Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 platform will support Windows 7 and keep the system settings necessary to run it static, according to comments made this week by Tami Reller, Microsoft CFO. The executive confirmed during a speech at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Los Angeles that the company was focused on delivering a flexible OS which could implement lessons learned during its years of developing popular, if divisive software.
"In both of our Windows 8 previews, we talked about continuing on with the important trend that we started with Windows 7, keeping system requirements either flat or reducing them over time," said Reller, who added, "we've also built intelligence into Windows 8 so that it can adapt to the user experience based on the hardware of the user."
In other words, those who install Win8 shouldn't be too put off by the changes - especially if they're coming off its predecessor. And with the promise of baseline system requirements that could actually be mitigated over time, Microsoft hopes to win over those who may have been less than impressed with Vista though more enthusiastic about the improvements Win7 brought to the table.
Whether customers go with Windows 8 en masse or choose to stick with the now 400+ million selling Windows 7, one option that will soon fade away is Windows XP. Well, maybe "soon" is an exaggeration; Microsoft confirmed it will end support for the platform in April 2014. After that, it hopes to help orchestrate a widespread move to the new iterations. Erwin Visser, Senior Director of the Windows Commercial Marketing Team, said on Tuesday that the company was "committed to helping every customer move to Windows 7 by providing the deployment tools and resources they need."
Visser updated the official Windows Blog on Wednesday with news that the transition has already begun.
Companies such as General Motors and the Asia-based Galaxy Entertainment Group have almost completely integrated Windows 7 into their business operations, he confirmed. "We promise to continue to help you complete the move off of Windows XP so that no one has to experience higher support costs," Visser wrote. One such aid is the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2011 R2, which the marketing director says will be made "generally available" for those interested this August.
In other Windows-related news, Microsoft reiterated that support for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 ended Tuesday. (via The Inquirer)
