Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

pb69

macrumors member
Original poster
May 5, 2017
83
10
New Mexico
Why do software companies continue to support Windows 7 but not Snow Leopard? I do not understand.
 

Stefan johansson

macrumors 65816
Apr 13, 2017
1,294
607
Sweden
Because windows is supported by Microsoft,and snow leopard is supported by Apple. It's two different companies,and many windows 7 computers cannot use win 8 or higher. Most snow leopard macs,that originally had snow leopard installed,works completely normal with sierra too. Windows 7 was in the beginning designed for small compact 10 inch laptops,and as long as there still is lots of those in use out there,they will support windows 7. Apple never built that kind of cheap,simple laptops,they made the iPad instead.
 
  • Like
Reactions: maflynn

flyinmac

macrumors 68040
Sep 2, 2006
3,579
2,465
United States
Because windows is supported by Microsoft,and snow leopard is supported by Apple. It's two different companies,and many windows 7 computers cannot use win 8 or higher. Most snow leopard macs,that originally had snow leopard installed,works completely normal with sierra too. Windows 7 was in the beginning designed for small compact 10 inch laptops,and as long as there still is lots of those in use out there,they will support windows 7. Apple never built that kind of cheap,simple laptops,they made the iPad instead.

Minor correction:

Windows 7 is supported by Microsoft.

Apple has abandoned Snow Leopard.

Otherwise, your general point is correct. It is all based on how many active users there are for a given operating system.

There are far more Windows 7 machines still in use than there are Snow Leopard machines.

Even Apple will support Windows versions longer than they support their own MacOS versions. It's all about installed / active user base.
 

Stefan johansson

macrumors 65816
Apr 13, 2017
1,294
607
Sweden
Minor correction:

Windows 7 is supported by Microsoft.

Apple has abandoned Snow Leopard.

Otherwise, your general point is correct. It is all based on how many active users there are for a given operating system.

There are far more Windows 7 machines still in use than there are Snow Leopard machines.

Even Apple will support Windows versions longer than they support their own MacOS versions. It's all about installed / active user base.
Sorry about my little mistake,might be language related.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,627
43,626
As mentioned MS has a policy of supporting operating systems for x years, and Apple has opted for a shorter time span.
 

thingstoponder

macrumors 6502a
Oct 23, 2014
916
1,100
I'll never understand people's obsession with Snow Leopard. It's an ancient OS and not usable anymore for a main computer.
 

KALLT

macrumors 603
Sep 23, 2008
5,361
3,378
Third-party developers still support Windows 7, because that is where most users are. Unlike Apple, where most users update to the latest version quickly, Microsoft is generally unable to mobilise the largest part of its customer base towards newer versions. Windows 10 is still not the most-used Windows version presently. This is probably going to change as Microsoft changed their strategy with Windows 10 (semi-rolling release with automatic updates).
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.