Oct. 24, 2009 – Despite the ads that bemoan Microsoft’s history of launching Windows upgrades to high expectations only to disappoint, Windows 7 knocks the ball out of the park. It does everything Windows Vista promised to do and much more.
In fact, it is a full replacement operating system, not just Vista tweaked, with support for the latest touch screen computers, full media sharing for between all your home's PCs, quicker program response and better battery management. But it’s not without flaws, such as no automatic Bluetooth connectivity.
Is the upgrade worth it? For me, the answer was a resounding yes. Not only did upgrading to Windows 7 give my computer a beautifully simple and uncluttered new look, but the functions actually work the way they were designed to. No more of the annoying program permission issues I had with Vista and the multitude of other problems. (I got so frustrated with Vista one day that I actually stripped it off of one of my computers and went back to Windows XP.) The upgrade to Windows 7 for me was relatively short and painless. I did a clean install (from scratch) rather than upgrade from XP, and transferred my files and settings via the transfer wizard to the new Windows 7 operating system. I personally love the new taskbar and the snap-to resizing for working in two windows at the same time.
But the question of whether to upgrade to Windows 7 is one you’ll have to answer for yourself, based on budget concerns, the time involved with installing a brand new operating system and transferring your files and settings, and a number of other factors. Here’s a link to one video that weighs Windows 7’s pros and cons. Here’s another link that compares Windows 7 to Apple’s Snow Leopard. And here’s how to do the upgrade and other Windows 7 tips.
If you are looking to buy a new PC, I'd hold off a bit until I can get the one I want with Windows 7 already installed or take a look at one of the few on the market already with Windows 7 as the operating system like the Lenovo ThinkPad SL410, SL510. Check for local availability.
One other note. Some people who still had compatibility issues between Windows 7 and some of their Windows XP programs even when they ran the programs in compatibility mode chose to do a duel boot, operating both systems on one computer. Tech Republic has instructions on how to do a duel boot.
Comments
My bluetooth on Thinkpad T400 stopped working after I upgraded. Actually, Windows 7 even couldn't find the device at all. Whenever I tried to install driver for the bluetooth, I was told the device wasn't there.
I'm a network engineer and I work for a fortune 500 company as well as an independent IT consultant in the Phoenix area.
Since we have MSDN subscriptions I'm entitled to most MS products so I decided to download and use Windows 7, The install was very simple, the first impression after booting up was very positive, easy on the eyes, but I really didn't feel the difference from any other Vista install, I really don't like the way you map network drives on Vista and Windows 7, and the way the hard drive keeps spinning without me doing anything on the system, after a week of use I just didn't find it productive and re-imaged the machine with XP pro, as this is what I call my MS box, my other Workstation is a Linux box, extremely productive and also very easy on the eye.
I personally believe that Microsoft has made an outstanding job Marketing what they should call Vista Service pack X instead of Windows 7, the key word here is Marketing, sell you the same thing with a new package, and
actually get people excited about it.
Amazingly to myself, I uploaded the full OEM non-Dell version of Windows 7 on my Dell Studio laptop and didn't bother with the upgrade since I hated all the bloatware that came with this laptop. Not only did Windows 7 find all my hardware except for 4 things which were found when I updated from Microsoft, but my computer now runs more smoothly and faster. I'm very pleased with it.
LOL @ Duel boot... what, do the OS's fight each other to the death? Try Dual.
Windows 7 is a mixed bag for me. They took away My Computer toolbar (which a lot of people didn't use or know about but those of us who did, really loved) and replaced the 1 click convenience of it with Libraries. :(
Also, Windows 7 Home Edition doesn't currently work well with Windows Home Server at this point (Power Pack 3 should fix it whenever it's released). I can't point my Libraries to my WHS shares, which is very annoying, as I prefer to use the WHS Shares to store downloads and not local folders.
I understand Microsoft is trying to make it easier for people to find and store stuff in a convenient location, by the My Documents just does not work for me overall, due to it already being cluttered and some other programs, like Microsoft Office, add other folders in there that I just don't feel I need to backup, or care to copy when I want to make a backup of the essentials.
A lot of people forget that they compare a fresh copy of an OS with one that they've had running on a system for a few years. Of course a fresh install will seem smoother , snappier. That counts too for Mac and Linux. Well the true test is to report back after it's been on the same computer for two years or so.
A lot of people forget that they compare a fresh copy of an OS with one that they've had running on a system for a few years. Of course a fresh install will seem smoother , snappier. That counts too for Mac and Linux. Well the true test is to report back after it's been on the same computer for two years or so.
A lot of people forget that they compare a fresh copy of an OS with one that they've had running on a system for a few years. Of course a fresh install will seem smoother , snappier. That counts too for Mac and Linux. Well the true test is to report back after it's been on the same computer for two years or so.
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