Now that W10 is out, are you a W7 / W8 refusenik?

[JrockTech]

I'm just curious as to why you would be so upset about a client upgrading their operating system? Could someone elaborate for me?

 

[Octopuss]

I'm just curious as to why you would be so upset about a client upgrading their operating system? Could someone elaborate for me?

I take it you never worked as IT support?

 

[JrockTech]

I take it you never worked as IT support?

No.

 

[Octopuss]

It's difficult to explain when you don't have first hand experience with the usual problems you have to deal with when supporting few tens to hundreds of people. Enough stuff is very likely to break when you upgrade to a completely different OS, and when you're connecting to a domain on top of that, shit WILL hit the fan. Even extremely trivial things users call with every day take time to troubleshoot/fix (or just simply explain to them). And then after said upgrade you have numerous people call you simultaneously that they can't connect to a network share, some files are missing, internet has different icon, printer isn't working, etc etc. (and that's if they are even able to log onto the domain when they come to work)

 

[JrockTech]

Thanks for explaining it and that's what I assumed the issues would be. I could definitely see drivers being another problem. Especially with older systems.

I don't mean to get to off topic but can I ask why you stopped doing IT? I would like to go school to get into this type of work. That's why im curios.

 

[Octopuss]

Heh, I am a loser who started working too late because I had no idea what to do with my life, and now at 35 with less than 5 years of work experience (and unemployment in the past 4 because of health problems) I have a "bit" difficult time getting a job, because everyone thinks I am useless and retarded (very true).

If you're young and interested in this field, by all means, jump right in. The sooner and deeper the better.

 

[JrockTech]

I'm currently 27. I left construction last year and since then have been contemplating what do with myself. My friends and family are telling me my indecision on a career is a decision to do nothing. Computers have been by primary hobby since I was 13. If I could get a job helping people with something I enjoy doing, why not? You've sparked my interest further. Thank you for your honest answer.

 

[Frick]

This might warrant a new thread:

http://arstechnica.com/information-...sers-given-18-months-to-upgrade-to-windows-10

The short of it is in a while (18 months) Skylake and future CPU's from both Intel and AMD will have no support in anything but Windows 10. For Windows 7 that's not a huge problem IMO as the extendes support ends january 14 2020, but otherwise it's ... I dunno, you decide. In the long run it won't matter because there will only be one version of Windows (if things are going the way they want them to), but currently it kinda sucks, if you don't like Windows 10.

We are particularly excited about the work we’ve done with Intel on their new 6th generation Intel Core processors (code named “Skylake”). Compared to Windows 7 PC’s, Skylake when combined with Windows 10, enables up to 30x better graphics and 3x the battery life – with the unmatched security of Credential Guard utilizing silicon supported virtualization. We and our partners are continuing to invest, innovate, and update to drive continued performance improvements across Windows 10 and Skylake devices.

Their emphasis. I have no idea how they reached that conclusion.

Through July 17, 2017, Skylake devices on the supported list will also be supported with Windows 7 and 8.1. During the 18-month support period, these systems should be upgraded to Windows 10 to continue receiving support after the period ends. After July 2017, the most critical Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 security updates will be addressed for these configurations, and will be released if the update does not risk the reliability or compatibility of the Windows 7/8.1 platform on other devices.

The real impact remains to be seen though, how much it will matter in the end.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Wow...this is just so wrong and heavyhanded.

 

[Jonathan Lawrence]

This might warrant a new thread:

http://arstechnica.com/information-...sers-given-18-months-to-upgrade-to-windows-10

The short of it is in a while (18 months) Skylake and future CPU's from both Intel and AMD will have no support in anything but Windows 10. For Windows 7 that's not a huge problem IMO as the extendes support ends january 14 2020, but otherwise it's ... I dunno, you decide. In the long run it won't matter because there will only be one version of Windows (if things are going the way they want them to), but currently it kinda sucks, if you don't like Windows 10.

Their emphasis. I have no idea how they reached that conclusion.

The real impact remains to be seen though, how much it will matter in the end.

It hasn't mattered too much to some of my friends yet, quite a few in my area are still using XP without Support, I even have an old Laptop with XP still on it...

Oh, makes me feel a bit better for buying AMD xD

 

[Frick]

Some driver writer:

People can say what they want, but for all the people that actually have to write the drivers that require timing and bus support, this is a godsend.

For Windows 7 to run on any modern silicon, device drivers and firmware need to emulate Windows 7's expectations for interrupt processing, bus support, and power states—which is challenging for WiFi [sic], graphics, security, and more.

The drivers I write (custom scanner and imaging stuff) are actually fragmented into multiple versions because of this. These drivers are mission critical drivers, and maintaining multiple sets is a PITA. I don't know if that's true for more common drivers (graphics cards and such), but I'd imagine it is.

It doesn't mean that the driver developers will stop supporting the old stuff, but you'd better believe that the drivers for the newer hardware will come out first and probably have the most features. The older drivers will get stability fixes for odd outlier issues, but the new drivers will get the new bells and whistles.

It's not all doom and gloom. In the same way that web developers hate developing for multiple browsers just to account for their quirks, driver developers hate developing for multiple major versions of OSes. And I'd imagine that's why Apple does what they do (as in, they fairly quickly drop support for older OSX installs). It's a standards move, not a "force you to upgrade" move. Keep your older stuff and it's fine. It's just not guaranteed that you'll get the latest and best versions of some stuff.

 

[Mr.Scott]

Some driver writer:

Oh yes, wouldn't want to make anybody actually do their freakin job anymore. That's why they get paid.

 

[Octopuss]

I don't really understand. Windows 7 is not stopping to receiving updates anytime soon, right? And why shouldn't a Skylake-based PC work after 18 months?

 

[alucasa]

It's a bogus article to feed crap to average users.

 

[rtwjunkie]

It's a bogus article to feed crap to average users.

You really think so, with all the crap many of us have been personally experiencing from Microsoft on the what is turning into a "non-voluntary" upgrade?

 

[Tsukiyomi91]

Not moving to Win 10 until there are DX12 driven games gets out of the game studio's "production line". Win 8.1 is still a more preferred platform for me but that's my opinion.

 

[P4-630]

Not moving to Win 10 until there are DX12 driven games gets out of the game studio's "production line". Win 8.1 is still a more preferred platform for me but that's my opinion.

This^
And even then, when DX12 games are there, they probably still have an option to run at DX11 as well.
I will install windows 8.1 on my new Skylake build as well.

 

[Tsukiyomi91]

also, the one thing about Win 10 is the UI... sure it's new but kinda weird for me... the "superbar" looks like it's shrunk down, perhaps to fit more pinned apps... the window elements on the upper right looked plain & out of proportion. again, this is solely IMO.

 

[64K]

This^
And even then, when DX12 games are there, they probably still have an option to run at DX11 as well.
I will install windows 8.1 on my new Skylake build as well.

 

[Tsukiyomi91]

@64K Win 10 didn't get me though... it's a shame really XD

 

[rtwjunkie]

This^
And even then, when DX12 games are there, they probably still have an option to run at DX11 as well.
I will install windows 8.1 on my new Skylake build as well.

I share your sentiment, but don't count on it for all. The Gears of War revamp/redux will be DX12 only, for example.

 

[F-Zero]

Have Windows 10 installed from the first day it was released and yeah there were some bug's but it's really nothing major. I like it so far and will continue using it.

 

[Frick]

I don't really understand. Windows 7 is not stopping to receiving updates anytime soon, right? And why shouldn't a Skylake-based PC work after 18 months?

What it means (as I understand it) is that some updates will be specific for Skylake and upwards (and AMD ... whatever it's called). If you have Skylake on Windows 7/8.1 you won't be getting all the updates.

Oh yes, wouldn't want to make anybody actually do their freakin job anymore. That's why they get paid.

Oh yes, wouldn't want to make anybody actually do their freakin job anymore. That's why they get paid.

It'll just make their job easier. Like how the support people counted the days until Windows XP wasn't supported anymore.

 

[Mr.Scott]

It'll just make their job easier. Like how the support people counted the days until Windows XP wasn't supported anymore.

Ahh yes, the 'less work' excuse. This will be used right up until they cut half of the coding positions. Then the tune will change again. It's no different than any other job. Everybody in the world thinks they are overworked and under paid.

 

[jboydgolfer]

You cant set your taskbar icons to "always hide"?

can set it. doesnt help. the icons dont appear, Just the action of the taskbar appearing. & right clicking on realtek icon stops the TB lock , and it goes away