Microsoft to discontinue Windows 7 and 8.1 next November

[the game]

Updated late October, Microsoft's "Windows lifecycle fact sheet" shows October 31, 2016, as the "end of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled" for both Windows 7 Professional and Windows 8.1, a change spotted by CNET sister site ZDNet. After that date, the only choice for consumers will be to purchase new computers with Windows 10 installed. The lone exception will be businesses with license agreements that entitle them to choose which version of Windows they want preinstalled.




http://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-t...s-in-one-year/

[Blueobelisk]

But it's not like they're discontinuing support for W7/8/8.1 yet right? It's all good then. Windows 10 isn't even that bad.

[Zenotetsuken]

So, what you are saying is that if I want to get a new pre-built computer, I need to get a copy of Windows 7 now and strip out the Windows 10 when the time comes.

[the game]

But it's not like they're discontinuing support for W7/8/8.1 yet right? It's all good then. Windows 10 isn't even that bad.

I agree. I like 10.

[Bakis]

10 is the best thing ever in terms of Windows.
One year is pretty little though considering they are both fairly new OS's from company IT investment pov and they dont get the free update to 10.

[Independent voter]

I think Microsoft wants to get everyone using Windows 10.

A lot of businesses in the US still use XP.

[unbound]

This really shouldn't be a surprise, and it happens with every new release of most software packages.

Windows 7 extended support ends in 2020, and 8.1 in 2023. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/lifecycle

Again, typical for every piece of software made by large corporations.

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I think Microsoft wants to get everyone using Windows 10.

A lot of businesses in the US still use XP.

No software company wants to be supporting 4 different versions of their products. Microsoft is not alone in this regard.

[Angrybutcher]

So, what you are saying is that if I want to get a new pre-built computer, I need to get a copy of Windows 7 now and strip out the Windows 10 when the time comes.

Or get with the times and use Win10.

I think Microsoft wants to get everyone using Windows 10.

A lot of businesses in the US with government contracts still use XP.

Fixed the second part for you. That said, there are a surprising number of "offline" NT4, 2k and XP systems in the world. Kiosks and ATMs are a great example.

[Ryme]

I still find W10 a bit too intrusive for my liking, plus I don't think I'll ever be on board with their metro stylistic choices they have such a hard on for.

I expect I'll finally go back to Ubuntu or something once W7 support ends.

[Rukh]

Windows 10 is ok. Its funny that MS had to give it away free to kill the behemoth Windows 7 that was cannibalizing their own sales. They need to work on a more gradual improvement schema if they want people to consistently pay for upgrades. How many times has M$ bit themselves by trying to reinvent the wheel, have it roundly rejected and then have to reconcile in the next version?

Of course, they're the biggest software company in the world, maybe I'm talking out my ass.

[Ulmita]

I am switching full time to debian if this happens. Windows 10 is a joke, privacy wise with maybe the ltsb version in a bit better state. And imagine i am one of the biggest M$ fans back from dos and 3.1.

Truly pathetic what they did with Windows 10.

[Ciddy]

But it's not like they're discontinuing support for W7/8/8.1 yet right? It's all good then. Windows 10 isn't even that bad.

Right. I forget the exact dates, but extended support (meaning you still get security updates, among a couple of other things) for Windows 7 doesn't stop until January 2020 last time I checked. Windows 8 gets 2-3 years on top of that. So it'll be a few more years before Windows 7 goes the way of Windows XP.

I'm still holding off on upgrading to Windows 10 for a few more months. I'm pretty comfortable with Windows 7 on an SSD at the moment. DX12 is Win10's biggest selling point for me, and I don't even have a video card that can take advantage of it right now.

I don't have any huge problems with Windows 10 though. I have installed it on my laptop at work, and it works well enough. Had some issues with the touchpad that I resolved by turning off all the "gestures" shit, since I don't use them anyway. I also went through and turned off all of the "let us get to know you better" shit that I could find. I also don't like Edge, but then I'm a Firefox user anyway, so it's not like anything is changing in that area for me. Aside from those things, I haven't had any problems with it.

[Reeve]

10 is the best thing ever in terms of Windows.
One year is pretty little though considering they are both fairly new OS's from company IT investment pov and they dont get the free update to 10.

10 is good. I still think I might like 8.1 better, though.

[haxartus]

10 is malware.

[Kasierith]

So... build your own computer? It's pretty much insanely easy to do nowadays. And it isn't windows 7 itself that's being discontinued, but the use of it as the OS for prebuilt computers. As has been pointed out, extended support is going to still be going on for five more years.

This might be worth it just to watch the waves of misery by the people who have panic attacks over the "privacy violations" and what not.

[Reeve]

Windows 10 is ok. Its funny that MS had to give it away free to kill the behemoth Windows 7 that was cannibalizing their own sales. They need to work on a more gradual improvement schema if they want people to consistently pay for upgrades. How many times has M$ bit themselves by trying to reinvent the wheel, have it roundly rejected and then have to reconcile in the next version?

Of course, they're the biggest software company in the world, maybe I'm talking out my ass.

It's important to try to reinvent the wheel every so often. Even if you're not successful, you learn things in the attempt because you're forced out of the status quo.

[therealbowser]

Will they discontinue support for Windows 7, or simply discontinue sales? Because I am damn happy with Windows 7, and this is kind of a big deal for me.

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And it isn't windows 7 itself that's being discontinued, but the use of it as the OS for prebuilt computers. As has been pointed out, extended support is going to still be going on for five more years.

Good to know.

[Deleted]

10 is malware.

It is? Mine certainly isn't. You must've gotten a bad copy. Don't download your Windows copies dude, buy them legit.

[the game]

Will they discontinue support for Windows 7, or simply discontinue sales? Because I am damn happy with Windows 7, and this is kind of a big deal for me.

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Good to know.

The article says not until 2020 and like 2023 for 8.1

[haxartus]

It is? Mine certainly isn't.

It is, you just don't have the ability to analyze the network traffic that comes out of it.