Windows 8 was almost 2 years ago.

The 2-3 year gap between Windows releases is Microsoft's normal pattern. The gap between XP and Vista was the exception and won't be repeated; if anything the gap will reduce with mid-version updates like Windows 8.1.

they need more money :)

Don't like how 8.1 was handled. Should have been a Windows Update update, not an upgrade distributed through Store.

Actually, at the moment, it's not. But it has the potential to be.

Ideally it would just support installing Windows drivers just like you do on... Windows. It does not do that too well, yet. See more at:

ReactOS - Supported Hardware

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVXt_dELZNo#t=1922

It also, currently runs less applications than Wine does on Linux or MacOS X. At least according to Alex Ionescu:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVXt_dELZNo#t=2259

People that have the time should watch the whole thing. It's really, really interesting.

That's good then, they are keeping up and I have less reason to retain Windows 7. For some reason though Haegemonia isn't yet marked as Windows 8 compatible? I recall GOG saying they don't consider something fixed unless it runs on all their test systems.

Do you see a point where they'd break Windows XP compatibility (when trying to make some old game compatible with the latest Windows versions)? Or do the compatibility fixes, installers and such made for Windows 8.1 etc. work by default also for XP?

Just thinking of the few GOG games that do work better on Windows XP (like Gorky 17), it would be a shame to me if at some point you wouldn't be able to run it on a retro or virtual XP machine anymore, as the GOG installer or compatibility changes would allow running it only on Windows 7 or later. Of course they'd also have the option of offering two different versions of the installer, for different Windows revisions.

Or, you know, you could just keep using 7 until they cut support and then buy a new OS :-P MS isn't actually pressuring anybody into anything, well aside from us IT professionals, but I like new things, so I'm fine with this

I just feel Metro should have been better integrated into the actual desktop part of the system - as it is, you're either working with Metro, with desktop, or very half-arsedly with both. Make Metro apps allow being launched in a window, make the start-screen a bit better integrated and we'll be in business

Problem comes when you want to buy a new PC.

When they release a new Windows version, I think they stop shipping the earlier Windows version to OEM vendors. So after Win8 was being shipped to OEM vendors, I think MS stopped delivering Win7 quite fast, and that is why it is harder and harder to find a new PC with Windows 7.

And about IT professionals, to me the acceptance rate to Windows 8 is much lower on corporations than what it is at homes (who usually take whatever is preloaded on their new PC). My employer e.g. skipped Vista altogether (there were some pilots for it, but in the end we went straight from Windows XP to 7), and I am pretty sure we will be skipping 8 and 8.1 altogether as well, maybe straight to Windows 9.

Microsoft is making it so when you want to buy a new PC, you have these 3 options below.

1. buy a new PC with some new Microsoft OS and use that OS(cheapest option)
2. buy a new PC with some new Microsoft OS and then buy the Windows you want(=spending more money)
3. buy a new PC with some new Microsoft OS and then download a free OS that sucks with games(not really an option)



That is putting pressure on people.

Well no wonder you won't get to use the OS of your choice if you refuse to buy it. Obviously MS is always going to put the newest thing on the newest computers. You have also forgot about a:
4. buy a new PC without an OS, which will save you money that you can spend to buy an OS you wish to use

Yeah I forgot about option 4. But Microsoft is putting pressure on people to buy their new shit because in time, the OS you wish to use wont be compatible with newer games. So if you don't upgrade, you won't be able to play the newer games.

My friend still runs Vista, so far he didn't have any issues with playing new games on the system and that one is now 8 years old or so? Really, there's nothing to worry about, you don't have to buy the newest and shiniest stuff MS has released. If you are sufficiently computer literate to install your own OS, buying OS-less computer and an OS of your choice is the way to go, and you will actually save money in the long run if you switch your computers around a lot.

Usual users tend to buy a new computer every 6 years give or take, and switching OS every 6 years can hardly be considered terrible.

Is MS pushing their newest tech? Of course they are, no reason for them not to. But they're actually pretty good at keeping stuff relatively compatible across the versions, and skipping 1 or 2 releases should be quite fine.

Agreed what a clusterfuck that update was. You have to make sure all your stupid little metro apps are updated before running a service pack. What the hell were they thinking with that system? I'm a tech and I was confused on why the update was not downloading.
They need to leave the apps to the store and bring back Windows Update for the important stuff.

That's all they have to do to get me to upgrade to it:
Let me run the metro apps in a window.
Boot to the desktop (option now available with 8.1, but should be default for desktop computers)
Bring the Start Menu option back (The button was a small step in the right direction, but it was more of a middle finger by Microsoft at those of us that complained of the utter stupidity of their start screen).
Get rid of the stupid charms bar and integrate the control panel and charm settings.
Give us a metro app for old dos/win9x games/programs (not sure if possible).
Give us a shutdown, reboot, logoff option. Why is that buried in sub-menus of other sub-menus?
Maybe next time listen to your Alpha/Beta testers and not some doddering old fool with anger management issues.

Aero is coming back to live in harmony with metro, while metro apps will run fullscreen or window by choice...

and there were talk to make metro an "addon" or a switch you need to flip ALA Media Center by design in 9