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Windows XP Mode coming to Windows 7, could be a game-changer
Dubbed XP Mode (XPM), the new feature should make Vista-esque program incompatibilities little more than a bad memory.
So how does it work?
First, systems will need to be running a CPU that supports processor-based virtualization. Windows 7 Pro, Enterprise, and Ultimate licensees will receive access to download a fully-licensed Windows XP SP3 Virtual PC environment from Microsoft. Unlike Virtual PC, though, it's not a standalone virtualization program. Once installed, XP Mode works behind the scenes and allows programs to run seamlessly alongside native Windows 7 apps.
And yes, that means even outdated programs like Internet Explorer 6 that some businesses still depend on for their daily operations will run just fine on Windows 7. According to Paul Thurrott, Microsoft claims nearly 100% compatibility with current Windows XP applications in XPM.
Microsoft needs Windows 7 to be a winner in the enterprise. Apart from cost, compatibility concerns are a huge factor for administrators considering an upgrade path. XP Mode might just squash that concern, which only leaves the final Windows 7 pricing structure.
We'll see how aggressive Microsoft is on that front as the RTM approaches.
Comments
27
Subscribe to commentschris josephApr 25th 2009 1:44PM
If only they could find a way to kill that unusable scourge from IBM called "Lotus Notes"
tyApr 25th 2009 7:07PM
wouldn't you have to kill domino and as400 first?
chris josephApr 25th 2009 7:17PM
in addition to, yes... but seriously... Notes is the most counterintuitive and unusable piece of crap. You have to try really hard to make outlook look good, and they manage to do it and maintain a strong enterprise presence at the same time.
zunerApr 25th 2009 2:08PM
This is simply the next version of Virtual PC which adds native host OS integration (removes the desktop and start menu/taskbar from the guest OS). This should in an ideal scenario work with any OS, esp Vista, but Microsoft is trying to sell if off as an exclusive Windows 7 feature for business reasons. VMWare Workstation 6.5 released in September 2008 aleady does this (called Unity mode instead of XP Mode) and isn't locked for Windows 7 hosts and Windows XP guests. Sadly, THIS WON'T GIVE ME BACK THE FEATURES REMOVED FROM WINDOWS VISTA OR WINDOWS 7 WITH NATIVE INTEGRATION. Users will still have to manage and patch this "Virtual XP".
EricApr 25th 2009 2:51PM
Certainly a good idea to help IT departments with Windows 7 adoption; legacy apps will definitely work. On the other hand, for a lot less money you can take your existing XP install base and move them to something else with VirtualBox or VMWare..
Microsoft needs to be careful here, the value proposition is blurring with other competitive options from the likes of Apple, Canonical, RedHat and Novell. When Apple did this, they virtualized OS9 to get users running OS X but the experience was designed to be virtually seamless.
KennyApr 25th 2009 8:59PM
You can download seventeen pictures (in a ZIP) of the Windows XP Mode feature here: http://w7info.com/articles/2009/04/windows-7-windows-xp-mode/
David SherlineMay 30th 2009 3:08PM
I HATE the compatibility mode. IT effing doesn't work 90% of the time. I AM SICK AND TIRED of windows releasing crap in "beta" when it barely meets my alpha build expectations. The way I see it is, IF IT SUCKS THAT BAD, then its not even ready for "beta." G*D DAMN IT Stop it microsoft. You guys dont seen to know the difference between a rain forest and a g*D Damn pop tart.