Subject:Next Version of Sound Forge - Wait for Windows 8

Posted by: colinu

Date:11/29/2011 9:19:49 AM

There are a couple of pieces of software that I use that I thought might be updated by now - one of them is Sound Forge. The other day it occurred to me that most new software releases are probably on hold until Windows 8 arrives.

Subject:RE: Next Version of Sound Forge - Wait for Windows 8

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:12/6/2011 5:34:01 PM

Trust me - Windows 8 is definitely not a reason to wait for anything. The building backlash towards Win8 almost guarantees that most of us with stay right where we are with a nice stable Windows 7 - complete with a modest but completely familiar workflow.

Some folks are still on XP and are completely happy and getting work done.

After using Windows 8 for about 2 days - there is no way that OS will find it's way into my workflow.

VP

Subject:RE: Next Version of Sound Forge - Wait for Windows 8

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:12/6/2011 11:12:52 PM

Yep. XP Pro on most of my workstations here. I have 7 on my new laptop, but only because it came preinstalled. I can't see paying for the upgrade.

I've read a few reviews of 8 and seen some demos. All i can think of is that it's just a big joke. Honestly, not one person in the universe wants their 22" computer screen to behave like their 3" phone screen. The only thing that could possibly save windows 8 at all is if it ships with the old win 7 interface exposed by default. And, if it does, what's the point of upgrading to it?

You know, most products eventually reach a point in time where they've evolved to the end of any functional improvements and thereafter merely get cosmetic tweaking. Windows must be pretty close to that point.

Subject:RE: Next Version of Sound Forge - Wait for Windows 8

Reply by: colinu

Date:12/8/2011 9:07:50 AM

My reason for suggesting this was that they will market whatever comes down the pipe as being compatible with Windows 8, and will try to maximize their advertising dollar by releasing it around the same time. Microsoft frequently does this with their Office suite.

I too have tried the Windows Developer Preview, after you turn off that new Start screen for touchscreens (via a simple Registry tweak) you just get an updated version of Windows 7. It isn't as bad as some are making it out to be.

Subject:RE: Next Version of Sound Forge - Wait for Windows 8

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:12/8/2011 1:20:25 PM

I too have tried the Windows Developer Preview, after you turn off that new Start screen for touchscreens (via a simple Registry tweak) you just get an updated version of Windows 7. It isn't as bad as some are making it out to be.

Except that "Windows 7" that you see in there is NOT the real OS kernel. It is a shell app version of the Windows 7 desktop running inside of Windows 8. So it's not the real OS whatsoever. Can't see that being of any advantage for audio - it's almost like running Forge inside a virtual machine - everything will be compromised in some way.

Sony - along with any other audio vendors - if they are smart - won't make any special specific concessions for Windows 8. Smart vendors will be bulletproofing their Windows 7 compatibility as this will shortly be the most used OS ever.. and will continue to be in use well after Windows 8 has died off....

As of now - well before Win 8 ships (and dies) I can't see myself ever moving past Windows 7 for pure audio work since I won't use some fake "shell" front end and can't ever see that ridiculous Metro interface ever being useful for what were have all come to know as the "standard" way of interfacing with Windows and our apps.

Judging by the negative vibe that's brewing - this OS is Vista x10.

Conversely - when Win 7 went to Developer Preview status - folks were raving about it and look where it went.

This could be a watershed moment in watching a once great company really mess up bad. Especially with no hot tablet to go with a supposedly "hot" tablet OS.

VP

Subject:RE: Next Version of Sound Forge - Wait for Windows 8

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:12/8/2011 2:55:14 PM

From what I've read W8 willl be as big a fizzer wrt desktop PCs as Vista. MOre relevant to smudge-screen devices (yuk).

SCS haven't indexed version releases to Win versions before...

geoff

Subject:RE: Next Version of Sound Forge - Wait for Windows 8

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:12/8/2011 8:57:33 PM

I wouldn't worry too much about a virtual OS running on top of a different kernel. All OSes are moving in that direction and within a couple years there simply won't exist any native OS layer. With the speed of hardware now and the efficiency improvements of virtualization there really won't be any considerable speed degradation.

The benefit will be that you'll be able to switch between any desirable OS on any platform or even run multiples simultaneously. Any "intelligent box" will be able to present whatever face you like or need. Oracle's VirtualBox.com is a dandy step in that direction. I can have several different versions of Windows & Linux all running on the same screen at the same time, and it doesn't really matter what hardware is under the hood. I suppose if i wanted to do a little under-the-table hacking i could have a MacOS running too.

No more Mac-aholics asking when Sony will release a Mac version. No one will care which system they have anymore because they'll all just run anything.

This is a good thing.