Windows 7
I'm happy to move to Windows 7... nice looking OS. We are in fact migrating in the new year. Just means my company have to pay to retrain me!
Microsoft: 18-month Windows 7 downgrade rights
If you get a PC running Windows 7 but can't divorce yourself from Windows XP, Microsoft will give you 18 months to downgrade - not six. That's the line from Microsoft, which said that downgrade rights will be available from the date Windows 7 ships - October 22, 2009 - to April 1, 2011. Downgrades cover just two editions of the …
This topic is closed for new posts.
Like people care what Microsoft says...
I can see people caring when they wipe there computer, installing either Windows XP or one of the Linux distro out there.
"Downgrade rights to Windows Vista will not expire."
Phew. Thank god for that!
So...
... why do we have to upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows XP Professional (which doesn't expire...) -- so that we can downgrade from Windows 7 to Windows XP Professional for 18 months?
It could be that it's late, and I've been out of the loop, but it looks like this is only something of interest for people who buy new machines with Windows 7 on it?
Zombie
Ha! Will MS ever be able to finally kill off XP??
Here's a tip: Knock it's head off.
It's good to laugh at a MS story on a Friday morning, it sets me up for the weekend.
Fine
I just won't conform with the license. It's not like I have for a fair few years anyway... O:-)
Only Microsoft has to do this?
Release a new product and then offer a way to avoid it.
There is a solution to this.
Make every new OS you release better than the last one.
@greg 4
Or they fire you and get a contractor in. Usually cheaper.
Luddites
Seriously, guys. On an modern machine Vista is simply better than XP. At least once it's correctly configured. Windows 7 is even better.
Yet on most of the big IT sites we're still seeing loads of 'IT professionals' moaning because they want to keep using XP.
Heck, move to KDE4/gnome if you really don't like Microsoft. They're both better than XP.
But it's nothing to do with Vista/Windows 7, is it? It's just the crusy-mafia out to stop them young 'uns 'changing things again'. Ain't it?
Bloody luddites.
@Ryan Barrett
Not everybody has your priorities. Nice job stereotyping everybody who doesn't agree with you.
You like to call people names? OK. If I'm a Luddite, you're a self-centered jerk.
Before you yell "Hypocrite!" notice the qualifier.
Your move.
retrain?
@greg4
seriously? you need training in order to use windows?
or maybe you mean adding a module to "Must Consult Someone Else" in order to go through the "point and drool" process of installing server.
@vegister
They cannot make it much better. They have reached preety much the top with Windows 2000. If they'd change any more, they'd be incompatible. That's why XP mostly adds nagging features.
The temptation is just too much..
If we're fed up of running software are we allowed to downgrade to Linux or Mac OS?
@Paul
No, this is how you get free certification. Now most people would argue that running Windows Server was certifiable all by itself, but that's just nitpicking.
These days employers, heads of IT departments and generally anyone else who doesn't understand IT demand Microsoft certification for most jobs.
Those that do understand what they actually need sometimes do this too, just so they can chuck out thousands of applications for a single job without having the need to write up pages of justification. Saves running afoul of discrimination laws, stick a "Must have MSCE" or whatever and you can legally discard any applicant that doesn't.
So as an employee the answer to this problem is to demand "retraining" every time a new version of Windows arrives. Admin and Engineer certification costs thousands of pounds/dollars, and without this handy tool most of us wouldn't have a free way to get re-certified before our existing documents become obsolete in the eyes of the prospective employer.
As a favour to everyone in our industry, I'd ask you not to make it clear the true value of such certification to your own employer or any other person you happen to meet, as well as keeping quiet about the need to "retrain" for every version of windows.
This topic is closed for new posts.
Popular Whitepapers
- Linux on the Desktop
Lessons from mainstream business adoption - The Register Guide to iSCSI
A primer on Internet SCSI, a protocol to transport SCSI commands over IP - The BI Inflexion Point
Information is a right, not a privilege - The Evolving Security Landscape
Reg Webinar - The Register Guide to email security
A primer on the challenges of securing email and approaches to resolving them - The Register's Green Computing Debate
An on-demand webcast
