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Windows 7 Insider

October 16, 2009 5:11 PM PDT

Vote your plans for Windows 7

by Seth Rosenblatt

Updated Monday, October 19, at 2:40 p.m. PDT: Due to the popularity of the poll, we've extended voting until Friday, October 23 at 5 p.m. PDT. We've also added two questions for current Mac and Linux owners.

Have you been eagerly tracking Windows 7 since the beta release? Or have you had enough of Microsoft? Tell us how you plan to handle Windows 7 in this weekend poll. Voting ends Monday morning at 9 a.m. PDT.

Seth peers into the deep, dark corners of software so that you don't have to. He has yet to suffer a single nightmare about OS/2. You can follow him on Twitter.

Topics:: News

Tags:: Windows 7,; poll

Share:: Digg; Del.icio.us; Reddit; Facebook; Twitter

See all Windows 7 coverage.

Recent posts from Windows 7 Insider: Windows Starter Kit refreshed for 2010; $999 Blu-ray laptop with game:
Sony Vaio FW560F/T reviewed; Home Server Power Pack 3: It's all about Windows 7; Enable Ctrl-Alt-Del log-in window in Windows 7; New Netbooks get subsidized for the holidays: Samsung Go and Acer Aspire One go for $199 at AT&T; Windows 7: If it were my idea; Rename a virtual machine in VMware Fusion; Windows 7 use continues to climb

Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 4 pages (110 Comments)

by joefosho619 October 16, 2009 5:32 PM PDT

I'll stick with my free Ubuntu OS and spend that 100 dollars in Sin City (Vegas).

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by james8542 October 17, 2009 4:36 PM PDT: you can get it on piratebay for free; Like this


by cheemster October 19, 2009 7:17 PM PDT: guy above me has really good point, obviously cnet doesn't support TPB and piracy, but w.e he doesn't care lol; Like this


by markosph October 19, 2009 11:15 PM PDT: I'll keep the free version till it runs out then get it. I might go the route of pirate bay if I can't afford it at, but when I can I will buy it as I do with all the software I have. I was tempted to go the Ubuntu route, all of my software would run in it, but I am to unsure about it.; Like this


by InkyRed October 20, 2009 3:33 AM PDT: I hate that this option is NOT there...probably because only a handful of people will actually choose it. I currently have a Macbook Pro and am running Windows 7 Ultimate signature edition on it since October 10th...through Houseparty.com. Just thought I'd brag a little. I haven't played any games yet though.; Like this


by Bertbaby October 20, 2009 7:55 AM PDT: I run Ubuntu too in addition to Vista and XP machines. Ubuntu is almost ready for prime time once the support for drivers improves. I seriosuly doubt that 10% of the Windows base will mgirate to Linux or Apple. It would appear only Microsoft haters were motivated to participate in the poll. from bertbaby at floresgirl; Like this


by ssfdre38 October 20, 2009 12:32 PM PDT: i also have Windows 7 Ultimate Signature Edition by houseparty.com and ive been using it since Oct 7th and its really good but if your just the everyday user and you dont plan on using your computer for busniess i would say just get the home prem; Like this


by ssfdre38 October 20, 2009 12:37 PM PDT: i also have Windows 7 Ultimate Signature Edition by houseparty.com and ive been using it since Oct 7th and its really good but if your just the everyday user and you dont plan on using your computer for busniess i would say just get the home prem also microsoft put a anti-pirate feture on the operating system so getting from piratebay will your computer shut-down and you will loose all your data; Like this


by cpearson October 21, 2009 2:18 AM PDT: Would've liked to see the option "Windows is useless and Windows 7 won't make it onto any of my computers"; Like this

by mediocrates--2008 October 16, 2009 5:43 PM PDT

I would never own a Mac myself - but shouldn't there at least be an voting option for those folks?

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by Absolution2009 October 19, 2009 12:26 PM PDT: I have a Macbook Pro and I'm getting Windows 7 for it as well as on my desktop gaming rig. You can't beat Windows 7 for gaming and 3rd party software. Not to mention "personal" software.; Like this


by DMBoricua October 19, 2009 8:16 PM PDT: I may get a Macbook, and will probably install Windows 7 on it on a different partition, and I'll have best of both worlds! Work/Business, and music on Mac OS X and gaming on Windows 7 :D.; Like this

by Slick1of2 October 16, 2009 6:09 PM PDT

I am one of those who voted I have no current plans to upgrade. But I would like to say that I might in the future. I have to save my money for other things (it's not easy being a college student in California). But if I end up waiting too long and MS comes out with another OS, then I will certainly get that one. I don't like to be too behind.

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by LightningXShadow October 17, 2009 7:49 AM PDT: Microsoft is offering Windows 7 for $30 for college students. All you need is a .edu email address. If you ask me, that's a steal. http://win741.com and click BUY. Enjoy.; Like this


by thestonegodsrock October 17, 2009 9:46 AM PDT: or if otheres who are in the uk can also get the offer if they have an .ac.uk email :); Like this


by Absolution2009 October 19, 2009 12:27 PM PDT: I created my own server for .edu mail server using Roundcube hahaha.; Like this


by johnangelo007 October 19, 2009 6:36 PM PDT: Created your own .edu mail server? Is that possible? Heard that was about as difficult as getting a .gov domain.; Like this


by thydavidcome October 22, 2009 5:20 AM PDT: its not just a .edu I think its also a list of pre-approved mailing servers. Like usf.edu (university of south florida); Like this


by Zalcorn October 16, 2009 6:16 PM PDT: I've been following Win7 since the initial beta offering, which I dual-booted on my Vista system and loved. In anticipation of the release I bought a new hard drive and more RAM for my laptop, I plan on doing a clean install because Vista has become just plain slow. Hopefully, it will be like having a whole new computer (at least in terms of greater speed).; Like this Reply to this comment

by GadgetDon October 16, 2009 6:27 PM PDT

I've got a Mac and a Windows XP computer. Reasons not to: expense, hassle factor, and I've got a couple old games that I'm not sure will work under 7. But against that... I haven't gotten a compelling reason of why I should upgrade, beyond "it's new" and "it's better than Vista"

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by shellcodes_coder October 17, 2009 12:33 AM PDT: Your old games should run in both Vista and 7. Try compatibility mode and run that game with admin privilege ie by right clicking that application and then select "Run As Administrator", it should work. I have managed to run many old games in Vista and 7 by doing so.

Here's a list of all the new features of Windows 7: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_7; Like this


by stickfu October 17, 2009 7:20 AM PDT: Nice honest post, If it ain`t broken, don`t fix it; Like this

by CatalepsicFox October 16, 2009 6:30 PM PDT

Where's "I have a Mac and will be installing Windows in it!"

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by iteachnology October 17, 2009 8:00 AM PDT: That's a very valid question! Here here!! =); Like this


by Absolution2009 October 19, 2009 12:27 PM PDT: here here!; Like this


by Tothcjt October 16, 2009 6:34 PM PDT: Can Mac people have an option for this vote. I have a Macbook Pro and plan on getting Windows 7 and Boot Camping it. So I voted for I currently have a windows machine and plan on upgrading on the same machine.; Like this Reply to this comment

by Dan7637 October 16, 2009 7:55 PM PDT

hahaha ive had the final release of windows 7 for a while now

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by Software_Lover October 19, 2009 12:04 PM PDT: Me too. :) Where's the option for us?; Like this


by alexlipford October 19, 2009 10:18 PM PDT: Same here. I've been running the final release of Windows 7 for 2 months now. Gotta love MSDNAA!!! 100% legal and %100 percent free on my end :) Thank You Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering!!!!!!!; Like this

by Some_Crazy_Guy October 16, 2009 8:29 PM PDT

Until it has better legacy support, it won't be worth my time to get. And 20 gigs needed for the OS roughly? Come on.... I'm staying with XP.

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by viper396 October 19, 2009 3:53 PM PDT: So your point is you will NEVER upgrade or move on. If you insist on using old, (i.e. Legacy) software and hardware then there is no need to upgrade to any new OS. This is true no matter what operating system you favor. By definition, "legacy support" will *ALWAYS* worsten as technology improves and OS's are upgraded. Your expectation that legacy support actually get better is unrealistic and assbackwards. The more obsolete the hardware and software, the less likely it will be supported in future operating systems. Even Apple had to dump PowerPC support.

In a time where 2Terrabyte harddrives run less then $150 and HD movies are in the 25~50gb range, complaining that any OS uses only 20gig is just asinine. 20gig is nothing.

I have to question why you are even following the articles on CNET if you are so stuck on old "legacy" technology? The "Latest and Greatest technology" is obviously not of your concern. In a few years both Apple and Microsoft will release even newer operating systems, Win8 or OS11 or whatever, and the support for your "legacy" hardware/software will be even worst off. Think about it.; Like this


by Some_Crazy_Guy October 26, 2009 4:43 PM PDT: I don't mind following the articles here, they list some interesting content, but if I had the money to even get a decent PC for Windows 7, the only reason I'd have it is for DirectX 11, and since I wouldn't want DirectX 11 on Vista. And one of the reasons I'm quite fine with XP anyways is that most of the software I have for it, which most was downloaded at download.com, was made for XP or other OSes, like 2000, 98, Vista. Usually about it. It'd be a lot of fun moving to it and having half of the programs not be able to work because of the simple fact that it is 7. I dunno, XP must be a pretty good OS if certain versions of 7 have an XP mode....besides, XP isn't done with officially until April 8, 2014, so I think I'll be fine until then. A dual boot option of XP 32 bit/7 64 bit would be nice though.; Like this

by shellcodes_coder October 16, 2009 9:03 PM PDT

Have already upgraded all 5 computers here to Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (2 computers) and Professional x64 (3 computers)

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by thydavidcome October 22, 2009 5:23 AM PDT: Very nice most of us here will be using professional/home premium, I will be using ultimate.; Like this

by crescentdave October 16, 2009 11:38 PM PDT

Where's the "I currently have a mac computer and will switch to Win7?" Given you include a "move from" windows, wouldn't it make sense to include a "move to" windows? That's a rhetorical question, by the way. No need to cloud your issues with facts.

Win 7 is going on all my machines, with the exception of one that's used as a test bed for "legacy" computing problem solving. Speaking of which ... Anyone who expects Win7 would support the same legacy apps/hardware WinXP supported 9 years ago when it was first released needs to join the same Apple support group which can't quite accept the Motorola dream was (rightfully) flushed down the toilet of no return.

Like this Reply to this comment


by srosenblatt October 19, 2009 3:11 PM PDT: Excellent point. We've extended the poll and added two questions for current non-Windows owners.; Like this


by espeed623 October 17, 2009 1:00 AM PDT: To quote an old Apple commercial from the 90's:
"To see them running on two different machines isn't terribly surprising, but to see them running on the same machine is."

As a Mac user who likes the best of both worlds, it's apparent that I'm not switching to a PC. Rather, I'm using my Mac AS a PC. I'm buying a full copy of Win7 Ultimate when it's available.; Like this Reply to this comment

by iteachnology October 17, 2009 7:58 AM PDT

I don't like any of the choices for the poll. Yes, I have a Windows Vista (8month old) laptop. Now that Vista has the hardware to run on I have not had any issues, but I'm more interested in triple booting
OS X (snow), Linux (ubuntu) and then Windows 7.

My ideal situation would be to install OS X and Linux on their own external HDs and continue to have Windows Ultimate (what I have now) or 7 on the laptop HD. Running them virtual would be the easiest switching setup, but I'm not sure how to pull that off, yet - still researching. Well, technically I'm still researching about all of it. =)

Like this Reply to this comment


by stickfu October 17, 2009 8:12 AM PDT: If you are using a Mac I think this doc will help..

http://wiki.onmac.net/index.php/Triple_Boot_via_BootCamp

If you`re going the Hackintosh route, you need to partition your drives (obviously) as well as install OSX with FAT or Unix file system (for compatibility, don`t use HFS file system with this config due to the fact the other operating systems can have difficulty seeing the HFS partition)

For a real nice partition tool, try this..

http://partedmagic.com/

self contained live cd that handles tons of FS, HFS too; Like this

by laxss2g4ever October 17, 2009 8:02 AM PDT

where's the "I currently have snow leopard, but due to college courses I need to buy some form of Windows so it might as well be the hyped up 7 series"??? cause that's my situation

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by lilstefon October 20, 2009 7:25 PM PDT: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/academic/dd861347.aspx

http://windows7.digitalriver.com/store/mswpus/en_US/DisplayHomePage?resid=g9WhbQoBAkgAADiqahYAAAA0&rests=1256091884356

Dual boot it or buy an external to boot off of; Like this

by MickBurke October 17, 2009 8:16 AM PDT

I just removed windows 7 RC from my laptop and reinstalled XP. 7, like vista, just isn't as informative as XP is.

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by viper396 October 19, 2009 3:57 PM PDT: "..isn't as informative"???

I've heard many excuses for people to dislike an OS; some are reasonable, some are absurd. Not as "informative" is just baffling. What are you even talking about?; Like this


by thydavidcome October 22, 2009 5:27 AM PDT: Wait what???; Like this


by mustakimali October 17, 2009 10:39 AM PDT: My Options is not there, I am using Windows 7 and I'm not leaving it!; Like this Reply to this comment

by rlloyd October 17, 2009 12:19 PM PDT

I think this pole is unfair! Most likely the users of this pole are solely a PC person. I am a PC person at the moment. and have been since DOS. I never had the opportunity until recently to use a Mac. I do not like to sway towards anything until I have used said item as equally to that of the other. I have used Mac's periodically over the past 5 years and have found my self leaning towards Mac/Linux system. I have yet to run into any issues with them. I also find them faster in performance. I know this because of my daily usage of computers. I use computers almost 24/7. I can tell if something is wrong or not even if there is no visual sign or not.

So for this pole to be accurate you need to pole which users are Mac, PC, Linux, or both. Those who have about equal usage should technically be the only persons voting.

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by thomflora October 19, 2009 8:18 AM PDT: Pole?; Like this


by sportsfan206 October 19, 2009 2:24 PM PDT: yeah dude, if you really do use computers 24/7 try becoming familiar with the spell check / grammar check utility. It's a poll, not a pole; Like this


by thydavidcome October 22, 2009 5:29 AM PDT: You havent been using PCs since dos. You werent even a live when DOS was the OS. Rather your some 13 year old Apple fanboy.

Seriously? Pole? ****; Like this

by sw01fl October 17, 2009 5:08 PM PDT

I voted not to make the upgrade from Vista for $120. NOW when and if Microsoft offers Seniors the same $30 deal they are offering students, I would probley go ahead and do it. Windows 7 is not that great an improvement over Vista and too few new features to really warrant doing this upgrade. I have Vista zipping along with few problems, Just a few minutes of maintenance a week keep it running great.

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by ywkhgqo October 19, 2009 4:11 PM PDT: I'm tired of seniors getting discounts. Why? Is it a reward for surviving that long? They are offering the deal to students because they don't have money as they are paying for college. Seniors have money. That's why they are retired.; Like this


by thydavidcome October 22, 2009 5:31 AM PDT: @sw01fl
I suggest buying the family pack. 3 Windows 7 Home Premium for $150 use 1 to upgrade to 7, sell the other 2 for $80 a piece and boom you made all your money back (and $10 extra :D); Like this

by queticomn October 17, 2009 8:01 PM PDT

Micro$soft is now secretly installing malware plugins threw windows update into Mozilla FireFox, Windows Presentation Foundation - FF Warning, But No Add-On!

I was at the regional landscape company last weekend an also my local bank branch which is in the top 5 largest National banks in the nation. Both were still using windows 2000. Hey why upgrade a pay M$ more when something else works fine.

Good business practice.

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by sportsfan206 October 19, 2009 2:30 PM PDT: So wait, are you bashing Microsoft for what exactly? Realeasing a new OS and NOT forcing you to upgrade to it? You say they are still using Windows 2000, should that be applauded that Microsoft made an OS stable enough for a bank to use it all these years? I don't see your logic in calling out Microsoft for this.; Like this


by heygeo October 19, 2009 5:42 PM PDT: Dude.. what bank is that!? tell me so i can avoid them at all cost.. W2K is absolutely archaic and even less secure than XP... wow it takes a special kinda of cheap to stay the exact same for 10yrs and forego Win7... i wouldnt want to entrust my money to a company who is so cheeeaaapp that they ignore security to maximize profit.; Like this


by queticomn October 17, 2009 8:11 PM PDT: Windows Presentation Foundation - FF Warning, But No Add-On!

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23198266-Windows-Presentation-Foundation-FF-Warning-But-No-AddOn; Like this Reply to this comment