Breaking: Windows 7 to have Windows XP Mode

aprilie 25 07:40 2009

It seems like Paul Thurott and Rafael Rivera have revealed what was to be Microsoft’s planned major announcement with the release of Windows 7 RC. The featured is dubbed Windows XP Mode (XPM) and will dramatically change people’s views on compatibility with Windows 7.

Windows XP Mode is supposed to be a no-frills method of improving compatibility of legacy or XP-supported apps on Windows 7. This is what Paul Thurott had to say of the feature:

XPM is built on the next generation Microsoft Virtual PC 7 product line, which requires processor-based virtualization support (Intel and AMD) to be present and enabled on the underlying PC, much like Hyper-V, Microsoft’s server-side virtualization platform. However, XPM is not Hyper-V for the client. It is instead a host-based virtualization solution like Virtual PC; the hardware assistance requirement suggests this will be the logical conclusion of this product line from a technological standpoint. That is, we fully expect future client versions of Windows to include a Hyper-V-based hypervisor.

Windows XP mode will provide a Virtual PC based environment and a fully licensed copy of Windows XP SP3 for users who purchase Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate. XPM allows you to run apps in a virtual XP environment. Unlike typical Virtual PC products that run in a separate window, XPM will allow apps to run alongside the same desktop as Windows 7 and even have shortcut integrations. Basically, it allows you to run the Windows XP based applications along with the Windows 7 applications all on one desktop.

Rafael is expected to post more in-depth detail about the feature very soon. More information will be posted as it arrives. Let us know your thoughts on this new feature.

Screenshots: Paul Thurott’s Supersite