Windows 8 vs. Windows 7
Microsoft is releasing a new operating system, Windows 8, October 26th. There have been many changes, and many backend improvements, as well as a huge buzz on the Internet. But how well does the new operating system hold up?
Reshaping future with Disruptive Technologies
Microsoft is releasing a new operating system, Windows 8, October 26th. There have been many changes, and many backend improvements, as well as a huge buzz on the Internet. But how well does the new operating system hold up?
The reviews of Google’s Chrome OS have thus far been lukewarm at best, and tepid at worst – suffice it to say, no one really has strong feelings one way or the other. It’s doubtlessly cool, but most seem to agree that the majority of the public just isn’t ready to switch to computing on a cloud just yet.
So now you’re sitting there with your CR-48, unsure of what to do. Why not install another operating system? Users at the Something Awful forums have figured it out, installing Windows 7 and OS X with little ease – assuming of course that you file removing the CR-48’s finicky bottom panel in order to properly flash the BIOS under ‘ease’.
And even then, as this video shows, it’s not perfect – OS X on anything but a Mac rarely is – but hey, at least you’re not in the cloud.
They never said it would last forever an if unless it’s just a last-second push to get tech blogs to warn people, Microsoft will stop selling the popular Windows 7 Family Pack at the end of this year.
According to HotHardware, “12/31/2010 will be the final day Microsoft hosts this deal, and after that, it’s hard to say where these will be in stock.”
With more families having three or more computers in their household, the package has seen tremendous popularity. At $150, it represents a 50% savings off buying each individually, even at a discounted rate of $99 each.
Despite Microsoft’s occasional troubles – whether the embarrassment that was the Kin or the fact that their tablet efforts may repeat their mistakes – one thing MS is clearly doing right is Windows 7.
Case in point: Windows 7 has already eclipsed Windows Vista in market share. With 14.5% market share, it has taken only 9 months to reach a number that Vista took 21 months to reach.
So, make a good, stable, pretty operating system that everyone likes and is available on inexpensive machines, and people will buy it in droves? Who knew, right?
Windows 7’s growth also seems to be coming at the expense of Apple, as OSX slipped again to the same share levels it was at in October 2009: roughly 5%.
The funny thing, though? Both Windows OSes are still dwarfed by – wait for it – Windows XP, which still dominates at 61.9%.
Let’s think about that: sixty-two percent of people are still using an OS that came out nine years ago. Why people don’t wish to upgrade is something of a mystery: is it cost?; compatibility?; or has the growth of the web mean that which OS people are using matters less?
I love Windows XP. A lot. I’ve been a user since day one, and three of the four computers in my home are still running it beautifully. The fourth is a Mac. So it comes as delightful news to me to hear that Microsoft is again extending downgrade rights to XP, until – get this – the end of Windows 7’s life cycle.
This means, simply put, that Windows XP will be alive and well in 2020.
Initially, Microsoft had planned to axe downgrade rights six months after the release of Windows 7, later extending that plan to 18 months, which would have given users hungry for XP until next year to downgrade. But now? Now you’ll have all the time in the world, should you feel the need (and assuming your copy of Windows 7 is OEM). “Our business customers have told us that the removing end-user downgrade rights to Windows XP Professional could be confusing,” said Brandon LeBlanc on Microsoft’s blog.
He’s not wrong: 74% of business machines are still running XP. And why fix something that isn’t broken, right?
Right?
What blows my mind is that XP was originally supposed to die one year after Vista treated the world to its bad self (the operating word here being ‘bad’). But we all know how that went.
Dan Neary, the Vice President for Skype, spoke at an event in Sydney today stating that Skype will not be developing software for the new Windows mobile, Windows Phone 7 . Instead the company will be focusing on software for phones like the iPhone, Symbian and Android operating systems.
Neary didn’t give any explanation as to why he chose not to cooperate with Microsoft but instead brought up new plans that Skype has in mind for the iPhone, iPad and Android based phones.
Microsoft hasn’t said anything on the matter. While a lot of us use the powerful communication system, others may not see the need for Skype on their mobile when its’ use on the computer is just as good. Will not being able to get Skype on your mobile stop you from even thinking of purchasing a phone with Windows Mobile 7?
Source: Smarthouse, Pocket-lint
Toshiba is working quickly to launch their new line of tablet computers that will hopefully be available in North America later this year. If the model isn’t ready by the end of the year, the tablet is expected in early 2011.
According to a report by Reuters, the tablets will offer Windows 7 and Android. The Windows 7 model is rumored to include higher-end features but the Android model is closer in similarity to the Apple iPad, which has been hugely popular since it’s release.
The tablet is expected to feature a 10 inch screen and each model will range in cost – prices are unknown as of yet.
“We definitely see a place for the slate, we see there’s a market there,” said Jeff Barney. “It’ll be expansive like netbooks, it won’t be cannibalistic.” Barney is the general manager of Toshiba digital productions for the US.
[Source: Electronista]