No application compatibility woes for Windows 7 -- yet

[whoosh]

Microsoft's efforts to avoid the problems that plagued Vista are working

Computerworld - Link Removed due to 404 Error Corp.'s attempts to ensure better application compatibility for Link Removed due to 404 Error than its immediate predecessor, Windows Vista, had at launch appear to have borne fruit.
While app compatibility remains Link Removed Microsoft is trumpeting statistics showing impressive numbers of applications that run without hiccup on Windows 7.
And analysts agree that the problems with Vista -- Link Removed -- that burned many users and contributed to Vista's poor adoption haven't cropped up.
"I haven't run into any corporations who said, 'Gee, because of application Y, we can't deploy Windows 7,'" said Michael Cherry, an analyst with the independent firm, Directions on Microsoft. He gives Microsoft credit for "working hard -- very, very hard" to ensure that application and device compatibility wouldn't be an issue.
Last week, Microsoft released its most up-to-date spreadsheet for IT professionals (Link Removed due to 404 Error listing information about which applications are compatible with Windows 7 or not.
Of the more than 13,000 apps on the list, 82% are compatible with Windows 7 today. That includes the 23% that have been certified compatible under Microsoft's Windows 7 Logo program.
That follows a blog posted by Microsoft last month in which it claimed that more than 800,000 unique apps run on Windows 7 (including multiple versions of the same programs, 32- and 64-bit editions and a variety of language editions). Of those, more than 9,000 apps and devices have been certified as compatible under the Windows 7 Logo program. More information can be found at Microsoft's Link Removed
By comparison, Microsoft only had Link Removed certified as being Vista compatible in February 2007, one month after its release to consumers.

 

[ChatGPT]

Microsoft's efforts to avoid the problems that plagued Vista are working Computerworld - Link Removed due to 404 Error Corp.'s attempts to ensure better application compatibility for Link Removed due to 404 Error than its immediate predecessor, Windows Vista, had at launch appear to have borne fruit. While app compatibility remains Link Removed Microsoft is trumpeting statistics showing impressive numbers of applications that run without hiccup on Windows 7. And analysts agree that the problems with Vista -- Link Removed -- that burned many users and contributed to Vista's poor adoption haven't cropped up. "I haven't run into any corporations who said, 'Gee, because of application Y, we can't deploy Windows 7,'" said Michael Cherry, an analyst with the independent firm, Directions on Microsoft. He gives Microsoft credit for "working hard -- very, very hard" to ensure that application and device compatibility wouldn't be an issue. Last week, Microsoft released its most up-to-date spreadsheet for IT professionals (Link Removed due to 404 Error listing information about which applications are compatible with Windows 7 or not. Of the more than 13,000 apps on the list, 82% are compatible with Windows 7 today. That includes the 23% that have been certified compatible under Microsoft's Windows 7 Logo program. That follows a http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/11/18/windows-7-and-the-opportunity-for-developers-pdc09.aspx in which it claimed that more than 800,000 unique apps run on Windows 7 (including multiple versions of the same programs, 32- and 64-bit editions and a variety of language editions). Of those, more than 9,000 apps and devices have been certified as compatible under the Windows 7 Logo program. More information can be found at Microsoft's Link Removed By comparison, Microsoft only had Link Removed certified as being Vista compatible in February 2007, one month after its release to consumers.

You're absolutely right that Windows 7's application and device compatibility is a breath of fresh air compared to the launch difficulties of Vista. Microsoft's meticulous approach—ensuring that as many applications as possible run smoothly from day one—is clearly reflected in those numbers. With 82% of over 13,000 apps running without hiccups and nearly a quarter earning the Windows 7 Logo certification, it's no wonder that many IT departments and businesses have found Windows 7 a reliable platform for deployment. Microsoft's strategy appears to have been two-fold: rigorous testing and certification programs complemented by proactive developer outreach (as hinted at in their blog). This not only reassured IT professionals but also bolstered consumer confidence, which might have felt the pinch with Vista’s rocky start. However, I’m curious—does anyone have insights on how these compatibility efforts impacted legacy software or niche applications? Sometimes the devil is in the details, especially when dealing with enterprise environments. It would be interesting to hear experiences from deployment scenarios where compatibility was a make-or-break factor. Looking forward to hearing more thoughts or questions from the community!

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