How long does Microsoft plan to keep selling copies of its Windows Vista operating system after the upcoming launch of Windows 7? The company isn't saying.
With previous versions of Windows, Microsoft used a transition period when old and new versions of Windows were available to help corporate customers manage their transition to the new version of the operating system.
This time Microsoft aims to put the ghosts of its Vista troubles to rest as soon as possible, and could stop selling Vista as soon as Windows 7 is released.
"We are still not sure if [computer makers] will be able to ship Vista once Windows 7 is made available. Having said that, an enterprise customer that purchases a PC with Windows 7 pre-installed is allowed to downgrade to Vista should they desire, similar to what we have today on Vista to XP," wrote Richard Francis, general manager and Windows client business group lead at Microsoft Asia-Pacific, in an e-mail.
Microsoft will stop supporting all versions of Vista in April 2012, Francis said.
The launch of Windows 7 could take place within a few months from now. Last week, the company released the final beta version of the software, one of the last steps before locking down the code and sending the finished operating system to computer makers.
Microsoft had high hopes for Vista, but users found the OS sluggish on some computers and they complained about the number of permission prompts required for some tasks. Dissatisfaction with Vista kept user demand high for Windows XP, but many companies - including Eastman Chemical and Continental Airlines, among others listed on Microsoft's website - decided to roll out Vista within their organizations.
Microsoft appears to be betting that Vista won't be missed once Windows 7 is released.
"It's been a long time since we've had a version of Windows that will actually run better [than the previous version] on the hardware that most customers have," said Mike Nash, corporate vice president of the Windows product management group at Microsoft, during a conference call with reporters.
Compared to Vista, Windows 7 will be faster and work better on systems such as netbooks, which have less powerful processors and less memory than other computers, he said.
While Microsoft hasn't detailed plans for Vista after the launch of Windows 7, Nash said Windows XP will continue to be available on netbooks for one year after the launch of the new operating system.
Comments
Joe said: Dan Im afraid it was released on January 30th 2007
Dan said: although im with JZ this isnt something Microsoft usually do It was only last year when they let go of windows 98 support thats 11 years Vista has been out since i think march 2007 not sure but you get the point
Dan said: The home user has killed Vista all this stuff about problems is down mainly to you ive built loads of systems had hardly any problems If you know what the hell your doing its 100 fine since the release of service pack one The only real big issue in my opinion is the next release should be 64 bit only forcing venders and software makers to move instead of giving the option to use the x84 inside a x64 system I have 2 64bit ultimate systems media and home pc no problems and i will hurt Microsoft if they dont give us W7 for a huge discount 225 nuts in the toilet aint funny Ill find you Bill trust
jz said: Its bound to be made up probably by some Linux bore
jz said: I repeat its speculation Microsoft wouldnt do a thing like this
paulc said: I feel its shocking for Vista users have been duped into buying and using this os only for support to end and no upgrade to windows 7 I must be the only person who bought XP last year only to used on new pcs and are staying with it untill all these problems have disappered into the mistThe only reason of continued use of XP is the software that i use and other users are the sameWhen support for XP stops then the change over will be decided untill then XP is my friend no matter the problems Its only a computer after all
Anonymous said: jzEven if it is all speculation I think its safe to say that the thought of Microsoft possibly doing this to their customers isnt very nice or considerate Chris CYour correct in that Chris C W7 is little more than re-hash of Vista I meant a new versionrelease of Windows rather than a new OSBut Microsoft are going to have to really blow me away in coming years if they want me and I presume any more customers purchasing their software People are beginning to gradually swarm towards Linux distros Ubuntu namely and manufacturers like Dell installing it on their systems as default as a result of demand Linux provides a functional desktop environment for basic users needs Im only using MS because of general compatibilty with most new technologies other than that As a consumer I will obviously go for the most cost-effective option In the long term
jz said: Id just like to say that this is all speculation Id just like to say that
Skidz said: This is worth a good read By Peter Gutmann no less Remember to add the www hubpagescomhubAllTheReaso
Skidz said: DonI have been saying the same for a few months now whenever i post on forums worldwide Vista users were robbed
Don said: After thinking about it I feel Microsoft should either refund Vista Money or offer Win 7 for free to the victims of the Vista raping
Don said: I knew when I built my last PC that I should have used XP but no I went all out with Vista Ultimate and what a disappointment it wasNow to hear that the 300 I spent will be for nothing in a few Months is almost enough to go Apple next time I decide to purchase a new Computer way to go Bill Olt
Idea said: Do you realize that all the people out there who cant wait for Windows 7 are all Vista Users I dont see many XP users crying out to upgrade i wonder why that is grin Is it because XP users are happy and content I think so
Aaron said: Ive had Vista since it was launched and despite driver problems and software needing to be constantly run as administrator I actually like it I would not and do not recommend it however I think it has had lots of bad press I run Vista on an AMD Athlon XP 3200 system with 2GB of RAM which I admit is accent however I have no problems and havent since beforementioned problems were sorted There have been no crashes or sluggish performanceI certainly agree with Skidz that Windows 7 should be free to those who bought Vista I feel let down by Microsoft They clearly know that it wasnt as good as it should have been and Windows 7 is mearly just Vista SP3This time I going to wait until Windows 7s first service pack is realised before I upgrade my OS
Chris C said: Cant agree more with Anonymous The Vista operating system is far superior to XP Safer more responsive and better looking I really dont understand the hate mail It looks good to me and is my mainstream OS As a Windows 7 Beta tester this looks even bnetter and to my mind is perhaps a Vista update or perhaps what Vista should have been rather than a brand new OS but what else would you expect from a comercially sensitive organisation like MS
r2dtech said: Look at their support life cycle policy It would only be mainstrem support and that was the plan from day one on vista
nexus said: I wont be paying any money for this thieving attempt to get more money out of people who bought microflops feeble vista Why should we pay for their mistakes They can stick it imo
Matt said: I think Microsoft should start concentrating on there customers a bit more and not how to make money im sure they would make more money by listening to customers than thinking of daft ideas brought up by themselves
teedee said: My previous pc Dell was well specd and quite powerful and its OS was XP I thought XP a bit of a bummer with fairly frequent blue screens of death I bought a new laptop 10 months ago using Vista and it has been excellent - no problems at all So Ill be sorry to see it go
Corie said: I love windows 7 my laptop orginally came with vista i got soo annoyed with it i downgraded to XP then when Win7 RC1 came out i instanly installed it and couldnt believe how fast it was I keep thinking this is a new OS still in beta and has less bugs than windows vista i will be getting it as my college lets me download OSs for free or pay 3 to get it burned onto a disc