Windows 7 XP mode gets a mixed response
Windows 7 includes an add-on feature to run a virtual copy of XP to take care of application incompatibilities. But the feature is getting mixed feedback, most notably because it won’t work on all PCs.
The logic of the move is pretty sound: Microsoft hopes it will persuade potential upgraders to make the leap, ‘safe’ in the knowledge that they won’t lose out on running any XP programs which aren’t compatible with Windows 7 (or where they aren’t willing to shell out on Windows 7 versions). If theories of users skipping Vista altogether are true, that should be a sizable section of the market.
The biggest problem with the feature is that, unlike some virtualization systems, it needs your processor to have a hardware virtualization system. In other words it has to be capable of effectively pretending to be two different machines. Not only do even some modern processors not have this feature, but it’s rare that it will be switched on by default on those which do.
The feature also needs a minimum 2GB of memory (double the minimum spec for Windows 7) and an extra 15GB of disk space. That probably won’t be a problem for many users, but those who’d struggle with such specs may be exactly the people who are most likely to be relying on XP.
There are two different ways of using the feature. One is Virtual PC, which simply does enough to run the XP application within Windows 7. The other is Virtual Windows XP, which runs the entire XP system itself as if it was installed on a separate hard drive.
The feature comes with the Professional and higher editions of XP, so it’s really not aimed at consumers. It may well be of use to some small and medium sized businesses which decided against running Vista. But the limitations and hassles involved make it more of a makeshift solution than a magic solution to make the XP > Windows 7 route seamless.
Related Posts:
May 4th, 2009
While it’s true that a machine needs to have the right software and specs to run an XP emulator on a Windows 7 machine, I think it’s safe to say that–if Windows 7 is a true improvement over both Vista and XP–businesses and consumers will take the opportunity to upgrade hardware at the same time.
In general if you’re running an XP machine, it’s several years old; there’s a lot of pent-up demand for new hardware out there. Companies and consumers wanting to avoid Vista have held onto older machines intentionally.
Unlike Mac users, who generally upgrade OSes without too much concern about compatibility and other issues and who don’t upgrade hardware all that often, Windows users often upgrade the OS only when they buy new hardware, which Windows users do more frequently. That’s because upgrading from one version of Windows to another can sometimes be a lengthy and painful experience. So, I suspect Windows 7 will actually trigger a surge in hardware purchases making the hardware requirements for XP virtualization moot.
May 5th, 2009
“Windows users often upgrade the OS only when they buy new hardware, which Windows users do more frequently”
This statement is about as misleading as it gets. Users upgrade hardware often without upgrading the OS. I have done this myself, guess what still on XP.
“Windows 7 will actually trigger a surge in hardware purchases making the hardware requirements for XP virtualization moot”
No it will not, 9/9 people in my Family have computers on XP that have been updated and can run Windows 7 no problem. I know, I upgraded them.
What makes XP virtualization moot is that to upgrade to 7 from XP you have to do a clean install and re-install all applications. IF you have to re-install everything, Why would you use XP in Virtual mode?
Dumb, lame. Give users a proper upgrade path to Windows 7 from XP
May 5th, 2009
The last release of OSX started what was inevitable once Apple moved to Intel, the recommendation that older PPC models with less than an 800Mhz processor not upgrade.
Unless Apple plans to blow off giving users the newest processors and upgrading OSX to take advantage of the newer features it’s going to continue. Going to Intel took away the option of dragging out the process of upgrading the CPU Apple enjoyed when they used a different architecture.
I hardly think having compatibility issues with users who are running a 7 year old OS is alarming. Google OSX classic mode