Windows 7 requires Windows Vista?

Malaysia
March 25, 2009 12:58am CST
A friend of mine whose husband is working in Microsoft recently told me that Microsoft's highly anticipated Windows 7 is not available for direct purchase. You need to have Vista and upgrade from Vista. That's the current model they are going for. I'm not sure how valid is this piece of information. And if it's valid, I do think this is pure nonsense and Microsoft is trying to kill themselves. As of now, a lot of PC users are moving towards Mac due to the problematic nature of Vista. Yes yes, I know some of you Vista guys are very proud of it, but out of 10 people, 9 people I've asked absolute hate Vista. It's too resource hungry. So, by forcing people to get Vista first before allowing them to get Windows 7, is a business model which I can't really make sense of. What do you think about this piece of information? Do you think it's a good way to sell Vista and Windows 7? How much do you believe in this piece of news?
4 people like this
14 responses
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
26 Mar 09
If what your friend disclosed to you is true, then I think Microsoft is not making a wise move with their Windows 7. There are some people like me who are on Win XP, and who will not be switching to Vista any time soon. One day, when Windows 7 comes on, and Microsoft decides to stop support for XP, PC users may be forced to migrate to Windows 7, and if to do that, one has to first buy or upgrade to Vista first in order to then buy into Windows 7, then that's a disincentive to me and probably many others on XP. I really doubt Microsoft will take this direction, and will probably eventually allow anyone to buy a fresh complete copy of Windows 7, or an upgrade from Vista.
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
31 Mar 09
I doubt Microsoft will. That will be saying to the world that Vista was only some kind of work-in-progress OS that's not reliable. Probably what Microsoft can do is to offer a cheap upgrade for Vista users to their new OS.
• Malaysia
31 Mar 09
I also think so. I think there will be clean standalone copies of Windows 8, albeit at a slightly higher price tag. There will also be options for existing Vista users to upgrade, and they only need to pay cheaper price. I think Microsoft should really compensate those Vista users for all the sufferings that they have to go through while using vista.
• Malaysia
12 May 09
I think that's the case. Vista users can have cheaper upgrade to Win 7. But all that is not confirmed. A recent news is saying that Win 7 will be available end of this year. Let's hope it's true.
@rosdimy (3926)
• Malaysia
25 Mar 09
I will not be surprised if it is true. Microsoft has been trying in the past, through various ways, to be the sole OS provider. I am old enough to know part of the history, and the things that went behind closed doors in their attempts to be the only recognised OS maker. Vista is not selling as well as they had projected. The info that you gave, if correct, may mean they are trying to kill two birds with one stone. I believe many will resist this arm twisting technique and may turn to Mac OS or Linux. After all a lot of work can be done using either OS. Only gamers may feel the lack of choice anf this which may change in the near future. IF the news is true then I think Microsoft may be sealing its fate. On the other hand it has a lot of money to swipe away important obstacles. all the best, rosdimy
• Malaysia
25 Mar 09
Maybe that was the initial plan but after realizing the reality, I doubt they will proceed with it. The IT world now is not the same like 10 years ago, when Apple machines have yet to gain popularity. That's why they can manipulate the market. Try to do that now, people will just switch to Mac. Simple as that.
• Malaysia
31 Mar 09
Linux path is a good one actually. I must agree that there are a lot of people who cannot afford Mac. I'm one of them. I rather use that amount of money on a better PC/laptop. But that's for us, the technical folks. There are tonnes of home users out there who don't even know what is Linux. :)
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
25 Mar 09
I don't know what to think of it, and I think it's a rip off to have Vista users buy the upgrade-because of everything we've had to go through, they should give it to us for free! I've heard you can get though a demo of Windows 7 through Arring, and it is supposed to be better than Vista...
• Malaysia
31 Mar 09
I doubt they will give Windows 7 for free. :) But yeah, from the responses that I've gathered, Windows 7 is much better and faster than Vista.
• India
7 May 09
The installation of windows 7 does not require windows vista. We can install windows 7 independently as we did in vista and XP. What you said about vista is really true. Majority of the customers are reporting their hatred towards vista. It needs high system requirements. After using windows7, I think they have improved a lot in performance but not up to the mark. I recently started loving MacOS. What's your opinion about the same. Which OS are you using currently? Please share about MacOS.
• Malaysia
12 May 09
I'm using Win XP actually because in corporate world, not many companies want to take the risk and move to Vista (I know one company did that and ended up in hot soup). Mac OS is good but it's pretty expensive.
@eselmaro (208)
• Philippines
26 Mar 09
Before Windows 7 is free. I don't think you need to purchase Windows Vista first then upgrade to Windows 7. I have two Operating System right now, Windows Vista which is licensed and Windows 7 which has a valid licensed key too, in courtesy of microsoft website. They just generate licensed key for windows 7 and update it by August of 2009. With regards to Windows 7 software or installer itself, I guess you need to wait for it to be available in the market or else borrow from a friend who has a copy of it and generate a licensed key from microsoft site to make valid. I dunno if they allow this kind of thing but it works sometimes.
• Malaysia
31 Mar 09
The Windows 7 key you are currently using is only for beta version and it will become void or unusable once the official Windows 7 has been released. Nothing will come free as long as it's from Microsoft.
@vpower (3)
• Singapore
26 Mar 09
I have been using Windows XP and continue to use it. As for Vista, Some software having problem to access. If you want to upgrade to Windows 7, I would suggest that you do a Console via System Restore. So that you could roll back in the event of error encounters.
• Malaysia
31 Mar 09
I think it's better to keep the Windows XP disc at safe place, just in case. I would prefer to rely on XP than Vista.
• Singapore
25 Mar 09
if that is really true i think i will be sticking to windows XP for a very long time. even now, windows vista is not very stable as compared to windows XP but having this OS is forcing alot of people change to vista and this causes alot of problem. to let the consumers have to purchase vista before they can upgrade to windows 7 is a freaking stupid idea from microsoft. and i pretty much doubt that they will ever do that. pretty much will lose alot of customers if that happens. but if i have to choose to purchase vista just to upgrade to windows 7 i would rather buy a mac os.
• Malaysia
25 Mar 09
Mac is good and all but the price is pretty expensive, as compared to a Windows-based machine.
@hotsummer (13835)
• Philippines
25 Mar 09
i think that Microsoft just wanted to push sales on their vista that is why they are requiring first to have the Vista. As we all know that Vista didn't pick up much sales because of those bad comments about it. i too just am still happy with XP. i don't see any need to change until now. luckily i have still my copy of XP.
• Malaysia
31 Mar 09
XP Professional is the way to go. Have been using that since long time ago. LOL.
• United Kingdom
25 Mar 09
I didn't think that Windows 7 was out yet but that's a real shame if true. I don't use vista anyway, I presently use xp and I'm really happy with this operating system. I will perhaps upgrade to vista at some point and then it would be nice to see windows 7 available for purchase. Anyway, only time will tell as to what Microsoft decide to do. Andrew
• Malaysia
25 Mar 09
Windows 7 is supposed to be out by Q1 2010, but Microsoft has pushed it forward to Q3 2009. I think they do realize that they are seriously losing market share to Apple and their Mac OS Leopard. :)
@23uday (2997)
• India
25 Mar 09
Hi friends, Windows 7 or vista is a good OS and good looking os. four months back i have installed in my computer is windows vista themes only vista themes were looking so good but it will be slow operating for computer. It requires a 1 GB ram 160 GB hard disc processor speed. Have a nice day.
• Malaysia
25 Mar 09
Windows Vista simply has too much bloatwares which come together with the core operating system functionality, and most of them are pretty useless. That's why it's not recommended for people with medium ranged machines to use it.
@dcaisj (41)
• China
25 Mar 09
I hate the Vista!I love using XP!If that happens,I only use Mac!that it is!
• Malaysia
25 Mar 09
LOL, I seriously doubt my machine can run Vista.
• Mexico
25 Mar 09
Well you know i am a beta user and I got an email from them, they said that they wil have the same type of program they had with vista, the express upgrade, however they will also sell it for clean installs, so that is not true, just to think they want to charge you 300 bucks for vista then another 300 for windows 7 is not right, I think your frien missinterpreted the information from her husband
• Malaysia
25 Mar 09
Rather than 300 for Vista and another 300 for Windows 7, maybe they will just charge 600 for a complete suite. As in, you just need to add 300 for upgrade to Windows 7 but if you get a fresh copy of Windows 7, you might need to pay 500. The pricing has not been officially released, so don't be so sure. :)
• China
25 Mar 09
It is disgusting if this piece of news is true.Vista scuks!As I know vista users could upgrade to windows 7 with no need of reinstalling their systems,just like most linux distributions.At the moment u can install windows 7 beta directly on ur PC.
• Malaysia
25 Mar 09
Some of my friends are using Windows 7 beta now and they're very happy with it. And by the way, most of them used to be Vista users...for a few months.
@vpower (3)
• Singapore
26 Mar 09
The Windows 7 Beta Download is available at Microsoft site.