Forum Moderators: open
Microsoft Corp. will unveil an add-on to Windows 7 that lets users run applications designed for Windows XP in a virtual machine, the company confirmed Friday -- the first time Microsoft has relied on virtualization to provide backward compatibility.......the add-on is part of the pitch to convince businesses to migrate to Windows 7. "All you need to do is to install suitable applications directly in Windows XP Mode," said Woodgate. "The applications will be published to the Windows 7 desktop and then you can run them directly from Windows 7."
I run virtual machines in Vista and run my legacy programs there, but it's another window I have to have open on my desktop. This new virtual XP mode will run seamlessly within the OS from the sounds of it.
As they're going to include a fully licenced copy of XP SP3 for use in this virtual application it will be a no-brainer for corporations looking to upgrade. Windows 7 is looking more appealing all the time.
If you can set up one virtual machine for general browsing, and another for banking, you should be immune to dangerous spyware attacks.
Given that Microsoft only plan to make this technology available for Premium versions of Windows 7, it would seem that they haven't realised the security benefits or haven't realised that that they'll face huge criticism for not making it available to all (including Vista users).
Kaled.
Looks like 4 GB won't be enough...
If that's the case, then wouldn't the backward compatibility go out the window (so to speak ;) ) ?
Most motherboards of the XP era support only 4 GB of RAM.
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is providing an add-on to Windows 7, the next version of the Windows operating system, which will allow corporate customers to run the older Windows XP system in parallel to Windows 7."XP mode" will offer a way to let customers use older applications which may not be compatible with Windows 7, during the transition to the new operating system, according to a blog post from Microsoft.
XP mode works using virtualization; a technology which allows computers to run multiple different operating systems and maximizing efficiencies.
