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Survey Results

How important is backwards compatibility in an Operating System   [Edit]

Survey period: 2 Jun 2008 to 9 Jun 2008

We want new operating systems to be faster, better, stronger and safer, but we want our old apps too. What tradeoff is fair? (Suggested by Bill Shadish)

OptionVotes% 
Critical. Everything that ran on the old OS should run correctly on the new18917.66
Important. Everything should run correctly unless there is a security or other critical issue55351.68
Moderately Important. Most things should work correctly23622.06
Not very important. If old apps run correctly then good for it928.60



 
GeneralRe: from developer's point of view.. Pin
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar2-Jun-08 3:56
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar2-Jun-08 3:56 
JokeRe: from developer's point of view.. Pin
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar2-Jun-08 3:53
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar2-Jun-08 3:53 
GeneralRe: from developer's point of view.. Pin
firegryphon2-Jun-08 7:41
firegryphon2-Jun-08 7:41 
GeneralRe: from developer's point of view.. Pin
W Balboos, GHB2-Jun-08 8:04
W Balboos, GHB2-Jun-08 8:04 
GeneralRe: from developer's point of view.. Pin
firegryphon2-Jun-08 10:52
firegryphon2-Jun-08 10:52 
GeneralRe: from developer's point of view.. Pin
jdryk.x2-Jun-08 9:06
jdryk.x2-Jun-08 9:06 
GeneralMust be mostly compatible one level down... Pin
AlexCode2-Jun-08 1:08
professionalAlexCode2-Jun-08 1:08 
GeneralPhilosophically Interesting Replies Pin
W Balboos, GHB2-Jun-08 1:01
W Balboos, GHB2-Jun-08 1:01 
I find the poll results interesting in that they lean heavily towards the maintainence of compatability. After all, incompatibility is a financial boon (or at least, job security) for most of us.

Yet, most of us fall (ethically?) on the side of defying unnecessary obsolesence.

Within some vague boundry condition, software salses should not be driven by the O/S upgrade, but rather, by a voluntary value added evalutation by the user of the new version.

I wonder how the survey would have turned out if we lived in a totally open-source world?

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

"How do you find out if you're unwanted if everyone you try to ask tells you to go away?" - Balboos HaGadol



GeneralRe: Philosophically Interesting Replies Pin
AlexCode2-Jun-08 1:10
professionalAlexCode2-Jun-08 1:10 
GeneralRe: Philosophically Interesting Replies Pin
jhwurmbach2-Jun-08 4:19
jhwurmbach2-Jun-08 4:19 
GeneralRe: Philosophically Interesting Replies Pin
John M. Drescher4-Jun-08 5:54
John M. Drescher4-Jun-08 5:54 
GeneralUnder the hood is what counts Pin
W Balboos, GHB2-Jun-08 0:47
W Balboos, GHB2-Jun-08 0:47 
GeneralWhy not Virtual Machine Pin
Joe Sonderegger1-Jun-08 20:54
Joe Sonderegger1-Jun-08 20:54 
GeneralRe: Why not Virtual Machine Pin
balazs_hideghety1-Jun-08 21:23
balazs_hideghety1-Jun-08 21:23 
GeneralRe: Why not Virtual Machine Pin
Paul Watson2-Jun-08 0:23
sitebuilderPaul Watson2-Jun-08 0:23 
GeneralRe: Why not Virtual Machine Pin
h322-Jun-08 1:51
h322-Jun-08 1:51 
AnswerRe: Why not Virtual Machine Pin
aurisc42-Jun-08 6:47
aurisc42-Jun-08 6:47 
GeneralXP -> Vista Pin
Reelix1-Jun-08 19:54
Reelix1-Jun-08 19:54 
GeneralRe: XP -> Vista Pin
AlexCode2-Jun-08 1:15
professionalAlexCode2-Jun-08 1:15 
GeneralRe: XP -> Vista Pin
jhwurmbach2-Jun-08 4:21
jhwurmbach2-Jun-08 4:21 
JokeEverything that ran on the old OS should run correctly on the new... unless... Pin
PIEBALDconsult1-Jun-08 19:34
mvePIEBALDconsult1-Jun-08 19:34 
GeneralBackwards Compatibility = Burden, Bloat, BS Pin
Ri Qen-Sin1-Jun-08 19:12
Ri Qen-Sin1-Jun-08 19:12 
GeneralRe: Backwards Compatibility = Burden, Bloat, BS Pin
balazs_hideghety1-Jun-08 21:27
balazs_hideghety1-Jun-08 21:27 
QuestionRe:Yes, design is everything... Pin
ghle1-Jun-08 21:52
ghle1-Jun-08 21:52 
AnswerRe:Yes, design is everything... Pin
peterwithaP1-Jun-08 22:51
peterwithaP1-Jun-08 22:51 

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