devices only. It has other benefits that are hard to explain because everyone is obsessed with touch on the desktop problem.

The point of monetization is valid. But MS is not alone. I am wondering if at some point, a pc will become a dumb terminal, with the OS being a subscription service that one logs into in the cloud.

 

[SIW2]

I am wondering if at some point, a pc will become a dumb terminal, with the OS being a subscription service that one logs into in the cloud.

LOL. Glad you have caught on.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Romanes Eunt Domus?

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

Reminds me of this:

[video=youtube;IIAdHEwiAy8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIAdHEwiAy8[/video]

Transcript:
Brian's Latin Lesson (from Monty Python's Life of Brian)

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!

Create a RAM disc using the "excess" RAM and put the Page File and Temp folders on it.

XP runs nicely using that arrangement.

 

[ionamartin123]

Its true.In desktop both the operating system is to be installed the facility is available..First you install the lower version and then install the higher version.Then only support the windows7 and windows8.

 

[Wenda]

I am wondering if at some point, a pc will become a dumb terminal, with the OS being a subscription service that one logs into in the cloud.

LOL. Glad you have caught on.

That is the day mine will be going straight into the nearest rubbish skip.

To me, that's not computing, or anything remotely close to it.


Wenda

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Who here can name one corporation that is not about monetization? Even in a non-for-profit corp the top people are raking in mucho $bucks$ with salaries.

The point of monetization is valid. But MS is not alone.

Who here can turn on any mobile device of any company, open an app, and not see some form of advertising? How about most web pages? It's called monetization. Some system or someone has to pay for the "luxury" to use apps and/or a website. Advertising is that means. Perhaps MS took it to far to place it in a desktop PC OS, but monetization is not the sole goal. A part of the goal is to run an OS across all devices to become familiar to the masses. Who here can blame MS in there attempt to drum up some business? Anyone?

Don't like it? Turn it all off. It's that simple. The choice is still possible.

I am wondering if at some point, a pc will become a dumb terminal, with the OS being a subscription service that one logs into in the cloud.

LOL. Glad you have caught on.

That is the day mine will be going straight into the nearest rubbish skip.
To me, that's not computing, or anything remotely close to it.
Wenda

Are dumb terminals MS's aim? I don't know, but let's not jump to conclusions yet. For now the OS is native. One is able to use a local account. One has the option to turn off any service that one finds intrusive.

Will the "common masses" know that they can be turned off? No, but perhaps they'll hire you to do so. For the most part, I don't really think they give a hoot.

 

[SIW2]

To make a choice requires knowledge. Those without knowledge can be more easily manipulated. There are vast commercial gains to be made.

 

[Superfly]

To make a choice requires knowledge. Those without knowledge can be more easily manipulated. There are vast commercial gains to be made.

Couldn't agree more.. IMHO the dumb terminal ->mainframe has now become browser->cloud - the only difference being the technology used, the premise is the same..thing is it's now been extended into home use.. it makes business sense tho'.. with the potential exposure, commercialization is the obvious spin-off.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

To make a choice requires knowledge. Those without knowledge can be more easily manipulated. There are vast commercial gains to be made.

You mean like this fellow did?

P. T. Barnum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sounds like you're on a crusade to save the masses. It's too late. They're all going to Walmart already, so.....

 

[legacy7955]

To make a choice requires knowledge. Those without knowledge can be more easily manipulated. There are vast commercial gains to be made.

Couldn't agree more.. IMHO the dumb terminal ->mainframe has now become browser->cloud - the only difference being the technology used, the premise is the same..thing is it's now been extended into home use.. it makes business sense tho'.. with the potential exposure, commercialization is the obvious spin-off.

Excellent observations....

and the businesses ARE manipulating via the educational systems as well.

To some degree they WANT a consumer that is a bit dull. They can be easily led by the nose.

 

[lehnerus2000]

It's a conundrum ...

To some degree they WANT a consumer that is a bit dull. They can be easily led by the nose.

It's a conundrum for business.

They want smart workers and stupid consumers.

 

[Mustang]

The thing that staggers me is the fanboi concept that the negative posts on this forum are actually helping to cause the lack of acceptance of W8.

They can't seem to grasp the simple truth that it's been rejected en masse by everyday consumers.

W8 is an archetypal model of a self-destruct system! It doesn't need any help!

 

[Vertex]

The thing that staggers me is the fanboi concept that the negative posts on this forum are actually helping to cause the lack of acceptance of W8.

They can't seem to grasp the simple truth that it's been rejected en masse by everyday consumers.

W8 is an archetypal model of a self-destruct system! It doesn't need any help!

One thing I could say to Microsoft and perhaps to many other companies out there, "listen to your critics, more than your fans."

Fans will be fans, many would remain loyal even how bad it gets till the bitter end, but critics will always try to find a flaw in you which you should better acknowledge and fix.

 

[alphanumeric]

I'll just repeat something I've already said, likely on both 7 and 8 forums.

I don't like liver. You telling me how much you like liver isn't going to make me suddenly like liver. Me telling you I don't like liver isn't going to suddenly make you not like liver.

Substitute the word liver with Metro and I think you'll get the idea.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
If you DON'T like it don't buy or use it -- there's plenty of other alternatives available.

As for making money -- well a Not for Profit co-operative is fine in some instances but until things like 3-D printing render all sorts of working essentially redundant and allows you to create and have whatever you want at the press of a button (rather like Star ship Enterprise's Replicator device) you are going to need businesses to make money to service your medical care and pension when you retire.

How 3D Printing is Changing Everything - CEA

This will eventually happen but probably not in my lifetime or even in the next 100 years -- although who knows. Until that day we are going to have to use money so we need some organisations who actually MAKE it.

Cheers
jimbo