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Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

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Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#131

Post by bitwize »

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.

> Now, with windows 10, my security updates will come bundled with my unwanted OS changes.

Had this experience with Mac OS X. For 10.4 they switched to a new, dynamically linked libstdc++ that used the new Itanium C++ ABI. 10.3 had a statically linked libstdc++ and the old ABI.

They pushed out an OS update that installed the new libstdc++ on 10.3, breaking linking against libstdc++ with standard cxxflags. You see they had integrated cross-compilation for 10.3 into the new Xcode on 10.4, and didn't give a shit about people who were still compiling stuff on 10.3.

I decided after that that if Apple was going to break working compilation on my OS because I hadn't upgraded to the newest and shiniest, then they didn't really want my money. They seem to be doing OK without it, and I'm doing fine without them.

If Microsoft pulls this sort of stunt with Windows, then fuck everything about this change. They're such sticklers in the opposite direction, doing so much to ensure backward-compatible everything that the house of cards sometimes comes crashing down, that I don't think that will be a problem with Windows 10+x.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#132

Post by mark_l_watson »

bad_user wrote: post #126
mark_l_watson wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I'm an Ubuntu Linux and OS X user and have been trying to like Windows 8.1 in the last weeks. The problems I have in no particular order ... - network management in Windows 7 was usable, whereas in 8.1 it is totally fucked - Microsoft accounts are on their way to become mandatory, as creating a regular account is not user friendly and there's a big and scary warning when you go that route; they are basically trying t…

Thank you! That was a good answer. Just one thing: OneDrive works well, if I may, I suggest giving it a try. Re: software development: I just live inIntelliJ for Clojure, Ruby, Java, JavaScript, Typescript, Clojurescript, and Python. IntelliJ runs about the same on every platform. I write my books now with markdown and leanpub, so for writing also operating system choice does not matter.

True confession: I tend to cycle slowly through OSX, Linux, and Windows 8.1 because I like a little change. Similar to programming languages. My strange way to have fun :-)

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#133

Post by Crito »

vruiz wrote: post #10

I see 2 possible scenarios. 1) as others are suggesting, they'll adopt Apple's versioning model putting everything under the windows 10 umbrella. 2) they are setting the table for a rebranding/replacement of Windows in the same fashion as they are doing with IE.

3) This is a fad. They'll do 1) for a while, but in about a decade (plus or minus a few years), there will be another release of Windows that is again branded under another name/number.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#135

Post by wongarsu »

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?

If you bought Windows XP in recent years, the DVD already installed Windows XP together with the latest available Service Pack. If you buy Windows 8 right now it automatically installs Windows 8.1 from the disk. It will work similarly for Windows 10, regardless of the nomenclature they are going to decide on.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#136

Post by speeder »

gregschlom wrote: post #125
mschuster91 wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

Just install classic shell ( http://www.classicshell.net/ ) and that will get rid of almost all Metro crap, as you say.

I use that here... The fact that it is needed at all is already a failure of the OS.

And the Desktop app itself is sort of unstable, and classic shell is also sort of unstable, the combination result in lots of crashes, specially if you are having issues while trying to play some games (example: on my machine every time I scroll the map too much in Arcanum from Troika Games, it crashes, crashes the desktop, crashes the classic shell, and the mouse stops working completely... it is really amazing, it crashes so hard I am impressed instead of frustated).

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#137

Post by irq-1 »

swalsh wrote: post #120
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…

Your monthly subscription payments will come in the form of monthly Azure payments. People will accept that. This isn't 1996 anymore. People don't buy desktops, and laptops will soon be obsolete too. When your phone has a processor powerful enough to do all the work a consumer could ever want, there will be 3 main markets. Mobile, Server, and Gaming. Now they probably could keep charging for the OS for the gaming PC'…

> Your monthly subscription payments will come in the form of monthly Azure payments.

Leverage their desktop monopoly to gain market share in the cloud? Sounds familiar. Maybe Azure is just part of Windows, like IE?

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#138

Post by speeder »

YorkianTones wrote: post #64
Mahn wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well but if you op-out you op-out of everything, including security updates. There's no "I want security updates but no random feature/interface changes" button.

Aren't all Windows Update packages optional? This is what I see when I look at Windows update on 8.1 (I think 7 had similar options): http://imgur.com/MxRVZ94 As someone else mentioned, to support the enterprise Microsoft makes updates piecemeal and optional.

I had Windows 8 here, Windows 8.1 force-installed itself, I found no way to opt out, or even to control when to update, I was working one day and it suddenly decided to shut me out and update itself to 8.1, there was no "cancel" or "wait" button.

So, MS already pulled a stunt like that recently, why they would not do it again, specially if they want people to use some shiny new tech part of their 3e strategy?

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#139

Post by dclowd9901 »

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…

They undoubtedly make enough money on the sale of licensing to new devices that standalone installs are an afterthought, and the income from new device licensing means that supporting "older" devices (while continuing to keep the OS fresh) is trivial, cost-wise.

Re: Microsoft to stop producing Windows versions

#140

Post by monk_e_boy »

jethro_tell wrote: post #121
nightpool wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I thought they switched to debian or ubuntu.

Not sure, but you can get Windows to boot to Steam anyway, so the OS kinda disappears so you'd be fine with windows 8 or something for a few years.
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