The great Microsoft migration begins again this year, as millions of Windows users pledge to keep up with the latest and greatest and embrace the power of 7. Except if you're an XP user. Based on the latest Net applications market share data - that's probably most of us, 71.7% of desktops to be exact.
But according to a Computerworld report, the Microsoft gods may have surrendered convenience for profit, giving XP users no choice but to create a fresh new install - hardly the way to get Microsoft users back on side with the OS giant. That report concludes the dire: that XP users should buy a new PC to get Windows 7, rather than endure a hair pulling upgrade of sorts.
Ironically, those using Vista, the same OS that instigated the Microsoft hate-a-thon from day one, are free to upgrade to Windows 7 without hassle. Yes, all 18.8% of you out there: you should be counting yourselves lucky. You are the chosen ones.
Regardless of Vista's virtues and even our good reviews of the product, the public image of Vista has been toxic. So it's surprising to learn then, that Microsoft, for the second time, have left XP users to stagnate in a state of cryogenic freeze.
The report also states that XP users won't be able to backup older programs and device drivers directly to Windows 7 either - a veritable headache for those who run specialist hardware devices that havn't had their firmware updated in time for the new Windows OS. Older games are likely to feel the upgrade pinch too.
In spite of the gloom, there is a little hope though. Microsoft's Easy Transfer software comes bundled with Windows 7 as a backup product and is supposed to help users save old settings with a fresh install (not a true upgrade).
But as Computerworld's Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols found out, it's a lengthy day job at best. Which means if you're running a business with multiple terminals - it's going to be an intensive process to get XP systems up to scratch and even then he says, there's no guarantee the new upgrade will remember the older XP settings - nor is it likely to be a cheap solution for users, many of whom may not notice enough difference over XP to begin with.
Microsoft is going to have to work hard to sell a new upgade to XP users, most of whom are perfectly fine with their aging software.
However, none of this has deterred third party software vendors from pushing their backup solutions to XP users left in the lurch. PCMover gives XP users the ability to upgrade to Windows 7 at a price; supposedly under $20, according to this news post.