Drop, charge, and lose the cords
- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 227 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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14 out of 28 people found this review helpful
3.0 stars
"Vista 1.2 forget what the review says."
Pros: Actually "another Vista" is exactly the right choice. Vista was too much change all at once, more change isn't what's needed. Windows 7 has some new features (though unless you're buying a new system touch is pointless) but it's basically Vista.
Cons: If you're on Vista already - well Windows 7 is "meh". If not, well many of the bumps have been addressed (mostly by the vendors of the products that got bumped) so now might be the right time to move.
Summary: If you're hoping for something other than a new Vista, forget it. Microsoft's future is here, and they aren't changing course. Is this "just Vista" well no, it's got some new features, and some elements have got some extra polish. But actually Vista has done the hard work for Windows 7 - most things now work, because the original developer has changed their product to work WITH Vista and my extension Windows 7.
If you tried Vista and found lots of the stuff you needed didn't work, well probably those issues have been addressed, not by Windows changing but by the products being more compatible. Now might be the right time, and Windows 7 may make sense now.
Of course, if the things causing you problems were "in-house" or no longer supported, things could be different. Here you're going to have the face the painful truth - XP is going away, you'll either have to get with Windows Vista/7 or get off Windows altogether, sticking isn't an option long term.
Now the Ultimate version has a kind of "XP compatibility mode" but you may find your PC can't handle that - this isn't a "sure kill" for your particular issue. While it sounds great, I'm not convinced that for the majority of users it's going to be especially helpful. The system requirements are steep.
What are the chances for Windows 7? Well mixed I'd say. The hype around Windows 7 is off the chart, and actually that's not even (entirely) Microsoft's fault, no product can live up to the expectations that Windows 7 has. However, the world has moved on since Vista shipped, and Windows 7 is much more likely to "work" for you now that Vista was when it shipped. Microsoft's inability to understand that all the different SKUs are stupid still astounds me and that is unlikely to get much love from customers. The expectations of the "XP compatibility layer" won't be met by the vast majority of PCs already out there. But this seems like a solid release of Windows, the new plans for Europe might actually fly (Windows 7E seemed like a suicide note) and the world is much more ready for Windows 7 that it was for Vista.
My advice;
If you're on XP, you're on notice, you need to think seriously about where you want to go. If you're sticking with Windows, well Windows 7 IS the right choice, staying where you are isn't going to be an option long term.
If you're on Vista, well you might have some pressing need for something in Windows 7 that I'm not seeing, but probably you're fine as you are. When you replace your PC, Windows 7 should be really easy for you (you've already done the hard part!)
If you're on Vista and qualify for a free upgrade, you should take it - maybe wait a month after release to make sure it's as solid as it seems, but really there is no real reason not to go.
If you've switched away from Windows? Well it probably doesn't matter how good Windows 7 is, if you're happy in your new home - enjoy. Windows 7 is still Windows (albeit the best version ever). Forget the comparisons with Mac OS X, or Linux - Windows 7 isn't going to kill either of those.
So in summary, Windows 7 IS the best version of Windows Microsoft has ever shipped, but it IS still Windows. Will Windows 7 live up to the hype? Nope - but that's a criticism of the hype not Windows 7 (and actually I'm not even sure I'd blame Microsoft for it). Will Windows 7 fail? Nope, this is the Windows juggernaut, Microsoft haven't fundamentally broken it, Windows 7 is a solid release, the best so far. Does Windows 7 represent something important? Probably not, it's a nice upgrade to Vista but not revolutionary, as more and more of a users activity concentrates on the browser the OS becomes less important.
So what is important for Microsoft? Well they need Windows 7 to do well, and I think it will - mostly on the back of the pain that Vista endured. More than that they need the next version of Office and the Office ecosystem to be compelling, that could be harder.
- 6 replies to this review
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this system looks similar to vista but any one who has used it for more than five minute would know its completely new other than visuals they kept similar to make it an easier transition from vista and there was nothing wrong with vista visual design but how it interacted with hardware making program use suck.
Obviously the writer of this review has had little to no interaction with the OS
-dont write reviews for products you don't use -
"Windows 7 is still Windows" No kidding? Let me get this straight, an OS called "Windows" "is still Windows"? How astute of you! Repeating the obvious multiple times is not a review.
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Ok, if you look at this character (who goes by name Jeremy Chappell) reviews, it becomes clear rather quickly he's a Mac fanboy. He game 3 stars to Win 7, 5 to Snow Leopard, and (surprise!) 0.5 starts to Phystar's hackintosh. :)
Personally to Jeremy, please stop writing reviews for products you've never used. -
I'm usually not a big defender of Microsoft but this time I couldn't disagree more with this review. I'm with another poster when I say it's highly unlikely that you've used Windows 7 long enough or even Vista to make the distinction between the two. Your comments sound exactly like my prejudice comments when the initial Windows 7 screen shots were released. Honestly, yes Windows 7 has a great deal of Vista under the hood but that's where the differences stop. They've done a great deal with stability, speed, and boot times. The interface changes alone make Windows 7 well worth the upgrade from Vista and definitely from XP. Take it from someone who made the mistake of buying Vista Ultimate and suffering with it. Even after numerous updates (I downloaded them all) Windows Vista was just as slow and bloated as the day I installed it. Upgrade people! You will be so glad you didn't listen to this pessimistic review from someone who obviously doesn't know what they are talking about.
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I highly doubt that you even used windows 7. Please don't write reviews for products that you don't know much about. All of your statements are based on your past hate for Vista. If you haven't notice, Vista would have been a great OS if it functioned correctly.
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Although there may be some who would disagree with you, I think you described it to the best of your ability and at least tried to show both sides. I like reading long reviews...they tell you more than any two-liner would. If someone puts in the effort to write it, I'll put in the effort to read it. Thanks again for your review.
P.S. Oh, did I mention the typo? (Ha, ha.)
Where to buy
Microsoft Windows 7 (Professional):
$129.99 - $299.99
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