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Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

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Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#101

Post by mschuster91 »

mark_l_watson wrote: post #95
Sir_Substance wrote: post #5

I'm not happy with this. I waited on XP until they got over vista, and I'm still on 7 while I watch in bemusement at the windows 8.1 nonsense. Now, with windows 10, my security updates will come bundled with my unwanted OS changes. I doubt microsoft will let people opt out of unwanted cloud-based security risks or crazy interface experiments.

What do you like better in Windows 7 than 8.1? Seriously, I have been a long time OS X and Linux user, and 8.1 has won me back to the Microsoft fold. I still use Linux and OSX, but WIndows 8.1 is now something I frequently use. I was not impressed by Windows 7. So, serious question, what do you like better about Windows 7.

> So, serious question, what do you like better about Windows 7.

No Metro crap jumping all over you. And that's why I likely will migrate over to Linux once MS stops Win7 support.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#102

Post by mark_l_watson »

digdigdag wrote: post #56
Sir_Substance wrote: post #5

I'm not happy with this. I waited on XP until they got over vista, and I'm still on 7 while I watch in bemusement at the windows 8.1 nonsense. Now, with windows 10, my security updates will come bundled with my unwanted OS changes. I doubt microsoft will let people opt out of unwanted cloud-based security risks or crazy interface experiments.

Care to tell me what your issue is with Windows 8.1? I've been using 8/8.1 for well over a year now, and it has been, perhaps, one of the best installments of the Windows line of operating systems I have ever used. There are a variety of third party applications and workarounds that can effectively re-patch explorer.exe to completely disable Modern UI and bring back the old start menu (think Start Is Back).

I switch back and forth between my minimal modern desktop and the old version with a single key press. That said, I modified the modern screen to just have a terminal, IntelliJ, Github bash terminal, and a few other things and it is handy enough for quick launches of whatever I need. I don't really think much about the windows interface, just the few apps I use. Same as with OSX and Ubuntu: a moments thought to switch between a bash shell, IntelliJ, a web browser, but 99% of of what I am thinking about is what I do in individual apps.

The operating system is getting to be irrelevant in my world as an author and programmer.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#103

Post by insulanian »

Does this mean I should stop expecting ground-breaking inovations in OS space from MS? How they dare to consider it done? I want Windows Next Generation! I want you to blow my mind!

Edit: I hope HP Machine OS will bring something interesting and new to stagnating OS research field.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#104

Post by ethana »

monk_e_boy wrote: post #83
beloch wrote: post #76

The obvious question is, how are we going to pay for this? With no periodic releases of new versions, it seems that Windows 10 will either be a subscription based service or, in all likelihood, a collection of subscription based services and extra features with a free, but spartan, core. It's an interesting move, but I suspect MS is severely underestimating the backlash that will exist against monthly OS subscription…

How could you buy someone a laptop with windows on it? They'd have to pay a subscription forever? Or would it be like a phone, where it'd seem odd not paying every month. Once steam boxes are out and popular, I doubt I'll be using windows again.

Stream boxes run on Windows...

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#107

Post by nightpool »

ethana wrote: post #104
monk_e_boy wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How could you buy someone a laptop with windows on it? They'd have to pay a subscription forever? Or would it be like a phone, where it'd seem odd not paying every month. Once steam boxes are out and popular, I doubt I'll be using windows again.

Stream boxes run on Windows...

The parent was referring to "Steam boxes", i.e. http://store.steampowered.com/steamos

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#108

Post by anon4 »

cm2187 wrote: post #35
higherpurpose wrote: post #4

How does that work exactly? Will they require a subscription? I have a hard time believing most Windows users who right now think they are getting "Windows for free" with their laptop and never have to worry about it again, would agree to pay Microsoft even $1 a month for it. If there is no subscription then how will they charge users - per "major update"? Like some sort of Windows 10.1? What would happened to the Wi…

How will they enforce it? Will your laptop become a brick if you stop paying?

Like WinRAR

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#109

Post by OWaz »

singold wrote: post #100

Any ideas on how this is going to work for new machines some years from now? Would you install the current win 10 and then a bulk of service packs?

I'm thinking of this as something similar to how OS X releases work. There's a way to get the distribution you need without having to start from OS X 10.0 Cheetah and upgrading all the way.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#110

Post by orionblastar »

everyone wrote: post #94
orionblastar wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The trick to Windows 8.1 is getting the correct drivers from your OEM and not using the built in drivers. For me I had to go to my motherboard maker's website and download the 8/8.1 64 bit drivers, update the BIOS, and then get the Nividia drivers for my GPU and make sure they always update. GPU drives can break Windows 8.1 when it comes to video games. There are always updated drivers that fix issues with video game…

That sucks! The OS's job is to allow you do use the computer to do what you want and not get in the way. Having to implement various workarounds and fixes for many different applications (which I'm sure will conflict with one another at some stage) means windows 8.1 is a failure as an OS.

Microsoft broke their API model with Vista and 7. The last version of Windows that didn't have this problem was Windows XP. That is why so many businesses stick with XP because it runs their business apps without compatibility issues.

Vista and above has compatibility issues and it needs workarounds like I explained to get things to work.

Windows 7 added a better compatibility mode and fixed some of the flaws with Vista. It even added a Windows XP mode in the Enterprise and Pro and up editions to download an XP virtual machine. To get some software to work.

But Microsoft abandoned XP support, and is forcing companies and people to upgrade.

I know a lot of people and businesses still on XP/Vista because it came with their PC, and their software works with it so they stick with it.

The whole reason why Apple sells a lot of Macs is that Windows has become so awful to support legacy apps that people don't mind paying more for an alternative that works better and apps just install without issues on a Mac.

Some are going to Linux, and Linux as a web server does a better job than Windows Server 2012. Microsoft sells Azure services for people who can't figure out how to set up a Windows Server or a Windows machine.

Microsoft lost $1.89B on Surface Tablets and Windows 8.X sales. It is the real reason why Steve Ballmer was forced into early retirement. They used the Metro/Modern UI which is confusing and they broke compatibility that needs tricks to get around it. They got rid of the Start Menu, etc. The changes made it worse to the average user experience.

I really don't see Windows 10 addressing the compatibility issues, an the Start Menu they use is quite a bit different from the XP/Vista/7 Start Menu.

I donated some money to the ReactOS project: https://www.reactos.org/

It is an attempt that building an open source version of Windows based on XP etc. It uses source code from WINE, and it aims for better compatibility with legacy apps.

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