Microsoft is adding a "Windows XP Mode" to Windows 7, in a move to encourage users to make the switch to the software vendor's forthcoming operating system.
Redmond was keen to emphasise in a blog post late on Friday that it's hoping to woo small businesses to move to Windows 7 by bigging up the XP mode feature.
"Windows XP Mode is specifically designed to help small businesses move to Windows 7," said Microsoft. "Windows XP Mode provides you with the flexibility to run many older productivity applications on a Windows 7 based PC."
Users can install apps directly into the virtualised XP environment. The applications are then published to the Windows 7 desktop and they can be run from within that OS.
Microsoft said it will release a beta of Windows XP mode and Windows Virtual PC for Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate "soon" but wasn't more specific about when the test builds will land.
When Microsoft released Vista over two years ago, many businesses and individuals complained about compatibility snafus with applications that simply wouldn't work within the new OS.
Presumably Redmond has built in its virtualised XP insurance policy into Windows 7, a release candidate for which is expected on 30 April, to avoid some of the problems that dogged Vista from day one. ®
The lion's share of applications work with Windows 7 out of the box. This is for corporations who have in-house programs that were developed ages ago. The only exciting part about this for consumers is that it allows Microsoft to strip legacy code out of the core operating system, reducing bloat.
I've been using Windows 7 since the beginning of the public beta. About a week or so ago I switched back to XP to see what it was like, and I was back to Windows 7 within a day. It's true that Windows 7 and Vista use quite a bit more memory than XP, but that's to be expected. It's simply a corollary of Moore's law. Run legacy hardware, expect legacy performance.
Cruor wrote:The lion's share of applications work with Windows 7 out of the box. This is for corporations who have in-house programs that were developed ages ago. The only exciting part about this for consumers is that it allows Microsoft to strip legacy code out of the core operating system, reducing bloat.
I've been using Windows 7 since the beginning of the public beta. About a week or so ago I switched back to XP to see what it was like, and I was back to Windows 7 within a day. It's true that Windows 7 and Vista use quite a bit more memory than XP, but that's to be expected. It's simply a corollary of Moore's law. Run legacy hardware, expect legacy performance.
Can you give us your first hand look at it? and opinion?
i rarely have problems with vista so im not to concerned but i hear windows 7 runs better so i'm thinking of making the switch anyway...also it looks alot nicer....
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is it even worth pirating windows software anymore. With all the updates they normally need pirated software doesn't have access to them. Won't that leave PE versions outdated almost the minute they have them and render them vulnerable to the host of problems PCs are known for...
signatures by Hostage Co. <3 ~PoP is DEAD! My sTyLe is Supa-Flat!!~
XemnasXD wrote:is it even worth pirating windows software anymore. With all the updates they normally need pirated software doesn't have access to them. Won't that leave PE versions outdated almost the minute they have them and render them vulnerable to the host of problems PCs are known for...
nope....
Spoiler!
i am running pirated version Vista ultimate on my desktopand gets access to all updates and addons, and Windows XP Pro on my notebook....you just have to d/l the corporate version that's all.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken.
il wait 6months before i get it at minimum because by then most bugs and flaws are out in the open and either got patchs or ways to quick fix (duck tape style)
I'm still using XP,but I will be switching to Windows 7 for sure.Also I dont think Win7 is comming out May 09, my dad told me it would come out in October 09 =/ I'm just scared that my current video card wont be able to run on 64bit
ExSoldier wrote:I'm still using XP,but I will be switching to Windows 7 for sure.Also I dont think Win7 is coming out May 09, my dad told me it would come out in October 09 =/ I'm just scared that my current video card wont be able to run on 64bit
The RC will be released early may, the 6th to my knowledge. It is not the final version and i can't stress that enough. Lately they have been releasing different build or OS update models with time. They will now release the RC and leave it at that for a fair while. I've been using windows 7 since the start and i love it.
[SD]Master_Wong wrote:il wait 6months before i get it at minimum because by then most bugs and flaws are out in the open and either got patchs or ways to quick fix (duck tape style)
rather foolish to think that way when the facts are that 7 is doing very well.
ExSoldier wrote:I'm still using XP,but I will be switching to Windows 7 for sure.Also I dont think Win7 is comming out May 09, my dad told me it would come out in October 09 =/ I'm just scared that my current video card wont be able to run on 64bit
trust your father he ought to know better. bunch of newbs at microsoft making official announcements, who the hell they think they are ? the nerve.
Guild Wars 2, Isle of Janthir (NA)
Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken.
[SD]Master_Wong wrote:il wait 6months before i get it at minimum because by then most bugs and flaws are out in the open and either got patchs or ways to quick fix (duck tape style)
rather foolish to think that way when the facts are that 7 is doing very well.
and what of all the people who swore by vista before that came out? il wait im in no rush all games coming out this year can and will run on xp unless they are xbox ports which i wont get anyways (not saying they are better and more demanding just microsoft has a heavy hand in porting to a pc thus makes it dx10 only)
I dont really get what RC version means? Is it like they will sell Windows 7 in retail stores but it might still have major/minor bugs?Or that means we can download it for free(like a 2nd beta?)
ExSoldier wrote:I dont really get what RC version means? Is it like they will sell Windows 7 in retail stores but it might still have major/minor bugs?Or that means we can download it for free(like a 2nd beta?)
RC means release candidate.
BloodyBlade wrote:Oh gawd who will use this. XP looks so ugly.
ExSoldier wrote:I dont really get what RC version means? Is it like they will sell Windows 7 in retail stores but it might still have major/minor bugs?Or that means we can download it for free(like a 2nd beta?)
RC means release candidate.
BloodyBlade wrote:Oh gawd who will use this. XP looks so ugly.
ExSoldier wrote:I dont really get what RC version means? Is it like they will sell Windows 7 in retail stores but it might still have major/minor bugs?Or that means we can download it for free(like a 2nd beta?)
RC means release candidate.
BloodyBlade wrote:Oh gawd who will use this. XP looks so ugly.
