Microsoft Will Not Support Upcoming Processors Except On Windows 10

[bill]

Today Microsoft announced that going forward, new processors will only be supported on Windows 10

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/01/15/windows-10-embracing-silicon-innovation/ [blogs.windows.com]

Windows 10 Embracing Silicon Innovation

Going forward, as new silicon generations are introduced, they will require the latest Windows platform at that time for support. This enables us to focus on deep integration between Windows and the silicon, while maintaining maximum reliability and compatibility with previous generations of platform and silicon. For example, Windows 10 will be the only supported Windows platform on Intel’s upcoming “Kaby Lake” silicon, Qualcomm’s upcoming “8996” silicon, and AMD’s upcoming “Bristol Ridge” silicon.

[eurohttp]

Maybe it is for better. But there will be much loss concerning new technology.

[RedBar]

Since this thread is wandering about a bit I have a couple of questions and no idea where to post them!

Since I bought my Lumia 1520 (Win 8.1) my tablet usage has dramatically dropped from daily to maybe a couple of times a week. I have several Xoom tablets running Android (4.0.4), is there any other OS that can be installed on these at all for me to play with?

I last tried Linux 3-4 years ago and didn't really like/understand it. I have a spare, low-powered Vista PC, which Linux (Mint?) would be best to try on it?

[engine]

I have a spare, low-powered Vista PC, which Linux (Mint?) would be best to try on it?

Ubuntu or LinuxMint, yes, and you can try it out and run it from a USB or DVD before installing it. You can also install it as a second boot, if you have enough HD space.

I installed both on a couple of sacrificial machines and asked a couple of non-tech people to look at them. It was different, and they asked many, many questions, so, as i'd said previously, Linus is not for those that just want to use a computer to do the basic things. It's where Apple iOS stands out best: Better than Windows 10, imho.

Back to Windows 10: It's now been a four weeks that the wife's been using Windows 10 and it's been very unproductive few weeks for her. The machine is occasionally freezing, and taking forever to restart, especially after installing updates. More than five minutes is just not acceptable. Oh, and before you ask, no, there's no malware or virus on the machine. Edge is a complete confusion. It's as if Edge and Win 10 software is incomplete and rushed. I installed Firefox for her and that helps as Edge is now ignored. The wife is not best pleased at all and is likely to want to ditch Windows 10 in favour of iOS, which she loves on the iPhone and iPad.

[bill]

Linux is not for those that just want to use a computer to do the basic things. It's where Apple iOS stands out best: Better than Windows 10, imho.

My experiences with Linux installs haven't been that negative. Several years ago I put Linux Mint Debian Edition (a rolling update distro) onto a PC used at a bar. This PC is used by bar patrons and the staff. Nobody there had ever used Linux before. They've figured out how to hook the thing up to their sound and video system: 5+ flatscreen monitors to stream video & audio while allowing patrons to surf the web on the side. The staff do all of their word processing, website updates, and graphics editing all just using the tools pre-installed in this distro. (Well, maybe they did install GIMP and Inkscape from the outside...)

So far, none of the drunk patrons have been able to do any more mischief than change the desktop wallpaper.
If I had used Windows, which they had before, I doubt the machine would still be running as smoothly. I'm not sure I could lock down a Win10 install to the same degree I have Linux. So, even if they eventually do get new hardware we'll probably be removing any pre-installed Windows and go with Linux simply for its reliability. They wouldn't want an unexpected Windows update to cripple their entertainment system during business hours.

[mcneely]

I guess it all just depends on a persons personal flavor I suppose. Set up 8 machines last week that I swear must've had 8 different versions of Windows installed on them at a local non-profit.

The machines ranged in age 8 years old to present - Spent a few bucks of my own money on a few extra wireless cards and had them all talking to each other in under a few hours - Their IT guy, a Windows fanboy, seemed somewhat surprised that it took so little time to set it all up. But that's the way it is with Linux -- No Fuss, No Muss - Just straight and to the point. Now all of the machines can talk directly to the server room and the printer without having to jump through any extra hoops. Mail client is all the same too - No more of this Outlook Express in one office and Outlook in the other office nonsense -- Believe me, I don't know how they all kept it together for as long as they did, or how they managed to put up with IT soaking them every day just to keep these machines up to the task. Most all of these guys were spending their own money on the machines and software outside of just depending on contributions (as to the reason why there were so many different versions of software I guess)

They won't be having to worry much about licensing or processor support any more - Now they can concentrate on the cause they initially set out to champion.

Microsoft can do whatever it wants at this point - It still isn't going to stop their ultimate decline.