In reply to a post by yarwell:

In reply to a post by aquilla:

In terms of Windows 7 licensing, I would buy a W7 license.

Presumably those are only available in the "grey market" ?

Not at all.... Microsoft don't care if users want to waste money on an older version operating system when a newer one that's better exists. They do expect their technology partners and OEMs to use Windows 8 though of course, however they can make exceptions (i.e., if the OEM has a big client who requests the machines in Windows 7... that's fine). It's complex and varies.

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

I think there is a good chance Windows 8.1 will break those applications yes, but they will no doubt release updates in no time and fix the bugs. It will not be intentional by Microsoft, but the start screen is a pretty core part of the Windows OS (some may even call it part of the kernel) and when you have applications which alter that then you have to be prepared for unintended effects at any time.

Style XP anyone?

MS want us all to use the Metro, so we can buy useless apps that do less than what we can do on the desktop and also so they can chuck adverts at us in those apps. Of cause it will be intentional.

It's more to do with TCPI or whatever it's called now than it is to do with advertising revenue.

In reply to a post by yarwell:

In reply to a post by Deadbeat:

Try Amazon.

oh yes, surprised to see it "Dispatched from and sold by Amazon" I expected MS to kill this like they kill supply of PCs with Win7 in retail.

Do they?

Dell still sell a large number of PCs with Win7 - and from the last I heard a month or so back, they were selling more Win7 than Win8

http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/ships-fast-latitude A lot of the Latitudes are initially spec'd with Win7 with Win8 being an upgrade.

Why on earth would Microsoft object to selling Windows 7? They still get the money whether people buy 7 or 8.