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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



 
GeneralVirtual machines Pin
Douglas Troy4-Jun-08 6:45
Douglas Troy4-Jun-08 6:45 
GeneralRe: Virtual machines Pin
John M. Drescher4-Jun-08 8:13
John M. Drescher4-Jun-08 8:13 
GeneralRe: Virtual machines Pin
Rezak9-Jun-08 22:20
Rezak9-Jun-08 22:20 
GeneralRe: Virtual machines Pin
tanghe10-Jun-08 4:31
tanghe10-Jun-08 4:31 
GeneralBackward compat is a burden. Pin
nmarcel3-Jun-08 6:57
nmarcel3-Jun-08 6:57 
GeneralRe: Backward compat is a burden. Pin
Ware@Work3-Jun-08 7:17
Ware@Work3-Jun-08 7:17 
GeneralRe: Backward compat is a burden. Pin
1.21 Gigawatts3-Jun-08 22:08
1.21 Gigawatts3-Jun-08 22:08 
GeneralRe: Backward compat is a burden. Pin
User 1942896-Jun-08 2:53
User 1942896-Jun-08 2:53 
GeneralRe: Backward compat is a burden. Pin
ThatsAlok3-Jun-08 22:49
ThatsAlok3-Jun-08 22:49 
GeneralRe: Backward compat is a burden. Pin
theredhead4-Jun-08 1:51
theredhead4-Jun-08 1:51 
GeneralRe: Backward compat is a burden. Pin
Ware@Work4-Jun-08 3:04
Ware@Work4-Jun-08 3:04 
GeneralRe: Backward compat is a burden. Pin
theredhead4-Jun-08 3:42
theredhead4-Jun-08 3:42 
GeneralRe: Backward compat is a burden. Pin
ThatsAlok4-Jun-08 6:17
ThatsAlok4-Jun-08 6:17 
GeneralRe: Backward compat is a burden. PinPopular
Heywood4-Jun-08 5:54
Heywood4-Jun-08 5:54 
GeneralIt all depends on the public previews Pin
snorkie3-Jun-08 6:03
professionalsnorkie3-Jun-08 6:03 
QuestionScrolling Data grid [modified] Pin
EzhilarasiMSc2-Jun-08 19:30
EzhilarasiMSc2-Jun-08 19:30 
AnswerRe: Scrolling Data grid Pin
Cristian Amarie2-Jun-08 19:57
Cristian Amarie2-Jun-08 19:57 
AnswerRe: Scrolling Data grid Pin
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar3-Jun-08 19:09
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar3-Jun-08 19:09 
AnswerRe: Scrolling Data grid Pin
ScottM15-Jun-08 20:07
ScottM15-Jun-08 20:07 
JokeRe: Scrolling Data grid Pin
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar6-Jun-08 4:28
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar6-Jun-08 4:28 
GeneralIt depends... Pin
Cristian Amarie2-Jun-08 9:00
Cristian Amarie2-Jun-08 9:00 
RantThe OS should be upgraded ONLY when it outgrows the hardware Pin
Programmer Dor2-Jun-08 8:21
Programmer Dor2-Jun-08 8:21 
GeneralRe: The OS should be upgraded ONLY when it outgrows the hardware Pin
vobject2-Jun-08 20:30
vobject2-Jun-08 20:30 
GeneralRe: The OS should be upgraded ONLY when it outgrows the hardware Pin
theredhead4-Jun-08 3:49
theredhead4-Jun-08 3:49 
Interesting point. But you see the situation only from "software-execution-speed"-perspective.

You don't mention that the software (OS) does not only get slower but also more user friendly (hopefully . That's the main reason to upgrade an OS imo. I would probably still switch if the new OS is 30% slower but I am 40% more productive with it. Even without new hardware.



Pretty much exactly why I do prefer Vista over XP. It's not that important that it's faster, or even fast at all. But it is important that it feels faster because it doesnt force me to wait through window repaints etc. it makes me feel like I am not waiting nearly as much, thus I am less annoyed. ergo: I am more productive.

So the speed at wich software executes is much less important than the speed at which software allows me to use it.

Kris

/^([b]{2}|[^b]{2})$/

JokeCListCtrl's compatibility Pin
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar2-Jun-08 3:47
Vasudevan Deepak Kumar2-Jun-08 3:47 

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