so how can i downgrade from windows 7 beta to win xp? mail me:DAFSJ@hotmail.com

IMHO the decent thing would be to deliver to the users just what the users want, not forcing you to buy but XP when you just want XP and no more. But it doesn't pay. It's a pity. This advance is so great as the suppresion of bumpers in all recent cars. Evidently we are seeing a great advance in technology in all fields around us....

so is this also a confirmation that there won't be hardware compatiability issues between winxp and win7?

*Supposedly*, Win7 is supposed to be as hardware friendly as XP, with some caveats (as evidenced bt ATI's recent move to remove new features in their catalyst drivers for anything more than a year old (give or take). For instance, the X1300 card is still one of the most prevelent mid-level graphics cards in use right now. As of a couple days ago, the most recent version of Catalyst to support it is 9.3. Mind you, they just released 9.4.

Anyhow, again, *supposedly*, what works in XP and Vista will work in Win7. In my testing, every piece of hardware I have thrown at Win7 has worked. Even my 4 year old, 802.11b Microsoft WiFi PCMCIA card (which XP even had issues with).

I don't know about Microsoft nowadays. They keep on produce something new without thinking maybe. Lot of their product have a problem, being hacked, virus and etc, I think it is best for them to keep on certain product built with quality not just quantity.

Producing something with high quality would be a first for Microsoft and I've worked with their products since their original BASIC interpreter on the Altair 8800. It all comes down to making the most money as quickly as possible and wasting time (in their apparent opinion) finishing the process costs money. Windows has always seemed to be the 65 % solution: they spend 100 % of their time to handle 65 % of the issues. The remaining 35 % is the user's problem.

You kiss your mom with that mouth?...He's ignorant, but that doesn't entitle you to trip out...

So...

Who do you *think* you are replying to? (try the "post reply" link next time, eh?)

Build 7077(7105) leaked; Hit public torrent sites today. Uses same keys as previous builds/beta.

Google build-string: 7077.0.090404.

...in case anyone is interested.

I saw that too...

I would still love to know who's leaking the builds. Kinda scary loading an OS that you don't know where it *really* came from...

Have you started grabbing it yet?

So, XP no longer stands for eXPerience but eXtended Perennially?

so basically they are admitting Windows Vista SP2, I mean Windows 7, is going to be a pig and will run like molasses on anything but a high end machine. LOL.

Vista beats XP
http://www.extremetech.c...2/0,2845,2303830,00.asp

Win7 beats XP and Vista
http://content.zdnet.com...12554_22-278706-34.html

Win7 beats XP, Vista, and earlier builds of Win7
http://content.zdnet.com...12554_22-278706-35.html

Will you FOAD already, you ignorant troll?

Um, read below fatty... I have it running on something that XP barely runs on (HP Mini 1033CL).

Tool, couldn't have put it better myself...

Recently, I had to rebuild one of my HTPC rigs. I decided that I would try Win7 on it (which is running on my netbook amazingly well). Win7 had major issues displaying on the LCD flat panel display... After 2 days of fiddling with drivers and settings, I decided to ditch it and try Mythbuntu. Again, major display issues and MythTV problems. Vista Ultimate, same thing (even worse, the ATI 9.3 driver refused to load twice)... I had thought about going with iDeneb, but there really isn't a good media center app available for OSX that I could find or liked). Finally settled on XP (again). This time, no driver issues, no display issues and the rig is back up and running.

My point is, out of all the "latest" OSes, XP was the most stable and most suited to the task at hand.

I enjoy reading the confused, befuddled and in some cases, downright idiotic reasons that some think others won't upgrade to Vista. It would be even funnier if the posts weren't so serious.

But here's newsflash.
Ihave at least one machine that won't be upgraded from XP.
Is this because I am so enamored with XP that I woun't leave it? Yeah. right! LOL!

It is for a very simple and practical reason, and one that affects MANY professionally.

It runs a variety of well established data acquisition software and hardware that due, either to I/O and or to software, is not completely compatible with Vista. And this system cost more than several times the cost of the computer and the OS.

Others in the vertical markets face this. For many, the expense of duplicating costs to simply move from a stable application platform to a version that has ONLY been modified simply so it will run on Vista - with NO additional functionality, simply doesn't justify the exorbitant cost.

And still others, such as those running Apogee Electronics interfaces for Pro Sound (I know, most of you have no idea what this is or who might use it...but you just might, for instance, want to eplore what is holding the new Metallica tour together (and I don't care what you think of the music! I am talking about the TOUR PRODUCTION which IS a big deal!) If you do, you will discover that they have decided recently to discontinue Windows development, and to s*** their development entirely to the Mac - you know, that platform that many of you so love to hate. And if you are using Windows for many other tools, and you don't want to buy a Mac just to accomodate both environments, then you will have to continue using XP - as the software tools will continue to be supported.

There, so unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately!) some will continue to use XP for very practical reasons. And I guess that they will just have to continue wondering why they are stuck running Windows at all. As they are not there simply out of fascination with Windows XP nor with Windows at all!

But you folks whose lives revolve simply around your games or MS Office...keep wondering why some others will continue to run XP. But don't make the mistake of thinking that it is simply because they are so enamored by it that they don't want to be bothered by the oh so wonderful(sic) Vista. And if Windows 7 doesn't overcome the incompatibilities introduced between XP and Vista, Windows 7 will become a moot issue as well. And think about it, why would any one reinvest 'double' in their addons simply for functional compliance with products that have gone over like a lead balloon and which, as now demonstrated by Windows7 appearance on the heels of Vista, have a limited life span. Not to mention the fact that these tools can run on smaller portables with a footprint that makes Vista impractical even if you wanted it.

Add to this companies with thousands of seats that would require upgrades at exorbitant cost and of the cost of the extensive compatibility and compliance testing and retraining SIMPLY to move to a platform that has already demonstrated that it is a transitory step. Now YOU go justify why its worth changing to the CFO. And YOU perform the necessary testing in zero time! Perhaps some of you might want to stop and wonder why some companies aren't rushing to Vista! Nore to Windows7 - still just a concept.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Like it or not. And make no mistake, we are focuing on the applications. An OS simply allows them to run - its perhaps the Least important component! And we can argue all day over whether XP or Vista are broken or not. But the fact is, Vista breaks A LOT of applications and I/O based data acquisition! So, from that point of view, Vista IS broken. And the substantial cost to upgrade to Vista compatible apps simply so they will run on Vista with no added fuctionality, with a lifecycle that is already almost over, makes no sense. And these apps are a hell of a lot more important than the decal that announces what OS is running.

Meanwhile the rest of you whos apps don't care can speculate all day as to why someone wouldn't upgrade. Who cares...

Quite a wordy way of saying that some folks will be "stuck" with XP because of compatibility/functionality issues. I would like to think most of us already knew that (though I should know better).

"And I guess that they will just have to continue wondering why they are stuck running Windows at all."

They care more about the apps and functionality they need than the OS, which is evident in their choices, so why on earth would "windows or not" even matter to them at all? If it works for them...it works. That's all they care about.

"But you folks whose lives revolve simply around your games or MS Office"

Th majority of users (Home users)....

"Not to mention the fact that these tools can run on smaller portables with a footprint that makes Vista impractical even if you wanted it."

Win7 running *very* well on 1GB/single core/Ati Mobility 200 (laptop)...which is far less than most netbooks and gave XP trouble. (Vista would not even install on this thing....) Also note that recent statements have rumored that build 7068 (haven't used it on my lappys yet) works better on netbooks than previous builds.

As for the vista-compatibility life-cycle, they had the same issue moving from the 95/98/ME era to the 2000/XP era (which lasted a lot longer, for which many are thankful and many are resentful). Most companies (that I have worked with) don't get serious about OS upgrade considerations until the second iteration of a specific Windows platform, regardless. Win7 will be the test of that one.

"Meanwhile the rest of you whos apps don't care can speculate all day as to why someone wouldn't upgrade. Who cares..."

No-one really. We're here for the same reason you are...to kill time. ;-) I doubt it affects any of us much beyond that...

Stuck with XP, stuck with Vista, stuck with Windows7 ...

Who cares.

The only real issue is the continued availability of the platform you need to run.

I get a kick out of so many arguing religious wars over an OS. That's like being preoccupied debating which brand of car is most important to ride in on the way to work.

Like it matters as long as it gets you there in a reasonable time and for a reasonable cost. And running over a few eco-wackos is always a bonus - but that comes under games and entertainment - so some might want to argue that! ;-)

"Win7 running *very* well on 1GB/single core/Ati Mobility 200 (laptop)...which is far less than most netbooks and gave XP trouble. (Vista would not even install on this thing....) Also note that recent statements have rumored that build 7068 (haven't used it on my lappys yet) works better on netbooks than previous builds."

I have 7068 running on my HP Mini 1033CL (1GB Ram, 60GB PATA HD, 1.6ghz ATOM) and I have to say it even blows away Ubuntu in terms of performance and reliability (OT, I know, but I had to throw it in there... lol)

I have never; Not once in my life, been impressed by Ubuntu performance.

Ever.

OT, I know, but.... ;-)

Eh, the ubuntu netbook remix is a cool concept (much, much better than HP's MIE)... as for performance, I've had limited success with it. It does run really well on an old HP workstation that I have lying about. Great file sharing box. lol

quite wordy as well.

Well, when responding to a book... ;-)

Why would anyone want an OS that is not compatible with 90% of the rest of the world, offers less than 50% of the same functionality, and make you pay more for it through higher hardware and software pricing? The above reasons are why everyone uses Windows, and not Apple. Can you roll back an Apple machine if you install their latest and greatest and it turns out to be a dud, or would you end up being so impressed they actually included something Microsoft gave you for free a decade ago, and not want to roll it back? If I wanted to do my computing on an antique system I would go find an IBM System 34 mainframe, circa 1978. You remember those don't you? They were the first computer that didn't need cards, and had a floppy drive. Get over your XP fascination. It wasn't that great to begin with and even after service pack three it still isn't.

The 'fascination' with XP is that it works far better on laptops than Vista does. The battery life difference is often around 25% longer when using XP from my experience.

Windows 7 may change that, and I look forward to it.

oh common! Win 7 is great OS. Why would anyone downgrade to XP? Just try yourself. I mean download beta or wait for RC which may release in May :)

*shrug*

I can see why for business customers, but not for home users. Makes no sense. People with 6 year old systems aren't going to be buying a new copy of Windows and for people buying new machines, Win7 is running (so far) faster, more stable, and more secure (unless MSFT decides to bork it somehow).

Seriously, I wouldn't go back to XP on my home system if you begged me to. I *hate* using XP at work. Simple little things like not being able to re-arrange my taskbar icons drives me crazy. IT flunkies be damned. If it won't run in Win7 when released (and The Bob's been given marching orders to make it so), then the apps they've not managed to make compatible will run in a VM, FFS. (Yeah, Bob... if you're reading this, you read it right. Just tell them it's "for the children"..)

I am so sick of XP.... *shudders*

"Simple little things like not being able to re-arrange my taskbar icons drives me crazy"

Taskbar Shuffle is both portable and free.

You could probably get away with it/get it to work at work.

Ah!

One of the few reasons I still love this site. :)

Thank you, paul. Maybe work won't be such a drag now. ;)

(And as for it being allowed or not, well....that's kinda *my* decision...)

*grin*

wow... MS is being good beyond measure to the customer...

Let me speculate. is it that...:
1) they are sooo changing their minds and now care about customer because of a Care Bears invasion kept in secret?
2) they realised that being harsh on the customer wishes means only losses?
3) Vista earnings were not as high as *expected* and now they want to recover money using any measure?

whouah...This is crazy. What the heck is Microsoft doing? Announcing this, at this stage of development is beyond me. It's like Ford would announce "the F-150 model 2010 will be released this fall but don't worry you will still be able to buy the 2008 model" and not even talking about the 2009 one at all. No wonder Mac and Linux are gaining in popularity and market share.

Yeah pretty soon Linux will hit 1.5% desktop market share!

Yeah and that 1.5% also proves that not everyone is a sheep.

I don't think using Windows makes you a sheep. It makes you smart when your business and all the software you need to make a living run on Windows only. It sounds like you are being different just for the sake of being different, which is pretty stupid when you think about it.

I hate sheep too but this is one instance where using the most popular O/S has it's advantages.

If anything, the me too Apple crowd is the worst bunch of cheerleader / followers. Yes, I own two iPods but not because I like Apple. My in dash touch screen interfaces with them directly and I can hide them away and never have to physically touch them.

I am not different just for the sake of being different but I do believe in the possibility that there is a world out there other than Windows and having alternatives is good.

I use Mac, Linux and Windows and they all have their weakness and strength.

Backpedaling 101...

Us the OS that works for you and runs the apps you want. That said, there's a reason Wine and BootCamp are so popular.