The XP OS will not change and there are already mature products for it. It's up to the skinner's if they want to skin it but I don't think any new application development is worthwhile. Vista doesn't have a sufficient user base to make developing for it worthwhile either.

W7 x64 should be the prime target for development now.

I strongly agree with you both. I need XP for my business equipment only because I can't get it to run in XP mode on Win 7. I don't worry about skinning it, it is business only, bare bones OS to me.

Now, I'm a fan of SD if there ever was one, but SD is behind the times as we speak. Looking backwards isn't going to help that.

I say look forward, make everything SD has to work on Win 7, and then the future.

LOL , I never used XP since my high school days

Vista was great just for Dreamscenes

But on a serious note, now it's time for Windows 7

Win7 is the future and should be pursued as a skinning platform (apps and skins).

XP is a strong base that pays for WC and ODNT.

I'd bet that since teh beginning of the year 50% of teh traffic to WC was XP  that the other half split between Vista and 7.  In the past few months I'd guess that XP and 7 have even about around 40% and XP has 20%.

Stardock has to be forward thinking in new apps but it has a market of XP users who want Win7 features along with the other enhancements.

I've got more than a few PCs at my house and they all have differnt OSs.  I upgrade those machines that need it as needed.  I run Mepis (linux), XP, Vista, and 7.  I want to skin them all as much as I can.

Being that the first beta of IE9 just came out hours ago, I don't expect everything to be working correctly.  It is a beta, and it will take time to check out any issues that come up.

Stardock should continue to supply EXISTING XP support, but all apps should be working on 7 32 and 64 bit and new apps should not be looking back. After getting all apps 7 64 ready and working, adding backward compatability could be addressed.

The NOW is Win 7 64 bit. Cutting edge has always been a claim by Stardock. Current software does not reflect that.

I'm really glad that you guys are advocating for XP users. These are tough times, and although W7 has been my choice, others seem to find XP can do pretty much all they need.

I apologize that your first thread got sidetracked, I.D.

My own OS's are W7 HP x64 and W7 Professional x32. I do believe the future is 7, and 8 but I'm really glad XP folks won't be abandoned. They're loyal folks.

It wasn't sidetracked.

Wanting focus on Win 7 rather than 'legacy' OSs is a DIRECT reply/response to Brad's topic/question.

I actually fail to see the need for THIS thread.....

And Win7 Service Pack 1 Beta is loose. But it puts that damn watermark on your screen.

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/07/13/windows-7-service-pack-1-public-beta-now-available/

Edit:  Guess I hadn't paid attention, this is old news...lol. 

Needless to say, that watermark sucks, and is coming off. If I can't find a way to remove it, the service pack is going.

I spend too much time customizing my rig to have a watermark on my screen. Judging by the Sept. Screenshot thread, you must not mind it, Jafo.

Sorry if this is off topic. 

Well...what ever you guys decide...I'd appreciate it if any bugs in any XP apps get ironed and finalized out before they get kicked to the curb. XP may be considered a legacy OS in terms of money...since they can't very well sell you new stuff if they continue to call XP viable...which like it or not it still is...I still consider it a very viable and current OS. The only reason I've seen so far to move to 7 is because it's there.

I would also like to be informed when any development for XP ends since I don't wish to be paying for something that has nothing to do with my current OS.

Doesn't bother me...though it's removable....and I'm sure there's a removal method for the beta 'watermark' too.

In most things 'skinning/modding' Google is your fiend ....

Google may be my "fiend" but I found a watermark remover, supposedly just for this, didn't work. I searched and searched for one when beta testing 7 and never found anything to work.

Hey Jim! I found one! It's called XP!

You're funny Giz...lol!!

If he was a blonde, it'd be whiteout.

I wonder what a blonde redneck would use.... white duct tape?

Daiwa....

I'm pushing the radical/brutal approach to OD's/skinning's direction to promote discussion.  Getting all touchy-feely with the status quo doesn't incite/invite debate.

That said, it's still a real issue that on-going support/development for 'legacy' OS versions distracts from forward development.

Whether anyone likes it or not, XP's days are numbered as a major player, and anyone who IS still on Vista probably really SHOULD dump it in favour of 7 as the latter is essentially Vista-that-works....

Seven is guaranteed to be the most 'successful' MS OS to date....as it's the first one to actually WORK ....