Windows 7 Support Ends January 2015

Don't follow this much I see. They are already moving away from metro centric on desktop for next major release.

No, I've been following it, I just don't trust Microsoft anymore.
Even though Windows 9 looks promising, I can see them making last minute changes the fubar the desktop even worse than Windows 8
 
The modern UI is far from dead. On the desktop I understand that there's been a lot of resistance to it and many have ignored it, but the modern UI is still central to Microsoft's tablet and phone efforts. And even on the desktop I find I'm using more and more apps for the things people use them on tablets and phones. YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, casual gaming, eBooks, etc. Sure, there's not a lot in the way of solid productivity apps but the modern version of Office will help with a big hole there.

AOL-1996-vs.-Microsoft-Windows-8.jpg


We didn't want it back then, we don't want it now.
 
Why are operating systems turning into cell phones? theres a new one every year or something with like 1 or 2 "new" features

Windows 3.1 1993
Windows 95 guess
Windows 98
Windows ME 2000
Windows XP 2001 (which also followed Windows 2000)
as I recall, at one point SP2(2004) was going to be a paid upgrade
Vista (RTM 2006 and officially released early 2007)
7 2009
8 2012
9 2015(?)

Aside from the XP aberration, the MS release schedule is pretty regular. And even 95 and 98 had releases that only had a few changes (e.g. 95a, 98se).
 
Everyone should be on Windows 8.1 anyway. Windows 7 was never the future, it was always Vista with a new hat. It was a Malibu Stacy doll meant to keep people dumb and trick them off of XP.

Start menu or not, it's not hard to go to www.classicshell.net and get a better start menu than the one that comes with XP, 7, or 8.2/9 (whichever).
It gives you way more features too, so stop the bitching and get the actual improvements we should have had since Vista.

Better task manager, SkyDrive/OneDrive, synced settings across devices, it's good.
Metro is basically dead anyway. I haven't had to look at Metro for months. And if I go back that far, it's only for a few seconds I had to look at it at all to begin with.

That may be fine for individuals, but from a business standpoint Windows 8 is a no-go.
I still have to support a couple old apps. I've managed to get them to work under Windows 7 32 bit, but they will never work under Windows 8.
Also, using a 3rd party start menu is way to risky, and training users on the metro interface and the messed up swiping meant for touch screens would be a mess. I had way too many problems just getting them to be able to use Windows 7.

As for SkyDrive, not in my business environment.
 
Windows 7 PC are still being sold, and won't stop being sold unit Oct 31. So some people are going to get less than two months of support for a brand new computer.
 
Start menu or not, it's not hard to go to www.classicshell.net and get a better start menu than the one that comes with XP, 7, or 8.2/9 (whichever).
It gives you way more features too, so stop the bitching and get the actual improvements we should have had since Vista.

One pet peeve of mine is when people treat work-arounds as if they are permanent solutions. Installing a third party application by an unaffiliated non-sanctioned company is not a fix for a feature that should have been native to begin with. Microsoft is under no obligation to accommodate classic shell in their QA when they put out their updates/patches. having to rely on two entirely unrelated sources to make your OS work as it should is not only inefficient but also clumsy and inelegant.

It reminds me of when I'm trying to find out where I can download a song that I heard on youtube and people keep replying "dude, just use youtube2mp3.com ...duh"
*facepalm
 
We didn't want it back then, we don't want it now.

I find it interesting that this old image is still being circulated while the Start Screen has undergone two pretty major changes since it's introduction, and many of those changes made it more keyboard and mouse friendly. I've long said that Windows 8.x has its issues, but overall the Start Screen is a pretty solid idea, even on a desktop. My Start Screens looks nothing like that tired rehash with 8.1 Update 1. I get a ton of info from the live tile capable apps that I have installed. The problem with a lot of Windows 8 opponents is that they simply haven't used what's in 8 and now simply bash it out of rote.

That said, I think that most recognize that the changes simply aren't palatable to many long time traditional desktop users and I'm part of that crowd. Microsoft didn't integrate the new UI well into the desktop nor put in enough options to configure things based on the device type. They've made steps to correct those things and the consensus, while not overwhelming, is that these changes have made things better for desktop users. Of course more needs to be done and it looks like most should get what they want in 9, at least UI wise on the desktop with the return of the Start Menu.

I really like 8.1 now overall. Pretty damned flexible OS that does a lot if you actually bothered to look at what's there. But obviously, there's a lot of folks that just want the nearly 20 year old Windows 95 style desktop. There's a lot of different demands on Windows, perhaps too many. But it is nice to see something out of the software world that does try to push things along and take risk. Some will call that shoving things down people's throats. But at some point, something that's as old as Windows has to try do something new, and while the execution may not be perfect, just playing it safe isn't enough either.
 
A couple oddities...

RETAIL support will end next year, yes. Extended support is going until 2020.

Also, if you want screwed up - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/lifecycle
"End of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled" for Windows 7 Basic/Premium/Ultimate is October 31, 2014. That means those will only have support for TWO AND A HALF MONTHS!

And End of Sales for Windows 7 Professional hasn't been set yet - with MS saying they will provide at least one year's notice. This means it will be possible to buy a PC with Windows 7 Professional until at *LEAST* July 10, 2015; and not be able to get support from Microsoft on it THE DAY YOU BUY IT, unless you have an extended support contract.
 
Why not come out with an expiration date from the start? If I'm buying Windows 7 for so much for this many years, I'd appreciate this information up front.

Lazy much ?

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/

Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy

The Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy applies to most products currently available through retail purchase or volume licensing and most future release products. Below details Microsoft’s current policies which offer a minimum of:

10 years of support (5 years Mainstream Support and 5 years Extended Support) at the supported service pack level for Business, Developer and Desktop Operating System products
5 years Mainstream Support at the supported service pack level for Consumer and Multimedia products
4 years Mainstream Support for Consumer Hardware products
 
As far as I'm concerned they are pushing people to stop using Win 7 by breaking it. Recently went back to win 7 from 8.1 and the taskbar sits on top of everything like even fullscreen youtube movies and there's no way to fix it. Microsoft needs a good punch in the throat. Both win 7 AND 8 suck now.
Set the taskbar to automatically hide. Unless the application takes exclusive fullscreen the taskbar is always going to be available to poke.
 
Windows 7 is old already. People still think they live in 2009. Already 2014 almost 2015. Time flys when your out and about. Install 8.1 or use 7 till 9 comes out. Install classic shell for 8.1.
 
Windows 7 is old already. People still think they live in 2009. Already 2014 almost 2015. Time flys when your out and about. Install 8.1 or use 7 till 9 comes out. Install classic shell for 8.1.

You don't work in IT do you?
 
You don't work in IT do you?

I do but i am talking about consumers here. Businesses are still using windows 2000 and xp. Gotta move ahead. Windows 11 will be out and people will still be hanging on to 7 till their last dieing breath. At some point people are going to have to upgrade anyways. Might as well do it sooner than later.
 
No, I've been following it, I just don't trust Microsoft anymore.
Even though Windows 9 looks promising, I can see them making last minute changes the fubar the desktop even worse than Windows 8

Since the Windows 8 Desktop is no fubared at all.........
 
I do but i am talking about consumers here. Businesses are still using windows 2000 and xp. Gotta move ahead. Windows 11 will be out and people will still be hanging on to 7 till their last dieing breath. At some point people are going to have to upgrade anyways. Might as well do it sooner than later.

If you'd actually think like a consumer they hang on to it as long as they can because it works fine and fits their needs. That is not going to change. People act like Win 7 is on its last dying breath. That is far from the truth.
 
Does this mean that after January 2015 I'll no longer be pestered to install 50+ optional foreign language packs I don't want and won't ever need? If so, then I'm all for it.
 
Why are operating systems turning into cell phones? theres a new one every year or something with like 1 or 2 "new" features

I see this argument a lot, but it's just simply not true.

Windows XP - 2001
Windows Vista - 2006
Windows 7 - 2009
Windows 8 - 2012

How exactly is that every year?
 
Whether they call it Windows 8.2, Windows 9, or whatever, I'm not leaving Windows 7 until they release a new version that contains an actual honest-to-goodness Start Menu. Even if it's not identical to the Win7 version, I didn't appreciate having the choice taken away from me and had zero desire to support braindead design choices like trying to force everyone into a touchscreen-oriented UI when most people were still using a mouse & keyboard.
 
I see this argument a lot, but it's just simply not true.

Windows XP - 2001
Windows Vista - 2006
Windows 7 - 2009
Windows 8 - 2012

How exactly is that every year?

Windows 8. Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 Update 1. Windows 8.1 Update 2. Windows 9.

Microsoft has already said they are moving to faster releases. Sure, some are incremental updates, but that's the only "1 year release schedule" I could think of. It is the new way of doing things.

I just heard that same argument from a guy at work. He has a Windows phone and loves it. Thinks it's the "bee's knees". Bought a Windows 8 touchscreen laptop, and doesn't like it. He can use it just fine, but he just doesn't like it on a laptop. I take a look, and he has tiles set up as shortcuts, so it's quick and easy to get to where he needs to go. He just doesn't like it. He loves it on the phone and wants a tablet, but doesn't want his desktop to be a glorified cell phone interface.
 
But, then we have nothing to whine about!

:mad:

We can still whine about the flat look of the windows, buttons and such. I didn't care for all the bling Windows 7 brought to the table but at least I hand control of how much I wanted.
 
Does this mean that after January 2015 I'll no longer be pestered to install 50+ optional foreign language packs I don't want and won't ever need? If so, then I'm all for it.
Did you know that you can hide updates in Windows Update? Since Vista one of the first things I always do after installation and kicking off updates is to hide those language packs.
 
Holy crap, MS is in a mad rush to push people towards Linux.
Well, coming out and saying "We're going to focus on PC gaming again" once Valve announces Steam machines and AMD shows off Mantle, then doesn't even show one PC game at E3, THEN pumps out a mess of Xbone exclusives....
Between the Duplex block interface on Win with a "This is the future, we don't give a damn what you think so suck it up because we own your PC loving asses" attitude and all the "love" they've showed us PC gamers I'd have to agree they're bending over backwards to piss us all off.
 
If I could get all my steam games and photoshop to working on Linux I'd be there. I use free/open source for most of the applications I run (Seamonkey browser, Libre Office, FreeCommander, Thunderbird with Lightning and msys2 for bash shell and Linux commands). Stepping into linux would be fairly easy if not for Photoshop and the steam games.
 
When I was your age we didn't HAVE operating systems to whinge about, we had slide rules! And later on (much later) we had the HP-21 calculator! AND NOTHING NEW HAS BEEN NEEDED SINCE THEN!

It's all pretty this and pretty that and oh yeah, it's so easy an idiot can do it and yes that's true as a look out of any automobile window in traffic will attest to by evidenced by all the happy morons driving with the heads looking down at their laps.

What was the question?
 
The reason Microsoft published these dates is to generate sales at the corporate level. Drawing a line in the sand is a common sales tactic. :rolleyes:
2.png
 
The reason Microsoft published these dates is to generate sales at the corporate level. Drawing a line in the sand is a common sales tactic. :rolleyes:
2.png

If they don't publish those dates and aren't up front about it, they are deceptive. Some companies just can't win, can they?
 
There's a leaked screenshot of the start menu that was supposed to be in 8.2, not sure if that was pushed or not for 9. I don't recall if it was confirmed, but it matches the description of a hybrid between Win7 and Metro. It was basically the left hand side being win7 and the right side (Win7's "control panel, my documents, etc) being small metro tiles.

Nice, so if that comes through on production, MS is basically admitting they screwed up by getting rid of the Start menu.
 
A couple oddities...

RETAIL support will end next year, yes. Extended support is going until 2020.

Also, if you want screwed up - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/lifecycle
"End of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled" for Windows 7 Basic/Premium/Ultimate is October 31, 2014. That means those will only have support for TWO AND A HALF MONTHS!

And End of Sales for Windows 7 Professional hasn't been set yet - with MS saying they will provide at least one year's notice. This means it will be possible to buy a PC with Windows 7 Professional until at *LEAST* July 10, 2015; and not be able to get support from Microsoft on it THE DAY YOU BUY IT, unless you have an extended support contract.

They'll patch it. Do you actually call MS everytime you have a problem on your PC? I can honestly say I not only haven't called MS, I don't know anyone that's called MS support (regardless of their level of computer expertise).
 
Does this mean that after January 2015 I'll no longer be pestered to install 50+ optional foreign language packs I don't want and won't ever need? If so, then I'm all for it.

Just hide them. They don't come back (unlike updates for bing desktop). Until your post, I'd forgotten about those language packs.
 
Windows 8. Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 Update 1. Windows 8.1 Update 2. Windows 9.

Microsoft has already said they are moving to faster releases. Sure, some are incremental updates, but that's the only "1 year release schedule" I could think of. It is the new way of doing things.

I just heard that same argument from a guy at work. He has a Windows phone and loves it. Thinks it's the "bee's knees". Bought a Windows 8 touchscreen laptop, and doesn't like it. He can use it just fine, but he just doesn't like it on a laptop. I take a look, and he has tiles set up as shortcuts, so it's quick and easy to get to where he needs to go. He just doesn't like it. He loves it on the phone and wants a tablet, but doesn't want his desktop to be a glorified cell phone interface.

Windows 8.1 is an update to address the desktop UI issues with the original release. It's not a required update; however, if you're going to count it as an OS release, then XP SP2 definitely counts as a release and arguably Windows 98 SE did too. You might want to add the other versions of 95 as well.
 
Set the taskbar to automatically hide. Unless the application takes exclusive fullscreen the taskbar is always going to be available to poke.

Yes auto hide behavior has changed. I'm aware how the taskbar works. In 8.1 it hides properly on full screen on win 7 it doesn't. Try watching a YouTube video full screen on win 7. You have a line at the bottom of the screen. No big deal but it looks like shit when watching a movie. Try googling taskbar hide windows 7 you'll see I'm not the only person that's noticed this.
 
Since the Windows 8 Desktop is no fubared at all.........

Okay maybe not FUBAR.

How about "cornholed". Or "involuntarily man-loved". Or "prison cum-dumpstered". Or "given the wang suppository".

Do these accurate descriptions meet more with your liking?
 
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