What I understand is that Intel and AMD decided not to work on drivers for their new chips to support older Windows, aligning themselves with the new Microsoft support policy... Intel said: "Intel will not be updating Win 7/8 drivers for 7th Gen Intel Core per Microsoft's support policy change". AMD said: "AMD's processor roadmap is fully aligned with Microsoft’s software strategy". Microsoft are also holding back, for example by not supporting 7th gen xHCI USB controller on older versions of Windows.
So it doesn't seem like it is Microsoft's choice alone. I think the current title (Latest Intel & AMD chips won't support Windows versions earlier than Windows 10) is not pointing blame at anyone, just saying that the chips are not going to be officially supported.
Rationally speaking, yeah, it doesn't mean much more than that they won't work with it, independent of who's to blame, but I did initially still read it as if it was Intel's and AMD's fault, and I'm obviously not alone with that either.
Better would have been like I've already used it: "Intel's and AMD's chips won't work with Windows 7/8"
Then it's completely open why that is and the reader can make up their own mind.
"Fault" is one way of looking at it. However, another way is to say that it's apparently not commercially worth while to the chip makers to support generation N-1 of Microsoft's OS. That says something interesting about the market.
So it doesn't seem like it is Microsoft's choice alone. I think the current title (Latest Intel & AMD chips won't support Windows versions earlier than Windows 10) is not pointing blame at anyone, just saying that the chips are not going to be officially supported.
Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/3112663/software/microsoft-ma...