Quote: Original post by davepermen

Quote: Original post by necreia
Professional, I can't imagine not having "Windows XP Mode" when in Win 7 while I still use some of the software that I do.

You don't really need anything beyond that, in my opinion.

there shouldn't be any software that really needs a full xp, most can be done with compatibility settings and maybe full access rights on c:\program files\youroldappofchoice.

and if something's really needed (as said, VERY unlikely), use virtualbox.

but if something's really needed, better get a more modern application for it.

professional is not needed for a home user.

Seriously? "Get different software" and "Use a virtual machine manually" is your response? Feels like I posted on an obscure Linux distribution forum...

Steve- Go with Home Premium then, and just know this is an upgrade you can use later than need be. I think most (all?) 16-bit apps will require it or a dosbox/VM solution. Depends on if you used to (and still like to) play very old games from time to time.

he asks if it's worth paying and i offer free alternatives.

and while i have up-to-ultimate myself (technet), i have never had the need for anything beyond homepremium since vista day one.

and if needed one could upgrade. but fact is, it's normally never needed.

and yes, your old dos games belong into a real virtual box. why? so you can have it on every os for years to come without problems.

if it's needed. as said, it mostly isn't.

and btw, even while i could use rdp, i always use teamviewer. it doesn't make sense to me to log into a different desktop environment than the one i'm used to, + i don't want to bother setting up port forwardings and all that.

so the free alternatives most likely fit the op's needs better than the extra cost for the professional edition.

the only thing i could consider using would be offline folders. but so far, i didn't had the need there, too.

Quote: Original post by davepermen
he asks if it's worth paying and i offer free alternatives.

and while i have up-to-ultimate myself (technet), i have never had the need for anything beyond homepremium since vista day one.

and if needed one could upgrade. but fact is, it's normally never needed.

and yes, your old dos games belong into a real virtual box. why? so you can have it on every os for years to come without problems.

That's fine, I accept the 'you don't find it worth it'. Personally, I do since I pay for convenience when I'm looking at Windows, otherwise I'd use something like Linux and can do everything 'with manual work'. And I didn't say DOS games, and I don't think Windows 3.1x is considered abandonware yet which doesn't make it free.

If Steve sticks to newer stuff, this is pointless anyway and he's fine with Premium. I threw my comments out because he asked and many here are gaming enthusiasts and that may include older games.

i just see so many reply to posts like this as it's so important to have xp mode. but fact is, it isn't. use cases are VERY few (the only real modern valid one is if you still have to support ie6 and are a webdev).

and no, win3.1 is not supported and should not in use be anywhere anymore. and not be considered an important use case. you can moan around now, but seriously, that stuff is very outdated. still relying on such stuff is the main reason why we made such low amount of progress in os evolution the last decades.

and yes, at work we run 15 year old applications. withOUT xp mode. and somehow i hate win7 for being actually ABLE to run that stuff. that way we never progress.

Quote: Original post by davepermen
i just see so many reply to posts like this as it's so important to have xp mode. but fact is, it isn't. use cases are VERY few (the only real modern valid one is if you still have to support ie6 and are a webdev).

I'm not sure why you think it's only to support webdev and that it's useless in most cases. It isn't.
There are games from the Win95/98/ME era that won't work on Windows 7 and the standard XP mode they offer, but where the Virtual Machine solution actually does work.

For example: Many of the old Bullfrog games are difficult to get working with only XP mode. Telling people to get new software is a childish argument, because in most cases you just can't get anything newer. Progress or not.