Windows 8 Will Run Windows 7 Software Just Fine
Don't worry, businesses, Microsoft is keeping things cool.
While the jump from Windows XP to Vista resulted in some compatibility headaches, the move from Vista to Windows 7 was far more pain-free. What will the upgrade to Windows 8 be like? According to Microsoft, it'll be easy.
“The gateway to get to Windows 8 is Windows 7, and we will have backward compatibility with Windows 7 embedded into Windows 8. That's something that we're very committed to. But that's a really important first pillar,” Kevin Turner, Microsoft's COO said at the Worldwide Partner Conference 2011.
Despite having a slick new tile interface, the desktop underneath for Windows 8 appears to closely resemble that from Windows 7.
Tami Reller, Corporate Vice President and CFO, Windows & Windows Live said earlier that Windows 8's hardware requirements will be similar, or even lower, than the ones for Windows 7.
“For our business customers, your customers, this is an important element because the ability of Windows 8 to run on Windows 7 devices ensures that the hardware investments that these customers are making today will be able to take advantage of Windows 8 in the future. And there's beautiful hardware in the market today,” Reller said.
- Microsoft Windows,
- windows ,
- win8 ,
- win7 ,
- software ,
- compatibility
- New Acer AIO Can Be Desktop, HDTV Combined
- Deals for July 29: EA Store: $4.99 for Select PC Games
- KDE 4.7 Released
- The Start of an Empire: MS-DOS Celebrates 30th Birthday
- THQ Says Goodbye to Red Faction Franchise
- Asus Ultra-Thin Netbook Goes Official, Under $200
- Deals July 28: Logitech Wireless Headset + Free Game $89
- Report: Apple Developing 15-inch Super-Slim MacBook Pro
- Duke Nukem Forever DLC Coming This Fall
- Diablo 3: Auction House Does Cash, More
- Cast Your Vote on the Best System Config Summer 2011
- Deals for Aug 1: Dell Inspiron Core i5 & 24" LCD for $659
- ViewSonic Readies 3D Vision-Ready 24" Monitor
- Google Estimated to Have 900,000 Servers
- Kingston Ships High-Speed HyperX SSDs
- A New Study Suggests Internet Explorer is for Dummies
- Why Apple Can Produce Tablets for Less Money
- Deals August 2: Logitech G27 PS3/PC Racing Wheel $205
I'm already tired of eternal upgrading. I'm going try to jump over Windows 8.
Malware authors will be relieved.
If the only change in Windows 8 is the tile interface and the API additions to support it, this should be a $29 or less update, much like Snow Leopard was.
I'm already tired of eternal upgrading. I'm going try to jump over Windows 8.
No one is forcing you to get it.
I wonder if they will make any solution to run x86 programs on ARM systems. But I think it'd probably be too difficult.
Windows 8 = Microsoft Tile 1.0? lolx..
Yes, but you'd miss the whole point of every Microsoft OS since Windows 2000. It's to make them money, and not to help you or anyone else. $29 for an upgrade wouldn't feed their coffers, so they'll release an annoying new interface, add yet another operating system that needs to be supported by people in IT that does nothing different, and create a yet slower release (it's laughable that people think Windows 7 isn't the slowest OS yet, even though every test proves it's even slower than Vista). Microsoft creates so many headaches with their constant, useless, changes. Move this here, make this thing round instead of square, etc... just so it looks like an upgrade, instead of making the damn thing faster, less buggy, and less bloated without changing where everything is. No wonder Apple keeps gaining market share. Even against a monopoly. This despite obscenely overpriced hardware, and an autocratic, heavy-handed, and borderline abusive corporate policy.What a choice. In hardware we get excellence from Intel, and AMD. In software, we got a choice between Apple and Microsoft. Both suck. Is it too late to bring OS/2 back? It's 16 years since they did an update, and the interface is still more powerful than Windows.
Troll much?
This is an "important element" for the "business customers"....it seems like a good chunk of businesses still run Windows XP.
I doubt I'll have this on any of my desktops or laptops in the near future (and perhaps never if they end up releasing Windows 9 only a couple years later). However, I am keenly interested in this operating system for HTPC purposes.
Assuming the tile interface is remote/Kinect friendly, I can see this as being ideal in a couch and television setting. I'll be able to run any software I want, but might not necessarily have to grab a mouse and keyboard each time.
Lets hope Windows 8 isn't the new Windows Vista in terms of poor functionality.
Im not really interested in it, Win7 exceeds my needs at the moment and its really easy to work with. And its pretty obvious that Win8 is just a testing out something new and since because Win7 is so solid they dont need to fear losing customers.
Yes, but you'd miss the whole point of every Microsoft OS since Windows 2000. It's to make them money, and not to help you or anyone else. $29 for an upgrade wouldn't feed their coffers, so they'll release an annoying new interface, add yet another operating system that needs to be supported by people in IT that does nothing different, and create a yet slower release (it's laughable that people think Windows 7 isn't the slowest OS yet, even though every test proves it's even slower than Vista). Microsoft creates so many headaches with their constant, useless, changes. Move this here, make this thing round instead of square, etc... just so it looks like an upgrade, instead of making the damn thing faster, less buggy, and less bloated without changing where everything is. No wonder Apple keeps gaining market share. Even against a monopoly. This despite obscenely overpriced hardware, and an autocratic, heavy-handed, and borderline abusive corporate policy.What a choice. In hardware we get excellence from Intel, and AMD. In software, we got a choice between Apple and Microsoft. Both suck. Is it too late to bring OS/2 back? It's 16 years since they did an update, and the interface is still more powerful than Windows.
f***ing THANK YOU.
you vista nay sayers, if you set up vista right, its faster than xp, though with vista set for fast speeds, xp does more.
they compare vista with bloat to windows 7 which is mostly vista without all the bloat. and vista takes a few seconds longer with bloat to boot than 7 without... something is wrong there.
but personally, all that i want is xp with new features.
i don't want a ui change, you nailed it
i don't want you to move around setting that were the same way, that we all got to know sense windows 95, and move them not because you came up with a better way, but because you want to move them.
I don't want backwards compatibility. I want a system built on a rock solid foundation with no black-boxed codes/wrappers around outdated legacy code. Let Windows 8 start fresh.
I really hope that tile thing is an option/really easy to get rid of. It looks pretty stupid and useless for a desktop or even laptop.
f***ing THANK YOU.you vista nay sayers, if you set up vista right, its faster than xp, though with vista set for fast speeds, xp does more. they compare vista with bloat to windows 7 which is mostly vista without all the bloat. and vista takes a few seconds longer with bloat to boot than 7 without... something is wrong there.but personally, all that i want is xp with new features.i don't want a ui change, you nailed iti don't want you to move around setting that were the same way, that we all got to know sense windows 95, and move them not because you came up with a better way, but because you want to move them.
Well, that's what it is. Human brains haven't evolved in the last 15 years, and it shouldn't take the retards at Microsoft attempt after attempt to figure out where things go.
You should be able to set up tests, see how people react and where people expect it, and create a good model the first time. Not keeping screwing it up time after time and decide there's yet another place for it to go. What's that mean when you move it to another spot? It means you screwed up where it was every other release, for all the years since Windows was made. So, it's flagrant incompetence.
By the year 2000, they should have long ago known where things are intuitive, and not had to change it each release. They do this to fool the idiots of the world who see things moved and figure it must be an improvement. If it looked the same, even if it worked better, Microsoft probably figures people wouldn't think it was different, so they couldn't sell it as easily. So they screw things up so it looks different, even though it admits blind incompetence that they couldn't get it right for 30 years, just so people buy into it being new, different and improved.
That type of change no one needs. A less bloated, less slow, less buggy OS is what people want and need. But, Microsoft doesn't care about that, it just needs to look different so it looks new.
Little wonder they fail at virtually everything they don't have a monopoly in. Even in their former monopolies, they are losing market share. OpenOffice is gaining, Apple is gaining, and IE isn't even a monopoly anymore its lost so much market share. It's only a matter of time before it ceases to even be the market leader. Let's hope the same can be said of Windows one day, but that day isn't any time soon.
As long as I can still play Simcity 4
Most business's I've been to thus far are just now starting to make the switch from XP to 7. Hell, the server farm I was at was still running some 2k machines.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it till it is!"
Well, that's what it is. Human brains haven't evolved in the last 15 years, and it shouldn't take the retards at Microsoft attempt after attempt to figure out where things go. You should be able to set up tests, see how people react and where people expect it, and create a good model the first time. Not keeping screwing it up time after time and decide there's yet another place for it to go. What's that mean when you move it to another spot? It means you screwed up where it was every other release, for all the years since Windows was made. So, it's flagrant incompetence. By the year 2000, they should have long ago known where things are intuitive, and not had to change it each release. They do this to fool the idiots of the world who see things moved and figure it must be an improvement. If it looked the same, even if it worked better, Microsoft probably figures people wouldn't think it was different, so they couldn't sell it as easily. So they screw things up so it looks different, even though it admits blind incompetence that they couldn't get it right for 30 years, just so people buy into it being new, different and improved. That type of change no one needs. A less bloated, less slow, less buggy OS is what people want and need. But, Microsoft doesn't care about that, it just needs to look different so it looks new. Little wonder they fail at virtually everything they don't have a monopoly in. Even in their former monopolies, they are losing market share. OpenOffice is gaining, Apple is gaining, and IE isn't even a monopoly anymore its lost so much market share. It's only a matter of time before it ceases to even be the market leader. Let's hope the same can be said of Windows one day, but that day isn't any time soon.
This is exactly the problem with people. People are reluctant to change (it's a linear correlation to age) and accept something new. Sure, Windows XP can probably do many things that Windows 7 can. If we're all so reluctant to change, might as well stay at Windows 3.1 and be done with.
However, do you realize that we're moving towards the era of augmented reality (perhaps not in your lifetime, not even mine I guess)? As hardware advances, so should software and as technology progresses, so should human's mindset and the ability to accept.
Talk about 6 - 7 years back, when smartphones first came out, stylus was the bridge between phone and human interaction. Now, it's no longer necessary. The same goes for PC. Gradually, they will do away with your keyboard and mouse. There will always be a group who stay and whine about it, but accept it, this is technology and we have to deal with it.
The only thing I dont like about Windows 8 is the fact that it will be out only 3 years after Windows 7, if they stick to their planned schedule. I know you dont HAVE to get it, but its kind of tacky in my opinion. I think a 5 year schedule for OS releases is a little more reasonable. But meh, its just my opinion. Other then that, I am looking forward to some of the things they have planned.
This is an "important element" for the "business customers"....it seems like a good chunk of businesses still run Windows XP.
A think a good chunk of businesses still run Windows 3.1, but I could be wrong.
Honestly I will never change from window xp till the day they make it easy for me to run old games on windows 7 then i just might get a 7... but if its still retarded with old games then forget it ill just stick with my XP
Honestly I will never change from window xp till the day they make it easy for me to run old games on windows 7 then i just might get a 7... but if its still retarded with old games then forget it ill just stick with my XP
Depending on how old your games are, DOSBox is great for the older classics. Fake86 is something I also came across and it looks promising as well, although its not as polished as DOSBox.
Yes, but you'd miss the whole point of every Microsoft OS since Windows 2000. It's to make them money, and not to help you or anyone else. $29 for an upgrade wouldn't feed their coffers, so they'll release an annoying new interface, add yet another operating system that needs to be supported by people in IT that does nothing different, and create a yet slower release (it's laughable that people think Windows 7 isn't the slowest OS yet, even though every test proves it's even slower than Vista). Microsoft creates so many headaches with their constant, useless, changes. Move this here, make this thing round instead of square, etc... just so it looks like an upgrade, instead of making the damn thing faster, less buggy, and less bloated without changing where everything is. No wonder Apple keeps gaining market share. Even against a monopoly. This despite obscenely overpriced hardware, and an autocratic, heavy-handed, and borderline abusive corporate policy.What a choice. In hardware we get excellence from Intel, and AMD. In software, we got a choice between Apple and Microsoft. Both suck. Is it too late to bring OS/2 back? It's 16 years since they did an update, and the interface is still more powerful than Windows.
Last time I checked a company was in business to make money. Apple is more of a monopoly than MS. You're a freakin idiot.
They should have this anyway; it should not be news...
What about the ARM version?
I don't want backwards compatibility. I want a system built on a rock solid foundation with no black-boxed codes/wrappers around outdated legacy code. Let Windows 8 start fresh.
What do you think Vista was? Nevermind.
I agree about the stability aspect of things.
If there is anything that I wish MS could improve even more it would be the windows updating system. It still causes problems, even on stock OEM PCs with no added software or hardware .
They have to get WU right, also it would be best if they would give a few more catagorical classes of updates that can be selected with the click of a box . for example security updates, drivers, windows usability critical, windows usability optional. Instead of the cryptic explanations they give for many updates now. I see WU as the weakest link in any Windows version to date.
I like Windows XP and 7. Thankfully I have enough education on them to know which updates to apply most of the time, many other users do not.
I guess you could argue that Win OS forces the user to become more educated which can be a good thing, but not if a bit of ignorance can disable your OS.
This is good news to me because some developers are too lazy to upload windows 7 driver so I can't even use my saitek controller right now. Can't afford a new one atm because of college too sigh
I'm already tired of eternal upgrading. I'm going try to jump over Windows 8.
Unlike some of the Window's ass kissers around here, I completely agree.
This isn't even a new operating system, it's just an update to Windows 7 that Microsoft is charging for.
I can't wait until Google goes for the kill and released their own operating system!
I really dont get some comments here. Why the hell do people moan when MS bring out new products like you want to be stuck in the past. With that sort of mentality we may as well still live in caves. MS isnt forcing you to upgrade if you like being in the past stay there I for one though love this new lease of life MS is trying to put into its portfolio. Tiles are the best thing to happen to computing winse the gui.
Well why shouldn't it?! Stupid headline.