Using Windows 7 RC? Pay Up Or Auto Shutdown Warned 430
CWmike writes with a warning that free preview copies of Windows 7 in the wild will start nagging users to pay up in a couple of weeks until ultimately shutting down the PC altogether in a month. "Microsoft unveiled the schedule for Windows 7 Release Candidate's retirement in May 2009, when it issued the early look to the public. At the time, it said Windows 7 RC would expire June 1, 2010. Before that date, however, users are to receive warnings of the impending end. Starting on Feb. 15, Windows 7 RC will display notices every few hours that the machine will periodically shut down beginning on March 1. As of March 1, PCs running Windows 7 RC will automatically shut down every two hours. Those shutdowns will come without warning."
Re:Without warning? (Score:2, Interesting)
True, the warning will start Feb 15h, and Microsoft doesn't release security updates for the Windows 7 RC code, so we're ALL better off to see these machines change to a different OS. The previews of Windows 7 were aimed at a tech savvy audience and hence I do not see any issue... except typical Slashdot "LOL M$ SUX WHATEVER IT DOES" bullshit.
Re:Really? (Score:2, Interesting)
What surprises me more is that people are still using the RC. Why would anyone do that? I've seen 7 on my dads alienware(*) laptop. Frankly, I wasn't impressed. Feels like Vista, but a bit faster. XP is not an option since he wants to use the full memory instead of being limited to 3.5Gig. At least it doesn't feel sluggish, but on an i7 I wouldn't expect that.
(*) My dad is a strange creature.... He buys the highest end laptop he can get/pay and then uses it for years.... The laptop the i7 replaced was a P-III 733MHz bought around 2000 or so... 10 years for a laptop.... Never seen anyone do that except my dad ;-)
Win 7 RC was good (Score:4, Interesting)
I had used it since last May until last December when I bought a discounted ultimate version for $30. The RC had almost everything the final version had, and it was nice for me to be able to try it out before paying for it (and finding a deal). I have no complaint for something that was free for half a year and as high quality as the official version
Re:Really? (Score:3, Interesting)
Not unusual. I do the same thing. It's a sore PITA to keep replacing computers - if you go white box, figuring out what parts you want in it is practically a full time job. If you go OEM, well, then you get stuck with parts you aren't happy with.
I gave up, and still run my nearly 10-year-old Celeron 533A (overclocked to 800MHz, back when it was the normal thing to do). I did pick up a couple of better computers along the way - a Mac Pro and a nice Core 2 Extreme laptop, but my old PC still runs fine. Especially since these days, any decent PC will last a really long time if you exclude gaming. CPUs aren't getting much faster quickly, ditto video cards... so even moderate gaming will work on decent high-end machines for years to come.
Really, I don't know who came up with the idea that PCs should be replaced annually or even every two years or so. Moving all that data gets to be a huge chore, as is having to dig up all your installation CDs and setup programs and registration keys, and other crap. If you're well organized, it's easy. But most people aren't, and most people don't backup at all. And I have a small pile of hard drives I've removed from old PCs that may have unrecovered data.
As for Windows 7 RC, it's actually a great solution to two problems. First are those who sold PCs with "Windows 7" prior to release to notify people they don't have a legitimate copy anymore. The second problem is when a PC gets installed with Windows 7 to evaluate, and is promptly forgotten about or even inventoried that it has Win7 RC. Well, hopefully when people get around to seeing that machine again, they'll realize that machine really ought to be re-imaged.
we can do that... (Score:3, Interesting)
The biggest flaw with the moderation system is that I can't use my mod points to moderate on the actual stories as well as the comments!
That is what the Firehose [slashdot.org] is (supposed to be) for. You can go to the firehose, set it to show you upcoming stories, and then vote them down if you think they aren't worthy. And if you see stories in the firehose that deserve attention but are not scoring high enough for the front page, you can vote them up at the same time.
And then in proud slashdot tradition, all those votes will be discarded and they will do whatever they feel like (or whatever makes the most money).
Re:Really? (Score:3, Interesting)
CPUs aren't getting much faster quickly, ditto video cards [...]
Actually, they are, it's just that typical requirements are plateauing.
Really, I don't know who came up with the idea that PCs should be replaced annually or even every two years or so.
No-one outside of enthusiasts does this. Businesses typically work on a 3-5 year cycle, and home users frequently even longer.
Re:Really? (Score:3, Interesting)
Probably not typical, but a friend of mine is still running the RC. Why? Here was the situation. His laptop was acting up last summer. Constantly shutting down. I told him I would reload it for him. It came with Vista. I backed his stuff up, wiped his partition clean, and started installing Vista from scratch. It simply wouldn't finish installing. I tried several times with the same result (and no, I'm not so stupid that I don't know how to install Windows). I thought it was probably a hard drive or RAM problem so I ran some tests on those. No problems. I don't remember who the manufacturer is but they did not have XP drivers on their site for that model. For kicks I tried installing the Windows 7 RC. Perfect.
So...I gave the laptop back to him and I told him when Windows 7 actually came out we would have to do something about it. It hasn't been high priority until now, especially because he says the computer is working better now than it ever has. Of course, he won't be too happy when if it starts shutting down. Thanks for the reminder, Slashdot. ;)
Re:..so? (Score:3, Interesting)
That actually kinda sounds like something a drug dealer would say.
Try it for free and get hooked?
Re:..so? (Score:3, Interesting)
> Wait, so which is it now? Is it:
> a) Vista was crap, and now people are falling over themselves to buy a windows 7, or a PC with windows 7, or
> b) Almost all of windows 7 sales were involuntary, and not a product of demand
I'll try one more time to explain it.
1. Vista was considered to be crap. EVERYBODY was saying it, the NYT, CNN, everybody. I never messed with it a lot but the one machine I put the RC on worked just fine. Sluggish though and it was an Athlon64. But regardless of fact, perception is everything once a meme sets in and Vista == suck was accepted wisdom.
2. No significant numbers of customers have bought upgrades since the Win9x era because upgrades are painful and almost always end up in a wipe and fresh load. An upgrade also normally requires tossing hardware without drivers. Thus now they buy a PC and it comes with an operating system. When they replace that PC it usually comes with a new OS.
3. Enterprise and SMB customers were (and still are) offered the option of getting XP but retail choices were 1) Vista, 2) Mac, 3) postpone purchase.
4. Macs are expensive and don't run any of a user's existing software.
5. Facts 1-4 caused customers to put off replacing their PC in droves, fearing getting stuck with "the suckage that is Vista."
6. The buzz around Windows 7 started telling people it "didn't suck like Vista." Again it didn't even have to be true, only that be become common wisdom.
7. Millions of people who had put off buying a new PC came back to the stores and bought a new faster PC since the Vista nightmare was finally over. But note that sales weren't through the roof even with the pent up demand.
Bottom line, people don't run out in any significant numbers and buy based on the OS but they will avoid buying a new PC if one of the components is considered to be crap. Imagine if every PC offered at a decent price had one of those old Conner Bigfoot hard drives after you figured out they were crap. You would wait until the stores got in new models. Well Vista was kinda like that.
> Anyway, however which way you slice it, it's a win for Microsoft and a loss for Linux. It doesn't help Linux for you to deny this.
Do you really think the only shot Linux had was the window of opportunity while Microsoft was pushing Vista? We made most of our gains against XP. All we have to do is keep the quality up and make small but constant gains. Eventually we will get close to Mac OS at which point we will instantly become the 2nd OS since we run on commodity hardware. After that Apple dies (really doubt they could maintain their mystique and profit margins as #3) and we are the only competition left standing. From there we should be able to get into double digits, especially if we can get any traction from the ARM smartbooks and tablets. Then the battle begins.
> Face it: people are using windows 7, and by and large, they are satisfied with it.
I wouldn't dispute that, it is part of the argument I just made, see point 6 above. However, what I am saying is if they have XP or Vista SP2 they are also pretty satisfied and will only be upgrading the XP installs because much of the hardware hosting those installs is getting long in the tooth. Quick! Name me ten must have applications that only run on Windows 7. Ok, how about name ten that won't run on XP. Remember, people buy PCs to do things and if XP can watch YouTube videos and post to twitter most folks are happy campers. And Firefox on any current Linux can also do those things. If the iron wall keeping preloads out of retail channels is ever broken all hell will be set loose on Microsoft's balance sheet. Note also that 'enough' computer to do those things is quickly approaching the cost of a Windows 7 license. (Starter excluded)
> No matter how it's deployed, 10% of the huge PC market is extremely large.
Not really. Windows 7 has been on sale through one Xmas. About one in ten PCs in active service rolling
Re:Really? (Score:2, Interesting)
After all that registration and setup work, turns out my wife likes Win7 but "hates" the new ribbon interface of Office2007 and wanted Office97 back. I can't find my Office97 CD, so I installed the latest Open Office hoping they didn't do the ribbon interface thing. OOO-Calc still offers a more familiar drop-down interface to my veteran Excel user than the new Excel. Hopefully OOO-Calc will leave the interface fairly stable as it moves forward.
Office 2007 is some kind of sick joke like Vista. Particularly as Open Office is free and seems to open Word documents just fine. Like you I used Office 97 for ages but I don't have the CD to hand anymore. The machine I'm typing this on has Office 2007 on it but it's so irritating I used OOO instead.