News

Time for Windows 7?


With the release of Windows 7 less than two months away, the likelihood that this latest version of Windows will allow Microsoft to remove XP is looking unlikely.

 

A recent survey found that out of 5,000 Windows XP users polled, the majority said that they would be unhappy if Microsoft stopped selling XP altogether, and only just over half of those that had read about Windows 7 planned to upgrade.

 

Fortunately for Microsoft, the majority of those questioned that had either tried or read about Windows 7 felt positive about it, which must come as some comfort after the hostile consumer reaction to Windows Vista.

Microsoft has taken a leaf out of Apple’s book, and is planning to offer a ‘family pack’ of Windows 7 Home Premium. Microsoft has decided to bring its Windows 7 Family Pack to the UK after all. The company will offer buyers the chance to upgrade up to three PCs to Windows 7 for £150. Users can upgrade from either Windows XP or Vista, although only Vista users will be able to perform an in-place upgrade where programs, settings and data are kept intact.

Microsoft says the Family Pack will only be available in "limited quantities" when it goes on sale on 22 October, the Windows 7 launch date.

 

The move represents a complete about face for Microsoft, which originally stated it wouldn't offer a Family Pack in the UK until 2010. This was because the company initially planned to offer only full versions of the OS in Europe, following its battle with EU competition authorities.

However, it hastily dropped plans for the E editions, deciding instead to offer rival browsers during the installation process to appease the EU's concerns over the bundling of Internet Explorer.

 

Windows 7 will be compatible with all software designed for Windows Vista say Microsoft. This indicates a vast improvement on previous Windows releases, which have usually caused major compatibility problems when running older software. However when you consider what a flop Windows Vista has been, it isn’t really that great.

 

The majority of software is still designed to be XP compatible, and is tuned to the idiosyncrasies of XP, meaning that even recent software might not necessarily run that well on Windows 7.

 

Microsoft is trying to combat this problem with a new advisory service designed to help people make the leap to Windows 7. Wonderful except for two things only available in US and Canada and costs $210 per hour!

 

Not again I hear you cry, oh ye of little faith!!!

 

New prices

 

Microsoft has also announced new prices for Windows 7. The upgrade version of Windows 7 Home Premium will now cost £80 until the end of the year, when the price will be increased to £100. Windows 7 Professional upgrade will cost £190, while Ultimate weighs in at £200.

The full version of Home Premium will cost £150, with Professional priced at £220 and Ultimate topping the price list at £230.

Those prices are merely Microsoft's "estimates".

 

We will be staying with XP pro SP3 unless you specially request Windows 7. It is an improvement on Vista but needs more testing before we are fully satisfied with Windows 7.