Microsoft is usually very keen to push its
latest OS and will often frame its previous releases in negative ways as a
means to encourage users to upgrade. However, that’s mostly for retail customers’
consumption; for business users it would rather that they be happier than no
longer a customer of Microsoft.
“Given that Microsoft provides its
operating system to its own Surface hardware for free and it charges
third-party companies to use it, it was never going to be a level playing
field”
Steve
Sinofsky was the president of the Windows division and the man directly
responsible for Windows 8 and Surface. His unexpected exit just a week after
launch undermined the idea that all was well at Microsoft
Because of this, those that buy Windows 8
Pro will find this curious statement in their ELUA:
“This agreement applies to your use of the
earlier versions. If the earlier version includes different components, any
terms for those components in the agreement that come with the earlier version
apply to your use of such components. Neither the manufacturer or installer,
nor Microsoft, is obligated to supply earlier versions to you. You must obtain
the earlier version separately. At any time, you may replace an earlier version
with Windows 8 Pro.”
Reading between the lines, what this
suggests is that you can downgrade the installation to Windows 7 or Vista, and
then when you’ve come to love coloured tiles in the fullness of time, you can
then go back to Windows 8 Pro.
This isn’t in the Home Premium release,
just the Pro, so those that buy the former will be accepting Windows 8 from the
outset. It’s also not available to those who bought Pro from a system builder
(i.e. an OEM licence) or that bought the upgrade version of Windows 8.
This is a mixed message at best. Get the
latest OS and downgrade it! However, only some users can do this, depending on
which version they bought, and it’s caused a degree of confusion among
third-party system builders, who have launched new Windows 8 PCs and now need
to support the same hardware for Windows 7 if the user downgrades.
Partner Support
In an almost Pavlovian dog response, all PC
makers have launched (or relaunched) product lines to make the most of the
traditional boost that a new version of Windows gives that industry.
This is usually predated on the new version
of Windows needing a more powerful PC, but with the exception of touch
controls, Windows 8 doesn’t have any greater an appetite for more computing
power than Windows 7. That would suggest that the bonus sales of Windows 8
might be exclusively for those who have decided to join the Surface bandwagon
or release touch-controlled portable or even desktop products.
In an attempt to assess the waters with
regard to the PC industry and Windows 8, I went to a number of big brand online
retail stores to see if they’d sell you the same computers with Windows 7 or
offer a downgrade path.
Dell
Ahead of the Window 8 launch Dell made it
clear that it would continue to offer Windows 7 installations on new Latitude,
OptiPlex and Precision PCs, which are its business-orientated solutions.
However, a quick check of its current PC ranges for home users reveals that
many are only offered with Windows 8 Home Premium, with no means to downgrade
to Windows 7.
A very odd twist in the Dell story is
Alienware, the special gaming hardware division that will make your PC dreams
come true if you cross Dell’s palm with hallmarked platinum.
Buy
an Alienware gaming PC and you might get a choice which OS you get on it. Other
products and brands might not give you this option
Pick one of its computers, go to the
customisation section, select the OS, and you’ll be offered Windows 7 and
Windows 8! Whatever the line that the main Dell supply chain is pushing,
Alienware is clear that its customers are more discerning and would like to
choose what OS is on their hardware, not just the latest.
Dell was instrumental in making XP
available much longer than Microsoft would have liked, and it might play the
same role in keeping Windows 7 around.
Lenovo
This PC company is very business
orientated, being the home of the ThinkPad, so it wasn’t a huge surprise that
even on its cheapest Thinkpad version it offers to install Windows 7 or 8,
depending what the customer chooses. The default option is Windows 8, but it’s
nice to see that it’ll put Windows 7 on there for you no problem.
Lenono
Thinkpad is offered as the cheapeat version to install Windows 7 or 8
On its website I also found instructions on
how to downgrade a Windows 8 Pro installation, as per what Microsoft allows.
HP
Given the dire problems this company is
having, you’d really think it might be keen to help its customers in regard to
Windows 7 or 8, but you’d be generally wrong. HP announced that it isn’t
supporting downgrades, irrespective of what version of Windows 8 you have on.
Here is its exact response:
HP
announced that it isn’t supporting downgrades, irrespective of what version of
Windows 8 you have on.
“Customers who are able to and choose to
downgrade their HP Windows-8 compatible products to Windows 7 will remain
protected by HP product warranties. However, HP has not tested all Windows 8
platforms for Windows 7 and we may not have your particular drivers available.
If you choose to install a different operating system (OS) and have a problem
that requires HP support, you may need to restore the original OS to fully
diagnose your problem.”
Turning that into something more
understandable, you can downgrade and your hardware warranty will still be
respected, but any software support is your own problem, because HP won’t test
its PC with an OS we’ve all been using for the past three years. Nice.
HP later clarified this with a new message
on its support site, “Windows 7 will not be supported on these new [Windows 8]
platforms, and no drivers, apps, or Windows 7 content will be available through
HP.”
The bottom line is that if you want a PC,
and you’re not sure you want Windows 8, then don’t buy it from HP.
