When Windows 7 hits the shelf, what will you do?

[iMONITOR]

64bit is faster loading than 32bit, plus allows for more than 3(4?) MB of memory.

I don't know about faster loading, but I'll agree with 64 bit overcoming the memory limitation. However, I've never been able to get Windows to use more than 1.5GB of RAM no mater what I was running, or doing, with multiple applications, etc. So the 4GB ceiling has not been a problem at all.

There are very few 64 bit applications. So when you run your 32 bit applications on a 64 bit operating system, they're all running within a 32 bit emulator, which means more OS overhead, and loss of performance.

What really cracks me up is Microsoft is already talking about Windows 8, and 9, and 128 bits. I think they're getting ahead of everything else, with no real benifit.

 

[poltergeisty]

Remember the HT hoopla?

64 does offer added security benefits (At their core), but I'm willing to bet that all new procs with the 64 bit capability offer it natively to a 32 bit OS as well. Although I'm not sure. .

Something interesting to consider. 64 Bit Security Software - Many Vendors Missing the Mark? - dslreports.com



GRC*|*SecurAble: Determine Processor Security Features*|**

 

[iMONITOR]

My buddy made me drink the Microsoft Kool Aid, and I ended up buying Windows 7 Ultimate. I installed the 64 bit version on my old HP xw9300 workstation, with two AMD 64 Opteron processors, and 8GB of RAM. I have to admit, the installation was a breeze! It detected, and installed all the proper hardware drivers on the first pass, and worked perfectly!

As I suspected all along, Windows 7 is Vista refined. It really didn't look much different, but I will admit it is faster, and smoother, but it ends there. There is really nothing new or innovative enough to justify calling this a new version. It's basically what one would expect with Vista after SP3. Would I spend $200.00 to do this again, knowing what I know now? I doubt it. I think Microsoft pulled the biggest scam yet! It would have been better to admit this was a Vista patch, and charge (if necessary) a more reasonable fee of maybe $50.00. I think Vista owners who pay for this update are going to be infuriated! I know I'm not too happy about it.

What really shocked me is they removed the email client from Windows 7! That's right, no Outlook Express, not even Windows Mail, that came with Vista. I think it's Microsoft's way of sucking you into the whole Windows Live thing. No thanks! So I'm using MS Outlook from my MS Office 2003 CD.

The entire Window 7 experience reminded me of an old Peggy Lee song: Is That All There Is?
YouTube - Peggy Lee:Is That All There Is?

 

[N0IU]

I haven't read all the posts in this thread so someone else may have already said this, but you need one more option in your poll... "Wait until Windows8 comes out"

I used Windows7 for quite a while and subscribed to a couple of forums (like I need even more forums to keep track of!) and of course the buzz is that there is already a Windows8 in the works. I will readily admit to being a tech junkie, but I really did not have any, "Oh WOW! I gotta get this!" moments with Windows7. I mean I liked it well enough, but not $120 well enough!

About the only thing I came away with was that I changed my email from Outlook Express to Windows Live. Other than that, I am going to sandbag here on the sidelines for a little while longer.

 

[rdale]

I haven't read all the posts in this thread so someone else may have already said this, but you need one more option in your poll... "Wait until Windows8 comes out"

That's at least two - more likely three - years away though... So makes no sense. If you have Vista, you need to jump to Win7. If you love XP, then stay with XP. If you buy a new PC, make sure it's 7.

Windows 8 - Windows 8’s Known Knowns | Windows 8 News

 

[rdale]

Would I spend $200.00 to do this again, knowing what I know now?

Where'd you get your upgrade? It was $49.99 for quite a while ahead of launch, and still sells for ~ $120. That's high, but eBay has it cheaper.

 

[iMONITOR]

Where'd you get your upgrade? It was $49.99 for quite a while ahead of launch, and still sells for ~ $120. That's high, but eBay has it cheaper.

My buddy picked two up at a local Best Buy. It's the Ultimate version, which from what I can see, $200 is about average for retail stores. I see the lowest Buy-It-Now on Ebay is $140. I'm sure there are a lot of people selling off their free copies from the MS Party.

 

[rdale]

Sheez - Ultimate?!? No wonder it's expensive I used mine from the party for one PC, but got another for my kids' computer and Home Premium was enough for most users.

 

[iMONITOR]

Sheez - Ultimate?!? No wonder it's expensive I used mine from the party for one PC, but got another for my kids' computer and Home Premium was enough for most users.

I agree, it wasn't really up to me. I could have said no, but it was a pretty nice gesture from a good friend. I probably would have went with 7 Pro, to get the XP emulation option, not that it's needed, but just to test out.

 

[trimmerj]

Anyone here used it in a corporate AD enviroment yet ?

 

[lgentle]

I don't know about all the whiners here, but, I agree Windows 7 has been a long time in the waiting!

I pre-ordered mine in July. I couldn't wait until I got it!

Meticuliously backed up all my data and wrote down all the programs I had to reload.

Loaded Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, and took 2 days getting everything back and running the way I want/like it. It didn't take 2 days because of the OS, it took 2 days because I have a 3 year old that needs more attention than the computer.

I couldn't be happier!! This was like going from Windows 98 to Windows XP!!!

And what does it matter. I've still got Windows XP, too, using Virtual PC. It's like getting two OSes for one price!!! It cost me ZERO DOLLARS to download the Windows XP Mode.

I'm running a Core 2 Duo 2.4GHZ with 6GB of RAM, an nVidia GeForce 9500GT with 512MB and 2x1TB HDDs (running seperate).

So, you all go ahead and bash away. Seems to me, it just gives you people something to complain about!

 

[iMONITOR]

I don't know about all the whiners here, but, I agree Windows 7 has been a long time in the waiting!

I don't think anyone in this thread is a whiner. We are simply discussing our opinions and experiences with Microsoft's various versions of Windows, both good and bad. Everyone's experience is going to be different, and subjective.

We all have different expectations, and requirements that we want our operating system to meet. No two people use their computer exactly the same. Some are satisfied if it boots up and lets them check their email, or play solitaire. Others take it to greater levels where true performance, or lack of, comes out.

As your post clearly points out, you also had something to complain about. Does that label you as a whiner?

 

[KE0SKN]

I love my linux computer. Its fast and the graphics are great. Windows is to unreliable and attact prone.

 

[rdale]

I love my linux computer.

Just so we're clear - Windows 7 needs an emulator to run on Windows. I think you'd be making a smarter move just to dedicate a PC to Win7 instead of trying to run within Linux. I'll point you to some websites on starting out with Win7 if that's what you are looking for.

 

[iMONITOR]

+1 for Windows 7, I really like the new Snipping Tool! I've played around with third party screen captures utilities, but this one was well thought out. Sometimes it's the little things that count.

 

[KK6PD]

I will wait a year, let someone else work out the bugs, upgrade at that point.

For now XP is just fine!!!!

 

[mike_s104]

+1 for Windows 7, I really like the new Snipping Tool! I've played around with third party screen captures utilities, but this one was well thought out. Sometimes it's the little things that count.

I's in Vista too. I think I use the Snipping Tool more at work than anything else.

 

[MOGA]

I'll be sticking with OS X/Fedora. Just installed Fedora 11 as a VM on a Macbook Pro and loving every bit of it.

 

[rdale]

I will wait a year, let someone else work out the bugs

What bugs?

 

[brandon]

For those worried about compatibility issues, there is a nice feature for Windows 7 called Windows XP Mode. This allows you to run legacy software in Windows 7 using a virtual machine. Here is a screenshot of Butel ARC780 running under Windows XP Mode in Windows 7.

If you can cough up an .edu email address, Windows 7 can be had for 30 bucks :twisted:

I love my linux computer. Its fast and the graphics are great. Windows is to unreliable and attact prone.

Linux in a desktop environment can be nothing short of frustrating (at times). For example, in the Ubuntu distro it doesn't remember the window positions for many applications. This is absolutely unacceptable in late 2009 and has yet to be addressed. Now for server use, Linux is absolutely the way to go!