Microsoft makes a change in its Windows Support policy that affect those seeking to market new PC without being ready for Windows 10.
Unlike consumers, a few professional users buying new PC (or whose employer makes the acquisition) could want or need an earlier version of Windows. Update schedule, legacy applications, device compatibility … multiple reasons can justify it.
But the new situation, to From today, is that the Windows PC based on the latest CPU architectures – starting with Skylake chips from Intel – require Windows 10. A number of PC will be compatible Skylake 8.1 and Windows 7, but Microsoft does not guarantee for these machines that support 18 months – or until July 17, 2017.
My colleague Ed Bott of ZDNet described these changes in the holder, released by Microsoft on January 15 .
It is not clear to me and others to assess how these changes will affect the adoption of Windows 10 by companies. I guess some could thus postpone the transition to Windows 10 until they are ready to migrate their users to a new device running on Windows from the start
10.
These New rules could they not also affect the sales of these new PCs Skylake? This at least for business users who had forecast the possibility to downgrade Windows 7 to their systems and keep the OS some time (beyond mid-2017) before moving to Windows 10. Perhaps we will see companies rush on the PC with Broadwell Haswell and architectures capable of running Windows 7 and Windows 10 (?).
Why Microsoft does it change?
Officially, Microsoft says will thus offer users a better computing experience. The argument is that Windows 7 was not designed to take advantage of the latest features recently introduced on PC. And the latest PC have been designed with Windows 7 in mind; they were designed for Windows 10.
As we commented on Twitter Directions of Microsoft analyst Wes Miller, the definition of a good PC before Windows 10 now diverges from that of a good PC today. “Welcome to the world of software and hardware intertwined. Sometimes getting a new software means saying goodbye to the old hardware,” he adds.
Others think the real reason for this change is the desire to wean more Microsoft Windows 7 users and 8.1, more quickly, and to avoid repeating the scenario “Windows XP forever.”
What new PC can buy corporate users knowing that they will receive full support for Windows 7 / 8.1 to 2017?
PCWorld has a list (and Microsoft confirms) first PC concerned:
– Dell Latitude 12
– Dell Latitude Ultrabook
13 7000 – Dell XPS 13
– HP EliteBook Folio
– HP EliteBook 1040 G3
– ThinkPad T460s Lenovo
– Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
– Lenovo ThinkPad P70
This is still a preliminary list in a holder Word of the publisher. A list “more robust” will be available this week and updated continuously.
What effect if my PC has a previous processor Skylake as Broadwell, Haswell, etc.?
Users can continue to run Windows Vista, Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 on pre-Skylake machines and receive updates and security patches, as Microsoft had promised before. They can also run on supported Windows 10 pre-Skylake PC, Skylake (and post-Skylake) and access security patches until 2025.
The deadline of extended support ( fixes only) for the different versions of Windows is not affected: Windows Vista
: April 11, 2017
Windows 7: January 14, 2020
Windows 8: January 10, 2023
> Windows 10: October 14, 2025
What does this support policy for the rights of ‘downgrade’
These rights allow users buying PC with Windows 10 pre-installed Pro (OEM license) to downgrade Windows 7 Pro or Windows 8.1 Pro. Last year, Microsoft said that the rights of ‘downgrade’ to Windows 7 would end in January 2020 for Windows 7 and for Windows 8.1 in 2023.
Now, this scenario appears to be a little more conditional. The new rule is that the PC with a previous processor Skylake retain the rights mentioned above. However, computers listed on the Microsoft list may downgrade Windows 7 and 8.1 and will be borne only up to 17 July 2017.
After July 2017, I’m not sure know what resemble downgrade rights for those who purchase new Windows PC
In summary:. Microsoft’s message is that if Windows 10 can run on older PCs, new and those to come, Windows 7 it is not guaranteed to be able to do it. Whether you take this message as a “buyer beware” or “Windows 10 or nothing,” this is Microsoft’s latest directive.
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