Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC



Tuesday, April 28 2009 - Technology

Apparently, Windows 7 will support a virtualized state called "Windows XP Mode", in which XP runs natively underneath Win7 in a virtual environment. You can install legacy applications under the XP environment, and they then get published to the Win7 desktop. While this is a very interesting concept, there are some key things to consider in the creation of this product.

  • Added incentive still needed for business owners to move off of XP to Win7 XP mode--regardless of identical states
  • (Devil's Advocate) This can already be performed with VMware on OS X, why bother with Win7?
  •  This is available to Business and Ultimate only, with implications that you have to be tech savvy to use it. What about consumer grade products that only work in XP? How does this help the every(wo)man?

Criticism aside, I have to say I am very excited about this. This is NOT another "compatibility mode" for Windows, as we all know how well that works out, this is a full blown kernel running side by side--albeit virtualized--next to the Windows 7 core. This should appeal to the XP and Vista buffs both. Apparently, you don't even need a second license for the XP kernel, as it is IO only, and not UI.

Excerpted from WindowsTeamBlog:

Windows XP Mode is specifically designed to help small businesses move to Windows 7. Windows XP Mode provides you with the flexibility to run many older productivity applications on a Windows 7 based PC.

All you need to do is to install suitable applications directly in Windows XP Mode which is a virtual Windows XP environment running under Windows Virtual PC. The applications will be published to the Windows 7 desktop and then you can run them directly from Windows 7.

Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC are best experienced on your new Windows 7 PC. We will be soon releasing the beta of Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC for Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate.

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/business/archive/2009/04/24/coming-soon-windows-xp-mode-and-windows-virtual-pc.aspx

What do you guys think? Sound off!

 

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