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Windows 8 will support USB 3
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Microsoft has revealed that its upcoming Windows 8 operating system will have a revamped USB software stack.
Microsoft announced that it went back to the drawing board for Windows 8 USB implementation that was due to the relatively new USB 3 specification. USB 3 was officially released back in 2008 however only in the past year have motherboards and peripherals become available. But according to Microsoft, it won't be until 2015 that we will see USB 3 everywhere.
For Microsoft the decision to support USB 3 is a no brainer. After all, previous versions of USB have become the most popular way of connecting devices to computers, even finding its way into markets where 'professional' buses such as Firewire ruled the roost. However obvious it might seem for Microsoft to support it, the real winners are USB 3 device makers because Microsoft's public support for the standard means that you can expect an explosion of USB 3 devices coinciding with the Windows 8 launch.
Microsoft was keen to point out that the USB stack in Windows 8 will retain compatibility with previous versions of the bus. The firm even built its own test device to simulate the most common commands that are issued by USB devices in order to ensure compatibility.
Back in 1998, Bill Gates, then Microsoft CEO, was embarrassed on stage at Comdex when he tried to plug in a USB scanner, only for the beta version of Windows 98 to throw up a blue screen of death. Given that most users will interact with Windows 8 through devices connected by USB, it is vital for Microsoft to have a seamless USB software stack if it wants to avoid embarrassing errors like that suffered by Gates. µ
Tags: Microsoft
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As I think I remember, at the windows 98 BSOD incident it was claimed that this was a beta (or rather "we're not shipping [...] yet") when the demo was so close to the release date there was no way there wasn't warehouses full of shrinkwrapped 'final' product ready for the release date.
Just another way that MS lies to your face while taking your money IMHO :)
Don't take the link unless you've a strong stomach. It's M$ at its most self-promoting and arrogant, crowing over duplicating what's already done by 3rd-party drivers.
Here's a point that's subtle:
"There are over 10 billion USB devices worldwide. ... all were originally designed to work with Windows PCs."
See the maniacal twist there? In the M$ view, "USB" isn't a "UNIVERSAL Serial Bus" that any OS or hardware device might utilize, it's exclusively for Windows!
Wow that is so impressive as my LoseDoze XP supports USB v3 with a 3rd party driver. Probably not the most optimal implementation with the older USB stack, but functional none the less.
But if I were to tow the line, I would immediately cough up the $$$ for a pre-order of the latest and greatest INNOVATION that is LoseDoze 8. Give me my LoseDoze!
...older systems will also (presumably) support USB 3.0 devices.
I gather that in some cases - perhaps typical cases - a USB 3.0 motherboard or accessory board requires a special device driver.
"Linux started supporting USB 3.0 in the September 2009 release of the 2.6.31 Linux kernel"
according to
http://www.linux.com/news/hardware/peripherals/278579-linux-and-usb-30
which looks forward to Windows USB 3 support in Windows 7 service pack 1. But now we know better. It's going to be a reason to buy Windows 8 - or a reason to switch to Linux two years ago.