[fryke]

However, the original _plan_ was to throw out the old. Vista's not finished, so I wouldn't say too much about it just yet.

Btw.: Even if they'd make it so that none of the older apps would run out of the box, chances would be that most developers would make new versions. If you're a developer with a large investment in the Windows-world, you won't just close shop if Microsoft actually makes a daring *good* move to a new foundation. You also wouldn't bet on enough old-version users. And you wouldn't jump ship and switch to linux or Mac either, because it'd still be less hassle to develop for Vista (for you as a Windows developer, that is...). So from a Windows-hater's perspective, it is to hope that they'll make Vista compatible with older stuff in a way that hampers Vista. Just like they did with Win 95/98/etc. and XP.