In this second part of my Windows 7 series I will address why XP users who fought so hard to protect Windows XP will finally let it go and move to Windows 7. As I had said yesterday, the resistance to move to Vista came from two very prominent components: the enhanced security (or security that actually works as some people have expressed) and the new user interface.
These were the surface reasons -- the ones everyone could put their fingers on -- but another underlying reason existed as well. Anyone who can remember the release of Windows 2000 or XP remembers that for quite some time after the software released, if you were shopping around for a new PC online or at an electronics store you could choose to have the new OS or the old one. In many cases you could order the same model with any OS you chose. Even when we began to order XP in my shop we had a few PCs for older partners that we chose to have Windows 2000 installed instead, same PC model, same specs, just a more familiar OS for the user.
In the case of Windows Vista Microsoft took a different tact, OEMS and Electronics stores were made to push Vista and soon after its release getting a PC with Windows XP was nearly impossible. That is until Info World launched the “Save Windows XP campaign”, which caused retailers and Microsoft to offer a downgrade option to Windows XP when purchasing a new PC or laptop.
Another infamous event was the “Windows Capable” system, many of these supposed Vista capable systems did not have the power, speed or RAM to run Vista. This was a new event for many consumers, since many past Windows upgrades had difficulties in upgrading but never an issue with hardware.
Of course, as more was written on the subject, the large footprint, driver issues and compatibility became reasons for non-adoption of Vista. So what makes Windows 7 different?
To begin with, it has been over two years since Vista was first released. Microsoft’s Mojave campaign (which I still strongly disagree with) and subsequent commercials were effective in showing a person there really is nothing to fear. Fear of the unknown has probably been the biggest issue in leaving Windows XP. Windows 7 will look and feel like Vista, nothing new to get used to there.
Easier management of security, and as I said yesterday that smaller footprint, fast install and the ability to run well on minimal resources, is going to go a long way with consumers. Vista's own weakness is going to help people to adopt Windows 7 as well. Windows XP users have now been using the same operating system for over eight years. They are craving something new, funny to say when we just said people hate change, well people are funny they hate change and crave it at the same time. Timing for the Windows 7 release (slated for late 2009) is perfect for consumers.
In short, the right time, right place situation combined with some more user-friendly changes makes Windows 7 a surefire winner with Windows XP loyalists. I loved XP but it is time to say goodbye, Windows 7 will usher in a worthy but way overdue retirement on Windows XP…so long old friend.
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Ron Barrett, Director of e-Strategy for ClipTraining , is an independent trainer, author and consultant. He has been a technology professional for over 12 years, working for several major financial services firms and dotcoms. Ron is a specialist in network infrastructure, security, and IT management. He is the author of Office Communications Server 2007 R2: How-To , as well as co-author of Windows Server 2008: How-To and The Administrator’s Guide to Microsoft Office 2007 Servers. Ron has been a co-author or technical editor for several other books on Windows administration. Along with book writing, Ron has contributed to several industry magazines such as Redmond, Datamation and Windows IT Pro. Beyond writing, Ron has spoken at several technology conferences for CPAmerica, AICPA and MCP’s TECHMENTOR. Recently Ron has joined ClipTraining as the Director of e-Strategy in an effort to further the company’s presence via the Internet and social networking channels.
Ron's latest book, Windows Server 2008 How-To has been selected as the September 2009 book giveaway on Microsoft Subnet. To enter the monthly book giveaway, visit the Microsoft Subnet home page.
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XP vs Windows 7
I am one of those XP guys who vowed NEVER to run that sluggish nightmare called Vista. I've been playing with PC's since the early 80's. One of the old guys. I've been familiar with MS products since the DOS days.
Traditionally, I always resisted each "new" OS from them. I initially hated Windows 3.1. Wanted nothing to do with it. A mouse? That's stupid. Just give me my keyboard and command prompt. That's all I'll ever need.
Ultimately, time and software forced me in each case to go with the next version. From 3.1 to 95, 98, 2000, and XP. Boy, did I hate XP when it first came out.
Vista, was an exception. I successfully stopped at XP. I had two good reasons. One, Vista really sucks. MS totally blew the game on that one. It was, and IS, a sluggish, bulky, bloated disaster. I don't own a copy, and never will. Why spend THAT much money on a nightmare?
Two, Linux has evolved into an excellent alternative to Windows, ease of installation and ample applications. Plus, it gives you a fill for that need for something new. With XP for my games, and Linux for everything else, Vista couldn't force me to go with the flow. I'm sure Ballmer would hate it if people knew how easy it was now to install it. You don't have to be a geek anymore. Especially Fedora Core Linux. And, it's FREE.
I skeptically downloaded the Windows 7 Beta...
Yeah, looks like Vista all over during the install.
I'm thinking, "repackaging a dog turd doesn't change the fact that it's a turd.".
Been running it for 3 days now, exclusively. And I think, there might be light at the end of the tunnel for MS on this one.
Still resource heavy, from my perspective. I build game machines. Speed is critical. Any unnecessary background processes really piss me off. And 7 has a ways to go on that score.
Plus, you disable a service that in XP wasn't a problem, but in Vista/7 breaks the operating system. That is a negative too. I doubt we'll ever be able to thin the herd on those services like in XP, but with time, you'll figure out the ones you don't need.
This may sound like a bad review on Windows 7, but actually, if you know me, is more like praise.
I'm grudging willing to say it seems to have possibility. My resistance to 7 is about like it was to XP. I'll eventually adopt it. I think.
This is only a beta. Who knows what they'll do to it by release time, good, OR bad?
My sentiments... well almost exactly
My sentiments... well almost exactly
At least when transitioning from 2000 to XP with a few minor tweaks one could still run it on the same hardware without a significant drop in prformance.
Not so with Vista. At I minimum I had to purchase a new, mother board and 64bit processor, video card (excuse me seperate video processor), 4 times the ram in my XP system, and SATA HDD. After all that it's still dog slow compared to my XP system.
Makes one wonder if there was'nt some pre arrangement with hardware companies.
RE:Why XP users will switch to Windows 7
As I sit here and read your article on my XP based laptop, I ask myself, umm why would I pay to upgrade to another OS that will obviously be buggy when this one works fine? maybe because I read somewhere that it was time to... pfft get real.. I pay no attention to XP, now IE upgrades are another issue, thats where most people spend their time.. on a secondary note, my XP laptop is an industrial PLC programming unit, most PLC manufactures have yet to put out a 64 bit programming software, so I have to stick with XP.
XP-VISTA-MOJAVE-7
I read with some amusement the first comment, No my Vista wasn't "Shit slow" because the hardware was new enough to take advantage of Vista. But I do understand the second bloggers comment, YES XP is a solid, well designed interface, YES XP is simple to use and upgrade and oh YESSSS XP is paid for. However, I'm using 7 now, and to be honest, it blows XPs doors off. 7 is XP on Steroids, Like R-nold says.. "I'll be kick'n your XP Crack er sorry back... The hot Aero interface is awesome, Mouse hover menus rock and yes I still miss my XP just like I miss my first Pontiac GTO. But I'd rather be driving my Eclipse GTS. Software compatibility issues? BAH! I selected "Auto Install" and 7 found the correct drivers for me and installed them without intervention for a OKI 5150N that even OKI didn't offer a driver for! Try that with Vista! Gillen pull your head out dude. I would offer one suggestion if any of those MVPs browse this blog, Let me upin the Start Menu button and roll it to the desktop. Other than that I'm lov'n it..
Another Convert
I haven't tried the beta yet but I've heard great things about it. As a gamer Microsoft pissed me of to no end with the bad 64-bit XP, directx10 being limited to Vista amongst other things. I have vista on my laptop and it is horrendous. I've cut it down in every way possible to make it faster and less...shitty but you spraying fabreeze on a turd just smells like fabreeze and turd. I've been a loyal XP fan but if Win7 is as good as it is now and gets better at release I am going to get it.
People will switch to
People will switch to Windows 7 because they don't have a choice, not because they prefer it over XP. From an end-user perspective there is absolutely nothing that Windows 7 does that XP cannot do.
Agrrreeeeeddddd
Agrrreeeeeddddd !!!!
Microsoft will offer an Downgrade to Vista if you wish one, so people will have no choice, it´s Vista or Vista n'lightened.
I will stick With My ultra light fast and fully productive Fedora Core 64, no bloatwares, and with only 3GBs of OS I can do 5X more than 15 GB Microsoft services that can´t be turned off...
Real life experience
We resell to business and our customers want no part of Vista. Their productivity depends on familiar, reliable work machines. Almost 99% of our PC sales are still XP. A few have 'experimented' with Vista. They paid about double for the machine which is a high horsepower PC with gobs of RAM and a high end video accellerator. Then there is about $1,000 for software upgrades, not to mention the negative impact on productivity. Multiply this by 25 users and you have a significant capital investment.
I realize the home user wants the latest technology just for bragging rights and to have something 'new'. Vista (and Windows 7) will satisfy that goal.
Businesses will still be slow to adopt a new OS, and then only when there is no other choice.
W7 Better? Is this propaganda?
What DATA is there that say W7 is better? How does it perform better? What interfaces make work easier and less tasky or clicky? Is this article MS propaganda? If not, show us the data!
I've tried Windows 7, and it still seems sluggish compared to XP. Then there's all this click-oriented (mouse clicks) stuff, where I've learned for years on XP to zoom through interfaces with the keyboard. I haven't tried benchmark tests, but things just take longer in W7. On top of that, this new interface! The Windows XP (or 2000) Classic metaphor is deeply ingrained, I hated Vista and it's hiding of functions. I hate that many of my daily tools don't work in W7.
In Contrast, the Apple OS (Macintosh) is very different interface metaphor with a shallow learning curve for first timers but easy to use. Mac OS has also is an easy transition for Window'ers. Same with Ubuntu 9.04 (which installs 100% complete < 30 minutes).
Maybe the final W7 will introduce WOW factor, but it will need to have good data to back it up and show real world work reduction to manage it. The CIO's and IT Directors I know are taking a wait-and-see approach.
this guy is bonkers
I have used Windows XP for 8 years. I haven't touched Vista with a bargepole. This guy is a joke. He doesn't back up any of his assertions with a single formal scientific test. My time is valuable; I haven't got time to learn a new OS and will be using XP until 2014.
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