Sad Day - end of Windows 7 sales.

[Commodus]

No, the reason that PC sales are declining, is not because of legacy support, it's because "The New Windows" (aka Windows 10) sucks. Spying, lack of user control over updates, hybrid UI that looks like it was designed by a toddler, etc.

They could have just secured the kernel and driver layer better, and released Windows 7 SE.It wouldn't have required apps to change all that much.

Heck, most non-driver apps still run unchanged, on both Windows 7 and Windows 10.

New, just for the sake of New, sucks. Especially when there was nothing wrong with the Old.

Analyst groups like IDC and Gartner chalk it up primarily to slow corporate upgrade cycles and economic factors (and, of course, the rise of mobile), not some inherent dislike of Windows 10. Now, Windows 8, that's an OS that created a market decline all by itself...

I'm reminded a bit of the people who insist that Android phones outsell iPhones because of microSD card support, or because you can change your default browser. It's that tendency to confuse personal preferences with what actually drives the market. In Windows 10's case, it's more that companies see Windows 7 as good enough and aren't feeling pressure to move to 10.

And Windows 10 isn't new strictly for its own sake. Aside from fixing Microsoft's approach to touch, it was also key to introducing Cortana, biometric security, Xbox integration, even the basic concept of Windows more as a continuously updating OS instead of something limited to monolithic releases. I know there's sometimes a forced upgrade march, but I don't consider Windows 10 arbitrary.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

What often happens in the business world, is they refuse to use open source and want to use something that is proprietary and "supported". Then that backfires because the company no longer exists, now they have to keep this ancient piece of software running on whatever OS it was installed on. Plenty of NT4 stuff at my hospital and even a SCO Unix box, Like the real SCO Unix.

But even without that, it just costs a lot of time and grief to upgrade desktop OS in a business environment so idealy you want to get like 5-10 years out of a system. XP's life was a good length, 7 seems like it just kinda flew by and then they started to push 8 and 10, when people were barely even off XP. It takes several years of planning and testing just to upgrade, then it can take months to a year to do the actual upgrade. By the time you do all that Ms is now trying to convince you to upgrade again! Nuts really.

This is changing. Companies like AT&T are moving toward generic, software defined everything where the software is mostly coded in house. If their network conversion goes as planned in the next few years (SDN/NFV) they will most likely take the next step and lose M$ for the desktop.

While there is a certain comfort level that has kept companies like AT&T (example of company with 1/4 million employees using computers) is isn't impossible to emulate the look and feel of some common caveman apps from Windows into other environment. When that happens M$ will definitely see what's written on the wall.

 

[Puffnstuff]

When it comes to a new OS Windows 98 was the worst one I've ever used followed by the 2nd edition. I will admit having problems with the original 10 release which got better after the 1511 update. Right now 1607 is solid for me and I haven't had any issues with corrupting files or malware taking over my systems which is why I run a layered approach to security. I run zone alarm + Malwarebytes and they protect my systems quite well. 7 was the best in its day but that day has came and went. This kind of reminds me of people who refuse to listen to new music because they are stuck in the past, say 1970, and believe that anything newer is the devils music. I like new stuff and will take it over old stuff any day of the week.

 

[nemesismk2]

Hardly. Win10 is more malware-prone, or exploit-prone, or what have you. At least, I never had any security breeches that I know of, all the time I was using Win7, but within two months of using Win10, I was somehow exploited.

i went from windows xp to windows 7 then onto windows 10. since i started using windows 10 have had 2 viruses and 2 trojans which i never had with windows xp or windows 7. there is no security with windows 10 and it doesn't block anything. had to disable edge browser and defender antivirus. have none microsoft antivirus and browser with windows 10 and it seems much faster with scans and generally faster.

 

[Raduque]

I won't lose any sleep over it. This move is long overdue.

 

[Mem]

I won't lose any sleep over it. This move is long overdue.

Exactly, I wonder sometimes how some people can get too attached to an OS ,especially an old one like Win7, sooner it dies the better, every OS regardless of your favourite OS has EOL date, so move on and get with the times, sames goes for Linux Distros, however Linux does have more operating Systems and better customisation in general then Windows.

It'll be interesting to see what happens to Win7 users at Win7 EOL date ( Jan 2020), will they run around like headless chickens or move on like the rest of us have done so for many years ( or decades in my case).

 

[Mem]

i went from windows xp to windows 7 then onto windows 10. since i started using windows 10 have had 2 viruses and 2 trojans which i never had with windows xp or windows 7. there is no security with windows 10 and it doesn't block anything. had to disable edge browser and defender antivirus. have none microsoft antivirus and browser with windows 10 and it seems much faster with scans and generally faster.

Not true by default Win10 comes with an AV, Win7 does not,10 has other improved security features as well over 7, as to viruses etc (with respect) you could argue that is down to user in question and how he uses his OS and security, personally I use Bitdefender on 10 and never had a virus on any of my two 10 PCs, last time was probably back in XP days.
We all know common sense goes a long way to, so blaming 10 is a bit stupid. Remember security should be many layers with common sense at the top. Nobody should just rely on the OS in question, that is like having a door half opened.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Exactly, I wonder sometimes how some people can get too attached to an OS ,especially an old one like Win7, sooner it dies the better, every OS regardless of your favourite OS has EOL date, so move on and get with the times, sames goes for Linux Distros, however Linux does have more operating Systems and better customisation in general then Windows.

It'll be interesting to see what happens to Win7 users at Win7 EOL date ( Jan 2020), will they run around like headless chickens or move on like the rest of us have done so for many years ( or decades in my case).

The issue is that there is no viable upgrade path to windows 7. With XP, people were mostly sticking to it because it worked for their needs, but at least there was an upgrade path, which was 7. Now most people have upgraded and are now being told they'll soon have to do it again, when there arn't actual viable upgrade paths. 8 is a disaster to use, and 10 is better than 8 but not as good as 7.

I think win7 will be like XP though, they'll just keep moving the date because most people will not have upgraded. Especially companies.

 

[Raduque]

I think win7 will be like XP though, they'll just keep moving the date because most people will not have upgraded. Especially companies.

I really hope this is not what happens. Legacy software is bad, and it just drags down progress.

 

[Mem]

The issue is that there is no viable upgrade path to windows 7. With XP, people were mostly sticking to it because it worked for their needs, but at least there was an upgrade path, which was 7. Now most people have upgraded and are now being told they'll soon have to do it again, when there arn't actual viable upgrade paths. 8 is a disaster to use, and 10 is better than 8 but not as good as 7.

I think win7 will be like XP though, they'll just keep moving the date because most people will not have upgraded. Especially companies.

I've used every Windows OS since DOS days and to be honest Win8.1 was not bad, Win10 is fine, there are upgrade paths from 7, not to mention all the free Linux distros, you can argue about software compatibility but that is not all down to the OS, software companies do offer in most cases newer versions for later Operating Systems.

Every OS regardless of what you use has a shelf life, you have to accept that fact. Yes XP worked up to a point due to the long shelf life and no viable alternative for a long time but it was full of major security holes.

Upgrading goes with PC like bread and butter, however you have free alternatives for OS, remember nothing lasts forever in the PC world.

Last point, if there was no viable upgrade then nobody would be on 8.1,10 or Linux from Win7.

 

[XiandreX]

I won't lose any sleep over it. This move is long overdue.

Amen... enough of this holding onto the past, yes we know that Windows 10 can be frustrating but going forward
the Windows 10 Platform is where development is aimed at, and like Mem pointed out, Software companies are creating newer versions that
are compatible with Windows 10.
Keep in mind that Windows 7 was released late 2009, 7 years ago, its time to move on.
If people want to stick with Windows 7, that is their choice, but do not expect support.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Exactly, I wonder sometimes how some people can get too attached to an OS ,especially an old one like Win7, sooner it dies the better, every OS regardless of your favourite OS has EOL date, so move on and get with the times, sames goes for Linux Distros, however Linux does have more operating Systems and better customisation in general then Windows.

It'll be interesting to see what happens to Win7 users at Win7 EOL date ( Jan 2020), will they run around like headless chickens or move on like the rest of us have done so for many years ( or decades in my case).

It is called commitment, like when I got married. I got married with the preconceived notion I wasn't going to get divorced in three years.

 

[Mem]

It is called commitment, like when I got married. I got married with the preconceived notion I wasn't going to get divorced in three years.

Marriage is not the same as an OS, point being anybody that uses an OS and expects it to last forever with no EOL is very naive or stupid.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Marriage is not the same as an OS, point being anybody that uses an OS and expects it to last forever with no EOL is very naive or stupid.

It isn't about expecting it to last forever, it is about lasting until your comfort level moves you forward. And M$ did things to definitely shove people forward instead of politely asking. It is their business model to for change, even if it is way ahead of the desires of their customers. If you are happy then good. But that isn't what this thread is about. Quit peeing on our parade, man. Go enjoy W10 and all of its glory.

 

[Mem]

It isn't about expecting it to last forever, it is about lasting until your comfort level moves you forward. And M$ did things to definitely shove people forward instead of politely asking. It is their business model to for change, even if it is way ahead of the desires of their customers. If you are happy then good. But that isn't what this thread is about. Quit peeing on our parade, man. Go enjoy W10 and all of its glory.

.

Nothing is stopping you from using Win7 after EOL(still a lot of people using WinXP) or going with something more simple, end of the day it is about Win7 EOL, older Operating Systems make way for more modern Operating Systems, sales and support on those ie Win7 are no longer a high priority with Microsoft when they are coming towards EOL , you know this is true, as to me enjoying Win10, well to be honest I've enjoyed all my Operating Systems I have used over the decades from Dos to Linux.

Last point, Win7 ISOs are easy to find and download on the net, even easier is to bypass the activation key for Win7.

I can understand in many ways why Microsoft are doing this, right or wrong it's their decision end of the day.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It isn't about expecting it to last forever, it is about lasting until your comfort level moves you forward. And M$ did things to definitely shove people forward instead of politely asking. It is their business model to for change, even if it is way ahead of the desires of their customers. If you are happy then good. But that isn't what this thread is about. Quit peeing on our parade, man. Go enjoy W10 and all of its glory.

Exactly. MS also keeps changing stuff for the sake of change, and often changes it for the worst. Stuff is harder to find, GUI looks ugly, unintuitive etc. Especially 7 to 8, that was a disaster. I don't know how anyone can think that is "fine". I want to pull my hair out every time I have to use a 8.x machine. 10 is a tad better, but still not a fan of all the white and bloaty/blockyness and fact that you can't change anything. They actually removed a lot of features that even existed in windows 3.1, like ability to change colors of GUI elements so you're stuck with that awful white dialogs and gray text. What's under the hood is practically irrelevant if the car looks like a piece of crap and has terrible handling. The spying crap is a whole other issue, but that is something that I'm sure we'll see more and more programs being available to stop it. You can use a firewall etc too.

If I'm going to upgrade OS I want the next OS to be better. That's what I like about Linux, typically upgrading means you get newer stuff, bug fixes etc, but without any major changes that throw you for an unnecessary ride. We don't talk about Gnome 3 or unity. That never happened.