Char Jackson wrote, On 3/29/2014 12:13 AM:
On Wed, 26 Mar 2014 14:54:20 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:

3. Moving from XP to Windows 7 is moving from an operating system
three generations old to one that's one generation old (soon to be two
generations old). To me that makes very little sense. He should move
to the current version, Windows 8, not an old one. If he's already
decided that he doesn't like Windows 8, it's probable that he doesn't
understand what it is, and that the modern/metro interface is entirely
optional; he doesn't have to use it at all.

When it's someone I care about, I recommend Windows 7. Otherwise, I
reluctantly recommend Win 8.1. Paul has documented unacceptable behavior of
Task Manager in Win 8/8.1, but that bit of poor behavior really only
scratches the surface. For numerous reasons, each of them small by
themselves but not insignificant on the whole, Win 7 is 'better' than Win 8.


Msft, afaics, is perfectly comfortable with early o/s users (XP, Vista)
to move to Win7...as long as its available:
- distribution of retail packaged media has already ceased for all
versions
- OEM's pc providers can still install based on supply from existing
licensing contracts (Note: End of pre-installed for W7 Home Basic, Home
Premium and Ultimate ends in Oct 2014; The end date for W7 Pro is
undetermined - 1 yr notice will be provided once that date is determined)
- Resellers (Amazon, Tiger Direct, and other sources) continue to
market existing supplies of retail and OEM versions. That pipeline will
eventually dry up.


--
...winston
msft mvp consumer apps