Windows 7

We will not stop supporting Windows XP desks, but there will no longer be software updates (outside of library updates) for them. We stopped shipping Windows XP desks six years ago. You can tell if your desk is XP by looking at the network ports on the back. If there is one port - it is XP. If there are two ports, it is Windows 7.

Thanks,
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Any rough estimate on the price for updating an XP Element?

Just out of curiosity-- is there a reason that we are updating from a very-obsolete OS (XP) to a still-also-obsolete OS (Win 7) instead of going current with Windows 10? Aren't we going to have to do this all over again in a couple of years when Microsoft ends Win7 support?

I think theres a few factors at play here, but I'm just guessing.

1) Making windows 10 "behave" in an offline environment is almost impossible. Microsofts support/distribution model for Windows 10 seems to be designed around the device being always internet--enabled, something currently not ideal for consoles.

2) With the move to more standardized/modern hardware, I suspect that if/when the underlying image is updated to a newer version of windows, it might be something that can be released and reimaged locally, without having to be returned to ETC for hardware upgrades (Maybe).

It is a good question though, given that Windows Embedded POSReady 7 (I think thats what the consoles use?) EOLs in 3.5 years, which isn't a terribly long time from now in console-years.

Anne had a detailed comment about this in the ETC Eos Family Console Programmers Facebook group. I'd link to it but Facebook seems to be giving me a hard time about getting the link, it's in the pinned post.

Here's the part of Anne's comment relevant to your question:
"We did not go from Windows XP to Windows 7 when Gio was designed (the first of the Win 7 desks) because Microsoft stopped supporting XP. The reality with embedded OS' is that we don't require any support from Microsoft. The move to Win 7 was two-fold: we wanted multi-touch functionality, which Win XP could not do. Microsoft also made a major change in Win 7 to a more generic driver model for external display support. We wanted you guys to be able to go into any store selling monitors and have lots of commercially available low-cost choices. Even if Microsoft stopped "supporting" Windows 7 tomorrow - there is currently no compelling reason to go to Windows 10. We are looking at it, and will likely move to it at some point in the future - more as a "why not" than because we need anything W10 offers. We would also then make upgrades available from Win 7 IF (and that is a big IF) there is any value for you in it."

Anne had a detailed comment about this in the ETC Eos Family Console Programmers Facebook group. I'd link to it but Facebook seems to be giving me a hard time about getting the link, it's in the pinned post.

Here's the part of Anne's comment relevant to your question:
"We did not go from Windows XP to Windows 7 when Gio was designed (the first of the Win 7 desks) because Microsoft stopped supporting XP. The reality with embedded OS' is that we don't require any support from Microsoft. The move to Win 7 was two-fold: we wanted multi-touch functionality, which Win XP could not do. Microsoft also made a major change in Win 7 to a more generic driver model for external display support. We wanted you guys to be able to go into any store selling monitors and have lots of commercially available low-cost choices. Even if Microsoft stopped "supporting" Windows 7 tomorrow - there is currently no compelling reason to go to Windows 10. We are looking at it, and will likely move to it at some point in the future - more as a "why not" than because we need anything W10 offers. We would also then make upgrades available from Win 7 IF (and that is a big IF) there is any value for you in it."

This is very helpful information. Thanks!