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As much as I want to believe you, we don't know if it's that simple. We talk about backwards compatibility as if it's a simple package that comes with an InstallShield uninstaller, but in reality we have no idea how entrenched "backwards compatibility" is into the operating system.

Microsoft know where it is, they've noted the deprecated parts only there for backwards compatibility, they created the virtualised registry to get around permissions issues on applications which make the assumption that they have administration privileges.

The solution is easy - include in the book, 'If the application doesn't run, right click and select 'run in virtualisation mode' where by Windows XP fires up in boardless mode (which virtualbox supports) and it'll appear like any other desktop application but within a virtual machine that is sandboxed off from the rest of the machine.

They've just been fined massively, and forced to change their operating system for something as mundane as including a browser or a media player - how do you think the DOJ and Kroes would respond if Microsoft did something like that?

Based on what evidence. They can still call it compatible but they just can't get the sticker. That is no different than a person writing a JVM but unable to call it Java till it meets certain specifications. Heck, Microsoft do it already with Windows compatible logo where hardware vendors have to meet a minimum set of requirements before they can affix the logo to their hardware. Making the software vendor meet a certain set of criteria before they can affix the logo of compatibility would be no different than their OEM side of the business.

I'm sure just about every engineer inside Microsoft wants to do just that, but this isn't Apple we're talking about - it's Microsoft. They are treated differently because of their market position, and can't just do the kind of cut-throat code cutting Apple can do.

Mate, there was a manager a while back who said, "legacy code is an asset"; excuse me, but when has a rusted car on the front lawn of a property, without wheels, up on four concrete blocks ever considered an asset? in any other situation it is an eye sore and a source of property depreciation.

When you have managers so far out of touch with reality, so devoid of what technology is actually out there by way of virtualisation, you know the person should be put out to pasture. They had their time in the spot light, time to allow the spot light to shine on those people who aren't living in the age where COBOL is the the new and up 'n coming language of choice for business.

Edited 2009-11-10 13:31 UTC

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