XP till 2010? Free Windows 7 upgrades?

I predict this free Win 7 for "downgraded" computers to be total BS.

I also expect the free Windows 7 deal for Vista Purchasers that exercise their "Vista Downgrade Rights" is vaporware

"[...] other operating systems such as Linux, Android and Ubunto (sic) [...]".

It's called "Ubuntu" and it's a Linux distro. Like dozens of others. So, if you say "Linux", you can't say "Ubuntu", because it translates to:

"[...] other operating systems such as Linux, Android and Linux [...]".

Linux is coming to the mainstream, the biggest problem is it has no piracy at all !!!!!. Microsoft has built Windows around Piracy period !!! All the developers are the real losers since everyone wants apps to run and guess what everyone can steal windows since there is realy no protection on it. WGA?? lmao gum sticker security.
This is a simple proof
When microsoft tied the OEM's to windows ( monopoly) Microsoft gets paid for every machine sold. So basically if somone wants a pc but then install ubuntu .. If you buy an HP machine you allready paid microsoft since HP paid MS but charged you for the licence!!

Have you ever walked into a store and seen a pc or mac ( pc) with NO OS on it?? on display for sale?? untill I see that I will never buy a retail pc I have never had. I always build my own so I don't give any money to microsoft.

Example of stiffling technology. Apple already has 8 core intel pro systems yet Most PC vendors can't get a cheap licence from intel like apple did?? how can Apple push intel for 5% of the computer industry when All the other vendors want to put the new 8 cores in ??
Apple is sharing sales of machines with Intel period.

XP is going to be around for a long time since it is better for netbooks. Windows 7 needs a lot of tweeks but it is way better than vista garbage. Ubuntu 9 is a step up from 8 .10

Long live linux
Windows exists because of rampant piracy no question about it!!!

Linux will never be mainstream. I've used it. It is too hard for mainstream users. For instance, netbooks first came out with Linux and Microsoft only had 10% of the market in this area. Soon, people returned the Linux netbooks and also, MS lowered the price for XP to netbook vendors to 25 bucks. result: MS now has 96% marketshare in netbooks.

I was going to point out how stupid this reply was, but then I saw it was Coolios and realize it had already been done.

Coolios did say something that came out sane that time. They do not give you much options when it comes to an OS if you buy from a vendor. I have built my systems since 96' and the only thing I bought from a vendor was my laptop which only came with Vista. I would of prefered XP Pro but I am stuck with it. But not only does building your own keep money from MS, it also saves you money and you will have better hardware. Also, you will know exactly what is installed on your system. I have troubledshooted some vendor PC's for friends in the past and it usually was a nightmare to find out what kind of hardware was installed. They do it purposely so you have to come back to them for help and try to hide what they skimped on to make an extra buck off of you.

Many years ago, when I was a poor university student (Uni is free in Oz, or at least learn now, pay later), I worked out that I could put together decent systems ($1200au) for about $200-300 cheaper than stores would charge for systems with similar specs, but had skimped on product quality and features across every component.

That $200-300 would buy a M$ OS .. but then .. that's $300 worth of beer ... or books ... or food ... or fees .. or clothes ... or ....

I've currently got Windows7 beta installed. The ultimate version is nice ... but .. the only reason I use it is for games. And Cedega seems to be doing a semi decent job of playing most of the games I use, and I do have a windows XP license that will play every games I have http://www.cdfreaks.com/jochem/../im...ies/2/puh2.gif XP I already own ... and is more than enough for (current) games ... and cedega is only a few $$$ a year .. a huge difference to M$ OS's @ $250+ (oem versions) or $600 for uncrippled retail versions.

The Exodus that started with Vista will continue ... soon M$ will be releasing it's own customised version of linux - free ... and then once there is enough proprietary code included, and everyones switched to M$'s Free Linux, they'll start charging for Linux based OS's http://www.cdfreaks.com/jochem/../im...ies/2/wink.gif

All the OEM's seriously skimp on hardware quality (especially interchangeability), cooling, and other things which are essential to any PC enthusiast, but detrimental to future sales.
The biggest issue though, as a gamer, is the poor crop of dedicated video chips that OEM's use ... they generally use crippled second tier chips, which give you the performance of a budget/low-end discrete video card - at the price of 50% higher than if you bought a high performance discrete video card seperately.

And what's the deal with adding "Soundblaster Audigy Software" to the PC's .. cheap hardware sound output chips that are like the win-modems - no discrete sound processing ability?

Oems serve a purpose ... the "I'm too stupid to own a computer", and the "I need a typewriter for business" segments of the market need their sugar.

GNU/Linux solutions are the way to go for netbooks and desktops that need a secure, stable and portable OS that is reasonably malware resistant. Windows 7 will be more of the same rotten code that was found in Vista - which means intrusive DRM, poor security and compromised performance.

Microsoft - where do YOU want to get shafted today ?

Are you sure that isn't just a rant .. a bit more M$ bashing to satisfy the masses, just some venting for the heck of it?

Windows 7 (beta) is a hell of a lot faster than Vista, I've had no issue with DRM intruding on anything I've been playing with (unlike Vista - and Vista SP1).

And quick scans using online AV scanners (with the latest updates) every two weeks shows that it hasn't been compromised, despite having no AV installed - it's been that way for about 2-3months (since end of January).

Linux also has exploits, but due to the volunteer nature of it's programmers, bug fixes take much longer to be programmed, and bug patches released.

Linux tends to be totally locked from the outset - designed for IT Guru's running servers/business that know exactly what they are doing & potential risks. Windows is open by default - designed for technologically illiterate home users that are confused by the terms mouse, keyboard, "any key" and "identity theft", and think the internet is safer than a padded room with it's occupants inside hamster balls, when it's actually more like flitting around a Ukraine nightclub, accepting drinks from total strangers, naked.

Immediately there's a difference in security problems - and the PEBKAC is the biggest.

"..when it's actually more like flitting around a Ukraine nightclub, accepting drinks from total strangers, naked."

Debro sometimes i think you are a poet

Bit Rate lets make a little wager I say that Win 7 will have over 90% market share for the OS on new netbooks in 2010. Care to take me up on it?

This year more netbooks were sold that PCs! You think MS didn't notice that sh*t?!? MS is real good at reacting. they are horrible at proactive- but they sure know how to stomp out competition they see in trends. Just ask Netscape....

If what you say was indeed the case and coupled with the fact that Linux is free, then you would logically think that what you say is true. However, Linux is not easy enough to use and invariably someone wants to install a program and it wont work due to dependancy issues, they need a new driver or want to buy a nice external device like a video camera with windows only software, whatever. Then, they dump Linux and install Windows.

Then the other point you make, malware is moot as you simply install an anti virus on Windows if you are stupid enough to surf to free porn sites or crack sites etc., and you will be protected. Avast! is free.

Linux has a place in the server market and for geeks or for educational purposes to provide cheap laptops PCs for undeveloped countries.

But, it simply is not a mainstream OS. I am afraid it never will be as I have followed this OS for decades.

If it was viable Google or someone like that would throw some money at it. They only use it for niche products and CE.

As with all other MS OS I've had to deal with quirks, bugs, etc. After a while you get use to it and deal with it. For me Vista Ultimate hasn't been a problem. Windows 7 doesn't excite me for several reasons:

• As stated before, it is just another revamp of their current windows code base.
• MS will never write a totally new OS from scratch as they don't want to spend the development $$ and suckers keep buying whatever they dish out.
• Just as they do with their Visual Studio software, they "upgrade" to a new version about every two years. Same garbage, just new look and gimmicks. Same for the OS.

Are MACs better? I don't really know as I've never owned one, but family members have and the software available is sparse. They love the performance but are somewhat limited in how they can use it.

I've tried Linux (various flavors) and found it hard to configure and driver support practically non existent.

It is unfortunate that MS has us by the short hairs but what viable alternatives do we have?

Maybe my success with Vista is I keep on top of it with several 3rd party applications to keep the file system and registry clean, and use a degrag program that is 10 fold faster than MS.

So long as we keep buying MS products and OS it will continue. But getting 90% of the world to boycott MS isn't going to happen.

If someone has a better suggestion I'm open to it.

Find an old A-4000T, slap their 4.0 OS on it?

An old Amiga fan - waiting for the flac on this comment

If only Commodore understood the term "Marketting", they'd be where M$ is today ...

Oh, and cowboy programming!

I'm yet to see a "Guru Meditation" Error in linux/Windows.