Microsoft No Longer Sells Windows 7 to Retailers

[tezza]

Both Windows 8 and 8.1 are already on the market, so Microsoft can focus on strategies to convince users to adopt its modern platforms, rather than switching or sticking to Windows 7.

The company has decided to stop retail sales of Windows 7 on October 30 without any official announcement, thus making an important move towards moving everyone to Windows 8 or 8.1.

In case you’re wondering what “the end of retail sales” means for users, here’s the official explanation posted on the Windows lifecycle fact sheet page:

“End of sales refers to the date when a particular version of Windows is no longer shipped to retailers or Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Examples of OEMS are Dell and Toshiba—PC manufacturers who often preinstall Windows software. When a version of Windows reaches its end of sales date, it's a good time to think about upgrading.”

The company then goes on to say that Windows 7 is still available through OEMs, but they will also stop selling Windows 7 preinstalled on new PC on October 30, 2014.

“When the retail software product reaches its end of sales date, it can still be purchased through OEMs (the company that made your PC) until it reaches the end of sales date for PCs with Windows preinstalled,” Microsoft added.

Windows 7 is still available at several retailers online right now, but only because they still have the operating system in stock, as Microsoft no longer sells new licenses.

Windows 7 is at this point the world’s number one operating system, being installed on more than 45 percent of computers worldwide, way ahead of rivals Windows XP and Windows 8. At the same time, it’s also the number one destination for Windows XP users looking to migrate, mostly because it still has the tradition OS look with a fully-working Start Menu.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-No-Longer-Sells-Windows-7-to-Retailers-406730.shtml

Windows lifecycle fact sheet

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/lifecycle

[knowledge-Spammer]

thats sucks

[sanjoa]

We'll :pirate: Win7

[Matt]

who cares we are the Microsoft B)

[212eta]

They do not want Seven to become the new XP... :think:

[LeeSmithG]

That means my copy of windows 7 professional full with x86 and x64 disks is worth a shit load of money than the £78 I paid for it :)

[CPowell46]

Those who like 7 (I don't) are fortunate that Microsoft isn't the only source...

[knowledge-Spammer]

That means my copy of windows 7 professional full with x86 and x64 disks is worth a shit load of money than the £78 I paid for it :)

u paid for windows 7

i bet

Edited December 6, 2013 by knowledge

[alaindc]

They do not want Seven to become the new XP... :think:

Exactly.

[lurch234]

u paid for windows 7

i bet

:wtf: I also paid for my Win7! The world is really going to the dogs when you are being criticized for doing an honest thing!!

How idiotic can this get <_<

[janedoe]

That means my copy of windows 7 professional full with x86 and x64 disks is worth a shit load of money than the £78 I paid for it :)

u paid for windows 7

You pirated something, fine, that's your personal choice and responsibility. But it's not like it's some sort of awesome accomplishment. I find your response silly considering that without any legit buyers pretty soon you won't have anything to pirate. I mean, why make fun of someone who actually chooses to do things the legal way and pay for something instead of stealing it? Here's an analogy - if you're old enough I'm sure you've bought household goods, right? How would you feel if a burglar came up to you and laughed in your face for buying a TV, stereo and so on?

Edit: @lurch234: That's precisely how I feel as well. It's one thing to pirate stuff, but another entirely to make a virtue out of it and be proud.

Edited December 6, 2013 by janedoe

[Maxhedroom]

They can BITE ME! I will NEVER switch to W8 or 8.1 (even if it was free!). It's made for touch screens imo and doesn't have any business on a desktop pc.Win7 is the new 'XP' and will be around for a loooong time, just like XP. MS seems to be in a hit, miss pattern. Win2000 - Hit, Win Me - Miss, WinXP - Hit, Vista - BIG Miss, Win7 - BIG Hit, Win8/8.1 - Miss. Heh...Intel does the same thing with their CPUs...they call it the 'tic-toc' pattern where I always wait for the 'tic' b4 I buy.

[knowledge-Spammer]

[janedoe]

They can BITE ME! I will NEVER switch to W8 or 8.1 (even if it was free!). It's made for touch screens imo and doesn't have any business on a desktop pc.Win7 is the new 'XP' and will be around for a loooong time, just like XP. MS seems to be in a hit, miss pattern. Win2000 - Hit, Win Me - Miss, WinXP - Hit, Vista - BIG Miss, Win7 - BIG Hit, Win8/8.1 - Miss. Heh...Intel does the same thing with their CPUs...they call it the 'tic-toc' pattern where I always wait for the 'tic' b4 I buy.

Wow, relax! I always find such impassioned responses funny. How precisely is this news affecting you personally so much to prompt such an outburst? (Same goes for others as well making similar comments.) We all have copies of the OS (Win7), so before you start crying at least stop and consider whether this even affects you in the first place!

[Matsuda]

That means my copy of windows 7 professional full with x86 and x64 disks is worth a shit load of money than the £78 I paid for it :)

u paid for windows 7

You pirated something, fine, that's your personal choice and responsibility. But it's not like it's some sort of awesome accomplishment. I find your response silly considering that without any legit buyers pretty soon you won't have anything to pirate. I mean, why make fun of someone who actually chooses to do things the legal way and pay for something instead of stealing it? Here's an analogy - if you're old enough I'm sure you've bought household goods, right? How would you feel if a burglar came up to you and laughed in your face for buying a TV, stereo and so on?

Edit: @lurch234: That's precisely how I feel as well. It's one thing to pirate stuff, but another entirely to make a virtue out of it and be proud.

[MidnightDistortions]

Didn't they do this with XP? MS probably didn't really announce it then because they figured people would upgrade. That and they know that if they don't say something people will just blindly continue to berate W8 so they are probably breaking the ice with that pretty soon you won't have a choice period. But there is always the ability to pirate W7. I avoid that as a last resort though, in which case discontinuing W7 will only mean more will just want to pirate it or get W7 at whatever cost or they could also switch to Linux as well.

At the same time letting people know that W7 won't have OEMs within the next year will most likely just accelerate W7 PC sales. It could just be a way to get people off of XP without really saying that W7 is still an option for another year.

Edited December 7, 2013 by MidnightDistortions

[LeeSmithG]

u paid for windows 7

i bet

:wtf: I also paid for my Win7! The world is really going to the dogs when you are being criticized for doing an honest thing!!

How idiotic can this get <_<

I pay for all the software I keep.

I do sometimes try software full with borrowed tings, but that is to see it fully working.

I registered koi 3D yesterday by planetsoft, as it's a great screen saver and they deserve to earn a crust.

All I know is, if people want to go through their life stealing, then do not call the Police or complain when people steal from you.

[LeeSmithG]

They do not want Seven to become the new XP... :think:

Exactly.

Well Microsoft should make poor operating systems, with poor names, like, Windows Millennium and Windows Vista.

[davmil]

Legit Windows is the easiest decision ever. For < $100 you save yourself headaches, wasted time learning weird hacks and avoiding viruses.

[tezza]

you save yourself headaches, wasted time learning weird hacks and avoiding viruses.

Daz made it so none of the above apply . ;)

Edited December 7, 2013 by tezza

[LeeSmithG]

Legit Windows is the easiest decision ever. For < $100 you save yourself headaches, wasted time learning weird hacks and avoiding viruses.

Also if you're a student, teacher or parent you can get them really cheap, all micrsoft, norton McAfee, adobe and many more.

My partner, she is a Doctoral student, but when she was doing her masters we got Windows Office Ultimate 2007 full for £60, then when she did her education enquiry, (this is the step up course between masters and doctrate) we got Office 2010 for £58 and windows 7 x86 for £32.

There is no reason why anyone on a low income or a student or a parent can't take some time and find the proof needed to buy software very cheap.

I might get office 2013 soon as my partner has 5 years of doctoral studies and is in her first year, so we can get plenty off cheaper softwares.

Edited December 11, 2013 by LeeSmithG

[insanedown58]

They do not want Seven to become the new XP... :think:

I couldn't agree more. Microsoft saw it, everyone saw it. Windows 7 is most probably if not will be the next XP because of its pure unrelenting awesomeness. Though I do like Windows 8.1 (even though there are times where I just want to punch it in the virtual face) it still can't beat the stability and functionality that Windows 7 gave me over the 2 years that I've used it.

[LeeSmithG]

They do not want Seven to become the new XP... :think:

Operating systems are like cell-phones.

When they first came out, you could send and receive calls.

Then more masts were erected and the cell-phone became smaller.

Then texting was introduced in the newer phones.

Then again, new phone, all previous add-ins and a camera, then mp3 player, apps, games, voice recorder etcetera, etcetera!

So if M$ don't want 7 to become like XP, then give us a start button, get rid of the tablet styles, unless people want this, then make it optional, add some spice to the new system

and make it sweeter by adding in stuff we pay for already, like keyscrambler maybe sticky password type app, keep windows messenger.

Since 3, they got to 95 which was the beginning of modern computing when 32 mb of r.a.m. was more than enough, to 98, 98SE, 2000, Millennium, NT various, then XP then the extras, firewall, anti-spyware, anti-virus software, all acquired, a bit like hotmail which was purchased for $400,000,000.

M$ can go acquire the mentioned extras and make windows more exciting and more appealing.

As for now, 9 will come I will see how it feels, if no good then I stick with 7.

When 7 starts to get to near finish date then I might then upgrade.

M$ seem to forget, we are the customers and we should not be dictated to.

[janedoe]

Didn't they do this with XP?

Of course they did. The only people surprised by this announcement are those that don't know about end of retail sales, end of OEM sales, end of mainstream support, end of extended support and all such Windows software and support lifecycle dates, which are decided and announced in advance so end users and enterprises can plan accordingly. Win7 has had half a decade of sales, which is average so I see nothing sinister behind the announcement. The mistake people make is to think that XP was the norm. No it wasn't. XP was the sole aberration so far in that due to the mess that was Vista development and the fact that Win7 wasn't yet ready they had to extend the dates for it, but with a 12 or 18 month update cadence now they simply cannot afford to do the same thing again unless they really have their backs to the wall. For one, having to deal with so many OS versions simultaneously (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, not to mention the Service Packs for XP-7, RT 8, RT 8.1, WP 7.x, WP 8.x, XBox etc.) does place a huge strain on their development, updating and testing infrastructure.

and make it sweeter by adding in stuff we pay for already, like keyscrambler maybe sticky password type app

Don't hold your breath too much, because bundling IE, WMP etc. is what got them in trouble in the first place and they had to shell out multi-billion dollar fines for it. Thus even if they want to, they are constrained in what apps they can bundle with the OS by default. Of course nothing stops them from making the apps separately and offering them as optional downloads.

Edited December 7, 2013 by janedoe

[shasi]

what shit r they doing