Windows 7 is going to virtualize XP so 7's pretty much completely compatible with XP.
Microsoft says there's a secret XP Mode (XPM) for its new rep-redeeming operating system that hasn't been part of any beta code or even disclosed before that's "specifically designed to help small businesses move to Windows 7.
It says it will run "many older productivity applications," probably the programs that Vista had trouble with as well as legacy 32-bit programs. Windows 7 is after all Vista fixed up.
Microsoft code honcho and director of Windows enterprise and virtualization strategy Scott Woodgate explained on a Windows Team Blog late last Friday that these apps can be installed directly in the Windows XP Mode, which he described as a "virtual PC environment running under Windows Virtual PC."
"The applications will be published to the Windows 7 desktop and then you can run them directly from Windows 7," he said, meaning that they run alongside Windows 7 applications under a single desktop.
It appears to mean that it's Microsoft's way of starting with a clean piece of paper, something Microsoft was toying with back when Cairo was a gleam in Bill Gates' eye.
Woodgate said Microsoft will be releasing the beta of XP Mode and Virtual PC for Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate "soon."
Microsoft acquired Virtual PC when it bought Connectix in 2003. It was meant to run multiple DOS, Windows or OS/2 operating systems simultaneously on the same machine.
The XPM revelation came after Microsoft gave the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) to some key testers. Since they couldn't keep it to themselves, Microsoft had to confirm that it means to release the RC to its teacher's pet MSDN and TechNet subscribers on Thursday April 30 followed by general release on Tuesday May 5.
Of course there are bootleg copies of the RC (Build 7100) already out and about in the wild.
The RC is supposed to be the last step before Microsoft packs the thing up and sends it to market.
Microsoft may try to catch the back-to-school wave; it needs the money; Windows sales were off 16% in the March quarter. Worse case it will shoot for Christmas sales although officially the final code is only due by early 2010.
Bloggers Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera, claiming special Microsoft-imparted knowledge, said XPM is next-generation host-based Virtual PC widgetry that needs the processor-based virtualization support of Intel and AMD.
Thurrott and Rivera say they expect this to be the end of the line for Virtual PC and that future client versions of Windows will include a Hyper-V-based hypervisor.
They also say that XPM will work with a licensed copy of XP SP 3 and will be free to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate via download, in other words separate from 7.
Thurrott and Rivera are writing a book called Windows 7 Secrets due in the fall.
About Maureen O'Gara Maureen O'Gara the most read technology reporter for the past 20 years, is the Cloud Computing and Virtualization News Desk editor of SYS-CON Media. She is the publisher of famous "Billygrams" and the editor-in-chief of "Client/Server News" for more than a decade. One of the most respected technology reporters in the business, Maureen can be reached by email at maureen(at)sys-con.com or paperboy(at)g2news.com, and by phone at 516 759-7025. Twitter: @MaureenOGara
At CloudEXPO Silicon Valley, June 24-26, 2019, Digital Transformation (DX) is a major focus with expanded DevOpsSUMMIT and FinTechEXPO programs within the DXWorldEXPO agenda. Successful transformation requires a laser focus on being data-driven and on using all the tools availabl...
Using serverless computing has a number of obvious benefits over traditional application infrastructure - you pay only for what you use, scale up or down immediately to match supply with demand, and avoid operating any server infrastructure at all.
However, implementing mainta...
Isomorphic Software is the global leader in high-end, web-based business applications. We develop, market, and support the SmartClient & Smart GWT HTML5/Ajax platform, combining the productivity and performance of traditional desktop software with the simplicity and reach of the ...
At CloudEXPO Silicon Valley, June 24-26, 2019, Digital Transformation (DX) is a major focus with expanded DevOpsSUMMIT and FinTechEXPO programs within the DXWorldEXPO agenda. Successful transformation requires a laser focus on being data-driven and on using all the tools availabl...
As you know, enterprise IT conversation over the past year have often centered upon the open-source Kubernetes container orchestration system. In fact, Kubernetes has emerged as the key technology -- and even primary platform -- of cloud migrations for a wide variety of organizat...
Your registrations includes: Golden Pass Delegates will receive full conference access on October 20-22, 2008 including: Lunch and Coffee Breaks, Collectible Bag and Archives of all sessions on DVD. Includes access to all Conference Sessions including the Technical Sessions, Exhibits, Keynotes, Vendor Technology Presentations, and Power Panels.
Sponsorship Opportunities
AJAXWorld offers the undisputed best platform to position your company as a leading vendor in the fast-emerging marketplace for AJAX and Enterprise Web 2.0.
Please call
(201)802-3020
Who Should Attend?
• CTOs & VPs of Engineering
• Directors of Technology
• Sr. User Interface Architects
• Front-End Engineers
• VCs & Industry Analysts
• Directors of Business Development
• Software Engineers
• Senior Architects
• Application Programmers & Software Developers
• Project Managers
• Web Programmers & Designers
• Companies & Organizations that need to stay in front of the latest Web technology
AJAXWorld Security Bootcamp
Introducing at AJAXWorld RIA Conference 2008 West the world's first-ever full, one-day immersive "AJAX Security Bootcamp" - led by one of the world's foremost AJAX security experts and teachers, HP's Billy Hoffman.
AJAXWorld Magazine is the pre-eminent independent vendor-neutral resource for the fastest growing new segment of the software business: entirely Web-based applications and experiences.
About Newsfeeds / Video Feeds
.gif)
At CloudEXPO Silicon Valley, June 24-26, 2019, Digital Transformation (DX) is a major focus with expanded DevOpsSUMMIT and FinTechEXPO programs within the DXWorldEXPO agenda. Successful transformation requires a laser focus on being data-driven and on using all the tools availabl...
Using serverless computing has a number of obvious benefits over traditional application infrastructure - you pay only for what you use, scale up or down immediately to match supply with demand, and avoid operating any server infrastructure at all.
However, implementing mainta...
Isomorphic Software is the global leader in high-end, web-based business applications. We develop, market, and support the SmartClient & Smart GWT HTML5/Ajax platform, combining the productivity and performance of traditional desktop software with the simplicity and reach of the ...
At CloudEXPO Silicon Valley, June 24-26, 2019, Digital Transformation (DX) is a major focus with expanded DevOpsSUMMIT and FinTechEXPO programs within the DXWorldEXPO agenda. Successful transformation requires a laser focus on being data-driven and on using all the tools availabl...
As you know, enterprise IT conversation over the past year have often centered upon the open-source Kubernetes container orchestration system. In fact, Kubernetes has emerged as the key technology -- and even primary platform -- of cloud migrations for a wide variety of organizat...
