Microsoft is making some terrible changes to the Windows support
policies. For the first time, older versions of Windows won't be
supported on new hardware.
Specifically, you won't be able to run Windows 7 or 8.1 on
Skylake CPUs or later. Well, there are a few get-out-of-jail-
free cards for a short time, but this just seems like the latest
Microsoft blackmail to get enterprises onto Windows 10.
In IT Blogwatch, bloggers can't disguise their disgust. Your
humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your
entertainment.
What's the craic? Ed Bott reports—Microsoft updates support
policy: New CPUs will require Windows 10:
In a change to its longstanding support policy, Microsoft says
PCs based on new CPU[s] will require Windows 10.
…
Historically...Microsoft's support lifecycle [offered] a
generous ten years of support for each Windows release.
Effective today, that policy is changing.
…
In a series of "clarifications"...the company announced that
support for...Windows [7 and 8.1] will be available only for
"previous generations of silicon."
…
New consumer-based Skylake devices must run Windows 10. [But]
Microsoft will publish "a list of specific new Skylake devices
we will support to run Windows 7 and Windows 8.1." [But only]
for 18 months.
[It] doesn't mean that Windows 7 and 8.1 are no longer
supported. ... The two operating systems will continue to get
updates through...2020 and...2023, respectively. But that's only
if you're using hardware that was contemporaneous.
…
[But] Intel's current, sixth generation processors, known as
Skylake, are the first that won't support either of the older
versions. [You] can still buy older PC hardware...the last
generation of supported Intel processors are known as Broadwell,
and those chips are still widely available.
…
While Microsoft will fullfill its legacy hardware obligations,
it won't be expending resources to help users steer clear of its
latest and greatest.
We’ve seen...over 200 million active devices already running
Windows 10 and unprecedented demand from...enterprise customers.
…
For Windows 7 to run on any modern silicon, device drivers and
firmware need to emulate Windows 7’s expectations...which is
challenging.
…
Windows 7 will continue to be supported...through January 14,
2020 on previous generation silicon. Windows 8.1 will receive
the same...through January 10, 2023.
…
Windows 10 will be the only supported [version] on Intel’s
upcoming “Kaby Lake”...Qualcomm’s upcoming “8996”...and AMD’s
upcoming “Bristol Ridge”.
Ouch. Gordon Kelly cuts to the chase, with Microsoft Makes
Windows 7 And Windows 8 Support Worse:
Refusing to honour
Think your copy of Windows 7 is supported? ... Think your copy
of Windows 8 is supported? ... Think again.
…
Microsoft is...refusing to support Windows 7 and Windows 8 on
Intel’s current generation ‘Skylake’ processors, with the
exception of a “list of specific...devices.”
…
Yes, you read this right: Microsoft is breaking from 31 years of
Windows history by refusing to honour its promised Windows
lifecycles.
Double ouch. Paul Thurrott cuts to the chase—Microsoft Finds
Another Way to Force Windows 10 Upgrade on Businesses:
Any means necessary
This behavior is mostly hard to justify, and is a far more
serious issue than the non-existent Windows 10 privacy issues
that others carp about.
…
And I am reasonably sure this has never happened before.
…
There isn’t a business on earth that would go to the trouble of
deploying on Skylake hardware now only to have to upgrade to
Windows 10 in the near future.
…
In other words, this is more of the same: Microsoft pushing
customers to Windows 10 by any means necessary.
AMD sales should be going up. :-)
http://www.computerworld.com/article/3023533/microsoft-
windows/microsoft-support-windows-10-new-hardware-itbwcw.html