Windows 7

[VonMessa]

I have to admit, there is some 'gray' information concerning whether or not you can use the W7 upgrade on an XP system at all.  Initially, Microsoft had stated they would not provide an upgrade path from XP, and that the upgrade disk would only work for Vista users.

However, since the intitial position, they have been floundering around.  Personally, I think it would be huge mistake not to offer XP users the upgrade to W7.  XP being a larger marketshare than Vista, they stand to generate more revenue if they do offer that upgrade option.

Frankly, Vista users should get that upgrade for free.  Anything MIcrosoft can do to get that operating system off the market as soon as possible would be a good thing.

Amen.

My neighbor asked me to come help him the other day as he was having issues.  I asked him which OS.  He replied "Vista".

"Good Luck" is the response he got from me.

[Irwink!]

RE: unsupported upgrade paths, the following is from an MS document I received a link for today in an email from MS:

Unsupported Upgrade Scenarios

•   Upgrades to Windows 7 from the following operating systems are not supported: 
•   Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP, Windows Vista® RTM, Windows Vista Starter, Windows 7 M3, Windows 7 Beta, Windows 7 RC, or Windows 7 IDS
•   Windows NT® Server 4.0, Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server® 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2
•   Cross-architecture in-place upgrades (for example, x86 to x64) are not supported.
•   Cross-language in-place upgrades (for example, en-us to de-de) are not supported.
•   Cross-SKU upgrades (for example, Windows 7 N to Windows 7 K) are not supported.
•   Upgrades from Windows Vista to Windows N, Windows K, Windows KN, or Windows E are not supported. 
•   Cross-build type in-place upgrades (for example, fre to chk) are not supported.
•   Pre-release in-place upgrades across milestones (for example, Windows 7 RC to Windows 7 RTM) are not supported.

You can see the whole document here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=E170EBA1-5BAB-401F-BBF5-00F0EE7FE0FB&displaylang=en

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Windows 7 family pack (3 licenses) $148 - end of story. 

[633DH98]

Windows 7 family pack (3 licenses) $148 - end of story. 

 

Where?  When?

[Skuzzy]

Yep, Microsoft announced the 3 pack deal for Windows 7 Home, or whatever the heck they are calling the home version now.

[633DH98]

Must be Upgrades? 

[Delirium]

Is the 64 bit version going to be on the same CD/DVD as the 32 bit version? I want to throw in a second hard drive when Win7 comes out and use the 64bit version, but I'm not sure I want to buy just the 64 bit version.

[Ghastly]

From everything I've read, both Professional and Enterprise will contain both.  I've not seen mention one way or the other on Home.  But I also haven't seen anything specifically from MS confirming this, either - nor is it specified (that I could find, anyway) on their site.   

So... for now, I'd give a qualified "yes"... subject to change or misinterpretations.

<S>

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Windows 7 upgrade chart: http://www.hardocp.com/image.html?image=MTI0OTU5OTgyMml1bDJqRXN4QUZfMV8xX2wuanBn