4 ms·

That's why MS gives out Win10 for free: there are zero reasons to stick with 7.

by cabirum 11y ago

gmac 11y ago
Here are two big reasons: (1) The IT department controls what's on your PC. (2) You have no idea how computers work.
- monk_e_boy 11y ago
  Yep, there are a lot of strange peripherals attached to computers that are no longer supported. Win XP and 7 will be around for a while yet. Out local hospital is still using IE7 - that's a lot of PCs that aren't going to get upgraded any time soon (funding cuts.)
  - Klathmon 11y ago
    It was my understanding that it wasn't that those things weren't "not supported" but that the drivers will no longer be included with the base install. Stuff like off-the-wall scsi drivers, or floppy drivers, or serial port mouse support. You can still download and install the drivers for those things, but they won't be there right away.
    - RussianCow 11y ago
      I don't know about Windows 10, but the driver model changed significantly with Windows Vista, so XP drivers actually will not work out of the box on newer versions of Windows. So if you're using a really old peripheral that isn't maintained anymore, chances are you won't be able to run it on a modern Windows machine.
      - deleted 11y ago
        [deleted]
      - artmageddon 11y ago
        I'm curious, assuming physical connections are still possible(i.e. ye olde COM/Serial port), how well do the use of VMs hold up in mission-critical processes such as these?
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
paulojreis 11y ago
Yeah, for geeks, maybe. But, for common people, the reasoning is the opposite: there are zero reasons to switch.
- cabirum 11y ago
  I think most people saw the annoying little flag in the notification area letting users to "reserve" the upgrade, so here's your reason: it won't go away until you do upgrade.
  - paulojreis 11y ago
    Again, that would apply to the geek user: he would upgrade just to get rid of the annoyance. Common people typically handle annoying things in the "computer" realm: browser toolbars, pop-ups, advertising, crapware, malware. Yet, they don't upgrade because it seems "complicated", it's "technical", or something like that. We, IT professionals as a class, have a hell of a lot to gain just by talking and watching common users.
    - coldtea 11y ago
      There are not that many THAT "common people" anymore with regards to technology. And even them buy a new computer ever 5 or so years or have someone who knows take care of their installations.
      - paulojreis 11y ago
        > There are not that many THAT "common people" anymore with regards to technology In HN? Surely. In our little and self-centered IT shell? Mos' def'. If you worked with and studied users, your opinion would change. Updates in particular are interesting; most people postpone them ad aeternum.
  - Silhouette 11y ago
    it won't go away until you do upgrade. Sure it will. Just uninstall the Windows update KB3035583, and there it is, gone. This is by far the most common question my less technical friends and family have been asking about their computers recently. I must have done this for 4 or 5 different people already, and entirely unscientifically it seems other technically inclined friends are getting the same request. It appears that I don't know a lot of people who actually want a new version of Windows on their existing, already working PC. Personally, I've been recommending ignoring any Windows updates that are not explicitly security updates for quite some time now. Microsoft seem to have developed an unwelcome habit of pushing things out via that mechanism that might be in their own interests but aren't necessarily in the interests of the users.
DasIch 11y ago
In the real world organizations are still stuck on Windows XP and especially in large organizations it can take months or even years until everyone is upgraded. Windows 10 being free matters to users at home and small businesses, it doesn't matter to anyone else.
untog 11y ago
As a Windows Media Center user, I beg to differ.

That's why MS gives out Win10 for free: there are zero reasons to stick with 7.

by cabirum 11y ago

That's why MS gives out Win10 for free: there are zero reasons to stick with 7.

gmac 11y ago

Here are two big reasons: (1) The IT department controls what's on your PC. (2) You have no idea how computers work.

monk_e_boy 11y ago
Yep, there are a lot of strange peripherals attached to computers that are no longer supported. Win XP and 7 will be around for a while yet. Out local hospital is still using IE7 - that's a lot of PCs that aren't going to get upgraded any time soon (funding cuts.)
- Klathmon 11y ago
  It was my understanding that it wasn't that those things weren't "not supported" but that the drivers will no longer be included with the base install. Stuff like off-the-wall scsi drivers, or floppy drivers, or serial port mouse support. You can still download and install the drivers for those things, but they won't be there right away.
  - RussianCow 11y ago
    I don't know about Windows 10, but the driver model changed significantly with Windows Vista, so XP drivers actually will not work out of the box on newer versions of Windows. So if you're using a really old peripheral that isn't maintained anymore, chances are you won't be able to run it on a modern Windows machine.
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
    - artmageddon 11y ago
      I'm curious, assuming physical connections are still possible(i.e. ye olde COM/Serial port), how well do the use of VMs hold up in mission-critical processes such as these?
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

paulojreis 11y ago

Yeah, for geeks, maybe. But, for common people, the reasoning is the opposite: there are zero reasons to switch.

cabirum 11y ago
I think most people saw the annoying little flag in the notification area letting users to "reserve" the upgrade, so here's your reason: it won't go away until you do upgrade.
- paulojreis 11y ago
  Again, that would apply to the geek user: he would upgrade just to get rid of the annoyance. Common people typically handle annoying things in the "computer" realm: browser toolbars, pop-ups, advertising, crapware, malware. Yet, they don't upgrade because it seems "complicated", it's "technical", or something like that. We, IT professionals as a class, have a hell of a lot to gain just by talking and watching common users.
  - coldtea 11y ago
    There are not that many THAT "common people" anymore with regards to technology. And even them buy a new computer ever 5 or so years or have someone who knows take care of their installations.
    - paulojreis 11y ago
      > There are not that many THAT "common people" anymore with regards to technology In HN? Surely. In our little and self-centered IT shell? Mos' def'. If you worked with and studied users, your opinion would change. Updates in particular are interesting; most people postpone them ad aeternum.
- Silhouette 11y ago
  it won't go away until you do upgrade. Sure it will. Just uninstall the Windows update KB3035583, and there it is, gone. This is by far the most common question my less technical friends and family have been asking about their computers recently. I must have done this for 4 or 5 different people already, and entirely unscientifically it seems other technically inclined friends are getting the same request. It appears that I don't know a lot of people who actually want a new version of Windows on their existing, already working PC. Personally, I've been recommending ignoring any Windows updates that are not explicitly security updates for quite some time now. Microsoft seem to have developed an unwelcome habit of pushing things out via that mechanism that might be in their own interests but aren't necessarily in the interests of the users.

DasIch 11y ago

In the real world organizations are still stuck on Windows XP and especially in large organizations it can take months or even years until everyone is upgraded. Windows 10 being free matters to users at home and small businesses, it doesn't matter to anyone else.

untog 11y ago

As a Windows Media Center user, I beg to differ.