AMD / Intel & Microsoft

[Altster]

I'm not really sure where to post this, but am pretty sure that some of you might be interested in this.

http://fossbytes.com/microsoft-pcs-with-intel-skylake-processors-wont-support-windows-78-1/

 

[Markverhyden]

I'm not really sure where to post this, but am pretty sure that some of you might be interested in this.

http://fossbytes.com/microsoft-pcs-with-intel-skylake-processors-wont-support-windows-78-1/

WOW!!! M$ trying to show how big their cojones are.... LOL!!!!

 

[coffee]

Just when I think M$ is ok they do something to reinforce my attitude against them.

More the reason to switch over to linux

 

[Digital Micro]

I've started telling my clients that sooner than later you're going to have to move to Windows 10. So we might as well begin the process now slowly. I have a few clients that are running a virtual Windows 7 for software that hasn't updated. For those who wait to accept the future all I can say is the more the phone rings the more I make.

 

[glennd]

I'll wait to see what Intel et al have to say about that...

 

[Markverhyden]

I've started telling my clients that sooner than later you're going to have to move to Windows 10. So we might as well begin the process now slowly. I have a few clients that are running a virtual Windows 7 for software that hasn't updated. For those who wait to accept the future all I can say is the more the phone rings the more I make.

I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty of virtualization work coming up. Unless M@cro$h@ft backs down. That has happened in the past.

 

[altrenda]

So, Microsoft will not issue updates for Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 to operate on new processors. Machines that currently run those versions will continue to run them. So as long as the software they need still runs, they are OK until they need to upgrade their hardware.

The main reason most business users have held off from Win 10 is compatibility with LOB apps. The race is on for software vendors to upgrade their software to run on Win 10. If your vendor is no longer in business, won't/can't upgrade, or charges an unaffordable amount, the business is in trouble.

maybe some vendors will write those niche apps for Linux, and users will switch, but it's not likely. More likely would be more apps moving to the cloud where they can run on any hardware or OS.

 

[altrenda]

I'll wait to see what Intel et al have to say about that...

I would think Intel is down with this. Intel is suffering, Arm is kicking it's butt in mobile and PC sales are dropping like a stone. Anything that sells more processors is good for Intel. HP, Dell and Lenovo are on board as well.

There doesn't appear to be any reason that Linux can't or won't be written to support these processors.

But, few people pick a machine because of the OS it runs or the processor it uses. The ability to run the software you need is the only thing that counts.

 

[glennd]

I would think Intel is down with this. Intel is suffering, Arm is kicking it's butt in mobile and PC sales are dropping like a stone. Anything that sells more processors is good for Intel. HP, Dell and Lenovo are on board as well.

There doesn't appear to be any reason that Linux can't or won't be written to support these processors.

But, few people pick a machine because of the OS it runs or the processor it uses. The ability to run the software you need is the only thing that counts.

I just took a browse through my start menu and, apart from QuickBooks, I can't see anything to stop me from moving my work machine to linux right now.

 

[Markverhyden]

I would think Intel is down with this. Intel is suffering, Arm is kicking it's butt in mobile and PC sales are dropping like a stone. Anything that sells more processors is good for Intel. HP, Dell and Lenovo are on board as well.

There doesn't appear to be any reason that Linux can't or won't be written to support these processors.

But, few people pick a machine because of the OS it runs or the processor it uses. The ability to run the software you need is the only thing that counts.

Agreed. I'm sure the traditional OEM's are, and have been for sometime, sweating bullets over this smart device phenomena. Of course this move may even cause people to drop traditional desktops/laptops more quickly.

 

[fencepost]

For consumers, Win10 is going to be forced on you.

For businesses, where there may be more serious reasons to stay on Win7 until closer to its actual EOL, this may end up pushing people to virtual desktops. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that Win7 running under VMWare ESXi 5.5 or higher on a multiprocessor server with Xeons probably doesn't know whether it's on something from the Skylake-generation processors.

I'm actually struggling right now with the best way to charge for WinTerms connecting to terminal services in terms of MSP pricing - it's not going to be regular per-workstation charges (no backup, no antivirus, pretty much no patching, etc.) but there's still that user's butt in the seat potentially asking for support. Makes it important to decide on how much of a price is allocated to each of the services in question.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

So, Microsoft will not issue updates for Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 to operate on new processors. Machines that currently run those versions will continue to run them. So as long as the software they need still runs, they are OK until they need to upgrade their hardware.

The main reason most business users have held off from Win 10 is compatibility with LOB apps. The race is on for software vendors to upgrade their software to run on Win 10. If your vendor is no longer in business, won't/can't upgrade, or charges an unaffordable amount, the business is in trouble.

maybe some vendors will write those niche apps for Linux, and users will switch, but it's not likely. More likely would be more apps moving to the cloud where they can run on any hardware or OS.

That about sums it up really.

The linked story doesn't phase me a bit.

..I remember when Pentium II's came out...I wasn't concerned with installing Windows 3. And when Pentium III's came out, I wasn't trying to install WIndows 95.

...sorta...same thijng here. "Future CPUs" won't support disco'd OS's.!" Big whoop!

I can sorta see this being an inconvenience for residentials...but since I don't support those...it's not a concern for me.
If you read the article...it does have the early...(and growing) list of mostly business models that will have a special install done. Since businesses typically stay behind allowing new computers to be purchased with "downgrade rights"....of course we know this will happen again for Win7 on future computers. Just like we could purchase new computers with the WinXP downgrade up til about 2 years ago or so.

So for the residential consumers that NEED to get a new computer with Win7...they'll have to spend a couple of more bucks and purchase a business model with downgrade rights.

 

[HCHTech]

So for the residentnial consumers that NEED to get a new computer with Win7

Yeah, I think the population of this set is zero. Every Windows-7-using residential customer I've spoken to about new computers that start their discussion with the words "I've heard bad things about Windows 10...." has been completely disarmed by a short discussion about the development chronology of 8, 8.1 & finally 10. During the setup of their new Win10 computer, I spend 15 minutes with them explaining the differences and they are good to go. Admittedly, my sample size is small, maybe 100 or so, but not a single one has stood firm on getting Win7.

I agree with you about business customers - many of them are at the mercy of their LOB application vendors. Unfortunately for the businesses, many of those vendors are requiring large fees to upgrade to their latest version. I have a small 2-person local delivery company whose LOB vendor wants $25,000 plus yearly maintenance fees to get the version of their software that is compatible with Windows 10. That's a lot of packages delivered. It sucks, but they will have to bite the bullet eventually. I'm pretty sure they're going to wait until almost the last minute and replace their workstations with new Win7 boxes next summer to postpone the inevitable as long as possible.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Very first reply to this smear story sums it up: "This article is total BS, a CPU doesn't support the OS, the OS supports the CPU. Intel & AMD cannot and did not say that you will only be able to run Windows 10 on their new CPUs. Whoever wrote this is an idiot and doesn't know **** about computers and their hardware."

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I agree with you about business customers - many of them are at the mercy of their LOB application vendors. Unfortunately for the businesses, many of those vendors are requiring large fees to upgrade to their latest version. I have a small 2-person local delivery company whose LOB vendor wants $25,000 plus yearly maintenance fees to get the version of their software that is compatible with Windows 10. That's a lot of packages delivered. It sucks, but they will have to bite the bullet eventually. I'm pretty sure they're going to wait until almost the last minute and replace their workstations with new Win7 boxes next summer to postpone the inevitable as long as possible.

Yeah with businesses there are a lot that always stay way way back as far as the desktop OS (and server even). I have some healthcare clients that have pretty big annual support fees from their main LOB app vendor...several hundred thousand a year just for support costs. There's more than just the LOB app.....businesses often have tons of hardware peripherals such as large MFPs (like the huge Canon imageRunners, or Kyoceras, etc)...and their backup software, and VPN, and multiple other LOB and peripheral apps. Not to mention just the huge budget of doing an upgrade across the network...hardware (new desktops), software (1 by 1 upgrades...there's something tedious enough itself)....plus the labor, and trying to find the time to do a systemwide upgrade. Piece mealing it isn't always possible....sometimes gotta pull the trigger all at once.

But yeah I'm not concerned...Windows 7 will be available via downgrade rights on many..many business grade models. For several more years.