When its comes to force users to upgrade, Microsoft seems to have found a way. As per the reports Microsoft’s new OS comes with compatibility insurance policy (sort of):

Microsoft is adding a “Windows XP Mode” to Windows 7, in a move to encourage users to make the switch to the software vendor’s forthcoming operating system. The firm has built its XP mode into Windows 7 by using the Windows Virtual PC technology Microsoft acquired in 2003, to make the OS compatible to run apps designed for Vista’s predecessor. Redmond was keen to emphasise in a blog post late on Friday that it’s hoping to woo small businesses to move to Windows 7 by bigging up the XP mode feature. “Windows XP Mode is specifically designed to help small businesses move to Windows 7,” said Microsoft. “Windows XP Mode provides you with the flexibility to run many older productivity applications on a Windows 7 based PC.” Users can install apps directly into the virtualised XP environment. The applications are then published to the Windows 7 desktop and they can be run from within that OS. Microsoft said it will release a beta of Windows XP mode and Windows Virtual PC for Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate “soon” but wasn’t more specific about when the test builds will land. via Windows 7 gets built in XP mode • The Register.

How convenient…

But what happens when this tempts users to migrate to Windows 7 and later slowly Microsoft kills features and application compatibility for XP?

This sure seems like a perfect murder plan for Windows XP.