Windows 7's Windows XP Mode: Removing Application Compatiblity

Sander van den Burg — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:07:00 GMT

Not so much Unified Communications related, but such a cool new feature that I had to post this, since it will cause a huge change in the way we can use the Windows clients:

Last Saturday, Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera revealed a secret new feature in Windows 7- Windows XP Mode (XPM). XPM allows you to run Windows XP in a virtualized session, and includes a license for Windows XP SP3. As Thurrott & Rivera's blog post says:

Windows XP Mode dramatically changes the compatibility story for Windows 7 and, we believe, has serious implications for Windows development going forward.

Interestingly, XPM does not require you to run a separate desktop with Windows XP. Applications installed in the virtual environment are published to the Windows 7 host and shortcuts placed in the host's Start menu. Users can run Windows XP applications (installed in XPM) directly and transparently in Windows 7 desktop!

Very cool feature indeed! It seems application compatibility is quickly headed to be a non-issue with Windows 7.

More details in Secret No More: Revealing Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 on Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows, and screenshots in Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 Screens.

Communified.net Blog : Windows XP Mode

Windows 7's Windows XP Mode: Removing Application Compatiblity