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New Intel and AMD Chips Will Only Support Windows 10 (pcworld.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Buried in the announcement of the new Kaby Lake (seventh-generation) processors and a rash of incoming notebooks set to use them is the confirmation that they will have a Windows 10 future. Microsoft has been warning people for ages that Kaby Lake will not run on anything older than Windows 10, and it looks like AMD's upcoming Zen chip will be going the same way. Microsoft said, "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." "We are committed to working with Microsoft and our ecosystem partners to help ensure a smooth transition given these changes to Microsoft's Windows support policy," an Intel spokesperson said. "No, Intel will not be updating Win 7/8 drivers for 7th Gen Intel Core [Kaby Lake] per Microsoft's support policy change." An AMD representative was equally neutral. "AMD's processor roadmap is fully aligned with Microsoft's software strategy," AMD chief technical officer Mark Papermaster said, via a company spokeswoman. Slashdot reader MojoKid via HotHardware has some more details on Intel's Kaby Lake 7th Gen Core Series Processors for those yearning to learn more.

585 comments

  1. Goodbye Windows. by Berkyjay · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Hello Linux

    1. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I expect UEFI lock down will soon prevent Linux from being installed.

    2. Re:Goodbye Windows. by BringsApples · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Then goodbye Intel and AMD.

      --
      Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
    3. Re:Goodbye Windows. by FudRucker · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Linux developers will have it cracked and running any distro within a few days, AMD & Intel is not going to shoot themselves in the foot, microsoft might commit corporate suicide

      --
      Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
    4. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, Good Luck with that.

    5. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Rinikusu · · Score: 1

      Kinda wish MIPS were still relevant these days.

      --
      If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai
    6. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      in a flying car

    7. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then goodbye Intel and AMD.

      I'm sure you'll find tons of compatibility with a nice VIA x86 or ARM CPU.

    8. Re:Goodbye Windows. by ArchieBunker · · Score: 1

      You might have to say hello to SPARC or POWER.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    9. Re:Goodbye Windows. by AchilleTalon · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I wonder why this comment is rated as insightful. For a Windows 7, Windows 8 or whatever version of Windows user but 10, the alternative is not Windows 10 or Linux. If he cannot keep his old version of Windows, he will jump to Windows 10 which is much more similar to his computer experience than Linux. This user is not driven by irrational hate against Microsoft and Windows since he would like to continue to use an older version of Windows.

      --
      Achille Talon
      Hop!
    10. Re:Goodbye Windows. by AchilleTalon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Pretty much silly reasoning given the number of Linux servers around the world. Almost every large corporate is depending on Linux for something.

      --
      Achille Talon
      Hop!
    11. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Tough+Love · · Score: 4, Interesting

      What about Linux? Microsoft's Kaby Lake support or lack of it appears to be based on detecting the processor version, and not any lack of backward compatibility in the chip architecture.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    12. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Berkyjay · · Score: 4, Interesting

      To give you some perspective. I use Win7 as my home/gaming OS and Linux as my work/dev OS. I went to Win10, tried it for a month, grew to hate it. Went back to Win7 to wait for Win10 to improve in a few more years. But if MS doesn't want to give me the option to avoid Win10 then I'll just start finding a way to work Linux into being my full time OS.

    13. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Berkyjay · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I already use Linux as much as I use Windows already. So luck has nothing to do with it.

    14. Re:Goodbye Windows. by ClickOnThis · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Linux developers will have it cracked and running any distro within a few days, AMD & Intel is not going to shoot themselves in the foot, microsoft might commit corporate suicide

      And I would be surprised if Intel and AMD didn't actually help Linux developers do it.

      This whole thing smells of Microsoft trying to sell more Windows 10, not Intel and AMD trying to sell fewer chips.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    15. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You might be surprised how many people have a not so irrational hate against Windows. They need a computer for various things, but hate to work with computers. Yeah, Linux is not a solution for these kind of people, for some who hate the many malware/drivers problems Mac might be a solution. But generally many people just hate working with computers. That's why so many of those people have switched to smart phones or tablets for their computing needs and when a service company only supports a PC, they just choose a competitor that supports Android or IOS.

    16. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Replying on my CI20 running Debian 8.

      I use this machine mostly as a home jukebox system (Attached to the PA system.) And sometimes for lite web browsing if I'm in the garage (where it sits by the main for the PA system.)

      MIPS is trying to become relevant again. There are a couple of Russian workstations coming out on the Baikal T-1 and Imgtec is still trying to establish their footing in the embedded board arena. (Thus the CI20 i'm on.)

      For general desktop use, this baby can handle websites like /. (but not much more javascript.) IRC, Pidgin, Email, Nethack, etc. What more do you need? All kidding aside, the hardware technology is there, what MIPS lacks however is developers, optimized drivers, and scale production to bring down costs. In that order. Judging from the GIT repos, ImgTec devs moved on to IoT ci40 and abandoned ci20... Without improved drivers/browsers I believe this won't be the decade of the MIPS desktop.

      *Note speaking about desktop mips and not networking mips.
      *Slash dot Captcha: Idealism >.>

    17. Re: Goodbye Windows. by inode_buddha · · Score: 4, Informative

      Or my favorite, the DEC Alpha...

      --
      C|N>K
    18. Re:Goodbye Windows. by slashrio · · Score: 1

      The question is not so much whether the new processors 'support' Linux, rather than whether Linux will support the new processors.

      --
      "Trump!!", the new Godwin.
    19. Re:Goodbye Windows. by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Then goodbye Intel and AMD.

      What would one use in their place? ARM?

    20. Re:Goodbye Windows. by cfalcon · · Score: 1

      > I expect UEFI lock down will soon prevent Linux from being installed.

      Nah. Linux is the most common OS in the world. But your concern is valid- Microsoft might, for instance, do a deal with, say, some computer vendor, and they would make a box that implements the lockdown. But this would be pretty damned controversial, even if Microsoft made the box themselves.

    21. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 3, Informative

      Erm... Linux runs just fine on numerous ARM designs, and the hardware can happily support modern applications as well. Have you used an Android phone lately, as perhaps the most recognisable example of this actually being done?

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
    22. Re:Goodbye Windows. by cfalcon · · Score: 5, Funny

      > Fuck Linux.

      I mean, Linux is pretty hot, but... I can't find any holes!

    23. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yup, arm will be the way of the future then.

    24. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously. What are they putting in the new chips that dont run the same as the old ones? Built in silicon backdoors or what?

    25. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Isca · · Score: 5, Informative

      This is actually good for news linux developers, just not in the way most people think. A very large part of this push is to try to make yet another step away from legacy x86 code. Newer windows binaries is much more easier to port to other systems and in fact Microsoft is developing the tools to do quite a bit of this for you. All of this easy to port code will be easy to port to linux and any other OS you want. Microsoft is trying to become the place to go for cloud hosted computing and while they know they are way behind apple and google right now they can stay relevant by making their tools and back end services work with as many different platforms as possible. It will be interesting to see what the market looks like 5 or 10 years from now. Who ever thought Microsoft would have even done a 10th of what they have done in the past year or two for open source based on what they were like 10 years ago? The landscape has changed and Google is becoming more and more restrictive with what they do and how they handle your data every year. Apple is the same, but they've always been like that to a degree.

    26. Re:Goodbye Windows. by somenickname · · Score: 1

      This user is not driven by irrational hate against Microsoft and Windows since he would like to continue to use an older version of Windows.

      Irrational? Really? I don't recall ever meeting anyone that didn't hate Windows that wasn't a Windows developer. People didn't flee from Windows Phone because it was bad. They fled because it was associated with Microsoft and Windows. After decades of shit from Microsoft, the brand is so tarnished that people relish the ability to escape it.

    27. Re: Goodbye Windows. by LesFerg · · Score: 1

      I have a DEC Alpha cpu on my bookshelf for a decoration. Sadly I don't have the rest of the hardware to plug it into.

      --
      If I had a DeLorean... I would probably only drive it from time to time.
    28. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mac started effing up the OS since 10.7. 10.10 was utter crap, I haven't yet installed 10.11 since the nice folks don't want to let it run on my otherwise perfectly capable computer upgraded with more memory and storage than they sell even now

    29. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You have an odd definition of behind...

    30. Re:Goodbye Windows. by BringsApples · · Score: 1

      I run Slackware. Everywhere.

      --
      Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
    31. Re:Goodbye Windows. by somenickname · · Score: 1

      Linux will probably support the chips before Windows does. It's not like Intel is going to send out a memo to every internet company on the planet and say, "Hey, sorry guys, new chips are Windows only. Please change your infrastructure."

    32. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      This whole thing smells of Microsoft trying to sell more Windows 10, not Intel and AMD trying to sell fewer chips.

      It has been a long time since we have seen a break in the backwards compatibility such that deprecated features are actually removed and thus do not support older systems, this is one of those times. It has nothing to do with Windows (aside from older versions not supporting features that didn't exist when they were produced) specifically, just like Linux or macOS, Windows is being updated to support newer processor architectures and redundant features are being removed going forward thus breaking some backwards compatibility.

      Is it just that Microsoft was mentioned that people are desperately searching for a conspiracy theory when the reasoning for this move is so obviously just about removal of redundant features?

    33. Re:Goodbye Windows. by exomondo · · Score: 1

      I expect UEFI lock down will soon prevent Linux from being installed.

      Except that this is controlled by the hardware manufacturers, like Dell, HP & Lenovo that ship systems with Linux distributions pre-installed. They can install whatever keys they want in the system, or - as they do now - just have a switch to turn it off or use the Microsoft system for signing a bootloader and using Microsoft's key.

    34. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nobody here is driven by irrational hate towards Microsoft.

      Rest assured, any hatred is quite rational and well-deserved.

    35. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      AFAIK this is only about Microsoft choosing to support chip features in Win 10 only, not that the chip manufacturers are barring other OSes. If that assumption is right then I don't understand why such a misleading submission was posted without correction on Slashdot.

    36. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I use Windows as my gaming PC. Went from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and never looked back. Zero problems with it and nothing so different that it alienated me.

    37. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Hello Linux" on what? It says right in TFSubject that the chips are Windows 10 only.

    38. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      You have an odd definition of behind...

      Your mom and I have an even odder one.

    39. Re:Goodbye Windows. by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I wonder why this comment is rated as insightful.

      Because people found it insightful. The moderation system is not that complicated.

      For a Windows 7, Windows 8 or whatever version of Windows user but 10, the alternative is not Windows 10 or Linux.

      That's true. They could also become a Mac user.

      If he cannot keep his old version of Windows, he will jump to Windows 10 which is much more similar to his computer experience than Linux.

      It is in one significant way: software support. In any other way, it really is not.

      This user is not driven by irrational hate against Microsoft and Windows since he would like to continue to use an older version of Windows.

      I'm not driven by irrational hate. I'm driven by rational dislike and distrust. Windows 10 is spyware on a level that I won't permit on my network. I can (so far) keep that stuff out of my Windows 7, with some effort. I won't be buying any software which requires Windows 10, ever. So long as I can keep a machine running Windows 7, which I should be able to do with hardware on hand for the foreseeable future, I don't give a fig for Windows 10.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    40. Re:Goodbye Windows. by armanox · · Score: 1

      I still use my SGI Octane as a server, for what it's worth. I fell in love with the MIPS systems, and when I've got some extra $$ again am looking forward to playing with the Creator CI boards, just because MIPS.

      --
      I'm starting to think GNU is the problem with "GNU/Linux" these days.
    41. Re:Goodbye Windows. by exomondo · · Score: 1

      To give you some perspective. I use Win7 as my home/gaming OS and Linux as my work/dev OS. I went to Win10, tried it for a month, grew to hate it.

      What do you mean "grew to hate it"? For a gamer it's as simple as turning it on and then loading up whatever game you want to play and it's the same in any version of Windows or better yet open up Steam. PC gaming isn't as complicated as it used to be and you don't have to dick around in the OS to optimize things on a daily basis.

    42. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Berkyjay · · Score: 1

      PC gaming isn't as complicated as it used to be and you don't have to dick around in the OS to optimize things on a daily basis.

      You don't have to dick around with Win7 either. BTW, my distaste and dislike for Win10 doesn't lessen your apparent love for it. So relax.

    43. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Z00L00K · · Score: 1

      Microsoft will probably find a way to StrongARM you into Windows 10 even then.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
    44. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's how I felt at first too. Then I started noticing little things here and there. Then the list got larger and larger. At this point, Windows 10 is more annoying than Vista or 8 were..although the start menu is at least more tolerable than it was in 8 and 8.1--when it's working that is.

    45. Re:Goodbye Windows. by jstwinkles · · Score: 3, Interesting

      UEFI doesn't have anything to do with what OS you can install and run (aside from compatibility issues one might encounter when trying to run legacy software). If you're thinking of things like Intel Boot Guard or UEFI Secure Boot, those are meant to prevent modification to the firmware image stored on the motherboard's ROM chip, not lock down the OS. The only way to restrict what OS you can load would be to add in very specific code outside the scope of the UEFI spec that probes the boot media and says yay or nay to different OSes. Basically, Intel, UEFI/BIOS devs, and motherboard manufacturers would all have to conspire together against Linux and I think they all know it would not be in their best interests to do so, given that so much of the IT infrastructure and technical community of the world runs it. This is Microsoft just trying to suck in even more people to Malware 10. There aren't even any real differences between the Skylake chips already out there and the Kaby Lake chips according to several articles I've seen. The difference in driver code (which is ostensibly the reason for the lack of support) would essentially be the difference of a #defined version number, not any actual implementation differences.

    46. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Doctor_Jest · · Score: 2

      Because it's Microsoft. We've seen these tactics before. We see what they are capable of as well as what they want.

      They want a world where there is no alternative. The fact that they are getting help from chip makers is the only thing that is new about this. Embracing "open source" is Microsoft's way of infecting it and in their mind, hopefully destroying it.

      --
      It's the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
    47. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Doctor_Jest · · Score: 1

      Is it simple (or possible without serious work) to install Linux on a Surface Pro or Surface? Microsoft wants nothing more than to freeze out competition. Just ask the graveyard of other applications and OS vendors who have tried to compete with the Redmond Machine.

      --
      It's the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
    48. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Darinbob · · Score: 2

      And do they actually need "support" in order to work? Did they change the instruction set finally? Encrypted the whole thing so you need an MS signed cert?

    49. Re:Goodbye Windows. by exomondo · · Score: 1

      You don't have to dick around with Win7 either.

      Right, which is why I said "PC gaming", not "Windows 10 gaming".

      BTW, my distaste and dislike for Win10 doesn't lessen your apparent love for it.

      Love for it? What are you even talking about? Maybe you need to re-read what I wrote, it seems you are replying to something else. I'm asking why you "grew to hate it" given that in the context of gaming it is little more than a slightly different application launcher.

    50. Re: Goodbye Windows. by DivineKnight · · Score: 2

      It still is...

      It's not easy getting an Alpha to boot from a SSD, but with enough patience, it can be done. It's also not easy getting said Alpha to support USB 3.0, SAS, a Radeon HD card (with HDMI output), etc....but it can be done.

      God willing, I will have Half-Life up and running on this machine sometime later this year.

    51. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because it's Microsoft. We've seen these tactics before.

      Yes we've seen these "tactics" from many vendors before, you'll remember Apple also removed support for their older operating systems on newer hardware -- in fact they continue to do that. There is no rule that says they need to support every release ever on all hardware going forward.

      They want a world where there is no alternative.

      That may be so but this action: not producing updates for their older OSes to run on new hardware, is not getting anywhere toward achieving that.

      The fact that they are getting help from chip makers is the only thing that is new about this.

      Except that isn't a "fact" that is a thing you made up that isn't even happening. The only news here is that older versions of Windows aren't going to be supported on these newer CPUs, this has absolutely nothing to do with Microsoft's competitors (i.e. Linux) at all.

      Embracing "open source" is Microsoft's way of infecting it and in their mind, hopefully destroying it.

      Yes of course, releasing more open source, using open source technologies and getting people to start contributing code in the open instead of closed source is a sure fire way to kill open source. I certainly see now that you are so mind-numbingly stupid that it is no surprise you have no idea what this "news" is about and why you can't even comprehend the fact that it is completey different to whatever thing you think it is.

    52. Re: Goodbye Windows. by marmot7 · · Score: 1

      Exactly they aren't stupid enough so no worries there

    53. Re: Goodbye Windows. by marmot7 · · Score: 1

      Those days are over. The battle's mostly over. The villian is doing good works. What are you gonna do?

    54. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Intel and AMD?

      This is Microsoft saying they won't support newer hardware on their older operating systems. They want everyone running Spyware 10.

      Frankly, anyone with an self-respect at this point is already planning a way to dump Windows.

    55. Re:Goodbye Windows. by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 1

      I expect UEFI lock down will soon prevent Linux from being installed.

      Nope. Provided people punish manufacturers who lock down the secure boot by refusing to buy their products.
      Secure boot should be for the owner of the computer to secure it by only allowing the kernel of their choice.

      --
      I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
    56. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      clickbait

    57. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Tough+Love · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Linux will probably support the chips before Windows does.

      It is a practical certainty that Linux already supports Kaby Lake and that no special code is/was needed. It is also a practical certainty that Intel tested the new chips with Linux extensively, including performance testing, given how much of their business depends on Linux these days. Compilers and support libraries will need updates to take advantage of the new media and crypto instructions, no big hurry there, but indeed, Linux is likely to have these optimizations before Windows does.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    58. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Clickbait headline. What it actually means is older Windows versions are not supported.

    59. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Cederic · · Score: 1

      Yeah, about that. You don't want to be relying on a Slashdot subject.

      It's accurate, but only in a "Windows only" context. Other operating systems have different constraints and options; you're not forced to use a Windows variant. You just wont get older consumer Windows variants supported by Microsoft.

      Older server variants are a more interesting question, and one I'm going to go and track down. Professional implications..

    60. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hello Linux

      To which MS and Intel say (with a smile), "Goodbye customers we aren't interested in anyway".

      Fact is, the vast bulk of these customers will stick with MS no matter what happens. Look at all the abusive things MS has done in the past, and yet their desktop market share still exceeds 90%. Ranting about it or pointing to alternatives is a lost cause – MS customers won't budge.

    61. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know we hear this _every_ time Microsoft or someone makes a controversial decision about Windows and guess what ... Linux market share is still lower than Windows 8.

      So in essence shut up or put up.

    62. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At that point I except the DOJ to finally enforce the law and breakup Microsoft.

    63. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They don't build something into the CPUs to make incompatible. Microsoft changed their driver policy to say that no new drivers are allowed for "old" operating systems. They can do that because they control driver signing. Of course Microsoft wants to tell to tell everyone they need to get Windows Whatever to run X new product (especially for Businesses that don't like frequent OS look/feel changes). Intel and AMD, not really having a choice for the driver side, simply confirm (neutrally) certain aspects of what Microsoft is saying (no drivers for new hardware on older Windows versions).

      Note thought that this does not mean the new CPUs won't work on older windows versions (although Microsoft is trying to imply that). It means that the combination won't be supported. You won't get help from support when you PC crashes and you won't get drivers to fix what might not work. However, that is about as much support as Linux gets and it's still doing fine?

    64. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good luck with that.
      In the almost 20 years that I have been using Linux (since RedHat 5.1), it appears that Linux is just as far away from being a competent main desktop/gaming OS as it was 20 years ago. Maybe 15 out of my 90 games on Steam support Linux and the alternative office suites are still a useless joke (for a "power user"). Not to mention applications I use on a weekly basis like Lightroom, Premiere Elements etc...

      For me it's just embedded devices and servers. Linux has failed on the desktop, and from the market share it must be obvious to even the biggest fanbois.

    65. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Indeed.

      Microsoft has locked down Windows. They want to force you onto Windows 10.

      Once the captive mongs have all been herded onto Windows 10, the ability to load software from anything other than the Windows store will be disabled. Windows 10 will refuse to load software that isn't digitally signed with Microsoft's key (i.e approved by Microsoft). Any software will be checked by Microsoft to ensure that it respects copyright and any restrictions set on it by the content providers (can only be viewed once, or within a period of time and then delete itself). The driver software running on Windows will then enforce the scans for watermarks in video/audio and shut it off if found.

      You won't be able to patch this as the software will not run (or will not open content) if it is altered in any way - because you bought a fucking machine with UEFI, UEFI Secure Boot and a TPM in it - and then let Microsoft ratchet up the controls until the gate was shut and locked. Governments love this as they will be able to specify licensed code to access certain things - maybe even the internet itself (signed TCP/IP stack). Anonymity will be gone. Part of your computer will end up being devoted to monitoring you for possible criminal acts and anything that can be taxed.

      Stallman warned you. Vernor Vinge warned you. Others warned you in the early 2000s when TPMs were first being pushed out on everyone and Trusted Computing was being birthed.

      This is your last chance to escape by dumping Windows and the Mac and getting onto an operating system that You control. Frankly, I don't care if you go to Linux, FreeBSD or a write your own non-corporate controlled Free operating system.

      Just do it.

    66. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are a few things you need to touch first.

    67. Re:Goodbye Windows. by OolimPhon · · Score: 1

      AFAIK this is only about Microsoft choosing to support chip features in Win 10 only, not that the chip manufacturers are barring other OSes. If that assumption is right then I don't understand why such a misleading submission was posted without correction on Slashdot.

      Because it means that even if you use another OS, you'll need a Windows 10 system in order to update the processor firmware.

      Some of the older Intel processors required booting from DOS floppies (or a USB lookalike) to update firmware; been there, done that. This looks like an attempt to remove that limitation. Hey, if it just happens to make difficulties for the opposition at the same time, who's complaining?

    68. Re:Goodbye Windows. by vigour · · Score: 1

      > Fuck Linux.

      I mean, Linux is pretty hot, but... I can't find any holes!

      Honestly, I don't know whether you should be modded funny, or insightful...

    69. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because it's Microsoft. We've seen these tactics before. We see what they are capable of as well as what they want.

      They want a world where there is no alternative. The fact that they are getting help from chip makers is the only thing that is new about this. Embracing "open source" is Microsoft's way of infecting it and in their mind, hopefully destroying it.

      Yeah but.... there are some smart people working for M$, but they don't get to make decisions (in their free time they code for Linux); quite a few Intel and AMD employees code for Linux (some in there free time); M$ people that do get to make decisions do get Open Source e.g. they figure if they throw enough money at Linux they can control it (fork that!).

      tl;dr? M$ has as much chance of world domination as they have of developing style.

      Windows 10 - the Eternal release (until Windows 11/Midori with journalled FS and no registry is released by the marketing droids). Code name Camp XRay "Smoke and Mirrors" (hence the default desktop).

    70. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think he was referring to the speed of the chip. ARM may be nice, but they are no speed demons only "passable".

    71. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh you mean like the Surface?

    72. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1

      Microsoft is trying to become the place to go for cloud hosted computing and while they know they are way behind apple and google right now

      WTF? Apple has very little cloud presence. Google are the trying to catch up M$ and Amazon on providing cloud services. The two front runners in the cloud are Amazon & M$ and you didn't even mention Amazon!

      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

    73. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1
      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

    74. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Kjella · · Score: 1

      And do they actually need "support" in order to work? Did they change the instruction set finally? Encrypted the whole thing so you need an MS signed cert?

      The CPU not so much, but without support for the 200-series Union Point chipset you won't find a motherboard to run it on.

      --
      Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
    75. Re:Goodbye Windows. by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 1

      My Nvidia Tegra K1-based Chromebook certainly isn't a speedy machine by any definition, but it plays 1080p Youtube videos just fine and gets over 10 hours battery life. For a mobile device, the tradeoff is definitely worth it, compared to those lowly Intel-based Chromebooks that only get ~6 hours of battery life.

      --
      Eat the rich.
    76. Re:Goodbye Windows. by The+Real+Dr+John · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The push to force Windows 10 has now reached absurd proportions. Windows 7 is going to be my last version of Windows, and that means I won't be buying new Intel or AMD processors if they are going this route. Windows 10 is not particularly popular in its current form, so I am not at all sure why other companies would want to jump on that shit wagon.

      --
      A brain is a terrible thing to waste... Mind? That's debatable.
    77. Re:Goodbye Windows. by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 1

      Watch out for the open sores ;-)

      --
      Eat the rich.
    78. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Fuck Linux.

      I mean, Linux is pretty hot, but... I can't find any holes!

      The OP must be intimately familiar with Windoze, which has plenty of holes.

    79. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I guarantee you that if these chips only run Windows 10 and possibly OS X (only in non-hackintosh, genuine Apple products) that the consumer outcry and backlash will force a change.

    80. Re:Goodbye Windows. by hairyfeet · · Score: 1

      It does seem like Nutella is trying to kill the company, doesn't it? Between this bullshit, Windows 10 being buggier than WinME (at least you could rip some system files from Win98 SE and make WinME stable) making BSODs and reboot loops an all too common occurrence, baked in spyware and adware, and a fugly UI that can't decide if it wasn't to be a mobile or desktop OS? He really couldn't make the supposed flagship of his company more unappealing if he replaced the default wallpaper with an HD Goatse with a 2 girls 1 cup screensaver.

      I have a feeling by the EOL of Windows 8.1, if not Win 7, we'll see Nutella given his walking papers, either that or Google will bake in some sort of compatibility layer into their Chrome/Android hybrid and Windows will become that "you remember that OS?" legacy OS nobody gives two shits about.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    81. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Touch, finger only then can you fsck it. Come on people these steps only need to be spelled out for complete n00bs.

    82. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's exactly what we need:

      ubiquitous small, cheap and as open-as-possible boards a la Raspberry Pi.

      ARM, MIPS or, wishful thinking, home-grown circuit-printed boards...all would be good.

      The RasPi is an amazing device, since it opened people's eyes for the concept of small boards. And, once it gets at least 2, better 4GB RAM, it's perfectly enough as desktop.

    83. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Fuck Linux.

      I mean, Linux is pretty hot, but... I can't find any holes!

      SystemD has a big one on the end.

    84. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Goodbye Windows.. yeah right - you're already on Linux ;)

      Windows 10 _is_ popular. It's just slashdot people that don't like it. Windows 10 actually isn't bad at all. You'd know that if you had used it.

    85. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course (newer) Linux will work. They're just not supporting older Windowses. I can't believe the people here are actually confused about this.

    86. Re:Goodbye Windows. by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 1

      Apple is the same, but they've always been like that to a degree.

      What do you mean 'to a degree'? They've always been super controlling of their platforms. Microsoft was more open until just recently when they came up with stupid windows RT and windows phone which were very locked down. In those products, Microsoft surrendered the one thing that was keeping them ahead of Apple, and then wondered why their mobile ambitions spectacularly failed.

    87. Re:Goodbye Windows. by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      Or even better yet, "Sorry (Amazon|Rackspace|DigitalOcean|Google Cloud). You're going to have to stop buying shitloads of Xeon blades for your cloud hosting because you aren't running Windows OS on the bare metal."

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    88. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      TBH, just download a copy of Windows and don't activate it then reinstall a real OS afterwards. These days MS posts their ISOs for their OSes so that you can install with just an appropriate key, but you do get a certain amount of time after installing before you have to activate.

    89. Re:Goodbye Windows. by petermgreen · · Score: 1

      AIUI

      The x86 surface models (all pro models and the surface 3) are set up like normal PCs. You can either turn off secure boot in the firmware setup or use a linux distro with a MS-signed loader.

      The ARM surface models (surface RT and surface 2) are locked down to the hilt. A hole was recently found allowing this lockdown to be bypassed but i'm not sure if anyone has got linux running yet.

      --
      note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
    90. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And now, watch as M$ and their partners in crime hold the strait razor to their own throats and start slicing...

      I have already completely switched to Linux, and will never go back.

    91. Re:Goodbye Windows. by sakono · · Score: 1

      I have to use win 10 for work. It sucks. even with the updates deferred it still reboots to install updates when it feels like it. I have to fix printers at my job and win10 wont even find the printers on the network but my win7 laptop has no issue finding them on the net work. Will never be a fan of this one OS for all devices crap. will stick with win 7 long as I can.

    92. Re:Goodbye Windows. by theinfamousgeek · · Score: 1

      If it weren't for PC game developers being so hell bent on creating games solely for the Windows ecosystems I wouldn't touch Windows again.. at least not from a desktop level. In the end the need for gaming is my real enemy.

    93. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And bleeding hearts...

    94. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Ravaldy · · Score: 1

      microsoft might commit corporate suicide

      I doubt that.

      Most people buying Kaby Lake processor based products will have it come with Windows 10. Windows 8 and 8.1 are practically dead already and being replaced with Windows 10. Windows 7 is in constant decline and also being replaced with Windows 10.
      Facts are here: http://gs.statcounter.com/#des...

      Corporation will roll out Windows 10 with the new computer hardware, this has happened from 95 to 98 to XP to 7 and now to 10.

    95. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      If that assumption is right then I don't understand why such a misleading submission was posted without correction on Slashdot.

      You're expecting good editorial control and well-written titles and summaries here? You must be new.

    96. Re:Goodbye Windows. by ndnet · · Score: 1

      This! Mind you, it's a bit worse than that - ie, Intel won't make a signed driver package that will allow Kaby Lake to work on Windows 7/8/8.1, because Microsoft will not make new drivers.

      But let's play devil's advocate for a second - is this just Microsoft pushing Windows 10 for the sake of Windows 10? Or... is this because the driver model has changed since Win7/8 and supporting both is a higher cost for driver makers (who, by definition, would have to spend more or split quality/features to support all of these platforms)? Is it because Microsoft doesn't want to sign a driver unless it goes through the whole WHQL certification process (to ensure it's a clean build, it's stable, it's malware-free, etc.), and Microsoft can't financially justify/support keeping up the WHQL pipeline given Win7/8's current levels of popularity and general downward trend (since they no long sell or support Win7/8, Win 10 doesn't necessarily have to grow, but Win 7/8's installed base will drop due to natural attrition)?

      But there's nothing here stopping manufacturers from making Linux or Mac drivers, nothing here preventing third-party, open-source drivers (albeit requiring users to allow unsigned drivers and the inherent security risks), and nothing here about Microsoft artificially pushing Win10 for the sole sake of pushing Win10.

    97. Re:Goodbye Windows. by ndnet · · Score: 1

      Whoops, made a mistake there: "Microsoft will not make new drivers" should be "Microsoft will not sign new driver packages".

    98. Re:Goodbye Windows. by kaatochacha · · Score: 1

      By "find my printers", I certainly hope you don't mean that silly auto-scan for printers that it always tries to foist on you.

    99. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Fuck Linux.

      I mean, Linux is pretty hot, but... I can't find any holes!

      See if there's still a serial port...

    100. Re:Goodbye Windows. by lsatenstein · · Score: 1

      Linux developers will have it cracked and running any distro within a few days, AMD & Intel is not going to shoot themselves in the foot, microsoft might commit corporate suicide

      The likelihood is that there are unannounced Windows 10 specific instruction(s) in the chip. It may also be a UEFI implementation that is required to prevent microcode update.

      I am sure the Governments of the world also had a hand in the "new hidden features" of these chips. Wanna bet there is a way to install a system backdoor using a "undocumented instruction"?

      --
      Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
    101. Re: Goodbye Windows. by DaMattster · · Score: 1

      I've run OpenBSD and MacOS X for several years now. I've shit canned windows and it feels great.

    102. Re:Goodbye Windows. by madcat_sun · · Score: 1

      Yeah! at first glance it sounds like that, but when reading you see it will be only about windows os, I don't see the part speaking aboout other os. Otherwise, it will be too goofy to ban os's from run in the chips. I mean why are you goona drop your sales...0_-

    103. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because slashdot sucks rotten moose cocks now.

    104. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      Actually, it is about Intel and AMD only producing drivers for the latest version of Windows, and not the older version.

      But yes, it is not about excluding Linux or BSD, but excluding Win 7 and Win 8.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    105. Re:Goodbye Windows. by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Modern Intel-type processors are a mishmash of instruction sets. The more of the outdated crap we can ditch, the better off we are.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    106. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hello ARM?

    107. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try a Loongson.

    108. Re:Goodbye Windows. by poofmeisterp · · Score: 1

      To give you some perspective. I use Win7 as my home/gaming OS and Linux as my work/dev OS. I went to Win10, tried it for a month, grew to hate it. Went back to Win7 to wait for Win10 to improve in a few more years. But if MS doesn't want to give me the option to avoid Win10 then I'll just start finding a way to work Linux into being my full time OS.

      Amen to that.. and I'm on board with the idea.
      The problem is that AMD/Intel/MS don't really give a crap about the Linux threat because people keep threatening to move to it but don't. They still have a Windows installation for SOME reason. The only reason I have some is familiarity with the Win boxes, and I like to use the same OS at home as I do in my career (to stay on the same proverbial page as the employer).
      Unless we become a communist state, I don't see any real reason for forcing people to slide toward a certain processor architecture and operating system by making it hard or impossible not to........but if we DO become a communist state (or even an unofficial communist gov't with a society that just listens to whatever is thrown at them through the television but still thinks they live in a democratic republic), I can see a big advantage to the gov't having control over everyone's computer. HOWEVER, they'll try (as usual) to find all of the bad people but as time as told, they'll find people that feel bad, sound bad, or use evil words but miss the actual evil because they're smart enough to not use such an obvious path of easy eavesdropping by gov't.
      If someone is really addicted to smartphones and certain operating systems on their computers AND commit terrorist or anti-government/threatening acts, they deserve to be caught. That, however, doesn't justify the use of devices in that manner under the Constitution et al.

    109. Re:Goodbye Windows. by poofmeisterp · · Score: 1

      This user is not driven by irrational hate against Microsoft and Windows since he would like to continue to use an older version of Windows.

      Irrational? Really? I don't recall ever meeting anyone that didn't hate Windows that wasn't a Windows developer. People didn't flee from Windows Phone because it was bad. They fled because it was associated with Microsoft and Windows. After decades of shit from Microsoft, the brand is so tarnished that people relish the ability to escape it.

      I like your words, but could you please cite some evidence / proof that it's the case? I'm not arguing. Just looking for the info. If it is the case, people are looking at a LOT of things from the wrong angle, not just CPU/OS vendors.

    110. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Found the M$ shill boys. I guess he has never heard of embrace extend extinguish.

    111. Re:Goodbye Windows. by coastwalker · · Score: 1

      Correct, I think the moderator who scored this flamebait is wrong. I do not know if all you wailing Microsoft haters are all clueless accountants or marketing people but the big news these days is that Moore's law is dead - or will be in two more spins in about 2020 or 2022. There is only one direction for increased performance going forward - new architectures and new software tricks. It would be a good guess to say that Windows will become so tightly coupled to some next generation processor chips that it will not run at all on older generation chips. So stop your wailing and start finding out what Intel is cooking up because Linux is going to fall behind if it is not taking the same advantages as windows will be.

      --
      Facts are history now plebs have politics for religion on social media.
    112. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      Of course (newer) Linux will work.

      Older Linux will work as well.

      They're just not supporting older Windowses. I can't believe the people here are actually confused about this.

      You are confused about it. Microsoft would be intentionally making Windows not work on these processors. You say "not supporting older Windows" when the correct statement is "certain versions of Windows refusing to run on these processors". If the report is accurate, it is slimy beyond belief on the part of Microsoft and quite possibly on the wrong side of antitrust law. Not that I care what happens to Windows user herds, mind you. They know what to do if they ever get tired of eating the crap that Microsoft is fond of serving them.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    113. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It still is...

      It's not easy getting an Alpha to boot from a SSD, but with enough patience, it can be done. It's also not easy getting said Alpha to support USB 3.0, SAS, a Radeon HD card (with HDMI output), etc....but it can be done.

      God willing, I will have Half-Life up and running on this machine sometime later this year.

      Do you have a log of all of this? It sounds like a very interesting project.

    114. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The push to force Windows 10 has now reached absurd proportions. Windows 7 is going to be my last version of Windows, and that means I won't be buying new Intel or AMD processors if they are going this route. Windows 10 is not particularly popular in its current form, so I am not at all sure why other companies would want to jump on that shit wagon.

      It's not that AMD or Intel care what OS you run on their CPUs, the problem lies in Microsoft not signing the drivers for Windows Vista, 7, 8. No signed driver means no way to boot Win7 OS on said CPUs, that being the case, why bother wasting dev time writing drivers that will never be signed?

    115. Re:Goodbye Windows. by jtgd · · Score: 1

      If they shut down Linux, they shut down the World Wide Web. Why would they want to do that?

      --
      J
    116. Re: Goodbye Windows. by LinuxLuver · · Score: 1

      Yeah. This is why anyone is dumb to lock themselves into Microsoft's 'ecosystem'.

      --
      Only boring people are ever bored.
    117. Re: Goodbye Windows. by LinuxLuver · · Score: 1

      Will they run Linux?

      --
      Only boring people are ever bored.
    118. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      It means your system administrator didn't setup the GPO group policy right on the OU in active directory for delegated printer access.

      That's their fault and not Windows 7

    119. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      http://www.geek.com/microsoft/...">Really?

      The old 1990s paranoia here is getting quite old. I used to come to slashdot because of truth and intelligent conversation. Now it seems more like going to a conservative Church instead with ideology

    120. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      Google KVM and Linus tech tips 1 PC 2 gamers?

      A type 1 Hypervisor natively talks to the hardware unlike a crappy type 2 like virtual box.

    121. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      Google KVM? It's a type 1 hypervisor which talks directly to hardware at native speeds at bare metal.

    122. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      So is your Android phone and Google Chrome which if I bet many I say you use and do not complain.

      MS is not spying on your documents. Just Cortana search and statistics. I am not saying I agree but the hyperbola on slashdot with Windows 10 hate is epic. I feel this site has turned into a place where young geeks wanted the latest and greatest and try new technologies to one 15 years later filled with old men afraid of change.

        The pro XP comments here shocked me and turned the tide! How can an IT professional and geek LOVE 14 year old technology and fear something new ... On slashdot of all places?!

    123. Re:Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep, this definitely announces MS's acknowledgement that we are dead to them but our children, (and so on...), will be born into a W10+ era and know nothing else. This is why they forced it down our throats asap. Future populations.

      (and as the original said 'HELLO LINUX' :D )

    124. Re: Goodbye Windows. by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      So is your Android phone and Google Chrome which if I bet many I say you use and do not complain.

      My android phone is running SOKP and Chrome is not everything I do on the device and I can run another browser.

      MS is not spying on your documents.

      Just every keystroke, any screen image any time they like, etc etc

      How can an IT professional and geek LOVE 14 year old technology and fear something new ... On slashdot of all places?!

      You are a disingenuous douchebag, and everyone can see it.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    125. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But will there be Linux drivers?

    126. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah sorry, no. I have a Windows 10 laptop at home and everyone rushes to the Ubuntu box. The damn Windows 10 POS has been factory reset twice in the last 2 months. Its slow, it's temperamental, and it nearly end up in the pool beacuase every time you switch it on it updates and take 2 hrs boot. Oh and the last factory update took 9 hours to complete. 9 fucking
        hours, we only left it running because other people experienced the same issue and said "wait, it will eventually install".

    127. Re:Goodbye Windows. by tepples · · Score: 1

      Have you used an Android phone lately, as perhaps the most recognisable example of [Linux on ARM] actually being done?

      No. I've bought a couple Android tablets, but my phone is still an old flip phone because I haven't yet been bothered to buy an unlocked Android phone at retail price and separately buy and activate a SIM online in order not to have to pay for cellular data.

      One problem with Android as the public face of Linux is that Android pre-Nougat can't show more than one application at once. A 7-8" tablet is as big as two phone screens side by side, and 10" tablet as big as three, but prior to Nougat, Android's window management experience was 'all maximized all the time; enjoy your 10" four-function calculator'. One of my tablets won't even get Marshmallow, let alone Nougat, and the other (Galaxy Tab A) upgraded from Lollipop just a few weeks ago.

    128. Re:Goodbye Windows. by hucker75 · · Score: 0

      Windows 10 works fine for me. I've never objected to any Windows upgrade. What's your problem?

    129. Re: Goodbye Windows. by DivineKnight · · Score: 1

      Reinstalling Gentoo tonight, and both the SAS and Ultra320 controllers are out as we try to flash them to a later version of their firmware, but here's some (horrible) shots of the hardware:

      https://www.dropbox.com/s/9xvo...
      https://www.dropbox.com/s/7xa4...
      https://www.dropbox.com/s/56zl...
      https://www.dropbox.com/s/ix93...

    130. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Found the M$ shill boys.

      Oh yes of course, pointing out that the only story here is that Microsoft isn't going to support their old versions of software on new hardware must mean I'm getting paid by them. You actually believe the only people who have the capability of basic reading comprehension are Microsoft employees.

      I guess he has never heard of embrace extend extinguish.

      "embrace, extend, extinguish" what exactly? and how?

      Did you know Microsoft has never embraced, extended, extinguished anything? No? Didn't realize that? Didn't realize that proprietary extensions have been abandoned in favor of HTML standards? Didn't realize Java is the most popular language on the TIOBE index? Hrrmm...seems all that time you've emotionally invested in hating Microsoft and anybody capable of rational thought left you with no time to keep up with what was actually happening in the real world.

    131. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not that simple. If a corporation migrated to 8 for example they will continue to use that for new hardware. Same for 7. New hardware does not dictate OS changes.

    132. Re: Goodbye Windows. by Ofloo · · Score: 1

      This should be your next question, hardware makers will "only" support windows, what about Linux, bsd and whatever else is out there, only means just one thing that and only that.

    133. Re: Goodbye Windows. by PDXNerd · · Score: 1

      Did you steal this from the lab or do they know you took it?

    134. Re: Goodbye Windows. by joao.cordeiro · · Score: 1

      Name nokia comes to my mind.

    135. Re: Goodbye Windows. by DivineKnight · · Score: 1

      I bought from some guys out of the back of a white van (eBay). In Rochester, NY as it happens, so I suppose I got one of RIT's old machines...

  2. Linux and ReactOS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Microsoft is shooting themselves in the foot, and it will bleed out.

    1. Re: Linux and ReactOS by JediJorgie · · Score: 1

      ROFL - the tiny contingent that cares enough about full CPU feature support for Win7 to do anything about it will have zero effect aon MS's bottom line.

    2. Re:Linux and ReactOS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not really, you realize how relatively little time Win7 has left of being supported by MS right? About 3 years and 3 months as of now. So any brand new computer built with Kaby Lake/Zen as soon as they're available and setup with Win7 will be running on unsupported software well within the expected lifetime of the machine even if MS did choose to support Win7 on these processors. Under those circumstances it makes sense to simply never support the configuration in the first place.

      Win8.x is actually affected since it has 6+ years left of support, but nobody cares about it anyways.

    3. Re:Linux and ReactOS by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      And all the large companies on software licensing agreements with Microsoft that have full support for Windows 7 for those 3 years will now be forced into running a hybrid environment running multiple OS versions because of an arbitrary decision by Microsoft, or they have to accelerate their plans to move to the latest OS before they have a chance to test the thousands of applications running in their environment, or regardless of what that testing shows. Their final option is to not buy the latest generation of hardware until they absolutely have to, opting to spend more for less from their hardware OEMs.

      And, at the end of the day, this is Microsoft basically saying they don't actually want to support their back versioned OS anymore to the degree they have in the past. This support is what their enterprise customers have always counted on in order to keep their environments stable. Not anymore?

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    4. Re:Linux and ReactOS by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      No, not any more, and enterprise customers better get used to it. What are they going to do, switch to another OS? I didn't think so.

      The enterprises have done this to themselves by locking themselves into the Microsoft ecosystem. There's no escape now, and MS can treat these customers however it pleases.

    5. Re:Linux and ReactOS by poofmeisterp · · Score: 1

      Microsoft is shooting themselves in the foot, and it will bleed out.

      I wish it were that easy.

      Unfortunately, Computer arch/OS is like politics in a way.

      1.) There are many that have an opinion and need/want that conversely disagrees with the most popular two providers of (computers|politics).
      2.) The number of those people is less than the number that listen to whatever they're told, shout "Ohhhh, Shiny", pay attention to only what they see and hear in commercials, and do what their peers do to remain in a (work|personal) relationship with them that isn't soured by thinking deeply and seeing how bad something(s) really is/are.

        A short way to say it is that there are far too many that have an opinion and a feeling of direction in their actions, but don't see it outweighing immediate popular social gain.

  3. linux etc by vux984 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ok.. so... im fine in principle if intel and microsoft aren't interested in porting chipset drivers backwards for old windows versions.

    I presume that this isn't creating windows 10 lock in though; and that linux / bsd / etc will be fully supported?? Or am I mistaken?

    And also, is if things are that different, does it mean only a next-generation kernel version will run on them?

    I'm also curious about virtualization? Can old windows versions run in virtualization on these new chips?

    1. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      > I presume that this isn't creating windows 10 lock in though; and that linux / bsd / etc will be fully supported??

      Sounds like the lock-in is specific to versions of Windows. I think we would have seen folks in the Apple Universe flip their shit by now otherwise.

    2. Re:linux etc by BlueStrat · · Score: 2

      I presume that this isn't creating windows 10 lock in though; and that linux / bsd / etc will be fully supported?? Or am I mistaken?

      I'm wondering if this is where they employ the 'secure boot' where the OS needs an Intel/MS-signed key for the chipset to run it. If that's the case, then Redhat and Ubuntu may be the only non-MS OS'es with the wealth to pay the extortion money demanded by MS/Intel to get a key signed.

      No more Intel chips for me. They and their criminally-colluding accomplices at MS can collectively set themselves on fire take a flying leap into a wood-chipper.

      Strat

      --
      Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
    3. Re:linux etc by macs4all · · Score: 1

      > I presume that this isn't creating windows 10 lock in though; and that linux / bsd / etc will be fully supported??

      Sounds like the lock-in is specific to versions of Windows. I think we would have seen folks in the Apple Universe flip their shit by now otherwise.

      This is the first I've heard of this; but I don't like the sound of it, not one little bit...

    4. Re:linux etc by BlueStrat · · Score: 2

      Sorry for replying to my own post, but in reading further I see AMD is joining the conga-line of criminal-collusion also.

      I guess this means buying used/older hardware from this point on. At least, until Intel/AMD/MS lobby for laws making the sale/transfer of old PC hardware and running of non-MS approved OSes illegal.

      Strat

      --
      Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
    5. Re:linux etc by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      -- Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.

      May I suggest an Honest tag line?
      Liberalism: Ideas so good they require an end to the world's largest prison state that has supported fascism for so many years.

    6. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If that's the case, then Redhat and Ubuntu may be the only non-MS OS'es with the wealth to pay the extortion money demanded by MS/Intel to get a key signed.

      You don't think Apple can afford to put Intel chips in their Mac lineup moving forward?

    7. Re:linux etc by BlueStrat · · Score: 1

      You don't think Apple can afford to put Intel chips in their Mac lineup moving forward?

      Don't know, don't care. I don't run Apple walled-garden software/hardware, never have, and likely never will.

      Strat

      --
      Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
    8. Re:linux etc by aristotle-dude · · Score: 2, Informative

      -- Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.

      May I suggest an Honest tag line? Liberalism: Ideas so good they require an end to the world's largest prison state that has supported fascism for so many years.

      Please read 1984. It is a warning against English Socialism. The party in the story is called IngSoc which is New Speak for English Socialism incase you could not figure that out. Political Correctness is the New Speak of today.

      --
      Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
    9. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Right, because Reagan was such a liberal with his war on drugs? FFS do you even breathe because you sound as though the amount of brain damage you've received has left you with an inability to reason.

    10. Re: linux etc by puterg33k · · Score: 0

      Mod up? I don't even know how to do this it's been so long.

    11. Re:linux etc by mysidia · · Score: 2

      I'm wondering if this is where they employ the 'secure boot' where the OS needs an Intel/MS-signed key for the chipset to run it.

      I'm wondering how long before the Windows activation process during installation will involve Microsoft digitally signing your individual system's specific boot image and bootloader configuration of each computer, so Microsoft has to approve the hardware Windows is running on, before you'll be allowed to even boot the installed OS.

    12. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How I understand it, and I hope I'm wrong, Microsoft and Intel/AMD corporate in the design of the new processors. Microsoft request what they want in the new processor and since processor are not really open, open source programmers will have to hope that Intel/AMD will provide them necessary information or try to reverse engineer and offer only half baked support.

      A very long time ago I once read about Bill Gates intentions: free hardware and expensive (Microsoft) software. So expensive you can no longer buy the software but have to 'rent' the systems. The processors would be locked for 'security' reasons so no other 'malicious' software (including operating systems) could be run without Microsoft's permission. Paladin or something similar was the code name if I remember correctly (not Paladin because that gives me results from the old Frankish elite soldiers). That system was heavily criticized because it would cause vendor lock in, excluding non Microsoft operating systems and even non Microsoft blessed software to run. I think Microsoft is slowly moving to such a platform. They can now do this since they also make their own hardware. It is just a matter of time I'm afraid before Intel/AMD produce Microsoft only desktop/laptop/tablet processors, just like iPad processors only run iOS for example.

    13. Re: linux etc by inode_buddha · · Score: 2

      This is all starting to remind me *so* much, of what the scene was like back in the 1990s...

      --
      C|N>K
    14. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This thing needs to be pulled apart and examined from a slightly higher level.

      First of all, it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY that these chips do not support Windows 7 or 8 outright. Intel and AMD, despite their apparent lobotomy, will only shoot themselves in the foot if they start making x86 architecture backwards-incompatible. Indeed, the fact of the matter is that this is the one thing they bring to market that ensures their dominance. Additionally the processor itself is unlikely to be able to specifically lock on to Windows 7 or 8 and refuse to run because of that.

      Furthermore, Windows 7 or 8 out of the box CANNOT recognize these new chipsets and CANNOT refuse to install because of them. If someone sucks down all the updates Microsoft throws at them, there may well be a Win 7 update that deliberately bricks it somewhere down the line. But if you keep updates off Windows 7 will not commit suicide on behalf of Microsoft, at least not in this manner.

      What is more likely is that things like the chipset drivers are not going to be backported. Does this mean inherent incompatibility? The answer for that is unclear. It is likely, IMO, that it will run, but with degraded performance, e.g. a lot of the onboard goodies may not work. I doubt that it is so obsessed with specific drivers that everything will be disabled. For instance, I imagine USB 2.0 will work but 3.1 might not. It is also possible that there may be attempts by users to backport the drivers, which may or may not be successful. In terms of the need for a next-generation kernel, if the chipsets are so incompatible that they REQUIRE new drivers to operate, and there is no way around that, even by using legacy protocols and drivers, then yes, only a next-generation kernel will run on it. However, that strikes me as unlikely (although it's possible, at least in theory).

      Now, is any of this absolutely for certain? No, not really; the only way to test that out is to actually attempt to install it.

      In terms of virtualization, unless Intel has put in some kind of anti-virtualization sabotage to shoot down Windows 7 (which again would be difficult for the processor to detect), it is unlikely that it will work.

      In terms of Secure Boot, that IS a problem, but it is an entirely separate problem that, in theory, applies to all recent UEFI machines. It may very well cause serious problems for Linux installations. I've heard some references to a signed version of GRUB, but I think that there is a serious danger of Microsoft cooking up ridiculous reasons for refusing to sign binaries for anything they dislike. Additionally I recall hearing on at least one occasion about needing everything in the boot loader's chain to be signed (e.g. drivers). I do not know how they would manage that once the kernel is running, but if that is the case then that is a significant problem, and any machine which Secure Boot cannot be disabled on is as such essentially Microsoft-owned hardware.

      Ultimately what this boils down to is part sabotage and part FUD with Intel and AMD being willing co-conspirators with Microsoft, and essentially participating in collusion. I'm not sure why Intel and AMD are so loyal to Microsoft, though; Microsoft has demonstrated it has no loyalty to x86, and has done so repeatedly over the years (see: Windows Phone, Windows NT for Alpha, etc.).

    15. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It almost seems like the Redhat/Fedora combo, but than Windows 10 Enterprise/ Windows 10 non enterprise.

    16. Re:linux etc by unixisc · · Score: 2

      Uh, Microsoft was pretty loyal to Intel/AMD. Windows NT was never properly supported on Alpha or MIPS. Yeah, the OS ran on them, but Microsoft didn't port many of their applications to those things. Visual C++? They had something for the Alpha, but it was DEC that had to support it. MIPS, nothing happened. Office support? Only Word and Excel, no PowerPoint or Access. The support was so bad that every workstation company that tried to sell such boxes - DeskStation, Carrera, Aspen, NeTpower, Microway, et al had to abandon their plans. Finally, NEC and DEC both canned their NT/RISC products, and with that, Microsoft too pulled the plug on those. Same story w/ Windows RT.

    17. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No no, you missed it. The first 6 years under Obama, everything bad was Bush's fault. Since then, it's been Trump's fault.

    18. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Grow a pair and switch to Linux. Microsoft has chosen this path forward. Don't whine like a bitch.

      No no no, see, you just have to run a program that disables a bunch of services, and blocks a bunch of ports, and keep it updated to let through security updates but not unvetted telemetry updates, and then you just need some registry edits too...

      Windows users will put up with anything. At least some of them are finally waking up and switching off of that shit.

    19. Re:linux etc by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      Not that I think that it's locking the processors to Windows 10+ but if Intel and AMD did do something stupid like that then all Apple would do is move to another processor. They did it before when moving from the PowerPC to Intel and that went fairly smoothly. Apple would probably just start packing their machines with ARM processors, something that's been rumoured for years anyways, and roll out Rosetta v2.0 to do the transition.

      The various Linux and BSD distributions would be basically okay too. They are already available for different platforms. The commercial developers would have to provide binaries for the new processor that would take over to replace x86 and x86-64.

    20. Re:linux etc by somenickname · · Score: 2

      Regardless of support for older versions of Windows, it would be utter insanity to not support Linux (which would also lead to BSD support). Yeah, you might need a newer kernel but, the entire damn internet runs on Linux. Chip vendors aren't going to stunt that upgrade path.

      As for virtualization, it should be fine to run older versions in a VM. A Windows VM doesn't see the bits that might affect compatibility.

    21. Re: linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You just said dumbasses should have their accounts frozen. Just before that you advocate for switching to Linux. Just how stupid are you? If they didn't install Windows updates which are automatic and easy to do, what makes you think they'll install Linux updates which are more difficult and non intuitive? It'll take you a solid hour just to figure out what distro of Linux they are using. You are dumb and should feel dumb for being dumb.

    22. Re: linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Linux updates are difficult and nonintuitive? Do you even use Linux? It is easier than it is in Windows. The package manager does EVERYTHING for you with one click and a single entry of your password.

      Do you even computer? You're on a phone, aren't you?

    23. Re:linux etc by Gavagai80 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Political correctness is the being polite and considerate to others of today. But don't worry, liberals like the ACLU will continue to fight for your right to be offensive. The only thing we don't do is pretend you're not offensive.

      --
      This space intentionally left blank
    24. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple users don't give a shit. Every hardware cycle is arbitrary locked to software.

    25. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's also the origin of DoubleSpeak. Stop me if you've heard of any of these before;

      The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
      The Democratic People's Republic of Korea
      The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
      The Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
      The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
      The Hungarian People's Republic

      Notice a certain pattern there?

    26. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ok.. so... im fine in principle if intel and microsoft aren't interested in porting chipset drivers backwards for old windows versions.

      I presume that this isn't creating windows 10 lock in though; and that linux / bsd / etc will be fully supported?? Or am I mistaken?

      And also, is if things are that different, does it mean only a next-generation kernel version will run on them?

      I'm also curious about virtualization? Can old windows versions run in virtualization on these new chips?

      I think it is good news that they are not backporting drivers. It encourages adopting Linux. That being said, virtualization should work, since the VM is typically using paravirtualized hardware, which is little more than thin wrappers to the host OS.

      Where you might have a problem is if your trying to emulate a chipset that is quite different from the chipset on the motherboard. It can still be done, but it is slower. Worst case, you might have to update the virtualization software a bit to optimize drivers.

      One thing virtualization does these days is allow you to interact with hardware at native speeds, using the Intel extensions on higher end processors. You literally let the VM own the network card, or the video card, etc, etc. This kind of thing might be affected as the guess OS may not be able to take ownership of some motherboard resources such as USB ports, video, and sound.

      Finally, don't forget about QEMU. Worst case you can run actual emulation. Get that to run, and you can go back and run any OS from any time period with any host architecture or hardware. Of course there are only so many supported configurations currently, but more are developed all the time. Sadly true emulation tends to be very slow, such as in the cases of simulated a power pc.

    27. Re:linux etc by Mark+of+the+North · · Score: 1

      Wonder no more. Microsoft's interest is in having Windows on as many computers as possible. If supporting a particular platform will make them enough money, they will support it. Some notable ARM-based platforms are getting Microsoft's attention. Witness the Windows 10 IOT core for the Raspberry Pi.

      I could imagine Microsoft doing DRM on individual systems as you suggest, to ensure licenses are paid for. However, now that operating systems and most commonly-used software tools are commodities, I don't think it is worth the effort.

      Don't get me wrong. I'm no Microsoft fan-boy. It's just hard to believe Microsoft would hasten their demise by going heavy-handed with DRM.

    28. Re:linux etc by exomondo · · Score: 1

      I'm wondering if this is where they employ the 'secure boot' where the OS needs an Intel/MS-signed key for the chipset to run it.

      No, it isn't.

      They and their criminally-colluding accomplices at MS can collectively set themselves on fire take a flying leap into a wood-chipper.

      You seem to be really really confused about this. It's not that difficult to understand: Intel and AMD are releasing new CPUs, changes would require Microsoft to backport support for these CPUs to their older operating systems, they have said they will not do that. That's all. No idea where you're getting this idea that there is collusion, criminal or otherwise, nor who it might be that is colluding or what you think they are doing.

    29. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      PC is stifling of speech that the Left doesn't agree with. They protest under the guise of Free Speech, but you're not allowed to speak your dislike for anything they promote, while they are free to speak their dislike for anything that opposes them. They want "diversity" but not of political ideals that conflict with their own. They want equal rights, but they want some groups to get preferential treatment (more equal than others?).

      Left = Hypocrisy

      So Gavagi80, I hope you show politeness and consideration to Trump supporters and those who support nationalism.

    30. Re: linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ok, walk me through the process then. On Windows it automatically downloads and installs updates so I don't have to do anything. How do I install updates on Linux? You said it's one click and a single entry of the password so where exactly do I click?

    31. Re:linux etc by maorb · · Score: 1

      This entire thing basically happened before with WinXP (and Win2k, and Win98). Intel stopped supporting XP starting with the 7-series chipsets (you could get away with a 6-series chipset and still use Ivy Bridge though). Haswell processors with 8-series chipsets were the first generation that had no driver support.

      The difference this time is entirely based on who caused support to end. With Haswell, Windows XP only had 9 or so months of support left when the first chips made it to market, so it made no sense for Intel to develop drivers; it was easier to just say they wouldn't support Windows XP anymore.

      With Windows 7 on Kaby Lake/Zen, we still have ~3-years of support left once the parts hit market so Intel/AMD would normally make drivers for it. But suddenly MS states that they won't support their older OSes on Intel/AMD's next-gen chips. Since the OS won't be supported when configured with Kaby Lake/Zen regardless of Intel/AMD's actions, and since most businesses won't touch an unsupported hardware/software combination with a ten-foot pole it makes sense for Intel/AMD to not create the drivers in the first place. Also, when I say businesses won't touch it with a ten foot pole, I don't just mean businesses buying computers internally. I also mean that Dell isn't going to sell any laptops with Win7 Pro preinstalled via downgrade rights because it's not supported by MS. Literally the only market then that would be willing to go against MS and use Win7 on unsupported hardware are people who build their own PCs which isn't enough to justify the development time from Intel/AMD.

      For practical purposes, you won't have USB 3.x, GPU/Audio drivers, you won't have drivers for special technologies like IRST or Smart Connect. But the processor itself, being an x86-64 processor will still run the OS binaries just fine, any Instruction sets that were already supported by Win7 (SSE4.2, etc) will function fine, but new sets won't get used by the OS, they'll probably still be usable by third-party programs however.

    32. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ultimately what this boils down to is part sabotage and part FUD with Intel and AMD being willing co-conspirators with Microsoft, and essentially participating in collusion.

      I have seen no evidence that Intel or AMD are complicit in this.

      The problem here is caused by Microsoft, not Intel or AMD. Microsoft are the ones in control of the CPU drivers for Windows. They are the ones that have decided Windows 7 will not support newer CPUs.

      The original post is worded in a factually incorrect and misleading way, suggesting that CPUs run on operating systems when anyone with a modicum of understanding knows it is the other way round. Does BeauHD not know that? Some of the posts here suggest he has successfully confused some posters.

      As others have pointed out, MacOS and Linux are unlikely to be blocked in any way by Intel or AMD.

    33. Re:linux etc by ravenshrike · · Score: 1

      The War on Drugs as a policy started with Johnson, a Democrat. Also the one who started the Great Society bullshit, which arguably was the greatest single cause in the rise of single motherhood among the black population. Nixon gave the policy a catchy name and consolidated the disparate efforts already ongoing in the US federal govt. Reagan inherited a rapidly growing problem, and while he certainly didn't help the situation, did pretty much what every adviser and think tank apart from the hippies and libertarians at the time was telling the federal govt to do.

    34. Re: linux etc by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 1
      You click the bit that says "There are [security] updates available for you. Do you want to install them?

      [Now] or [Later]"

      So you don't have to do it immediately, if it might be inconvenient.

      There are settings which allow you to choose how often and when the checks are done, and whether download and install are connected or not, but the defaults are fine for most people.

      --
      Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
    35. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Palladium

    36. Re:linux etc by BlueStrat · · Score: 1

      The War on Drugs as a policy started with Johnson, a Democrat. Also the one who started the Great Society bullshit, which arguably was the greatest single cause in the rise of single motherhood among the black population. Nixon gave the policy a catchy name and consolidated the disparate efforts already ongoing in the US federal govt. Reagan inherited a rapidly growing problem, and while he certainly didn't help the situation, did pretty much what every adviser and think tank apart from the hippies and libertarians at the time was telling the federal govt to do.

      Approximately correct in the essential facts, some brevity of comments on a forum being necessary. There was a lot going on then just as now, and again as now, there were many disparate groups on the left that ended up contributing towards certain common Progressive goals even if there was no conscious or active coordination.

      It never ceases to amaze how quickly people forget even quite-recent history and/or accept a "revised and edited" version of what actually transpired even when they are aware of the disparity. Then again, the human ability to hold two totally conflicting beliefs simultaneously while totally convinced of the truth of both is what tyrants and despots have always counted on.

      Strat

      --
      Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
    37. Re:linux etc by drsmithy · · Score: 2

      Liberalism ("Progressivism") is precisely what has led to the creation of the US prison state and fomented the spread of fascism in the US. I've personally watched it happening in real-time over the last 5+ decades.

      Fuck that's funny. Even more so if you actually believe it.

      There hasn't been a progressive Government in the USA for the better part of half a century, and 30-40 years for most of the rest of the western world (a handful of European countries aside, and even they've shifted significantly rightwards).

      Right-wing Fascism evolved into right-wing Neoliberalism and it has been running the world since - at the absolute latest - the '80s. So the modern world shouldn't surprise anyone - the political right is the side of royalty, corporations, the church, the military, and other similar hereditary, conformist, strictly hierarchical, stratified, undemocratic organisations.

    38. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You just need to look at what goes into Linux (or FreeBSD, for that matter) to support the new Intel and AMD chips. That will tell you exactly what drivers will break, and how, in Windows 7.

      I will ignore the simple stuff (adding more data to .INF files so that the drivers will match new hardware PCI IDs).

      These drivers always change to support new processors and have no forward compatibility (i.e. there is no garantee they will work with a newer, unsupported processor): PERF (performance monitoring), UNCORE (chip power management), USB XHCI (newer USB revision), PROCESSOR (errata workarounds, some non-auto-detectable details, e.g. whether you can trust the TSC), *GPU* (embedded gpu changes a *lot*, even on Intel), non-ACPI-based freq/power management (only Linux/BSDs, Intel-specific override because they do not trust motherboard vendors to not screw this up).

    39. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >the entire damn internet runs on Linux. Chip vendors aren't going to stunt that upgrade path.

      DAMN STRAIGHT!

    40. Re:linux etc by Gonoff · · Score: 1

      The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics The Democratic People's Republic of Korea The Socialist Republic of Vietnam The Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya The Hungarian People's Republic

      Notice a certain pattern there?

      They all start with "The", like
      The United States of America
      The United Kingdom...

      So we ban "The" in country names and we will all be able to go back to the Golden Ages of the 19th century, where women and all those people with too much suntan, knew their place.

      --
      I'll see your Constitution and raise you a Queen.
    41. Re:linux etc by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      Apple has an advantage of being both the OS publisher and the hardware manufacturer - they know exactly what hardware they are soldering into the computer, and can get the necessary documentation from the silicon designers to write drivers for it.

      The fact that they are fairly bad at writing these drivers is still a bit shocking, considering that they have the biggest market share they ever have, and far more resources than any other tech company except possibly Google.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    42. Re:linux etc by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      For people that want to reply out of some emotional response to what the AC said - don't bother. The AC is absolutely right. Apple has enforced a minimum system version in the firmware ever since the transition to only booting OS X, even if it would be possible to boot earlier versions with updated kernel extensions to make hardware work.

      I spent 8 years supporting OS X in a corporate environment, and every time new hardware came out it was always a race to get our imaging and applications updated before one of the new models was ordered, so we could actually support it without a shload of manual configuration and one-off units in our environment.

      It's a little better now because maintaining an image for standard deployment on OS X is almost unnecessary now with the modern tools that Apple has available for practically no cost, or the ability to enroll your Macs to your existing MDM solution for automatic configuration. Mix in some kind of app delivery / maintenance product like Chef or FileWave, and you're all good. Just maintain a testing environment for when new models come around - which hasn't been for some time now.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    43. Re: linux etc by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      Yeah, because in Linux, the "complicated" path to linux updates is one of:
      sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
      or
      sudo yum update

      There are also nice GUI tools that involve clicking a button. How scary!

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    44. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Additionally I recall hearing on at least one occasion about needing everything in the boot loader's chain to be signed (e.g. drivers). I do not know how they would manage that once the kernel is running, but if that is the case then that is a significant problem, and any machine which Secure Boot cannot be disabled on is as such essentially Microsoft-owned hardware.

      I can attest to that. On a computer with secure boot enabled, I can install and boot CentOS just fine. However, as soon as I throw in an Nvidia graphics card and install the NVIDIA drivers (which requires a module compile against the running kernel), it refuses to load it. It is not until I disable the secure boot before it will work properly. Nouveau driver works fine, because it comes with the distro. Just not NVIDIA. I would assume the same applies to AMD-supplied drivers, or any other drivers that require additional kernel modules (eg. VirtualBox host drivers, which I did find out does not work with secure boot on).

      The reason for secure boot is to ensure no tampering from start up. I would surmise the reason why the kernel refuses to load the modules is to ensure zero tampering with them as well. If the module is not signed, it will not get loaded in a secure boot environment. Disabling secure boot will allow these external modules to load, but with a warning message in dmesg indicating tainted kernel ("module verification failed taints kernel"), in addition to the incompatible license ("License NVIDIA taints kernel").

      So, getting back to your worry: No, I do not believe it would be an issue with drivers on computers with secure boot permanently turned on, as long as all the necessary modules are signed. Reading further, I assume one could even tell the kernel to allow unsigned modules to load (module.sig_enforce=0 perhaps?).

    45. Re:linux etc by D00MSlayer · · Score: 1

      BlueStrat said over the last 5+ Decades, not the last 5+ years.

    46. Re:linux etc by D00MSlayer · · Score: 1

      Actually, the whole thing started with Nixon. http://www.drugpolicy.org/new-...

    47. Re:linux etc by D00MSlayer · · Score: 1

      Would you be so kind as to provide some examples of what progressive ideas that require a police state and/or a surveillance state?

    48. Re:linux etc by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      "Political correctness" tends to be used in two ways. The less common is people, typically on the left, who want people to phrase their speech carefully to avoid offending people. They don't have any enforcement power, and they're not actively trying to discriminate against political viewpoints. The more common by far is as a magic phrase invoked to justify talking like an asshole, and that tends to be right-wing.

      I'm not going to be impolite and inconsiderate to Trump supporters in general. I will call out the worst liars, and I will not hold back on my opinions, but I'll push them with support and respect.

      I also note that you want people to show politeness and consideration to the people you like, and have no objection to being offensive to people whose politics you disagree with. You might want to clean up your act.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    49. Re:linux etc by poofmeisterp · · Score: 1

      > I presume that this isn't creating windows 10 lock in though; and that linux / bsd / etc will be fully supported??

      Sounds like the lock-in is specific to versions of Windows. I think we would have seen folks in the Apple Universe flip their shit by now otherwise.

      I just wouldn't but that tablet/PC then. I'd get another one that isn't in that weird locked brotherhood or whatever you want to call it. :)

    50. Re:linux etc by poofmeisterp · · Score: 1

      Sorry for replying to my own post, but in reading further I see AMD is joining the conga-line of criminal-collusion also.

      I guess this means buying used/older hardware from this point on. At least, until Intel/AMD/MS lobby for laws making the sale/transfer of old PC hardware and running of non-MS approved OSes illegal.

      Strat

      I wouldn't worry about it. MS and the chip makers will destroy themselves from an image standpoint (cuz when the hate becomes viral, even the uneducated and stupid will get behind it financially). They'll still make something that others want. It's just a certain type of computer tied to a certain type of processor (and vice-versa) at worst. Well, second-worst. Worst would be limiting everyone because that's creating multiple monopolies.

    51. Re:linux etc by mysidia · · Score: 1

      However, now that operating systems and most commonly-used software tools are commodities, I don't think it is worth the effort.

      So instead, they could come up with a deal with Intel to 'generate more revenue' for Intel by paying intel a license fee for every copy of Windows.

      In turn, Intel would make all new chips require the proof of License to use the operating system with this CPU at boot-up.

      This would help Intel by giving them revenue for every copy of Windows.

      This would help Microsoft by excluding operating systems from running on new hardware which are not specifically licensed (All 'Free' operating systems such as Android or Linux fall into this category, unless the manufacturer of that OS is willing to meet a minimum required number of units and pay for CPU licensing their operating system; a license specific to the CPU Revision and OS copy, And the license will be permanently married to a specific hardware unit and specific operating system version.).

    52. Re:linux etc by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      Seriously?
      Which political philosophy has concentrated on more police power?
      Not liberalism

    53. Re:linux etc by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      As opposed stifling of all speech that Conservanazis oppose, like non-christian prayers at public meetings?

    54. Re:linux etc by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      False again.
      The ROCKEFELLER laws (Republican Rockefeller) formed the start of the enhanced imprisonment activity in the U.S.
      And before that, the Harry Anslinger REPUBLICAN laws outlawing possession, sale etc for pot as well as other drugs.
      The big buildup of cops on the street?
      Richard "Law and Order" Nixon
      That was foolish

    55. Re:linux etc by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      Seriously, do you think mass incarceration started 7 years ago?
      Did you entirely miss CA being ordered, in 2002, to reduce prison overpopulation?

    56. Re:linux etc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If your comment isn't marked as insightful I don't recognize what the definition of insightful is. LOFLOL and +10

    57. Re:linux etc by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      Yeah, got it.
      And it was the party of Rockefeller (republican) which created the vast prison-industrial complex and mass incarceration.
      So, he got the era right, and the cause wrong.
      As usual.

    58. Re:linux etc by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      False. It began with Rockefeller (republican)

    59. Re:linux etc by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      No, it started with Rockefeller

    60. Re:linux etc by Rexdude · · Score: 1

      Someone needs to look up what fascism means.

      --
      "..One hosts to look them up, one DNS to find them, and in the darkness BIND them."
    61. Re:linux etc by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      Sure.
      Love of military adventures
      Preference for enforced compliance in moral issues
      Extolling of martial values
      Republicans in other words

  4. Collusion is illegal by HBI · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wonder if they are tracking this. I think they need to be reminded of this - all three of them.

    --
    HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
    1. Re:Collusion is illegal by Verdatum · · Score: 1

      This article is saying that older versions of windows won't work with new chips. It doesn't mean that Linux or OSX can't use them.

    2. Re:Collusion is illegal by rahvin112 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's not collusion, they've been doing that for years, this is planned obsolescence. People aren't buying new hardware because they don't need it. Newer processors aren't any faster overall and haven't been for years now. You have to go back almost 5 generations to get a significant difference between mainstream Intel CPU's (single thread performance) that would be enough to justify buying a new processor. The focus on power efficiency has essentially stalled all growth in processor power.

      So they are doing what they can, you want new hardware you need a new OS. They think it's a win win for both of them, though i think it will delay the upgrade cycle even more and will end up hurting them.

    3. Re:Collusion is illegal by Khyber · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There is zero reason for Windows 7 to not work with the processor. Otherwise, you might as well NOT call it x86.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    4. Re:Collusion is illegal by BenJeremy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Collusion against who? Microsoft circa 2014?

      This isn't locking out any competition - Linux and MacOS will still run on the newer processors.

      Honestly, Slashdotters seem to be growing into old men yelling at clouds, lamenting passing of the days when you would wear an onion on your belt and memory was measured in hog's ears.

      I'd say "in before" but I see "this will be the death of Microsoft!" and "Hello Linux" already posted, as they get posted on every Microsoft story since 1998. Keep shaking those impotent, tiny, Trump-like fists.

    5. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not collusion, they've been doing that for years, this is planned obsolescence. People aren't buying new hardware because they don't need it. Newer processors aren't any faster overall and haven't been for years now. You have to go back almost 5 generations to get a significant difference between mainstream Intel CPU's (single thread performance) that would be enough to justify buying a new processor.

      Agreed. I have an Intel Atom Z3537 (Z3735 ?) Bay Trails mini-computer form-factor with a mere 2 GB RAM and 32 GB eMMC that actually runs Microsoft Windows 10 (32-bit) Home Edition. It runs smoothly and with the Apple Mac Pro style case it takes up barely any space on my desk. I am waiting for Ubuntu Linux to include a linux kernel with the sound chip driver instead of manually compiling it myself as I build a bootable USB image.

    6. Re:Collusion is illegal by Truekaiser · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The article is misleading. It is not that the chips won't work with the older os's. It is that only windows 10 compared to previous versions will support their newer features. Stuff like enhanced speed stepping and powering down cores when not in use.

    7. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Windows 7 may not have compatible chipset drivers. That says nothing about the instruction set of the CPU.

    8. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Collusion against who?

      Consumers. They are colluding on an inter-company agreement that will reduce consumer choice and increase cost.

    9. Re:Collusion is illegal by jxander · · Score: 1

      Yup. I'm still on a Sandy Bridge 2700k that I purchased in early 2012. I've upgraded RAM and GPU once since then, and added an SSD. CPU and MoBo haven't changed, and everything still runs smooth.

      I'll probably upgrade to a skylake at some point; get that sexy ddr4 going on. But that won't be for a few more years yet

      --
      This signature is false.
    10. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nothing is truly illegal for a corporation with a 12-figure market cap. It's just a question of whether the profit gained outweighs the cost of the legal judgements. And the answer to that is almost never "no".

    11. Re:Collusion is illegal by crunchygranola · · Score: 1

      Ha! I am still running my 7 year old core i7 920 and have no reason to upgrade. It was fast then, and is fast now (of course I run Linux).

      --
      Second class citizen of the New Gilded Age
    12. Re:Collusion is illegal by BenJeremy · · Score: 2, Informative

      So it's collusion when an auto manufacturer stops selling older model cars? It's collusion when you can't buy the 2010 version of tax software?

      Microsoft isn't interested in selling you Windows 7, and you can't compel them to. Of course, the offered you (and really, they still do) the free upgrade path to Windows 10 from Windows 7 and Windows 8.x. Consumers aren't being injured, except by their own paranoia.

      They don't want older versions installed on new hardware, and they are using their status as a 900lb gorilla to enforce it. As long as they don't prevent Linux, BSD, or other alternative operating systems from running on intel and AMD chips/chipsets, there is no collusion and no injury to consumers. I'm sure it rubs you the wrong way, but then again, if you still won't run Windows 10, it's probably likely anything Microsoft does will rub you the wrong way.

    13. Re:Collusion is illegal by jcdr · · Score: 1

      Probably true from the technical point of view, but not completely certain as the deeper integration into the CPU chip of the features that was before into the north/south bridges or peripheral chips could be implemented in a way to no longer support some legacy compatibility features required to support old OS drivers.

      Well, as long a I can run recent Linux on them, it's probably on good thing in the long term as the original PC architecture is really out of date. But new processors will not just run Windows, OSX or Linux. There is a good chunk of specialized OS (many for realtime embedded systems) that will need to run on them. I doubt that there all have the drivers ready for a such big change.

    14. Re:Collusion is illegal by eaglesrule · · Score: 1

      There's no 'reasonable' attorneys left in the DOJ. You have to have something like a file-sharing website for them to actually take notice.

    15. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Windows 7 may not have compatible chipset drivers. That says nothing about the instruction set of the CPU.

      Since win7 is EOL, Microsoft won't allow OEM win7 license sales anymore, nor will they qualify/sign new win7 chipset drivers.

      Since the chipset drivers won't be qualified, and OEMs can't sell the new machines with loaded with win7 with the normal discounted rate, there is zero incentive for Intel and AMD write chipset drivers for these new chipsets for OS's earlier than win10 (and unsurprisingly they've stated that they won't write such drivers).

      Although technically, win8 is not EOL,

    16. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's collusion when you only have one or two sources of chips and they use that position to do something blatantly for profit at the expense of the consumer. The US government doesn't give a damned about consumers though so I don't expect anything to happen.

    17. Re:Collusion is illegal by mysidia · · Score: 1

      It's not collusion, they've been doing that for years, this is planned obsolescence.

      Planned obsolescence for hardware would be imposing an artificial restrictions to prevent a newer-than-current Windows version from running on hardware that is being sold..... E.g. making a board that can only run Windows 7, Windows 8, and perhaps Windows 10 up to a given version.

      Planned obsolescence as in forcing users to run Windows 10 if they buy new hardware is not likely to help with the hardware sales.

    18. Re:Collusion is illegal by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

      It's not collusion, they've been doing that for years, this is planned obsolescence. People aren't buying new hardware because they don't need it. Newer processors aren't any faster overall and haven't been for years now. You have to go back almost 5 generations to get a significant difference between mainstream Intel CPU's (single thread performance) that would be enough to justify buying a new processor. The focus on power efficiency has essentially stalled all growth in processor power.

      In what way is any part of this relevant? Everyone knows about the diminishing returns. How does this establish a rational justification of Intel's behavior that is not based in collusion?

      So they are doing what they can, you want new hardware you need a new OS.

      Windows 7 has half of the global PC market share. If your in the business to make money and sell product you don't leave some fraction of half of the global market on the table because you are too lazy to port and test some chipset drivers. This isn't a rational position.

      They think it's a win win for both of them though i think it will delay the upgrade cycle even more and will end up hurting them.

      How so? What precisely does Intel have to gain from this? How much are they being paid by Microsoft?

    19. Re:Collusion is illegal by mysidia · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So it's collusion when an auto manufacturer stops selling older model cars?

      No.... It's collusion when the Auto manufacturer makes an agreement with the Auto shops to stop carrying the
      proper replacement parts that fit your older cars.

      Or it's collusion, when diskette manufacturer X comes out with a new diskette size and makes a deal with laptop manufacturers to stop supporting the older diskette size on their laptops, only the new one.

    20. Re:Collusion is illegal by sexconker · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Intel already tried to break the Windows 10 installer with their latest chipsets.

      They forced the USB controller into XHCI mode for no reason, so when you get to the point in the Windows 7 installer where you need to interact with it, you're fucked if you're using USB installation media or a USB keyboard. Using an optical drive and an unattended setup answers file or an optical drive and a PS/2 keyboard works. Guess which things modern Intel platforms tend not to have.

      Of course, the Taiwanese mobo manufacturers all released the workarounds (use a DVD and a PS/2 keyboard, use USB ports 7 and 8 which are powered by the non-Intel controller, etc.) and even published tools to patch the Windows 7 installer to just make it work. Intel and MS responded after much outcry by releasing official versions of those same tools.

      Fuck both Intel and MS. If AMD goes the same way, fuck them too. Windows 10 is the worst thing to happen in computing this decade.

    21. Re:Collusion is illegal by sexconker · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Windows 7 is not EOL. It's in the extended support (security and major bug patches only) stage.
      Further, drivers for Windows 7 and Windows 10 are basically the same. This is nothing like the difference between writing drivers for Windows XP and writing drivers for Windows Vista.

    22. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, it's not collusion in the anti-trust sense, because MS is competing against ***itself***. No doubt zillions of marketing dollars are being paid to make this happen, but since the injured party is Microsoft (oh yeah, and consumers, but who cares about them?) there is, strictly speaking, no violation.

    23. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... As long as they don't prevent Linux, BSD, or other alternative operating systems from running on intel and AMD chips/chipsets, there is no collusion and no injury to consumers. I'm sure it rubs you the wrong way, but then again, if you still won't run Windows 10, it's probably likely anything Microsoft does will rub you the wrong way.

      two words... "secure boot". Fuck Microsoft.

    24. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I do think memory architecture is the most reasonable way to think about PC generations. I'm still running a DDR2 system and limited memory bandwidth only finally started to bite with this year's games releases. If I could upgrade to DDR4 without touching my Core2 I reckon I could get another 8 years out of this processor.

    25. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No.... It's collusion when the Auto manufacturer makes an agreement with the Auto shops to stop carrying the proper replacement parts that fit your older cars.

      This one doesn't quite match up. Allow me to give it a crack:

      The Auto manufacturer made an agreement with the Auto shops so that any new car released won't support the screws used in older models. Meaning if you buy a new car, your old screws (read: Windows 7/8) won't work.

    26. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gonna assume you mean Windows 7 installer in your first sentence.

      In any case, these things happen when trying to use older operating systems on the latest hardware. Technology changes rapidly and the latest hardware often won't work with older operating systems, Windows and Linux included. Saying "Windows 10 is the worst thing to happen in computing this decade" is hyperbole. Most of us just go along with the upgrade because that's the nature of technology. Unless you WANT to be angry at something to give yourself purpose or something.

    27. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Those analogies don't stack up. Laptops don't even have optical disc drives these days, let alone diskettes. Replacement parts for older cars are only available for as long as stock lasts. Yes, sometimes popular cars receive aftermarket support. I guess that's the equivalent to installing Linux.

      What is happening here is a continuation of the status quo, they've just made it explicit. Nobody ever wrote new drivers for old operating systems.

    28. Re:Collusion is illegal by guruevi · · Score: 1

      The /. title is implying something different though. Intel and AMD chips only supporting Windows is different than Windows only supporting Intel and AMD chips

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    29. Re:Collusion is illegal by guruevi · · Score: 1

      XHCI is (slightly) older than Windows 7 and was worked on in part by Microsoft, you'd think they at least include support in a 2016 Windows 7 build. It's the OS that has to deliver the drivers, not the hardware stuck on some old interface just because some OS'es are braindead.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    30. Re:Collusion is illegal by Yaztromo · · Score: 1

      It's collusion when the Auto manufacturer makes an agreement with the Auto shops to stop carrying the proper replacement parts that fit your older cars.

      Yeah, but it's not collusion if it's the case that the auto manufacturer was paying the parts manufacturer to build old parts, but then decided to stop paying them once the new model was released, and the parts manufacture then decided to stop making the old parts.

      I suspect in the background that is what has happened here. Microsoft has probably been paying Intel and AMD to write chipset drivers for Windows for the last two decades, and has decided they don't want to pay them to write drivers for old OS's anymore. So AMD and Intel simply aren't going to do it without getting paid.

      Yaz

    31. Re:Collusion is illegal by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

      I suspect in the background that is what has happened here. Microsoft has probably been paying Intel and AMD to write chipset drivers for Windows for the last two decades, and has decided they don't want to pay them to write drivers for old OS's anymore. So AMD and Intel simply aren't going to do it without getting paid.

      Feel free to continue to just make shit up.

    32. Re:Collusion is illegal by exomondo · · Score: 1

      I wonder if they are tracking this. I think they need to be reminded of this - all three of them.

      Tracking what? What are you even talking about? What "collusion"? Microsoft isn't backporting updates to support these new processors therefore Windows versions before Windows 10 will not work with them. How is this "collusion"? And who exactly are you suggesting is colluding and with who?

    33. Re:Collusion is illegal by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Yes I meant Windows 7.

      These things don't just happen. Intel actively breaks compatibility in their new chipsets by disabling EHCI mode and forcing XHCI mode despite the backwards compatibility USB 3 is supposed to have. This was a deliberate move.

    34. Re:Collusion is illegal by sexconker · · Score: 2

      http://www.intel.com/content/w...

      Intel forces their new chipset to run in XHCI mode despite USB 3's backwards compatibility. XHCI is not supported in the Windows 7 installers, not the Gold/RTM, not the SP1 release, and not the later "media refresh" release.

    35. Re:Collusion is illegal by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Sure, so just use a third party utility to do the same.

    36. Re:Collusion is illegal by Cederic · · Score: 1

      I have one of those in my laptop of similar vintage and it's still on Windows 7.

      I use it for ripping DVDs these days.

    37. Re:Collusion is illegal by bored_engineer · · Score: 1

      Ha! I'm still running a 9 year old Q9400 as my desktop, and a 14 year old AMD CPU is taking care of media. Neither of them are fast, but I also prefer Linux. (Windows is there for a few games, Rosetta Stone and to back up my phone.)

      I must admit, though, that I'm thinking of upgrading. I'm a bit disappointed, though, by the news as I was thinking of a nice, shiny Zen processor in January and I'd prefer to stick with Window 7 for now. I find it easiest to keep my Windows version in sync with what's prevalent at work. Ah well; maybe I'll just dump Windows and figure out something for the little bit I use it for.

    38. Re:Collusion is illegal by bazorg · · Score: 1

      Truekaiser for president!

      In my book, "unsupported" means: "if it doesn't work, don't make warranty claims. Here's our list of supported products, save everyone's time and take your pick from there".

      Now, if people want to experiment, hack, mix & match, MS won't send their armed goons to your home address to take your PCs, trample on your flowers and leave you with a 486DX4 running Windows ME (I hope).

    39. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 1
      Replacement parts for older cars are only available for as long as stock lasts

      In Europe, replacement parts have to be available for 7 years. Otherwise you don't get to sell the car here at all. (Probably why some models are not sold here).

      Most of us are shocked that the same rule does not automatically apply to all electronics. The objective is to reduce land fill.

      --
      Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
    40. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Windows 7 is not EOL. It's in the extended support (telemetry, security and major bug patches only) stage.

      FTFY

    41. Re:Collusion is illegal by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      And this was precisely the reason why I have switched to Windows 10. Windows 7 lacks support of some more modern hardware and when installing it a shitload of patches had to be installed afterwards. It was mitigated somewhat by Microsoft releasing that kinda-sorta SP2, but by then it was too late.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    42. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, slipstream drivers like with sata controllers for winxp? Can you disable xHCI in BIOS or are you just bitching about other people's problems?

      Oh Intel how could you release updated hardware and not force Microsoft not to release an updated version of an obsolete installer?!

    43. Re:Collusion is illegal by jez9999 · · Score: 1

      And this was precisely the reason why I have switched to Windows 10. Windows 7 lacks support of some more modern hardware and when installing it a shitload of patches had to be installed afterwards.

      So you're rewarding Microsoft et al for their shitty behaviour. Well done, take a bow. Hope you like getting fucked up the ass.

    44. Re:Collusion is illegal by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      I am not rewarding anyone - the operating system license was bought with the hardware. I merely have chosen the most practical option. And no, Linux isn't. I develop for Linux at work, but I definitely don't want to use it at home.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    45. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can see how the american techfirms want to create a monopoly position on mainstream computertechnology. They shall get sued and fined once again.

    46. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is against the consumer who in the end is left with no choice at all. So we choose to keep our wallets closed. Bye Bye miss american pie.

    47. Re:Collusion is illegal by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      It's collusion for Microsoft to announce they aren't writing drivers for new hardware on end-of-sale operating systems now?

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    48. Re:Collusion is illegal by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      No, Microsoft doesn't allow Windows 7 licensing anymore.

      Yes, Microsoft has software licensing agreements with corporations that allow back-versioning of the OS from the OEM sticker that came with the hardware. E.g. a company can have an agreement with Microsoft to allow 'n-1' versioning - if it has a Windows 10 sticker on it, the company can install Windows 8 under the agreement and be licensed.

      This statement of not developing or certifying hardware drivers for operating systems that are still supported is a way to back door these companies out of negotiated clauses in their agreements, when the company may have perfectly legit reasons for not wanting to be on the bleeding edge. This is just more of Microsoft using whatever they have in the toolbox to accelerate the abandonment of Windows 7, because they don't want another XP scenario.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    49. Re:Collusion is illegal by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      Why does everyone continue to trot this out? It's completely false, and has been since the first uEFI systems shipped.

      Please show me a motherboard or non-tablet OEM system that doesn't allow you to turn off Secure Boot. They don't exist outside of Windows RT devices that basically don't exist anymore. Microsoft even publishes documentation on how to turn it off. You can even turn it off on Microsoft's own Surface Pro hardware. Surely if Secure Boot was about locking out other operating systems, they would have done it on their own god damn hardware?

      Stop spreading FUD.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    50. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Still relevant.

      Fuck MS and fuck Intel!

    51. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Even worse, many users don't even care about the parallel processing features on their desktop PC (AVX, AVX2, pthreads, TBB) on the CPU, CUDA, OpenCL on the GPU). All they want is a box with a keyboard that can access the Internet and run email and a web-browsers that can play video.

      About the only reason to upgrade a PC/laptop just now is to use VR headsets.

    52. Re:Collusion is illegal by kheldan · · Score: 1

      That's how I read it. It would still have to have lowest-common-denominator drivers, if for no other reason than to provide basic functionality during the install process, and if you just leave those you'll still have a functioning computer.

      Of course, I still hold out hope that this is all temporary. Either Microsoft will, eventually, be called on the carpet for their anti-trust activities and their de-facto monopoly, or some other company will start marketing their own OS, capitalizing on how much Microsoft is pissing so many people off.

      --
      Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
    53. Re:Collusion is illegal by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Why would MS get "called on the carpet"? They have all the politicians in their pocket, all government computer systems run on their OS. Personally I think it'd be funny if the EU tried to levy a huge fine against them and in return MS remotely shut down all their computers.

    54. Re:Collusion is illegal by kheldan · · Score: 1

      Even as cynical as I can get, I still believe that there are some clear-headed, honest people in positions of authority in this country, that actually listen to their constituents, and that believe in fair play. Microsoft is arranging to have a monopoly on commerical computer operating systems. They're even showing signs of trying to annex Linux, or at least subvert it. I'm sure their long-term strategy also includes somehow annexing or destroying Apples' OS as well, with their ultimate goal being becoming the ONLY OS on the market. This, of course, must be stopped, especially considering the FACT that Windows 10 is just one gigantic spyware and data collection platform that furthermore takes ultimate control of the computer away from the person who paid for it, which is just plain wrong. In the interests of maintaining a free and open marketplace and not allowing competition to be stifled, someone will step up and say 'no'. Or at least I hope so. If not then we'll soon be living in a post-computer world, where you're just a gigantic sucker if you own one at all.

      --
      Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
    55. Re:Collusion is illegal by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

      It's not collusion, they've been doing that for years, this is planned obsolescence. People aren't buying new hardware because they don't need it. Newer processors aren't any faster overall and haven't been for years now. You have to go back almost 5 generations to get a significant difference between mainstream Intel CPU's (single thread performance) that would be enough to justify buying a new processor. The focus on power efficiency has essentially stalled all growth in processor power.

      So they are doing what they can, you want new hardware you need a new OS. They think it's a win win for both of them, though i think it will delay the upgrade cycle even more and will end up hurting them.

      I have a W7 OS on my Mac running in bootcamp. Not too bad at all. It runs the one piece of Software I need Windows for. Uptime has been 100 percent so far.

      The W10 Box, which I used for the same purpose has been borked a number of times, with issues running form sound card drivers, removing fonts that had no reason to be removed, changing all my security settings, and most recently, killing my ethernet driver and updating something else so it won't even use a USB to ethernt adapter. You leave it working, the next day it doesn't work. So I bye byed that W10 Box, and stopped supporting W10 as well. Life is good.

      Point is, downgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is like trading in your cherry Z3 for that TransCamaro on blocks at that redneck down the road's trailer. Nope, nope, nope.

      The whole Microsoft ecosysterm is devolving.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    56. Re:Collusion is illegal by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Windows 7 is not EOL. It's in the extended support (security and major bug patches only) stage.

      Which has a lot to do with W7's better reliability at this point.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    57. Re:Collusion is illegal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dry your eyes

    58. Re:Collusion is illegal by mysidia · · Score: 1

      won't support the screws used in older models.

      Doesn't stack up. Auto manufacturers build entire vehicles including all the screws, not just the engine and powertrain.

      The computer industry analog to an Auto manufacturer would be Dell, and the analog to an Engine manufacturer would be Intel.

      Now the manufacturer of the paint and trim that gets applied to the body of the vehicles is trying to have a deal with the Engine manufacturer saying that the old colors of paint and trim pieces will not work on vehicles that have the newer engine models.

  5. Linux anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    "Windows 10 will be the only Microsoft OS to support new Intel and AMD chips"

    Little to see here, moving on.

  6. In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It will be illegal to run any other version than Windows 10.

    1. Re:In time by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This is unexpectedly insightful. This is the way the corporations want it to be: only "approved" devices connected to the Internet will be legal.

    2. Re:In time by BlueStrat · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It will be illegal to run any other version than Windows 10.

      In time it will be illegal to possess a general-purpose computer.

      Strat

      --
      Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
    3. Re:In time by Dunbal · · Score: 2

      By then it won't be called Windows 10 anymore. It will be Windows Legal.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    4. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... macroshaft will pay the congress critters to pass another "cyber security bill" they wrote would that requires certification in such a manner that non-Windows can never pass.

    5. Re: In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not every citizen out there needs a high capacity 30 megabyte hard drive with the ability to store dozens of pictures of child abuse.

    6. Re:In time by BringsApples · · Score: 4, Insightful

      ...and a wired connection of any type.

      --
      Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
    7. Re:In time by eaglesrule · · Score: 2

      Only a hacker, terrorist or pedophile would need to have a general-purpose computer that could be turned off or muted.

    8. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Soon we will have always run Windows 10.

    9. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Cory Doctorow:
      Lockdown
      The coming war on general-purpose computing

      http://boingboing.net/2012/01/10/lockdown.html

      An Oldie but still-relevant Goodie.

      Irony: AC CAPTCHA "bitches"

    10. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey, don't forget politicians. They'll need this too!

    11. Re:In time by cfalcon · · Score: 1

      > In time it will be illegal to possess a general-purpose computer.

      I'm so glad you are modded +5 Insightful. This is also my fear, and I agree it is likely.

    12. Re:In time by Cederic · · Score: 1

      The internet, where 2012 is 'Oldie'.

      Anyway, trying to kill off general-purpose computing will merely accelerate innovation and creativity. After all..

      Geometry was invented that we might expeditiously avoid, by drawing Lines, the Tediousness of Computation

      -- Isaac Newton

    13. Re:In time by rastos1 · · Score: 1

      In time it will be illegal to possess a general-purpose computer.

      Your comment shares 2 and half words with the title of the speech by Cory Doctorow :"The Coming Civil War over General-purpose Computing" - from 5 years ago.

    14. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Necessity is the mother of invention.

      Don't give up on humans.

    15. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Open Windows" - fully transparent and permeable, because you don't have anything to hide.

    16. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait until Liber8 travel in time. That will fix it. :)

    17. Re:In time by Larsen+E+Whipsnade · · Score: 1

      When computers are outlawed, only outlaws will own computers.

    18. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Correct. I saw this when I signed up for Cable Internet lately. Heavily pushing the wireless combo Cable Mode, it, acting as the router also, with 1 or no physical Eth ports.

      Told them no thanks, I have a router. "Oh cool!" was the actual Front Desk rep's reply. Are you fucking kidding me? They really don't want people using physical connections. Hmm... wonder why! Potential to blame it on your wireless, when you have issues? I think so!

    19. Re:In time by kheldan · · Score: 1

      In time it will be illegal to possess a general-purpose computer.

      In time, at the rate and direction things are going, it won't even make any sense to bother with a personal computer, or the Internet for that matter. Goodbye computers, hello public library. Thankfully I'll probably be dead long before it gets so bad that you're forced by law to own a computer, forced by law to use Windows, and forced by law to use the Internet and register with Facebook (or whatever bullshit 'social media' site the dystopian future government will insist everyone use, or be declared 'subversive' or 'an undesirable' or 'a potential terrorist').

      --
      Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
    20. Re:In time by _Sharp'r_ · · Score: 1

      It will be illegal to run any other version than Windows 10.

      Only after Microsoft donates to the Clinton Foundation... (couldn't resist).

      --
      The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
    21. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We can see your username is Strat, it's in the username field of your post, so why did you copy it into the body too? Are you a narcissist or just oblivious?

      Strat

    22. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Like Hillary Clinton's email server?

    23. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dumbass, Hillary's server was a Mac Pro. Most likely NOT running Windows. Bumbshit Trumper.

    24. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We can see your username is Strat, it's in the username field of your post, so why did you copy it into the body too? Are you a narcissist or just oblivious?

      Probably just to annoy shitheads with nothing better or meaningful to do than make off-topic piss-ant posts, like yourself.

      Guess its working!

      HAND

      Strat

    25. Re:In time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, she liked the shiny, of course. That's why she had to wipe it, like with a cloth, right?

  7. What does this say for Intel Macs? by ArtemaOne · · Score: 2

    I know they never update their hardware anymore, but will they adjust OSX to the processors as well, or what? This is interesting and, while promising for efficiency, bothersome in several ways.

    1. Re:What does this say for Intel Macs? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple are apparently going to update a whole lot of things very soon. They have a big announcement next week. Mostly iPhone 7 but new Macs are expected as well.
      The issue is the availability of the CPU's. Intel has messed up deliveries of new chips for the past few years. viz, they were late is they appeared at all.

      Wait and see.
      Besides this article only applies to that poor impostor of an Operating System namely, Window 10. It is more spyware than OS IMHO.

    2. Re:What does this say for Intel Macs? by Carewolf · · Score: 1

      I know they never update their hardware anymore, but will they adjust OSX to the processors as well, or what? This is interesting and, while promising for efficiency, bothersome in several ways.

      No need. Kaby Lake is identical to Skylake in everything except a few process improvements and the advertised id.

    3. Re:What does this say for Intel Macs? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unlikely Apple will have a problem.

      Consider that even today, Apple's net capitalization exceeds Intel and Microsoft combined. On top of this, Wintel unit sales have dropped off a cliff - basically the consumer market went into a black hole as mobile has taken over for "computing/networking devices" of choice with primarily only business IT saving the Microsoft/Intel bacon. Mac sales have continued to increase during this time, at a slow but steady pace and revenue-wise are only coming closer.

      At them moment, pissing off Apple would largely be suicidal for either Microsoft or Intel. Thus it's likely that Apple was at the head of the line of Intel's and AMD's R&D product feature interview process.

      Linux has more risk because it's a diffuse, unorganized, emergent thing. But there's also enough corporate demand for Linux to create a firestorm if things don't go well.

      Finally Apple's trump card: switching laptops to 64-bit ARM. The performance gap has been steadily shrinking over recent years. It's not quite ideal but if Apple pulled out, Intel's ONLY growth customer and current mobile kingpin (with Samsung) would evaporate. Intel's foundry hopes would be dashed given Apple is >95% of mobile profits (which in terms of sustainability means Samsung doesn't really have a profitable long-term role).

  8. Hello Wine by eric31415927 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wine is often sufficient.

    1. Re:Hello Wine by Berkyjay · · Score: 1

      Good point.

    2. Re: Hello Wine by ozduo · · Score: 1

      Nah! Find an open source equiv app

      --
      I got to the chocolate box before you, that's why the hard ones have teeth marks.
    3. Re:Hello Wine by cfalcon · · Score: 5, Funny

      > Wine is often sufficient.

      No, it stands for Wine Is Nearly Enough

    4. Re: Hello Wine by cfalcon · · Score: 3, Insightful

      > Find an open source equiv app

      Some times there isn't one. Games are the biggest deal for this.

    5. Re:Hello Wine by chromaexcursion · · Score: 1

      Been there, done that.
      You are SO right.

    6. Re: Hello Wine by Short+Circuit · · Score: 2

      I've done native code on Windows in industrial safety and automation. You'd think that's an oxymoron, but it can be made sufficiently robust.

      I've dealt with bugs in Microsoft's SDKs, and dealt with multiple generations of drawing APIs. Played WoW and other games on WINE on Gentoo. Watched the incessant scrolling of FIXMEs on the console.

      I'd love it if I could get paid to hack on WINE...

    7. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Applications are tools. Games are consumable media products. True, they are both software but other than that they have nothing in common.

    8. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'd say Solidworks, cad, and cam are bigger.

    9. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      logic, protools, photoshop, unity (the game editor), BIM tools, visualization, etc

    10. Re:Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good buy computers, hello literal Wine.

    11. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are many areas: audio, film editing and even science.

      Renoise is rather well working DAW for Linux (www.renoise.com).

    12. Re: Hello Wine by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      It's a big issue in areas like electronics and development. Many manufacturers supply software that only works on Windows and not under WINE. For example, Visual Studio doesn't work well in WINE and by extension Atmel Studio doesn't, and even if you somehow make it run there is no chance of getting it to talk to their USB debugging hardware. There are lots of SPICE tools, configuration generation tools like TI RF Studio and so forth that just won't work properly.

      It's a real shame because I'd switch if I could run that stuff. At the moment it's easier to just run Windows 8, but it's looking like eventually I may be simply forced off and end up with a Win 8 install in a VM on Linux host.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    13. Re: Hello Wine by mSparks43 · · Score: 1

      IMHO
      As we've seen with the PIC vs Arduino war.
      Its the manufacturers that don't support linux that will lose out.

      The problem with supporting userspace and not dev space is your userspace ends up empty.

    14. Re: Hello Wine by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      It's a tricky one to get right. For trivial apps writing cross-platform code that works well is no problem, but IDEs tend to suck when they are not native enough. And when an app is trivial enough to be good on all platforms, the temptation is to crap out an Excel sheet with some VBA (that doesn't work in LibreOffice) instead.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    15. Re: Hello Wine by mSparks43 · · Score: 1

      I was talking more about the upstream providers vs the fight for developer time. while there are lots of users on windows - the vast proportion of developers are on either linux or mac as their primary machine.

      Linux has dominated server space for a long time. It is now also dominating the machines used by developers.

      Windows only = windows only developers = very limited number of developers willing to develop for your platform.

        So "Manufacturers that only supply software that works on Windows and not under WINE"
      Are manufacturers that reduce their developer pool to such a small number of developers they will face pretty much guaranteed failure in the not to distant future.

    16. Re:Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hello VirtualBox - when Wine just isn't enough.

    17. Re: Hello Wine by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 1

      I have almost 300 Linux-compatible games in my Steam library, out of a total of 600 or so. Admittedly, Linux compatibility does factor into whether I decide to buy a game, but it's still a significant number of games available now, compared to just a couple of years ago.

      --
      Eat the rich.
    18. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you need that on your personal computer? Everytime the subject comes up, people talk about how photoshop/visual studio/whatever professional tool that doesn't work on linux/through wine.

      Who cares? Sure, at work, you'll need windows, but how many people need such professional windows only tools on their personal computer?

      And even for those who do, a dual boot is more than enough, unless they use them so much that they would be rebooting so often that it'd be worse than spending all their time on windows.

    19. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Find an open source equiv app

      Some times there isn't one. Games are the biggest deal for this.

      We don't need games in business. You want to play games, get a PlayStation.

    20. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Renoise is amazing

    21. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gaming is the only area where PC and hardware sales are actually growing. Otherwise, PC sales have been on the decline for the past decade. Be thankful that people are choosing to play games on a computer instead of a console.

    22. Re: Hello Wine by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      They both include software, but a major component of any modern game is not software code, but rather "digital assets", meaning videos, graphics, etc. A modern game probably needs more digital artists than coders. Applications don't have this at all.

    23. Re:Hello Wine by xSauronx · · Score: 1

      Wine Is Nearly Enough

      --
      By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth. -- George Carlin
    24. Re: Hello Wine by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      Who cares?

      Anyone developing a new bit of hardware as a side project or hobby. PIC and Arduino are hobbyist prototyping tools and I'd dare say that most of the userbase for both will be using their personal computer. These are rarely (relative to how often they're used by hobbyists) seen in the workplace.

      And even for those who do, a dual boot is more than enough

      Not for m.... wait, I'll let you finish... sorry.

      unless they use them so much that they would be rebooting so often that it'd be worse than spending all their time on windows

      Like an electronics hobbyist who might unwind every night (or even periodically throughout the day) working on their hardware project?

      That's basically the entirety of the target market for these things. Yes it matters, and yes they care.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    25. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What utter nonsense.

    26. Re: Hello Wine by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      If I'm developing for Windows (I'm assuming C++ here, which is probably the best for multiplatform), I'm going to have a Windows machine. Count on it. I'm probably going to want to run Visual Studio, since that's a decent software development environment that's designed to support Windows. I'm not going to develop on Linux, compiling with g++ or clang, and then try moving to VC++ when the stuff's developed. If I'm developing multi-platform, I might well develop on Linux first, but I'm going to be constantly recompiling with VC++, since Microsoft is notoriously slow to implement standard C++.

      If I"m aiming for the largest possible audience, I develop for Windows, particularly if this is some form of personal software, and as I explained above I am going to be running Windows.

      I don't see any evidence that most developers have left Windows. It may be partly true for web apps (MacBooks seem very popular among those developers), but it's not going to be true for application developers for a long time.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    27. Re: Hello Wine by mSparks43 · · Score: 1

      ->I don't see any evidence that most developers have left Windows

      Wow... Have been been asleep since the launch of windows phone?

      Mind you, I guess Cobol developers didn't notice the decline of their platform either.

    28. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And now everything on Windows will suck. Tough luck.

    29. Re: Hello Wine by tepples · · Score: 1

      Then where's the evidence that developers of applications for desktop PCs (not phones) have abandoned Windows (desktop, not phone)?

    30. Re: Hello Wine by tepples · · Score: 1

      That doesn't help if all the online multiplayer games that your friends are playing at the moment happen to be Windows-exclusive.

    31. Re: Hello Wine by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      They've abandoned Windows Phone. They may well have abandoned the stupid Metro/Modern/whatever apps Microsoft wistfully hoped would be a good idea. They're still writing and maintaining good old-fashioned Windows applications. There's money to be made there.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    32. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Both being software is the only thing that matters, when it comes to compatibility. Executable native code is the issue here.

    33. Re: Hello Wine by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 1

      Yeah, of course a lot of the very latest and greatest games are Windows-only. On the other hand, games like CS:GO and TF2 are on Linux and play great, so some of the big ones are represented.

      I guess it depends on whether you see yourself as a Gamer or a gamer.

      --
      Eat the rich.
    34. Re: Hello Wine by mSparks43 · · Score: 1

      Well, if you want to have this conversation in the form of asking questions...

      The top ten software titles of 2016 were first released on an OS which is:
      a)A Windows derivative
      b)A Unix derivative

      Alternatively:
      How many of the top ten software titles of 2016 were "windows only"

    35. Re: Hello Wine by tepples · · Score: 1

      I was referring to the market for desktop software, not mobile software, video game console software, or server software.

    36. Re: Hello Wine by tepples · · Score: 1

      Availability of CS:GO or TF2 for Linux doesn't help if my friends refuse to play CS:GO or TF2 with me.

    37. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Autodesk products...

    38. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Indeed, gaming is still the primary force driving the development of new graphics and cpu power.

    39. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I see what you did here, you put an S at the end of friend, thus Implying that he has more than one.

    40. Re: Hello Wine by mSparks43 · · Score: 1

      why would anyone restrict their definition of developer to Visual Basic for Applications specialists?

      and restrict "software title" to "stuff made by Visual Basic for Applications specialists"?

      They were never real software developers in the first place.

    41. Re: Hello Wine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Games are the biggest deal for this.

      I wish you kids would realize that systems are more than playing games with. Quit playing with yourself and do some work.

    42. Re: Hello Wine by tepples · · Score: 1

      I was in no way referring to VBA. An application or device driver written in C++ and released as a Windows binary works only on Windows, unless it is an application that requires no custom drivers nor features unimplemented or poorly implemented in Wine. Are you claiming that a mobile app that requires laboriously keying things into an on-screen keyboard on a display that cannot show two applications side by side as a standard feature is a close substitute for an application that can use the physical keyboard and multi-window window management of a Windows system? Or that a web application whose use on a laptop away from a desk costs $10 to $15 per GB for cellular data is a close substitute for an application executed locally that can wait to sync to the Internet once you return to a desk?

  9. No upgrade for you by wwalker · · Score: 1

    Alrighty then, I guess I'm not upgrading my notebook any time soon then. There was no real reason to do it, and now I have a real reason not to do it. And if it breaks, I'll pick up something used for cheap that can run what *I* want, and not what Microsoft/Intel/AMD wants me to run with artificial limitations. And then they wonder why PC sales are in deep decline...

    1. Re: No upgrade for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I believe windows dre for years is to xbone the pc market so no one can mess with the box. Next move is xbox live the internet with a nice tall walled garden.

  10. It's the other way around by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 1

    Microsoft will support Windows 10 alone in these new processors. I.e., as usual, sticking it to its customers. Why not? After all, they keep coming back for more.

    1. Re:It's the other way around by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You could probably still run Windows 7 on them. They just won't want to deal with you over the phone

    2. Re:It's the other way around by im_thatoneguy · · Score: 1

      Sticking it to their customers? You mean people running out of date software that they don't sell anymore? You stopped being a customer the moment you bought Windows 7. You became a past Customer and a potential future customer.

      By refusing to upgrade to Windows 10 you're effectively saying you don't want to be a customer. You're like someone demanding a restaurant bring you bread and water but refusing to be seated and stating that you don't want to eat in the establishment. What incentive do they have to help you not give them money? Why should they devote dev resources to someone who is boycotting their company?

  11. Another reason why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    windows 10 can go fuck itself.

    1. Re:Another reason why by fizzer06 · · Score: 2

      windows 10 can go fuck itself.

      Vigorously.

    2. Re:Another reason why by Stormwatch · · Score: 1

      With a cactus.

    3. Re:Another reason why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Every Tuesday.

    4. Re:Another reason why by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 1

      Patch^H^H^H^H^H Cactus Tuesday?

    5. Re:Another reason why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      With a chainsaw.

  12. Step 1 EMBRACE by Dunbal · · Score: 1

    deep integration between Windows and the silicon

    Because Microsoft has a hugely successful track record with "deep integration" with ANYTHING. I guess this is the "Extinguish" phase for CPU manufacturers. You made a deal with the devil, now you reap the rewards. Don't say no one ever told you so.

    I guess I'll be hunting for old CPUs and motherboards and buying second-hand in my retirement years.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    1. Re:Step 1 EMBRACE by jxander · · Score: 2

      Not even "old." Just current. CPUs aren't advancing at a breakneck pace or anything. A modern Skylake processor will last the better part of a decade for most purposes, and by then, Intel should have come to their senses, or a competitor will step in.

      Also, this should only affect the consumer line (Core i). I can't imagine them locking Xeon processors into Windows 10, so just get yourself the equivalent Xeon (e.g. Xeon E3-1230v5 vs Core i7 6700). You lose the integrated graphics, but that's easy to work around, and it's usually cheaper anyway.

      --
      This signature is false.
    2. Re:Step 1 EMBRACE by fnj · · Score: 2

      If you don't limit yourself to stupid brain-dead pared-down models of Xeon, you don't sacrifice the integrated graphics. Those that end in 0 are crap. Those that end in 5 or 8 are good. The e3-1225v5 is cheaper than the e3-1230v5 and has graphics. A much, much better deal. There isn't any 1235 (yet), but there is a 1245 and a 1275.

    3. Re: Step 1 EMBRACE by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      It will effect both

      Folks I know many hate MS here but this isn't a conspiracy to lock out via DRM locked boot loaders competitors.

        It is rather CPUs do not do just math anymore. Theo from OpenBSD explained it as in support for Intel graphics, wifi, irst data raid, NvNE, USB type c, etc

      Intel doesn't want to support a million different OSes where the ancient kernel is not designed with things like mobile power management in mind.

      Xeons too have Intel graphics, USB type c, irst and erst raid. No you can't run Win 7 just as you can't run old Android jelly bean 2.2 on a shiny new Samsung Galaxy 7 note.

      Another question to ask is why would you? Windows 7 is so old it doesn't even support USB 3! Look it up? You need a third party app or driver.

      So run a modern OS including Linux and run Win 7 in a VM if your heart desires.

    4. Re:Step 1 EMBRACE by jxander · · Score: 1

      But ... that's the point. I neither want nor need integrated graphics. If I'm running a gaming rig or CAD/rendering machine, I'll need a much much better video card. And if I'm running a server, I can just pick up a cheap card for $20-30

      --
      This signature is false.
    5. Re: Step 1 EMBRACE by Dunbal · · Score: 1

      Intel doesn't want to support a million different OSes

      Intel doesn't have to. It's the OS that's supposed to support the hardware. The fact that people seem to think it's the other way around nowadays is exactly what is wrong with the industry.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    6. Re: Step 1 EMBRACE by jxander · · Score: 1

      As soon as we get more games utilizing Vulkan, or Microsoft puts forth an OS that isn't spyware, I'll happily swap over to a "modern" OS. But for now, I use my computer for games. A VM just doesn't cut it.

      Further, no one is asking Intel to support "a million different OSes." Just the #1 OS by market share (and it's not even close). Can you blame people for balking?

      Oh, and for the record, you can definitely run Windows 7 on Xeons. I currently have it installed with an E5-2660 (long story, old batch of servers, running some tests)

      --
      This signature is false.
    7. Re: Step 1 EMBRACE by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      Oh a good type -1 bare metal hypervisor like KVM and not crappy virtualbox can handle gaming VM's just fine :-)

  13. You keep using that word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    "Support" means different things to different people in different contexts, even within just the narrow field of computers.

  14. Forced Obsolecence by darkwyrm76 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If it weren't for dirty tricks like this, users would treat Windows 7 like XP... M$ would need to pry it from their cold, dead hands.

    1. Re:Forced Obsolecence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Windows 7 will be my last version of Windows. Moving to Linux or MacOS when extended support runs out. Bye Microsoft.

    2. Re:Forced Obsolecence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait until reactos reaches beta quality. Open source alternative FTW.

    3. Re:Forced Obsolecence by knorthern+knight · · Score: 1

      > Wait until reactos reaches beta quality. Open source alternative FTW.

      I tried 0.4.2 on a couple of my machines. Both of them froze at the blue language-selection screen. Not ready for beta yet.

      --

      I'm not repeating myself
      I'm an X window user; I'm an ex-Windows user
    4. Re:Forced Obsolecence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This just means that they'll be cold, dead, and calloused hands.

    5. Re:Forced Obsolecence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If it weren't for dirty tricks like this, users would treat Windows 7 like XP.

      Users are treating Windows 7 like XP despite all of Microsoft's dirty tricks. I know I'm hanging onto it precisely because of those tricks.

      Of course, that also means I guess I won't be buying any of Intel's new stuff either now.

    6. Re:Forced Obsolecence by yoshi_mon · · Score: 1

      If it were not for dirty tricks like forced telemetry, a forced touchscreen UI on a desktop OS, and the removal of tools/applications in Windows (Media Center and the backup that they later did put back in just off the top of my head.) people would move to a new version of a Windows OS without the need to pull the Windows 10 level shenanigans.

      Windows Vista was even poised to be another success for MS but they botched that up so people stuck with XP. The idea that people want to stay with an older OS is only because MS has had such a terrible track record. Release a solid desktop OS for desktops and it will be used. Release garbage and duh, people are going to stick with the older version that is proven.

      --

      Really, I know what I'm doing...Ohhhh, look at the shiny buttons!
  15. Huh, imagine that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well I guess it's good I don't need a notebook for a while. I have to wonder since Windows 10 runs fine on any hardware now. What's going to change and why won't it affect current hardware if its such a change? I call BS on this one from Microsoft trying to find a way to force users to Win 10. Well tank goodness these days many can run a Linux distro on any hardware plenty fine.

  16. Doesn't matter by DogDude · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It doesn't matter. I would imagine 95% of all Windows licenses are sold with hardware, anyway. We are going to keep buying refurb machines with Windows 7 licenses, because that's the OS we need. The hardware really hasn't mattered for workstations for a decade or so, anyway.

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
    1. Re:Doesn't matter by eaglesrule · · Score: 1

      Must be nice to not have to deal with those special users where only the newest and best is good enough for them.

    2. Re:Doesn't matter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've been doing the same thing for a while now. I love how you can reuse those refurb Win7 license keys over and over again with no issues.

  17. CPU & OS Backdoored For Your Pleasure by zenlessyank · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Soon all our machines will be totally infected with spyware sponsored by our own tax dollars.

  18. Bad news for Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Their notebooks are DOOMED.

  19. business clients by scoticus · · Score: 1

    So i guess they don't really care that quite a lot of business clients won't be buying machines with these new chips? I mean, yah, the 'old' stuff will be around through Dell and HP for a while yet, but it seems Intel and AMD(especially) would want that sweet business-grade money to go to their new products.

    1. Re:business clients by Moof123 · · Score: 1

      Yep, only a couple people in my office are even on Win8, virtually every machine is in Win7. Corporate customers move on slowly, and mostly want every machine to be the same until EVERY important application has been well tested on the new OS. Win10 is such a moving target that I am really curious how many IT departments have even gotten an itch to start playing with it.

      The main use of my work machine is to remote into our Unix boxes for "real" work anyway. Our design group really would be better off with redhat or CentOS machines on each desk with a Windows virtual machine or laptop for email, word, excel, and powerpoint (20% of our computer use).

    2. Re:business clients by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My school's IT director announced at the beginning of the year that a Win10 migration would take place and be ready for the next school year. Luckily, I'm the computer science teacher and can still make decisions on OS in my classroom. I wish him the best of luck. lol Heck, the Win7 solution he implemented 3 years ago still isn't running smoothly but it's been better than anything we've had in the past 16 years.

    3. Re:business clients by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Luckily, I'm the computer science teacher and can still make decisions on OS in my classroom.

      You're denying those po' children the True Windows Experience... They'll be BEHIND, I tell you! Oh the humanity of it all.

  20. I'm calling bullshit by Indy1 · · Score: 1

    M$ said the same thing with Skylake on Win7. And Skylake works fine on Win7, you just need to install the Intel INF drivers and the proper usb 3.0 drivers.

    So unless Intel refuses to makes their drivers for Kaby Lake work on Win7 (and I don't think Intel is quite that stupid), this is a non issue.

    Or to be more accurate, its more FUD and outright bullshit from M$.

    --
    Lawyers, MBA's, RIAA? A jedi fears not these things!
    1. Re:I'm calling bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So unless Intel refuses to makes their drivers for Kaby Lake work on Win7 (and I don't think Intel is quite that stupid), this is a non issue.

      Read the summary at the very least. That is exactly what they are talking about.

      an Intel spokesperson said. "No, Intel will not be updating Win 7/8 drivers for 7th Gen Intel Core [Kaby Lake] per Microsoft's support policy change." An AMD representative was equally neutral. "AMD's processor roadmap is fully aligned with Microsoft's software strategy," AMD chief technical officer Mark Papermaster said, via a company spokeswoman.

    2. Re:I'm calling bullshit by Qzukk · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Wow, Microsoft must be paying a fuckton of money to AMD. Windows 7 is still 47% (down only about 5% from Q1 2016 and probably not moving any farther now that free upgrades are over). If my competitor stood up and said "we are walking away from half of the market" my response would be "We are committed to supporting the half of the market our competitor just abandoned."

      Is AMD independently wealthy enough to also ignore half of the market, or is Microsoft making them wealthy enough to do so? Stockholders ought to be asking that question right now, especially given the weak position that AMD is in.

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    3. Re:I'm calling bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      AMD is afraid of this:
      "Windows has detected you're running incompatible hardware %AMD CPU and MOBO%. Windows Installer will now exit. Press any key to continue."
      What that would really mean is HP and Dell would not even offer AMD hardware since a lot of their business is Windows Based Systems.

    4. Re:I'm calling bullshit by ByTor-2112 · · Score: 1

      Microsoft does control hardware certifications. They could refuse to certify any new hardware that "supports" windows 7. Not so directly, but perhaps by requiring things that Windows 7 cannot provide. Would that mean a driver isn't signed?

    5. Re:I'm calling bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      AMD can't afford to endanger their semi-custom contracts for the Xbox chips, which are worth more than potential sales of Zen chips to Windows 7 users*, so they have to go along with Microsoft's nonsense in cases like this. The processors, by the way, should still run fine, but might lack full support for some of the more recent features. I'd expect motherboard vendors to provide a driver of their own if there are any issues, though, given that they've proved willing to handle similar issues before and have more of a stake in that particular market. Possibly even a driver developed with some sneaky assistance from AMD.

      *Most Zen sales will be to OEMs, which would be selling PCs with Windows 10 pre-installed. Servers, of course, generally run Linux, making it a non-issue.

    6. Re:I'm calling bullshit by n3r0.m4dski11z · · Score: 1

      By 2020 microsoft will hopefully have abandoned their rapid release model and the OS will settle down. Or a new LTS release will be released at twice the price or something.

      Anyways my point is 3 years is a long time in OS land. You dont see people seriously saying anyone should use XP anymore for any reason. The only problem will be if they keep pushing out these damn buggy enforced updates every few months. XP took years to get to the stability of windows 2000, but even it eventually settled down and got stable enough for most. I mean I ran 2k till i switched to win7, but xp was pretty stable after a few years (sp2).

      --
      -
    7. Re:I'm calling bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you are confused. Microsoft and AMD aren't competitors. Microsoft neither makes CPUs or Video Card and AMD does not make Operating systems.

    8. Re:I'm calling bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Windows moves from one version to the other at a rate of 1-2% per month. Pretty much always has. That is about the rate people buy new computers.

    9. Re:I'm calling bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, Microsoft must be paying a fuckton of money to AMD. Windows 7 is still 47% (down only about 5% from Q1 2016 and probably not moving any farther now that free upgrades are over). If my competitor stood up and said "we are walking away from half of the market" my response would be "We are committed to supporting the half of the market our competitor just abandoned."

      Is AMD independently wealthy enough to also ignore half of the market, or is Microsoft making them wealthy enough to do so? Stockholders ought to be asking that question right now, especially given the weak position that AMD is in.

      My guess is AMD isn't fighting because they want to stay on MS's good side and they know that this doesn't really matter much since very few people will actually buy a bleeding edge processor and not use the newest OS. It just doesn't happen that much in the real world. The vitriol that's spewed around here about how they're never upgrading to Windows 10 and how they're switching to or have been using Linux for years is just noise that in no way reflects most people. As normal people upgrade hardware they will upgrade Windows and they will absolutely never switch to Linux because it's not usable enough for normal people, not supported enough by the consumer software world and it's not offered, pushed or supported pretty much at all by any major distribution channels. It's sub 10% market share reflects this and the insistence by Linux advocates that it's fine as is ensures that it will NEVER be a successful desktop OS.

      DISCLAIMER: My relaying of the realities of the world in no way condones what MS has been doing lately. They have gone bat shit insane and will need to be sued/regulated back into submission. But they won't go away and Windows won't be replaced as the dominate OS. At least not by Linux. ChromeOS has a shot if they can topple the Office choke hold, piggyback on Android's success and secure the school market to indoctrinate future workers.

    10. Re:I'm calling bullshit by theinfamousgeek · · Score: 1

      I think in the end if chip makers such as Intel, and AMD take a big enough hit when purchases for the new chips plummet; both companies will eventually backpedal to re-implement support for the more popular version of Windows to attempt to remain profitable. In the end if both chip makers take a big enough hit depending on how much they get from kickbacks from Microsoft, they might just bail on the so-called "newest OS and up" thought process. Granted, this truly depends on how accurate this story is when it comes to what both companies actually plan on doing versus assuming what the will do. Either way it will be fun to watch the shit-storm that brews from this.

    11. Re:I'm calling bullshit by Qzukk · · Score: 1

      I think you are confused. Intel and AMD are competitors. Intel's spokeperson says that their hardware will not work with the OS installed on almost half of the computers. AMD's spokesperson says they are not interested in that market either.

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    12. Re:I'm calling bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Free updates are still there, how could you think Microsoft would abandon the idea?

      https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade

  21. Support? by phorm · · Score: 1

    I'm pretty sure older windows will for the most part *work* on those chipsets, just that it might not support all functionality (acceleration, or possibly a lack of drivers for some controllers, soundcards, etc).

  22. When Failure Aspires to Failure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    AMD's processor roadmap is fully aligned with Microsoft's software strategy," AMD chief technical officer Mark Papermaster said, via a company spokeswoman.

    So long AMD!

    1. Re:When Failure Aspires to Failure by Khyber · · Score: 2

      Looks like Papermaster just threw away a lot of potential future paper (excepting possibly legal as this looks like collusion) with that statement.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  23. What does PC industry and Trump have in common? by JoeyRox · · Score: 1

    They're both doing everything in their power to intentionally lose.

  24. Please make new CPUs incompatible with any Windows by ffkom · · Score: 2

    ... since after all, there are much better, free operating systems out there that run well on both old and new CPUs.

  25. Honest Question Please Answer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am a Canadian PC-user, I really want to switch to Linux (I've been trying Linux Mint on VirtualBox and I like it), what would be the appropriate way to do this? Should I order a premade laptop or build it myself? There's always the problem of hardware not working with the OS, and now they're even making the chips only work with certain OSes? How am I supposed to get on Linux? (Should I just go and buy as many old but functioning laptops as I can right now and run linux on them for the next 20 years?)

    1. Re:Honest Question Please Answer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      buy as many old but functioning laptops as I can

      You just need one. Pick a laptop from a year ago or so and check reviews on it for Linux and see if other people have had problems or not. Buy used, upgrade RAM, swap out spinning rust for a solid state drive, and install Linux, and it should last you a good, long while if you don't take it swimming.

    2. Re:Honest Question Please Answer by Leslie43 · · Score: 1, Insightful

      People are misunderstanding this announcement.
      They are not saying no other Os will work at all, just that Intel and AMD themselves will only supply and support Windows drivers for version 10. So you can install Windows 7 (not easy but possible due to some other tricks they did), but USB 3.1 will probably not work unless you can find an older driver that happens to work and graphics will default to a generic Windows display driver, things like that. In other words, it can work, it just won't be supported/optimal. As for Linux, Linux doesn't rely on Intel or AMD to make drivers for anything, the community makes working drivers for almost everything, it may take a bit and not work as well as the Windows counterpart due to proprietary functions, but they work. it's pretty rare that you absolutely cannot gets something to function in Linux, it's just a matter of finding the info necessary, which I admit is not always easy, but easier and less likely if you use corporate laptops.

      For your laptop, you can have Mint split the drive and dual boot (make a backup first!), or better yet, buy an ssd for it and put Mint on that. This leaves you a good drive to fall back on if needed and gives you a nice SSD upgrade. If you decide to forget Windows entirely, stick the old drive in an external bay for backups, if you want to go back, put the drive back in or image it onto the ssd. Honestly, you will never really "get" Linux until you cut the Windows cord because it's too easy to fall back on Windows when you get stuck and by doing so, you may miss out on some fantastic software that not only fixes the problem, but does it better than Windows ever did. I'm not saying it's easy to do, you may feel like a complete noob for a bit, but the end results are worth it.

      Some laptops are better than others, corporate laptops tend to do better, but no matter what, expect a 10-20% loss in battery runtime (be sure to install TLP and P-state). No need to run out and buy a bunch of laptops, there is enough Lenovo, HP and Dell corporate lease models on Ebay to keep us supplied for years to come with more still arriving. The Lenovo X and T series in particular have good Linux support. As mentioned by others, should Intel and AMD deny functionality to other systems entirely it would be shooting themselves in the foot as many corporations use Linux as does the server industry. Besides, we would find a way, the more they lock it down and force us onto fewer and fewer options, the more likely it is that someone will find a way around it. Necessity is the mother of invention.

    3. Re:Honest Question Please Answer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've heard that the new chips won't allow for dual boot anymore.

    4. Re:Honest Question Please Answer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am a Canadian PC-user...

      Nice try. You're no Canadian, buddy- I didn't see a single apology in your post.

  26. Incorrect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ftfy: "Microsoft will only release support drivers for new intel and amd cpus on windows 10". They will have drivers on Linux.

  27. Misleading title is misleading by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Bet they support Linux! Who cares about MS at this point - only masochists who don't care about their data privacy or ownership of their data and equipment.

    CAPTCHA: deeded

  28. What exactly are they disabling? by mi · · Score: 1

    Kaby Lake will not run on anything older than Windows 10

    Just how do you disable older versions of the OS without also disabling older applications?

    Maybe, there is code buried into Windows XP/Vista/7/8, that will prevent them from running on some future CPUs. I can believe that. But for a CPU to reject an older OS on its own? I do not know, how this can happen even in theory — not without disabling a whole lot of other already existing binaries...

    Maybe, it is not the CPUs, but the chipsets using some hackery that confuses older OSes — in which case, open source kernels will have a problem too... If so the computer-manufacturers will, likely, introduce BIOS/firmware knobs to allow customers to maintain compatibility.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:What exactly are they disabling? by dimko · · Score: 1

      I can imagine it will be hacked, and hack will be used on both *n*x and older windoze OS

    2. Re:What exactly are they disabling? by ArchieBunker · · Score: 1

      They are going to do it through UEFI. I bought a new Dell box for work with Win 10 pre installed. I had a hell of a time getting Win 7 installed. I had to disable UEFI and enable "legacy mode" in the BIOS. Even then you get a scary red screen instructing you to enter the code being displayed.

      After that trying to find chipset and other low level drivers took forever. I had to look up the vendor IDs and try and find drivers supplied by other vendors.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    3. Re:What exactly are they disabling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I had to go through the same process on a Lenovo gamer laptop recently purchased. A pain, but for now can be done. The future however, not so bright.

    4. Re:What exactly are they disabling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      . I had a hell of a time

      You must be some kind of non-technical noob if you can't do something as simple as disable a few bios options. Eewww Why are you on slashdot??

      After that trying to find chipset and other low level drivers took forever. I had to look up the vendor IDs and try and find drivers supplied by other vendors.

      Right. dell.com/drivers
      lol. Dude. What?

  29. Ecosystem partners = DRM hawkers by uCallHimDrJ0NES · · Score: 1

    We all know what ecosystem means, and we all know that DRM-lovers love to euphemistically package DRM as "ecosystem". This looks like a DRM experiment. Stepping towards iOS like DRM store exclusivity. Easy to imagine an "allow unsigned apps" checkbox in Windows now. (I haven't used 10. Maybe it's already there.) They'll let users allow unsigned apps for a few years, then use some convenient cyber-disaster to justify disallowing the feature on national/international security grounds, and voila, Windows DRM only version of Windows is locked in.
    --
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    --
    Cloudiot: A person who does not see offsite storage as a way to lose control over access to his or her own data.
  30. ugh by wept · · Score: 1

    using the phrase "the silicon" like this is cringe-inducing.

    1. Re:Ugh by nnull · · Score: 1

      Probably is the most appealing for many, including myself for my business. It's easy to maintain and just works. Doesn't have to be Debian, it could be any derivatives of Debian, from Ubuntu to Mint.

  31. Why they said "maintaining maximum compatibility" by JcMorin · · Score: 1

    Can someone help understand this quote: "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." And the fact it ONLY work with Windows 10... where is the compatibility?

  32. Opportunity lost for AMD by edxwelch · · Score: 1

    There's lot's of people that don't want Windows 10 spyware forced down their throat and with AMD running out of money and desperate to win market share from Intel, that could have been the key selling point for Zen - Windows 7 support.
    That would be a similar game plan as Vulkan versus DirectX 12 - offer them something that the competition doesn't have.

  33. Sounds like Android ... by perpenso · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hello Linux

    Goodbye Windows. Hello Linux

    Why? This affects no existing hardware. Its just that future hardware will not support Windows 7 and 8.

    And frankly this is pretty much what happens under Android too, a chip vendor developing some new chip's drivers only for the current Android version. Will that make Android/Linux fans flock to iOS when they learn their Samsung Galaxy S8 can not run Android 4.4?

    1. Re:Sounds like Android ... by Berkyjay · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Intel chips still support Windows XP. Funny how all of a sudden Windows 7 will be such a pain to support for future architecture.

    2. Re:Sounds like Android ... by Isca · · Score: 1

      Only because Microsoft releases drivers to work with older chipsets and instruction sets. If Intel or AMD want to release drivers for them they are free to write their own. I suspect that they will run in short order (someone will hack something together) but they will be non optimized.

    3. Re:Sounds like Android ... by perpenso · · Score: 1

      Intel chips still support Windows XP.

      There are usually chips on a motherboard that do not come from Intel. Last month I put together a new PC and the motherboard (ASUS) only came with Windows 8 and 10 drivers.

      BTW, I used to buy Intel motherboards, support was superb, but that is no longer an option.

      Funny how all of a sudden Windows 7 will be such a pain to support for future architecture.

      Its not that its a pain, its that there is likely a lack of demand. If I had to test with Windows 7 on the new PC I'd probably create a VM rather than dual boot. Plus I have the six year old PC it replaced that has Windows 7 (and 10, it dual boots, its my low end target system now).

      With respect to slow moving corporate clients, the summary suggests the move by Intel and AMD coincides with declining Windows 7 support from Microsoft. I'd be surprised if there would be much demand from that quarter either.

    4. Re:Sounds like Android ... by Berkyjay · · Score: 1

      Wait, are you saying that there won't be any demand for Windows 7 support from consumers?

    5. Re:Sounds like Android ... by perpenso · · Score: 1

      Wait, are you saying that there won't be any demand for Windows 7 support from consumers?

      I'm saying there will probably be very little demand for Windows 7 support from consumers buying the latest and greatest motherboards in the future and building their own system.

      Most consumers don't build-your-own, they buy a box from a major vendor that has the current version of Windows.

      To be clear, you understand that this move by Intel and AMD does not change Windows 7 support on any existing motherboards, that their decision only applies to future motherboard designs? No existing chip designs are losing support.

    6. Re:Sounds like Android ... by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 1

      Most consumers don't build-your-own, they buy a box from a major vendor that has the current version of Windows.

      That has most likely been the case historically, but if my own experience of friends and family is even remotely representative, Microsoft might actually have upset enough non-geek users to change that situation this time. I imagine that's why MS is about to severely restrict OEMs supplying new PCs with anything older than Windows 10 preinstalled, even though essential support as far back as Windows 7 is still supposed to run for more than three more years.

      --
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    7. Re:Sounds like Android ... by perpenso · · Score: 1

      I'd wager it has more to do with essential support for 7 ending at some date defined by when sales of 7 ended. I.e. giving those last buyers two or three years of essential support.

    8. Re:Sounds like Android ... by Berkyjay · · Score: 1

      Yes, I realize this is for future architecture. So I guess it depends on how long in the future we're talking about.

    9. Re:Sounds like Android ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No they don't, Intel supported XP up until Ivy Bridge on 6-series chipsets (with bios update). Even Ivy Bridge on a 7-series chipsets is technically unsupported, although it probably works just fine. Haswell is officially unsupported with no available drivers (Haswell was released while XP was still in extended support btw).

      Please note, just because it's not supported doesn't mean the OS won't install and run, it is after all still an x86_64 processor, it just means you 1) won't get hardware specific OS updates (like the scheduler update that told Win7 how to properly schedule multiple threads across Bulldozer cores once-upon-a-time), 2) Windows updates won't be tested on your hardware for bugs and compatibility issues, and 3) Intel/AMD drivers won't be available for things like Graphics, Audio, USB 3.x that are part of the chipset/processor package. For the GPU/Audio, just disable it and use discrete, for USB 3.0, set it to USB 2.0 in your BIOS/UEFI and it should at least function with the generic EHCI drivers. No one is physically stopping you from running an unsupported system.

      I do think it sucks that you can't build a new computer and reuse the OS, but keep in mind if you build a new computer now, you're VERY likely to still be using it in 3-years when Win7 is EoL, so you're either gonna chose to run an unsupported OS anyways, or your gonna upgrade to a supported OS. So lack of support for Windows 7 on Kaby Lake isn't changing your choices, its just forcing you to decide 3-years earlier than you wanted to you incorrigible procrastinator.

    10. Re:Sounds like Android ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In three years when Win7 is EOL'd you will still be able to buy motherboards based on today's designs that fully supports Win7. If you want a Win7 box in three years you can still build one. You just can't use the latest and greatest hardware, which won't likely be much faster if the last three years can be used as a guide.

    11. Re:Sounds like Android ... by WaffleMonster · · Score: 2

      I'm saying there will probably be very little demand for Windows 7 support from consumers buying the latest and greatest motherboards in the future and building their own system.

      If there is so little demand and nobody builds their own systems why is there such a huge selection of motherboards, cases, processors and peripherals to chose from? Not just online but local retail? Why do vendors bother printing skulls and overclocking shit and gimmicky doohickeys on their motherboards?

      You can make arguments on a percentage basis yet given numbers involved even a few percentage points easily represent millions of paying customers.

      To be clear, you understand that this move by Intel and AMD does not change Windows 7 support on any existing motherboards, that their decision only applies to future motherboard designs? No existing chip designs are losing support.

      Nobody is confused about this. What Intel is actually doing is refusing to support the most popular and widely used PC operating system in the whole wide world on their new hardware. A frisking brilliant move I'm sure their shareholders are just thrilled about.

    12. Re:Sounds like Android ... by perpenso · · Score: 1

      I'm saying there will probably be very little demand for Windows 7 support from consumers buying the latest and greatest motherboards in the future and building their own system.

      If there is so little demand and nobody builds their own systems why is there such a huge selection of motherboards, cases, processors and peripherals to chose from? Not just online but local retail?

      Re-read. I wrote little demand for Win7 in the future not BYO in the future.

      What Intel is actually doing is refusing to support the most popular and widely used PC operating system in the whole wide world on their new hardware.

      Next months gen 7 hardware that only supports Win10 will be largely indistinguishable from currently available gen 6 hardware that supports Win7. This gen 6 hardware will be available for many years to come. The declining minority that wants Win7 will not lack hardware options.

      Win7's current popularity is largely an artifact of PCs having useful lives two to three times what they used to be. Most are using Win7 merely because its what is on the computer, if their next computer has Win10 they will most likely be perfectly happy. This is no sizeable Win7-forever camp even among the BYO let alone consumers at large.

    13. Re:Sounds like Android ... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      I think we tend to overestimate how much hate there is for Windows 10. When you actually look at new PC sales and new enthusiast builds, they mostly go for Windows 10. Enthusiasts especially want the latest Direct X, which only comes with 10.

      I bet Intel just looked at the stats for OS version selection when downloading drivers from their site, or maybe just added some telemetry to the installer, and noticed that 95% of people with Skylake systems also run Windows 10. The decision to spend time and money developing and testing for 7/8 is then quite hard to justify.

      Sadly, not enough people care about all the privacy invading crap or the rollercoaster update system that randomly bricks you machine.

      --
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    14. Re:Sounds like Android ... by nonsequitor · · Score: 1

      I think my company's IT department would beg to differ, they just finished their Win 7 rollout 2 years ago. Testing every application used by every department for compatibility with all the region specific installs is a big job. While I have my localization settings on my German laptop all set to English (US) and US number format, the initial boot seqeunce is entirely in German because it was installed from a different ISO. I just work in engineering, the logistics programs for a global supply chain, HR utilities etc, all have to be tested too.

      While I am sure, they are probably working on this already, I doubt every compiler, CAD program, debugger, etc... will work out of the box, despite claims to the contrary. Sure the latest version might work, but once a release is validated using a specific toolchain, using a newer version of a tool would require a full retest if the binary is changed due to bug fixes in the tool or for any number of reasons.

      If Microsoft wants to alienate the businesses which are their bread and butter, they could not have picked a better way to do it. I wouldn't consider my company and companies like mine a declining minority. Yes, they can order computers which are Win7 compatible for a while, but forcing the issue isn't going to foster future goodwill.

    15. Re:Sounds like Android ... by zwarte+piet · · Score: 1

      If support for those chips is implemented in the Linux kernel/device drivers then making suitable open source windows drivers would be possible if someone knowledable is crazy enough to do it.

    16. Re:Sounds like Android ... by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

      Re-read. I wrote little demand for Win7 in the future not BYO in the future.

      I just don't see the connection between upgrading hardware and upgrading software.

      If someone who builds their own system elects to upgrade or replace existing hardware this action is separate from shelling out $100 or whatever it is for Windows 10 isn't it? Why do you think one would be linked to the other? It isn't about demand for Windows 7 because they would already have it at that point. Or are your remarks limited to only people who didn't have PCs before building their own for the first time? That wouldn't make much sense.

      Next months gen 7 hardware that only supports Win10 will be largely indistinguishable from currently available gen 6 hardware that supports Win7. This gen 6 hardware will be available for many years to come.

      Doubt people really want to go out and spend their money on old technology.

      The declining minority that wants Win7 will not lack hardware options.

      Win7 has twice the market share of the next popular PC operating system on the planet.

      Win7's current popularity is largely an artifact of PCs having useful lives two to three times what they used to be. Most are using Win7 merely because its what is on the computer, if their next computer has Win10 they will most likely be perfectly happy. This is no sizeable Win7-forever camp even among the BYO let alone consumers at large.

      Microsoft did just run an all out campaign for a whole year in which they did everything they could including resorting to dirty tricks to cow people into upgrading. At the end of it there are twice the number of Windows 7 PCs than Windows 10.

      My remarks are not about "forever" it is about what happens in the near future when people buy new hardware and want to use it with software they already have.

    17. Re:Sounds like Android ... by perpenso · · Score: 1

      I just don't see the connection between upgrading hardware and upgrading software. If someone who builds their own system elects to upgrade or replace existing hardware this action is separate from shelling out $100 or whatever it is for Windows 10 isn't it? Why do you think one would be linked to the other?

      Even in the BYO community it is quite normal to use the recent OS when building a new system. Once you are upgrading motherboard, CPU and RAM you are so close to a new machine one might as well go all the way. Plus leaving a perfectly good motherboard, CPU and RAM sitting around unused is something that seems to go against the personality of many BYO'ers. Upgrading the motherboard only seems more common when a board dies and then the same or comparable motherboard is used that is compatible with the CPU and RAM. I just don't see putting a gen7 motherboard in an old box running Win7 being that common of a scenario.

      It isn't about demand for Windows 7 because they would already have it at that point. Or are your remarks limited to only people who didn't have PCs before building their own for the first time? That wouldn't make much sense.

      Most BYO'ers use an OEM version of Windows and can not move the OS from an old machine to a new machine. As mentioned above the older machine tends to be left running. That way the BYO'er has a working machine while testing out the new build. Secondary machines are useful too, whether its testing on lower end hardware, a headless Linux box in the closet, etc.

      Next months gen 7 hardware that only supports Win10 will be largely indistinguishable from currently available gen 6 hardware that supports Win7. This gen 6 hardware will be available for many years to come.

      Doubt people really want to go out and spend their money on old technology.

      It will be cheaper and performance wise it will be virtually indistinguishable. The performance difference between two successive generations just isn't what it used to be. Gen 5 DDR3 parts are still selling today despite gen 6 DDR4 parts having been out for a while. If a person is not a serious gamer a lowly gen 5 i3 is likely overpowered for what they need.

      Microsoft did just run an all out campaign for a whole year in which they did everything they could including resorting to dirty tricks to cow people into upgrading. At the end of it there are twice the number of Windows 7 PCs than Windows 10.

      It has never been common for people to upgrade a working system's OS. The historical trend has been that a new OS gains in market share as new PCs are sold. Win7 is only hanging around because people are still using older machines, as mentioned above machines have much greater useful lives than they used to. Two to three times the useful life. This is stretching out the lifespan of Win7. As new hardware are purchased Win7 will be replaced, the need for new hardware to support Win7 is minimal. Even more so given the similarity of gen 6 and gen 7 performance wise. Corporation and such that are slow to migrate can just order gen 6 based systems and suffer near zero impact.

  34. They probably just don't want to write by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    windows 7 drivers and/or support Win 7 users. The few die hards you're gonna get in sales would probably be dwarfed by the support calls. And in the meantime it's not like you can't just buy an i7-4690k and call it a day.

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    1. Re:They probably just don't want to write by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      I don't want to write bug fixes for software we sold five years ago, but guess what, the boss makes me do it because we keep getting revenue. Any company that goes around flipping the finger at current customers ends up losing customers.

    2. Re:They probably just don't want to write by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, because Windows 7 has 40+% of desktop OS usage right now compared to Windows 10's paltry 23% is totally indicative of a "few die hards". Face it Intel and AMD, nobody wants Windows 10. The people who have it either got tricked into installing it or else bought a device with it pre-installed and don't know how to do something about that.

      Someone else here said Windows 10 is the worst thing to happen to computing recently. I'll admit, as much as I think that award of worst thing to happen to computing is all the cloud computing hype crap, Windows 10 might just edge that out.

  35. Linux supported by UEFI by perpenso · · Score: 5, Informative

    I expect UEFI lock down will soon prevent Linux from being installed.

    Linux is already supported by UEFI. The major Linux distros have paid the one-time US$99 fee to be able to get their code on the UEFI supported list.

    1. Re:Linux supported by UEFI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Only until Microsoft changes its signing certificate.

      Then they won't work anymore. Just like it didn't work for Windows RT devices.

    2. Re:Linux supported by UEFI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Then the Linux distros resubmit their code to the MS signing system. Again, it was a *one time* $99 fee, it won't cost them anything to resubmit.

      Linux users then download a new ISO.

      The Linux world then continues as before.

    3. Re: Linux supported by UEFI by marmot7 · · Score: 1

      That would be a reckless decision but stranger things have happened.

    4. Re:Linux supported by UEFI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But those distros are the ones I'm moving away from. Them joining the non-security circle jerk is not a solution. Strong separation of operating system from bios is. Don't trust people who ask to be trusted, especially don't trust anyone that wants to paid for you to trust them.

    5. Re:Linux supported by UEFI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, so long as don't compile your own stuff or use an obscure distro you're good to go. This is important, because more and more boards make it impossible to disable secureboot.

    6. Re:Linux supported by UEFI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Paid to Microsoft didn't they? How much praying is needed for them to not alter the deal? Revoking keys is easy.

    7. Re:Linux supported by UEFI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's great... as long as you never have to compile your own.

    8. Re:Linux supported by UEFI by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

      Linux is already supported by UEFI. The major Linux distros have paid the one-time US$99 fee to be able to get their code on the UEFI supported list.

      Which easily qualifies as the very definition of Danegeld.

    9. Re:Linux supported by UEFI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Linux is already supported by UEFI. The major Linux distros have paid the one-time US$99 fee to be able to get their code on the UEFI supported list.

      No. Some major Linux distros have been permitted to run under UEFI. For now.

      Linux in general and into the future is not supported by UEFI at all.

      UEFI is largely a scam. It's so-called advantages are minor and would've been trivial to incrementally add to existing BIOS's.

      UEFI has a huge amount of completely unnecessary manufactured complexity e.g. it's very own file system AKA as reinventing the wheel.

    10. Re:Linux supported by UEFI by david_thornley · · Score: 2

      Microsoft effectively can't refuse access to their signing system. Even if the US doesn't prosecute for anti-competitive practices, the EU certainly will.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  36. "Will Only Support Windows 10" by swell · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The headline is crystal clear. Linux, Mac, Win 7-- fuggedaboudit.

    Or is this another Slashdot clickbait? Ah, they are off the hook because they copied the clickbait at PCWorld. At least PCWorld had the decency to add this statement "But a change in Microsoftâ(TM)s support policy means that it will be only be officially supported by Windows 10." which seems to soften the misleading headline.

    As most here agree, ways will be found to deploy these chips in a useful direction despite the monopolistic desires of Microsoft.

    --
    ...omphaloskepsis often...
    1. Re:"Will Only Support Windows 10" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's why we read news here: kind souls read the the article and determine if it's click-bait; then they tell the rest of us.

    2. Re:"Will Only Support Windows 10" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well a headline can be a clickbait or it can even be misleading. But it no case should it be blatantly wrong (as in this case).

    3. Re:"Will Only Support Windows 10" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My Linksys CIT400 phone I use for Skype isn't supported, yet still works. Let's hope this story means that it won't be officially supported, but perhaps can still work with older drivers.

    4. Re:"Will Only Support Windows 10" by vandamme · · Score: 1

      No, the headline should have read: "Your choices will be Windows 10 or Linux; no Win7." So, good news for Linux.

  37. Test? by Tablizer · · Score: 2

    How do you test the chips then? If it crashes, you don't know if it's the chip or Windows 10 because Windows 10 is (currently) crashy.

    I suppose you could compare with Windows 10 on an older chip, but timing difference could make them out of sync such that screen-grabbing auto-tests may often fail. For example, you launch app A and then app B. App A may open before App B on chip X but the reverse for chip Y. The relative computing time for a given sequence of instructions is likely to be different between generations of chips.

  38. No OSX? by GNious · · Score: 1

    Well, from this, that future Intel and AMD CPUs require Window 10 (odd direction of requirement), I guess we can safely rule out either for future Apple computers...

    1. Re:No OSX? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think its a safe bet Apple is already planning to dump x86 anyway. I think its pretty clear they have been dragging their heals on updating their machines with newer Intel hardware. I really think we are at most a year away from at the very least a full Apple Arm powered macbook lineup.

  39. Wrong Title by FordenFreeman · · Score: 0

    >New Intel and AMD Chips Will Only Support Windows 10

    Microsoft will only support new Intel and AMD chips in Windows 10.

    or

    AMD and Intel will not be writing drivers for previous Microsoft Windows versions.

  40. Bullshit by OrangeTide · · Score: 2

    Lots of motherboard manufacturers still run diagnostics on DOS. I don't think very many of them have moved their diags over to run as UEFI applications.

    I could imagine (and the article implies this) that older versions of Windows won't work on the newer CPUs, as disappointing as that is, I suppose that makes some sense.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    1. Re:Bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yes except in this case "older" == "anything less than windows 10" , even something like windows7 or windows8 which are really new (most companies still use xp) will not run correctly.

    2. Re:Bullshit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm pretty sure you can make a UEFI bootloader that starts DOS.

    3. Re:Bullshit by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      But if the CPU architecture does not support DOS correctly?

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  41. steam is to big to ban and app store only is too by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    steam is to big to ban and app store only is too locked down to work. Also the server market is to big to cut out Linux / VMware. Hyper V only good luck with that.

  42. Nothing new here, new motherboard lacking drivers by perpenso · · Score: 2

    ... you want new hardware you need a new OS ...

    By the time the hardware arrives Windows 10 won't be new, it will merely be the current OS.

    And its not exactly a new thing. I recently built a new PC based on a recently released ASUS motherboard. ASUS only provided chipset drivers for Windows 8 and 10. Not sure if 7 would work. Doubtful Vista and older would work correctly.

  43. Re:Why they said "maintaining maximum compatibilit by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

    It's doublethink. Freedom is Slavery, etc.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  44. Wonderful by buss_error · · Score: 1

    Now the exploits will be based in hardware and almost impossible to defend against.

    Good job.

    --
    Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
  45. I say they're lying, sort of by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When Microsoft sees the correlation that processor sales do not match Windows installs, they will wind up writing the drivers themselves rather than lose market share. Of course if they lock up tight enough monopoly deals with all the vendors, so you have to pay for a Windows license to buy any Dell/HP/Lenovo/Asus computer, they may hold out a bit longer. Not being such a total slave to MS, AMD might cave first, as time allows.

  46. It's A Conspiracy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What do you call a conspiracy between 3 of the biggest computer makers?
    This is B.S.
    Microsoft, Intel, AMD can all go fuck themselves.

  47. Re:Why they said "maintaining maximum compatibilit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It means they won't backport new features into older releases, new features that could accidentally screw up something that used to work. By not changing something, it remains compatible with everything it's currently compatibly with. It will greatly cut down on the amount of support they need to do. Microsoft is trying to copy Apple and mobile in terms of selling and controlling specific setups instead of allowing general computing.

  48. april by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    April fool right? RIGHT?!

  49. How is this not a monopoly play? by RLU486983 · · Score: 1

    This smacks of something illegal but not a lawyer so I can only speculate. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

  50. Orwellian much? by Joska · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Intel and AMD are so committed to a good and trustworthy experience for their customers that they are only accommodating installation of the perpetual beta, that data mining sensation, Windows 10? This constitutes a big bet that nearly all of their customers are completely ignorant or utter fools, with the remainder being an insignificant minority that can safely be ignored.

    After 20 years of Windows, I'm finally in the process of switching to Linux. I can clearly tolerate a somewhat rubbish OS for a long time but when it's essentially a sinister joke and a toy rather than a serious tool, even a procrastinator like me is motivated to make a change. Of course much of the Win 10 evil has been back ported to Win 7 and 8 but could in theory be avoided. After a while though, one tires of the cat and mouse game of choosing which updates to avoid and now how to get around the update rollups. This business with chip support is just the most recent slap in the face from an increasingly cynical and adversarial Microsoft who is apparently the driving force in this present fiasco.

    KDE Neon, for example, is way faster on an old laptop than Windows on a recent Xeon workstation, so this no painful switch. Thus ends the promise of Longhorn, at least for me.

    1. Re:Orwellian much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's the equivalent of walking down a beach, finding someone enjoying their meal and kicking sand into it, and saying to them:

          "You can't eat that now. You're not allowed to eat that anymore."

      They look up slowly, chewing their last, unsanded mouthful in a kind of bewildered disbelief like "whaaaaat...the... absolute..fu".
      Doubly confused, because they actually bought that food from you, not too long ago.

      Upon seeing their mixture of perplexion & rage, you squat down, place your hands firmly on their shoulders in a paternal manner and say:

          "Listen, I'm doing this for you."

          "I have much, much better food to sell you."

  51. Re:Goodbye Windows - or maybe Linux by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 1

    Pretty much silly reasoning given the number of Linux servers around the world. Almost every large corporate is depending on Linux for something.

    What good does that do if hardware and OS manufacturers collude to only support each other's current products, and the hardware manufacturers (remaining after the latest round of shakeouts) stop shipping chips that aren't locked down against anything else?

    Yes, it would be, in our opinions, a stupid move for AMD and Intel. But both are private companies and get to do what they want, within the limits of the law.

    The "invisible hand" doesn't force businesses to do or not do anything. It just pats them on the back (and stuffs money into their wallets) if they do some things, and spanks them on the butt (and pulls money out of their wallets) if they do others. If it spanks them hard enough, they die. But they get to be suicidally stupid.

    Meanwhile, the law is effectively "how the law is currently enforced". If this is something that would be, say, an antitrust violation, it really doesn't matter unless the government functionaries are willing to take them to court.

    --
    Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
  52. kiss of death for Intel and AMD, if so by WindBourne · · Score: 1

    Seriously, if they lock themselves to just MS, they are guaranteeing that they are finished as CPU companies.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  53. Re:steam is to big to ban and app store only is to by uCallHimDrJ0NES · · Score: 1

    It must be nice believing that. I don't think Steam can afford to agree with you. This has nothing to do with the server market.

    --
    Cloudiot: A person who does not see offsite storage as a way to lose control over access to his or her own data.
  54. Re:Hello Wine or... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    When dealing with Some aspects of the m$ ecosystem, wine is completely inadequate; start with a good single malt Scotch and work from there...

  55. Finally we will get high end computers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The lack of good integration between software and hardware is basically why Apple still even exists as a desktop. It's easily the biggest flaw in the PC.. unreliable performance from computer to computer, motherboard to motherboard and so on.

    For chip companies to move forward rapidly software has to be nimble. Evidentally MS is the ONLY one who really saw this coming and build .NET and CRL.

    This means Windows 10 and Universal apps can be ported to any chip.. any new architecture much faster than anything else that resembles an actual entire platform. Android and basic Linux simply are not good enough and thus Linux is ultimately not as portable as Windows anymore.

    It's bad new for Linux because it means the already overworked open source devs will be asked to keep up with the changing pace of hardware as we move into a world of more damaging, for their size and power use, and imaginative computers. The already splintered nature of Linux will do poorly if hardware starts to change.

    Linux may seem portable, but only the core OS is. For a Ubuntu and all it's apps or Mint and all those apps to be ported to something like ARM and then kept up to date is a TON of work.

    The new Universal Windows apps on the other hand will not just work on ARM and X86, they can be ported as is to ANY future hardware inftrastructure. Even if we move to biological chips, .NET and the ENTIRE framework you will become used to.. will be portable.

    Nobody else really has anything like that, BUT the easier solution is to steam your OS and apps and forget all this redundant localized inefficient processing. A browser can be a window to anything, or a tv or a mobile phone. The interface becomes the limit, not the onboard resources, OS or apps (at least not for the most part). For most things that spend 97% of their time waiting for the user, it works great and it ends all the issues in computing. It solves cross platform. It solves high cost of gaming PCs, it solves monopolization.

    Only a few games can't steam and almost any app can.. so MS has the most robust solution and it will transition best and their stock will continue to rise. Intel and MS have clearly teamed up and that been known. Now we see more proof of tight integration of new features and a more rapid acceleration of architecture additions from Intel.

    Anyway.. why would you want to keep using Windows 7 so many years later? You're just being stupid and MS has no reason to cater to stupid people.

    If you'd like to use Linux, you probably already are, so STFU. The reality is the PHYSICAL manufacturing of chips is changing and the WHOLE industry will change with it. RISC chips will hit the same limit on terns of investment to make the core smaller. The focus becomes specialized instructions and to make that work rapidly, in a way that each generation of your retail products see compelling features added, a MUCH tighter integration than we have is needed.

    If you think it's some conspiracy to make you use Windows 10, get a life. It makes perfect sense for Intel to push the platform forward and not worry about fringe consumers trying to hold personal and mobile computing back our of entirely unfounded fears of one BS reason or another. Windows 10 has some interface transition still happening, but it's a great OS.

    Once some of you run Windows 10 on low end hardware you'll begin to see the OS, for the money, can do a lot more for consumers than Linux. Those who think otherwise are disconnected from reality.

    Right now you can buy an RCA tablet for 100-120 dollars at Walmart. It's a full Windows 10 computer and it blows away anything for 100 dollar that Android can do. That's a perfect example of why you totally want MS and Intel to tightly integrate. It's like the open world of MS software and development combined with the polished hardware combinations that Amiga and Apple have benefited from over the years.

    It's going to officially be the best desktop platform ever. Custom hardware f

    1. Re:Finally we will get high end computers by Joska · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Right. It's high school debating tactics and not a reasoned analysis when you simply ignore or gloss over any inconvenient truths and push your conclusion or more precisely, belief or claim, with everything you've got. So tiresome. If anyone can be bothered to refute any of your claims point by point, I'll leave it to them.

    2. Re:Finally we will get high end computers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... the easier solution is to steam your OS ...

      ...and you're calling ME stupid??

      In case that's not a typo: You'll never have to steam Windows 10; it's already a steaming pile of shit.

  56. Nadella's Bonus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So it must be true that Nadella's bonus was tied to the number of Windows 10 installations...

  57. Re:Goodbye Windows - or maybe Linux by ClickOnThis · · Score: 2

    If this is something that would be, say, an antitrust violation, it really doesn't matter unless the government functionaries are willing to take them to court.

    Well, that has happened before.

    --
    If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  58. Ugh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Looks like Linux will be in my future after all. I've been evaluating a few different distros in VMs on my current Win7 system. I've found Debian based versions to be the most appealing to me so far.

  59. Isn't this the cart pushing the horse? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OK - I'm definitely confused. I can understand an OS requiring a CPU, but since when does a CPU require an OS? Unless CPU design has changed radically, so far as I know, CPUs still execute and process instructions on data in memory and registers, and at the core are executing machine code which shouldn't have any requirements for a particular OS unless they specifically code something in. Does the CPU do something like lock up if the OS doesn't provide it with a valid Windows activation key after a certain number of seconds?

  60. This is truly revolutionary by GPS+Pilot · · Score: 4, Funny

    Summary says, "Kaby Lake will not run on anything older than Windows 10".

    In the past, operating systems ran on CPUs, not the other way around. So this is truly revolutionary!

    --
    That that is is that that that that is not is not.
    1. Re:This is truly revolutionary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I believe that would be a huge lie as the CPU is still x86 compatible and as such the older operating systems will still work on them just fine, they just won't support the newer features of the chipset.

      Sorry but fear mongering with a lie isn't revolutionary and has been done since before the invention of computers.

      They would have to go out of their way to do something to intentionally break compatibility with older operating systems if they wanted to go that route which would be the CPU manufactures shooting themselves in the foot majorly if they went that route as it would also run the risk of breaking it for features in the newer operating systems as well.

      You can take the newest x86 processors made to date and still get the old Windows 95 or DOS running on them still with a little work. It just would not support newer features within the chips made after they were no longer supported.

      They will have to dump x86 architecture if they want to break older operating systems from running on it or a the least intentionally remove features present in the older processors they relied on which also breaks compatibility for many things in the process.

    2. Re:This is truly revolutionary by guruevi · · Score: 1

      Microcode has kind of blurred that line. The CPU is responsible for bootstrapping the system to some extent, but then the OS is responsible for bootstrapping parts of the CPU.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    3. Re:This is truly revolutionary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In Soviet Russia, CPU runs YOU.

  61. Linux Mint more closely resembles older MS Windows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think you are mistaken in your thinking. While I'll give you that more people will get MS Windows 10 it's not because of familiarity. It's because that's what they are shipping with and because most people ask the sales guy who knows better than to go tell someone to download Linux Mint. By 'knows better' I mean it contradicts his companies business interests and is liable to be fired or otherwise yelled at for doing so. He would be compromising is own selfish interests in the process (ie rewards, financial or otherwise received for selling product, etc, or simply not to be yelled at for under performing). Yes- I worked retail. I did sales for tech. I can point you to specific propaganda that the majority of 'tech' employees selling computers will read. It becomes clear nobody is going to recommend Linux Mint (if they even know it exists) over Microsoft Windows.

    https://ixnotes.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/microsoft-propaganda-handed-out-to-staples-employees/

  62. New Intel and AMD chips only support LINUX! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Flame-bait article right back at ya. The new chips only support Linux. Oh, and maybe OpenBSD and maybe FreeBSD. NOTHING ELSE! Its not too late though. If you haven't got one of the afore-mentioned operating systems, you can switch. FOR FREE! There. That's a little shot of flame right back at the flame-bait article.

  63. Re:Goodbye Windows - or maybe Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's not a great example, seeing as how Microsoft ultimately won that battle.

  64. I'll believe it when I see it. by HotNeedleOfInquiry · · Score: 1

    Intel, maybe. AMD, being the shifty SOB's they have to be will happily stab both Intel and Microsoft in the back for a 15% market share. I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that any new AMD processor in the next 5 years will run Windows 7 with minor to none tweeks.

    --
    "Eve of Destruction", it's not just for old hippies anymore...
  65. China has derivatives of all three architectures.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    MIPS (Loongson), SPARC (Unknown, but in one of the supercomputers as the IO processors?), and Alpha (Floating Point Processors, maybe with SSE type extensions.)

    I was rather disappointed that China has not put more push into mass producing derivatives of these chips, especially utilizing hypertransport and possibly AMD's sockets to compete with Wintel domination in the market. There was apparently a Loongson laptop build with an 760G or related chipset, but they were expensive and almost impossible to find when releases, on a short production run.

  66. All Windows installs are VM's anyway... by BlueCoder · · Score: 2

    The hardware is mature enough and ram is cheap. With PCI passthrough and modern video cards I can afford a 2% frame loss for games since that is all I use windows for. It also makes reboots cheap and easy while browsing the web on another VM. Furthermore it provides a sandbox for security risky applications like web browsers where it can be setup temp/read only and resets at boot. It makes it easy for me to migrate the windows installations so they are no longer locked down to a single machine. So I can setup games once for it's intended windows version and then forget about it. It also empowers easy incremental backups.

    Only problematic thing is the cracks I still need to use for games I purchased. I'm one of the few holdouts from steam. I'm old school and like boxes and actually installation media when it's available. But with game VM's being sandboxed it's not so bad. When games get released without copy protection I ultimately buy those versions of the CD or the GOG download. Only thing I use steam for is online games since those games will all go EOL and disappear in 10 years anyways; which is why I incidentally try to stay away from most of them.

    1. Re:All Windows installs are VM's anyway... by theinfamousgeek · · Score: 1

      Agreed. Gaming is the only reason I touch Windows anymore.

    2. Re:All Windows installs are VM's anyway... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What VM software do you use?

      I wonder if there is a good up-to-date guide for switching from Windows to Linux, that lists solutions and substitutes to common problems.

  67. An ideal unixstation by unixisc · · Score: 1

    Actually, I wish somebody made a SPARC workstation (the cheaper ones when Sun was around), fired it up w/ something like a FreeBSD/TrueOS and then on top of that, had a layer to run old SunOS software. That would be a good start. Hopefully, FreeBSD would have no trouble running old BSD software on the same CPU platform. Then if needed, another layer could be added that would allow it to run Solaris software as well.

    1. Re:An ideal unixstation by TheReaperD · · Score: 1

      Oracle is the pinnacle of a "pay to play" company. You will not see another affordable SPARC system again unless the sell off the line to another company.

      --
      "Be particularly skeptical when presented with evidence confirming what you already believe." -
  68. OS runs on chips by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The whole thing is backwards. Chips don't run on OS's. ("Kaby Lake will only run on Windows 10 or newer?")

    What it really means is support for new features in new chips will be added in Win10, but not added to Win7/8/8.1, etc.

    1. Re:OS runs on chips by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 2

      We're talking drivers here. Things like power management and hardware accelerated media playback.

      If these things require APIs that only exist in Windows 10, Intel can't code around them.

      So assuming the computer did actually boot in windows 7, graphics might display in compatibility mode and your laptop might only get 3 hours battery life instead of 7.

      On the flip side, 'legacy' drivers for Windows 7 won't take advantage of innovations in Windows 10.

    2. Re:OS runs on chips by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      If these things require APIs that only exist in Windows 10, Intel can't code around them.

      There's no reason for them to, however. A daemon process can easily communicate with the hardware and handle the power management. You won't get CPU hotplug support though, since that didn't make it into Windows until 2008.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  69. Sounds like collusion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Collusion anyone for market control etc? Anticompetitive behavior?

  70. No problem by Trogre · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Just add these to the growing list of hardware that is Linux only.

    It's usually older gear such as PCI cards or scanners that makes the list, so it's nice to have some newer CPUs on our side too.

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
    1. Re:No problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just add these to the growing list of hardware that is Linux only.

      It's usually older gear such as PCI cards or scanners that makes the list, so it's nice to have some newer CPUs on our side too.

      Also known as the list of things that almost no one uses.

  71. Palladium... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Which spun up a shitstorm that died down, then TPM modules were introduced and today both Microsoft and Google, and in parallel Arm manufacturers use the technology to restrict what the 'consumers' (since they may physically own it, but don't digitally own it) can install, modify, and run on their PCs and/or ARM based computers, whether single board computer (SBC), tablet, tv box, or cellular phone. And they just keep lapping it up, while those of us concerned about these ownership and privacy issues are too impotent to get ACTUAL open source, user accessable, securable, and modifiable processors and systems designed, funding, and produced. The failure isn't with the consumers enslaving themselves to this liberty failing technology, but rather to us the tech, security, and privacy nerds/hackers/engineers/programmers/professionals for not retaking control of our own systems by building actual hardware and systems outside the control of thse companies, and by extension the societies, governments, and 'leadership' types who benefit from the slow boiling of the waters of privacy and self control.

    Ponder on what I have said and see what YOU can do to start making a difference. You might not be able to save the masses, but if you save your fellow nerds the opportunities for the future won't cease.

  72. Re:Goodbye Windows - or maybe Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you're fucking retarded if you think this is a realistic possibility

  73. If they only support Windows 10 then.... by mark-t · · Score: 1

    ... what does that mean for OSX? It runs on Intel hardware these days too.

  74. And what flavors of Linux kernels?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OR is Linux now history?

  75. MS baning steam = antitrust by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    MS baning steam = antitrust

  76. Re:Goodbye Windows - or maybe Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That case is exactly what your parent was referring too. It happened before Microsoft went to Washington. The Justice Department won't go near Microsoft now, it's against the best interests of their masters.

  77. The Linux fanboys are out today... by FlyHelicopters · · Score: 1

    So many "M$ is dead, we're all moving to Linux" comments...

    Yea, I heard that 15 years ago when Windows XP came out, then Vista, then 8...

    For all of you who seem to think "everyone is running Linux these days" because your SMALL CIRCLE OF LINUX FRIENDS ARE, I have a news flash for you:

    You aren't the center of the world

    Normal people haven't even HEARD of Linux, much less know what the hell it is... you all live in your little bubble and think your family and friends are "normal people", but they aren't...

    All I have to do is look at the marketshare of Linux on the desktop to know what is happening there... call me when it passes Mac OS X and then I'll be remotely interested, until then it is and remains a server OS.

  78. What about the flip side? by FrozenGeek · · Score: 1

    Will older chips still be able to run the latest version of Windows 10?

    --
    linquendum tondere
  79. This is dumb. What about OS X? by jsepeta · · Score: 2

    Making a new chip incompatible with older operating systems is stupid. And what about alternatives to Windows? Apple relies on Intel for CPUs for their computer line.

    --
    Remember kids, if you're not paying for the service, YOU ARE THE PRODUCT THAT IS BEING SOLD.
    1. Re:This is dumb. What about OS X? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      How well do SSE4 instructions execute in Windows 3.1? How does 64bit memory addressing help a Linux kernel compiled for i386?

      Read through the marketing and realise that this is exactly how every chip released has worked. Microsoft is just trying to convince people they need Windows 10.

    2. Re:This is dumb. What about OS X? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple will add support it as soon as they release a machine with one of these processors inside.

  80. Intel won't let a Win7 install fail on KabyLake by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Microsoft has been warning people for ages that Kaby Lake will not run on anything older than Windows 10

    So installing WinXP/Win7/Win8 on KabyLake will fail?

    Intel will certainly not let that happen -- they would lose sales to their corporate customers who are slow to upgrade their OSes.

    KabyLake's implementation of the x86_64 architecture will absolutely be backwards-compatible to their previous generations (Skylake, SandyBridge, etc.), just like all previous generations have been. Once Intel adds a feature (take MMX for example), it never goes away.

    If those are Microsoft's exact words, then Microsoft is telling a pants-on-fire lie.

    It's certainly possible that some new KabyLake-specific features might not have drivers available for old versions of Windows. But obviously, an older OS like Win7 couldn't possibly use that feature anyway, so the lack of that driver is a non-issue anyway.

    There is no new story here. It's just a repeat of the same old story: Microsoft uses FUD as a marketing tactic.

    1. Re:Intel won't let a Win7 install fail on KabyLake by EndlessNameless · · Score: 1

      If those are Microsoft's exact words, then Microsoft is telling a pants-on-fire lie.

      The CPU scheduler can be optimized for each new architecture to maximize performance and to improve power efficiency. Particularly on mobile devices, it is important to schedule work on the CPUs in a way that lets it keep cores in a low power state as much as possible.

      But other parts of the OS have an affect on CPU load. This includes things like managing peripherals and IO properly. So this effort will branch out to APIs for accessing files and devices.

      This means the OS developers must have a detailed understanding of the CPUs that they will support, and it means there will be significant efforts in the future.

      Microsoft is basically abandoning Windows 7 in order to save money and to make Windows 10 more attractive since it will end up with better performance and battery life on new devices.

      Saving money and making Windows 10 more appealing? That is a huge win for them. Sorry Windows 7 users, but Microsoft is 100% incentivized to leave you behind now.

      I don't see FUD at all. I see a deliberate and well-planned engineering effort. If that effort also pushes users to Windows 10, well, that is just gravy.

      --

      ---
      According to the latest ruleset, this post should be modded as Vorpal Flamebait +5.
    2. Re:Intel won't let a Win7 install fail on KabyLake by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      I don't see FUD at all. I see a deliberate and well-planned engineering effort. If that effort also pushes users to Windows 10, well, that is just gravy.

      So you are saying that teh continual borking of Computers by the festering pus filld sack of tshit that is Window 10 is somehow a well planned engineering.effort? Thou art either a Poe, or the most ironic Microsoft shill ever planted. As well as hilarious and the worst, all wrapped up in one silly package.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  81. MIPS schmips by jackspenn · · Score: 1

    Meaningless Indicator of Processor Speed ... is still useful in pointing out to old IBM customers/operators how irrelevant the MF has become.

    --
    Respect the Constitution
    1. Re:MIPS schmips by armanox · · Score: 1

      MIPS CPUs, not Millions of Instructions per Second. They used to power the high end SGI Workstations.

      --
      I'm starting to think GNU is the problem with "GNU/Linux" these days.
    2. Re: MIPS schmips by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're fucking stupid. Ever book a commercial flight? Ever use a bank account?

    3. Re: MIPS schmips by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They are all moving to linux or SAP now

  82. Re:Goodbye Windows - or maybe Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, it would be, in our opinions, a stupid move for AMD and Intel. But both are private companies and get to do what they want, within the limits of the law.

    They are both publicly traded companies who answer to their share holders.

    They pull a stunt like that and the share holders will drop them like a sack of rotten potato's! Stock prices plummet, C-Level execs are out of a job and with no money they don't get a severance package.

  83. Re:Goodbye Windows - or maybe Linux by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

    That's not a great example, seeing as how Microsoft ultimately won that battle.

    "Won?" Well, that's debatable. After all the appeals, neither side got exactly what it wanted, but I'll grant you that MS ultimately got the better side of the deal: no split into two companies, but it did release details of their API, and showed more glasnost than they had previously.

    The point is that the Department of Justice showed that it had the cojones to go after Microsoft, and that made MS proceed more cautiously thereafter.

    --
    If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  84. That's what most people do by raymorris · · Score: 1

    Most systems sold in the last five years use ARM processors, and Linux, mostly with the Android UI.

    If you choose Linux, you normally don't need the distributor to provide an ARM version of whatever software you want. If it's not already in the repo for your distribution, you just do: ./configure && make && make install

  85. Re:Goodbye Windows - or maybe Linux by exomondo · · Score: 1

    That's not a great example, seeing as how Microsoft ultimately won that battle.

    Yet we have Dell shipping Ubuntu laptops (XPS, Insprion and Precision) that they certainly weren't before.

  86. Misleading much? by wkwilley2 · · Score: 1

    The headline is a little misleading, considering the CPU runs the OS and not the other way around. It should really say,

    "Microsoft creates walled garden for CPU feature support in upcoming SKUs from AMD and Intel."

    --
    Have you ever fallen asleep at the keybhanusdiog?
    1. Re:Misleading much? by Z00L00K · · Score: 2

      Today you can never be sure which way it is.

      I just wait for someone to figure out how to adapt a Windows 10 driver to Windows 7.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
  87. "deep integration between Windows and the silicon" by Snufu · · Score: 3, Funny

    Skin crawling.

  88. Re:Goodbye Windows - or maybe Linux by TimSSG · · Score: 2
    I believe this was before Microsoft realized they needed to pay protection money to the US Congress members; the Justice Department might be told to stand down this time. Tim S.

    That's not a great example, seeing as how Microsoft ultimately won that battle.

    "Won?" Well, that's debatable. After all the appeals, neither side got exactly what it wanted, but I'll grant you that MS ultimately got the better side of the deal: no split into two companies, but it did release details of their API, and showed more glasnost than they had previously.

    The point is that the Department of Justice showed that it had the cojones to go after Microsoft, and that made MS proceed more cautiously thereafter.

  89. lee by antdude · · Score: 1

    Nah, there will be ways to hack them.

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  90. There is literally nothing I need Windows 10 for. by Chas · · Score: 2

    If I really need a Windows environment, I'll spin one up in VMWare. It works just fine there and it's not like I'm gaming on it.

    Fuck Microsoft and their attempt to force upgrades by removing choice from the owner of the computer.
    And damn Intel and AMD for slobbing the Redmond knob and helping them!

    --


    Chas - The one, the only.
    THANK GOD!!!
  91. Article headline from the Onion or just techie cli by marmot7 · · Score: 3, Informative

    It comes off as *only* Windows 10. That's borderline Huffpo click bait as of course x86 Linux users don't have to lose a moment's sleep over this distressing headline. :-)

  92. Re: Goodbye Windows - or maybe Linux by marmot7 · · Score: 1

    The costs would be higher than the benefits to them. It's not even any fun to have MS as any sort of bad guy without Bill Gates. I miss the ultimate villian who could be likened to the Borg without irony and without offending Mr. Gates. Where are we going to find another kick as, perfect villian again?!!

  93. What do Intel or AMD have to do with it? by Kartu · · Score: 1

    Microsoft is not going to support new CPUs in older Windows.
    Why are you blaming Intel/AMD for it?

  94. Re: Article headline from the Onion or just techie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck ms... They are rolling down
      the hill still sucking and breaking anything there get near to.

  95. Re:Hello Wine or... by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think you have it the wrong way round. When dealing with some aspects of the Micros~1 ecosystem, wine is completely inadequate; start with special brew.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  96. I may be stupid by jandersen · · Score: 1

    - but this announcement makes no sense to me.

    ...Kaby Lake will not run on anything older than Windows 10, ...

    Surely the CPU doesn't run on the OS? And a CPU, being a HW device to run a wide range of SW on, will by necessity have an instruction set that will support any OS, if somebody can be bothered to port it.

  97. Re:"deep integration between Windows and the silic by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    It's just marketing wank. In other news Windows 3.1 didn't support SSE4 either.

  98. Assbackwards headline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, that headline was certainly assbackwards. Either intentionally or whoever wrote it was stupid, drunk, malicious or any combination thereof.

    Let's see here:

    New Intel and AMD Chips Will Only Support Windows 10

    You get the impression that it's part of the design of these chips, as developed by Intel and AMD, that they will require Windows 10.

    That's false.

    The truth is that Microsoft will only be supporting these new chips in Windows 10, furthering their efforts to piss all over their existing customer base not yet on Windows 10, instead remaining on Windows 7 and 8.x, thus trying to force them over to Windows 10, screaming if need be.

    In other words, Intel and AMD are not in the wrong here, but Microsoft is.

    The new chips will work perfectly fine in Linux, for example.

    What a shitty headline. Really bad, even for Slashdot.

  99. Deep integration between Windows and the silicon by Bugdanoff · · Score: 1

    This enables us to focus on deep integration between Windows and the silicon

    Only natural, since windows are made of silicon and oxygen

  100. First, know what you're talking about... by JonnyCalcutta · · Score: 2

    Orwell was a committed socialist - it was a warning against totalitarianism and Soviet style communism.

  101. Goodbye Computers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Goodbye Programming, Goodbye USA

  102. Misleading title? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey editors, isn't this a misleading title?

    The implications of having a truly-really-strictly windows only CPU backed by Intel and AMD would have been different.

  103. The title for the post has it backwards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's not that the chips will only support Windows 10, it's that Windows will only support the chips in version 10.

    These chips are supported by Linux and macOS, for instance. Generally speaking, the chipset doesn't support the software, the software supports the chipset.

  104. Nasty, Not Naughty... by ytene · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is an incredibly shrewd move by Microsoft.

    All the millions of copies of pre-W10 Windows still in use are essentially "dead" to Microsoft: they are in fact an overhead, since MS have to continue to host all the patches and update materials for these releases, but can't generate revenue from them once the product is sold and installed. However, from a Microsoft perspective, W10 is the product that keeps on giving. It's incredibly intrusive SpyWareOS(TM) capabilities mean that the moment you have installed it, you become a Microsoft Product again. At any point in time they can send an update to your machine [because you can't turn off auto-update] that reverses any privacy settings you have made. They're not obliged to tell you that they have done it.

    In other Words, this move will prevent people from moving their personally-owned Windows 7/8/8.1 Licenses to newer hardware in the event of a hardware failure, so that, over time, those people will be forced to upgrade to SpyWareOS and become part of the Microsoft Product.

    Microsoft's defence against any potential future investigations by Monopoly/Market Abuse investigators will be: "It is unreasonable to expect us to continue to offer support for legacy software forever Additionally, we have not only made upgrading to Windows 10 incredibly simple, but we have actually made it free for all existing users for a considerable period of time. Lastly, anyone not happy can go buy a Mac..." And certainly, in most of the world, that will be enough.

    What this does is force anyone happy enough to run older Windows versions to upgrade, whether they like it or not. Or migrate. One thing that wasn't completely clear from either this post or the linked articles though: will the new CPU actually prevent say W7 from running at all? Will it's ID string be so alien that older versions of Windows simply won't recognise it and refuse to install? HP tried something like this by putting tiny ICs into their original toner cartridges, such that 3rd party cartridges would not work in their printers. That got overturned in court, though, because it was shown that the IC served no purpose other than to act as a barrier to entry. Could this be shown in a similar light? i.e. Could it be argued that some sneaky microcode work-around serves no purpose other than to enforce the hegemony?

    Anyone fluent in legalese lurking today?

  105. Good-bye AMD and Intel by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seems like I hardly knew ye... I won't touch Win10 for at least 5 years, and maybe never if they follow through with their subscription non-sense...

  106. Re:Hello Wine or... by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 1

    I usually reach for my bottle of 85+ abv absinthe.

    --
    Eat the rich.
  107. Clickbaity Title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That was a very clickbaity title /., which is irritating and amateur. It sounds like the chips won't run any other OS but Win10, and so I click on it in shock that I'm going to have trouble (since I use Linux) and figure the article would adress that, but find out that it only means it won't run OLD Windows OS's.

  108. Kaby Lake runs on Windows? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since when does the CPU run on the Operating System? Windows runs on the CPU not the other way around.

  109. Foot and Gun decision by LordWabbit2 · · Score: 1

    Talking about shooting yourself in the foot. I don't know what utter moron makes these sorts of decisions at M$, but they are really fucking retarded. If M$ keeps annoying users they will switch away from Windows.

    --
    There are three kinds of falsehood: the first is a 'fib,' the second is a downright lie, and the third is statistics.
  110. FTC Asleep at the Swich by BrendaEM · · Score: 1

    I don't know how our FTC could in good faith accept our money.

    --
    https://www.youtube.com/c/BrendaEM
  111. Bad title by pmontra · · Score: 1

    "Older Windows Won't Run on New Intel and AMD Chips"

    Because nobody is going to write drivers for Windows 7 and 8. Any other OS with drivers will work, Linux and OSX among them. Just imagine Intel giving up the whole server market.

  112. So then... ? by EndlessNameless · · Score: 1

    Does this "deep integration" mean sleep/suspend/hibernate will finally work right all the time on Windows machines?

    Because that would be great.

    --

    ---
    According to the latest ruleset, this post should be modded as Vorpal Flamebait +5.
  113. umm... no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Danegeld: "a land tax levied in medieval England, originally to raise funds for protection against Danish invaders."

  114. There are more of us out there than you think... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If some gaming companies started aiming at the 5-20 dollar pricepoint with physical media and some minimalist swag (box, some gimmick to go with the game, hell, even a decoder as a copy protection method) I might consider buying some new games again. Without physical media however, few modern games have looked good enough to warrant playing, nevermind buying, and of those, the only truly inspiring one was NMS, which as it turned out was a huge scam. (Thankfully I couldn't afford it at release and by the time I could it was already dispelled.)

  115. From a sales standpoint... by theinfamousgeek · · Score: 1

    I see older chips that are pre-Kaby, and pre-Zen selling far faster, and in larger quantities than the new chips. The reality is there are still far too many Windows users utilizing Windows 7 over Windows 10.

  116. Re:There is literally nothing I need Windows 10 fo by theinfamousgeek · · Score: 1

    It's like someone commented before... Hello Linux.

  117. Maybe Intel and AMD are facing other competition by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What if there are other chip designers that don't need to build backward compatible chips, and instead can focus on new architectures? I think that this is more a sign of the changing competition landscape than anything else.

  118. Re:There is literally nothing I need Windows 10 fo by theinfamousgeek · · Score: 1

    Same here.

  119. Re:There is literally nothing I need Windows 10 fo by phorm · · Score: 1

    If you want to game on it, you can do that too if you use a KVM install and a video-card with passthrough.

  120. virtualization? by flappinbooger · · Score: 1

    How about putting on a virtualization layer, like XEN, then putting on your preferred windows flavor?

    The problem is, Windows 7 is good until 2020, no-one wants 8.x or Vista, XP is no longer supported. 10 will be the inevitable windows choice in about 3.25 years.

    --
    Flappinbooger isn't my real name
  121. Microsoft has been warning people for ages that Kaby Lake will not run on anything older than Windows 10

    First, operating systems run on hardware, not the other way around.

    Second, TFA has no idea of the implications, only that Intel isn't going to waste energy and resources polishing drivers for a nearly 10-year old OS revision. I'll bet that holds true for 10-year-old MacOS and Linux kernels as well, although they might not target specific hardware in quite so integrated (in the poor design sense) a manner as does Windows 10. Maybe Win7/8 will run fine but not be able to access some of the newer hardware features. Maybe they won't boot. No one speaking publicly knows yet. Summary seems more FUD than fact.

  122. Re:Linux Mint more closely resembles older MS Wind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    at least use a working link:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20090912141212/http://ixnotes.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/microsoft-propaganda-handed-out-to-staples-employees/

  123. Cloud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And the cloud will be forced upon you...

  124. Not true. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So long as it still executes x86, or x64, and has a "legacy mode" in the BIOS then it will run with Xp, Vista, 7.... unless MS purposefully blocks their use via windows update.

  125. Re:Why they said "maintaining maximum compatibilit by 0ld_d0g · · Score: 1

    Wow, That is complete marketing bullshit. The only way it makes sense is if those were two separate sentences.

    "This enables us to focus on deep integration between Windows and the silicon, while maintaining maximum reliability" -- No Win10, no shiny CPU for you.
    +
    "compatibility with previous generations of platform and silicon" -- non-shiny CPUs continue to work with Win10.

  126. Re:China has derivatives of all three architecture by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

    Unfortunately, China as a whole seems to be pretty bad at doing anything besides copying stuff, and usually badly. They seem to excel only when some western company comes in and shows them exactly what to do and how to do it; when that happens, they're great at pumping out ridiculous quantities of something. But there seems to be some kind of piece missing where they're unable to use their impressive mass-manufacturing skills to actually make stuff people want without foreign help.

  127. I call B$ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... So what your saying is I now need to run Windows in a virtual environment.
    so what I run ESI or something to then run Windows... yeah w/e M$

  128. The headline is wrong and misleading by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dear /.

    For fuck's sake: the headline is backwards.
    It's Microsoft that won't support the new chips outside of Win10, not the other way around...

    It feels like it is _intentionally_ misleading no less.

  129. Dumb article, dumber comments. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Slashdoot has really taken a nosedive in quality.

    I'm glad I'm OS agnostic, obviously having a favorite makes you into a liar and an asshat.

  130. we will stop buying them then by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    we will stop buying them then. Buy NVIDIA

    PCLinuxOS works outta the box....F***....Microsoft

  131. Wintel Cartel Chip & Dips by lagunastarman · · Score: 1

    Looks like the yummy snack of the 90's got stale in the 2000's and is becoming too moldy to swallow. Shame there are no alternatives... Oh wait, Linux, Android, ios, assembly languages, RTOS, etc.

  132. what about Apple? by recharged95 · · Score: 1

    OSX?

  133. Modding PS4 games? by tepples · · Score: 1

    Assuming that by PlayStation you meant a PlayStation 4, not the original 1995 PlayStation, how many PS4 games tolerate mods? True, some people have reasons to prefer a vanilla experience, but without mods, there wouldn't be Team Fortress or Counter-Strike or the entire MOBA genre (which began with a mod titled DotA).

  134. Streaming and TurboTax by tepples · · Score: 1

    Nah! Find an open source equiv app

    Sometimes there isn't one. Players for rented movies are a big deal for this, as is tax preparation software updated annually for dozens of jurisdictions with guaranteed accurate calculations.

    Rented streaming movies come with digital restrictions management to deter keeping a movie longer than the agreed-upon rental period. This cannot be made free software because a user of free software could insert the equivalent of a tee command to make a pristine digital copy of the work to keep.

    Likewise, individual and small business income tax preparation software has to be updated annually for each state or province, and "ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY" on the expert translation from legalese into program code doesn't cut it.

  135. Building your own laptop by tepples · · Score: 1

    If there is so little demand and nobody builds their own systems why is there such a huge selection of motherboards, cases, processors and peripherals to chose from? Not just online but local retail?

    Because some people's use cases allow a desktop PC. Other people, on the other hand, really need a laptop in order to get work done during the carpool or transit commute. And perhaps I haven't looked hard enough or live in the wrong place, but I haven't seen a wide variety of barebone laptops in "local retail".

  136. KVM != KVM by tepples · · Score: 1

    Google KVM?

    Not everybody wants to have to buy two computers, one on which to run each operating system, and use a keyboard, video, and mouse switch. It's especially impractical for laptop users.

    (looks down past the ads)
    Oh, you meant that KVM. How well do, for example, games and CAD run under the Virgil virtual GPU?

    1. Re:KVM != KVM by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      Linus tech tips tested this out no this ran the real GPU.

      With unraid which a version of KVM you can watch the freaky most ultimate nerd porn of all time with 7 gamers 1 CPU with a $30,000 gaming system. Unraid is a distro with a custom version of KVM with GPU bypass.

      In the second video each VM did 4K with AMD nano running close to full speed ran games like Crysis 3 at max at 120 FPS and ran 3d mark benchmarks in Windows 10 guests with 4 cores for each user.

      So my guess is the answer is yes with the setup like Linus had with Unraid flavor of KMS with running CAD, games, etc. For the record I have not run KMS. I do hyper-V and VMware Workstation. Hyper-V has GPU bypass too and is also a type 1 hypervisor on the latest WIndows 10 anniversary build. I have not tested games yet but after writting this post sounds like a fun thing to try out :-)

  137. Chromebox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I wonder if this means Chromebox will eventually go all ARM.

  138. onboard the linux train by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like many others here I find this pushing for windows 10 at the point of explosion.

    Currently I use windows 8, I see it as a compromise, as it can be made to run very similar to windows 7, you get very similar levels of control albedit I do think its a bit less stable. But its a way to use modern apps on a stable code base.

    Windows 10 where control of updates is removed along with a ton of data mining is not my cup of tea and hence I refuse to run it.

    If push comes to shove and the day comes that I buy hardware that wont run on windows 8, or win8 reaches EOL for support, then I will switch to linux for daily tasks, windows would be on dual boot purely for running games only.

    Linux as a desktop is very useable now days, its design is similar to win9x gui and performance in many cases is vastly superior due to the less bloat on the system.

  139. How many OSes can use a bypassed GPU at one? by tepples · · Score: 1

    [youtube.com]

    I was hoping for a text article, not videos, because I can skim a text article in a lot less than 8:18 + 14:57 = 23:15 plus interstitial ads. But from the first minute of the second video, it appears to have a separate GPU for each guest operating system. I don't see that happening very easily in a laptop. GPU bypass with one GPU means you can run one guest operating system at once, making this a glorified dual boot.

    1. Re:How many OSes can use a bypassed GPU at one? by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      The video is freaking cool is why I linked the youtube :-D

      The crazy Xeon based system did have intel video for the host which was the Linux console and each GPU was added and binded with KVM to each guest OS session including the USB peripherals. I dunno but it shows you can get up to 95% native speed with a type 1 hypervisor with a bypass on a bare metal hypervisor. The HOST OS was run a flashdrive with Unraid, Ubuntu Linux, and other utilities. But you can run it on a hard disk if you choose Linux as your host OS.

      Go play with it? Maybe someone who uses it can comment. I met one guy who did just this but used a different GUI client for his Vms with KVM. I was really surprised as I assumed a VM is crap for all but server apps and I was wrong.

  140. Taste Test by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Micro$oft forcing Windows upon people demonstrates their own internal beliefs that given choice their product is not desirable.

  141. The title is backwards and deceiving by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am sorry but the title is just backwards. It is not that the new CPUs that will only support Windows 10 (I am sure we will be able to run all sort of Linux and BSD flavors) it is rather that older Windows versions that will not get updated to support new platforms (as correctly stated in the body of the post).