Entered CNET Catalog: 10/28/2008
SKU: CNETWINDOWS7PREBETA
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 10/28/2008
Although Windows 7 won't be available until 2010, a prebeta version is available to developers. At first glance, it appears to be a more advanced iteration of Windows Vista. Windows 7 also seems to be geared more toward the consumer with many more user interface enhancements. Windows 7 builds on the internals of Windows Vista. One immediate benefit is that Windows 7 should have fewer compatibility problems upon release. CNET took a look at Windows 7 Ultimate Build 6801 and found it to be a remarkably stable and feature-rich alpha. See these photos for a look inside Windows 7.
Up front we noticed a more intuitive interface within Windows 7. For example, if you drag a window all the way to the left or right edge, it'll snap to fill half the desktop, knowing that you intended to view another window at the same time. Also, the toolbar ribbons available in Office 2007 will be available within Windows 7 accessories, such as WordPad and Paint.
Missing is the Welcome Center in Windows Vista. The sidebar also appears to be missing, although you can simply install gadgets to the desktop. What is seen when you first boot into Windows 7 is Windows Live Messenger.
Another important user interface change from Windows Vista affects User Account Control. In Vista, you could have this protection either on or off. In Windows 7 there's a slider control between "always notify" and "never notify," allowing you to find a personal setting that fits you.
New features include a Bluetooth File Transfer Wizard that lets you share files between two computers. There's also Sticky Notes, similar to an application on Mac OS X, that allows quick notes to be "pasted" over the desktop; there's even a corkboard to post your notes for easy review. A new accessibility feature is the Windows Key: the plus key give the screen an instant zoom, and the minus key returns the resolution to the normal size.
The included version of Internet Explorer is the current beta of 8.
The boot process is much faster, although this hasn't been confirmed in a lab. Restore from hibernation appears much quicker.
Although it was not available in build 6801, CNET saw the new Taskbar in Windows 7 available in a more advanced build. The new Taskbar uses icons, not the names, across the bottom.
Microsoft is being coy about final release dates for Windows 7, stressing that it will depend on the quality of the builds. The company is hoping for the new operating system to be available roughly three years from Windows Vista's January 2007 release. From what we've seen in build 6801, we think they'll make that deadline.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31out of 31 user reviews
Windows 7 Installation\
Pros: This OS is wonderful! Installation had very little user interaction. Internet and wireless printer installed almost automatically.
Cons: I haven't used it enough to learn about the cons
out of 31 user reviews
Better than xp. Best when comparing to vista
Pros: Quick startup and not got more not responding issues
Cons: May have good UI since its still same as vista
out of 31 user reviews
It's Vista With a New Theme !!!
Pros: None i can see. unless you like the incredibly KDE like copying desktop !
Cons: Slow, Not all that different! from vista! a few new features like touch integration.
out of 31 user reviews
Microsoft is going down!
Pros: nice, good customized
Cons: weak, not that stable
out of 31 user reviews
Good but if your happy with XP....maybe not.
Pros: A lot more stable than Vista
Cons: It still feels like Windows Vista.
The GUI is nice but in some areas it looks as old as Windows 95. (but thats the same with all Windows OS)
If your happy with XP....maybe not.
Good if your coming from Vista, But it's enough to get me to leave XP.
out of 31 user reviews
HOPING FOR GREATNESS
Pros: NOT a MAC LOL
Cons: ITS STILL WINDOWS
Yes vista has problems, but nothing a faster Processor cant overcome, and it has a lot of pluses.
Updated on Mar 11, 2009" reply by: Hus90 on March 10, 2009
I think the con should be that it is not a mac xD "
ok i'll give u that 1 ... that was funny ... = P
still prefer windows tyvm
out of 31 user reviews
I don't know how windows7 prebeta (build 6801)
Pros: Over all look was great when it worked
Cons: But I downloaded Windows 7 beta (build 7000) and it sucked, to many problems and it was slow.
out of 31 user reviews
Go! Windows 7 Beta Go!
Pros: Task Bar, Touch interface, User Friendly, Windows can now heal thy self, built in powershell for power users, very simple to use, sweet themes
Cons: task take some getting use to, beta build 7000 shutdown takes along time sometime not shutting down at all
out of 31 user reviews
7 reasons to love Windows 7
Pros: Great OS by Microsoft
Cons: So far I have not seen one ..
2)Managing Windows is a breeze , moving windows is easy
3)Most of the common tasks and now less than 2clicks reach a Great improvement. Like connecting to a wireless network is two left mouse click away. Closing multiple browser window is tireless .
4)The task bar and control panel are well organized
5)Elapsed time from click of restart button to getting the login screen after the restart is less than 50 seconds. Out of which the BIOS load took 20 seconds.
6) Intuitive and attractive user interface .
7)Have been running it for close to 3.5 weeks , not a single crash of my desktop (1GB Ram) . And the Battery life on my laptop has increased 30 % since Windows 7 is installed. After the long woes of Vista finally hats off to the Microsoft Windows development team
Microsoft has finally come up with a great OS which is user friendly and at the same time gives excellent performance. a PC with 4 GB Ram and Good Video card would rock . I cannot see any other OS in the market this close . I was planning to buy Mac , but after playing with windows 7 - I'm going to defer my decision . Waiting for the Windows 7 netbook . It will be the best deal . High performance Windows 7 on lost cost netbook. Cant wait for Windows 7 release.
out of 31 user reviews
After 25 years close, but not finished yet!
Pros: It's better than Windows versions 1.0,1.03,286,95 need I go on.
Cons: Not yet better than Windows XP Pro 64 bit
Installed on an Intel D865 Perl if found most of everything installed hardware wise and ran smoothly until the install of Adobe Master suite, then it started unexplained reboots, no cause was noted in the log files, oh well I thought, it's an old system let' try it on the new.
Wrong again.
Installed it on a Gigabyte GA-EG45M-DS2H with:
8gb 1066 DDR2 memory
Western Digital 740ADFD 74gb 10,000 rpm drive
Seagate 31500341AS 1.5tb 7200 rpm drive
EVGA 9800 GT w/512mb DDR3 (the kicker)
First of all it couldn't identify the on board gigabit ethernet or any of the modern dynamic energy saver enhancements of the Gigabyte board or of the Intel E8500 processor.
It also had problems resolving the on board G45 graphics and HDMI Audio.
With XP the Eaglelake Chipset is only enabled for the HDMI at the moment (the 9800GTX was an afterthought when the system was built it's probably okay with the onboard graphics alone, but with the way the components are shoe horned into this micro atx case I wanted to see how it would handle everything installed for a fair comparison with the replaced operating system XP Pro 64).
By the time all the drivers were installed and ALMOST everything worked, the instabilities with crashing the dynamic energy saver (we all like green right) it was more trouble than it was worth, much like the pre-beta of NT 3.5 that I worked on years ago, The breaker for that system was a Microsoft Serial Mouse that had to be removed for the system to install properly and once the system was loaded the mouse driver could be loaded and caused no problems.
Sorry I got carried away for a moment, but that's just how long I've been at this and then some (my first DOS on my first system was MS-Dos 1.10 opps that aged me).
It seems that Microsoft ( I don't hate them, after all I made a lot of money working along side them and they have been "helpful") takes two step forward and then one HUGE step back then little baby steps ahead again to recover their balance and mis-steps and this is one of those baby steps ahead after the Vista goof ( I still don't have it installed since removing the beta off my machines redirecting my efforts to Linux).
Over all I could live with Windows 7 the way it is but driver support is paramount, modern Operating Systems should support ALL modern hardware, which has been the bane of existing with Windows over the years. It's been improving, old systems we can live with older versions of operating systems, we've figured out how what works with which and have fine tuned out the snags.
The last thing the end consumers need is more inconsistencies , for us supporters we all can profit from making bullet-proofing systems for the not so knowledgeable.
So the beat goes on, we make money and others complain, But after 25 years we could be closer to being perfect but then others wouldn't need our support.
I once had a customer ask "Why the other guy couldn't make things run right at his office like I did with his systems?"
To which I replied " If he did you wouldn't call him back."
He said " Oh I get it."
In the end it all depends on your perspective, whether you work at making money or saving money.
For what it's worth after Vista this is a step in the right direction and I'm sure as the feedback arrives and the product matures, it will all work out in the end.
For me I'll wait and finish the fight later, right now I have renovations to work on.
out of 31 user reviews
Good...Still windows Build 700 review
Pros: Really nice interface, quick program launch, simplified and condensed task bar, the action ccenter is great (like secuirty center), better looker boot loader than vista, easy to install.
Cons: Well dont know If im the only one who notices this but.....after I hit login to the time it loads my desktop it is about 2 times slower than my vista, only minimal increase in resource management as I am writing this 980MB mem used, same as vista.
out of 31 user reviews
Awesome interface! Fast at booting!
Pros: Love how fast it boots and how it configures it self! Didn't have to install any drivers whats so ever! Took my wireless card with out any problems!
Cons: My main con is that I have been having a black desktop come up sometimes I don't know if this is a problem with the video driver or some issue with a driver on the computer it's self! I bet MIcrosoft will correct the problem as the beta goes along!
Updated on Jan 17, 2009I just wanted to let you guys know also that I installed windows 7 from a thumb drive a 4gb drive worked perfectly seance it was only a 2.44gig file downloaded! It is very easy to extract using an iso extractor!
out of 31 user reviews
the windows7 beta is what vista was sopoosed to be.
Pros: fast and smooth. like XP (fast) and Vista (smooth) combined. better paint and wordpad
smoath, (aero makes a difference)
uses less requirements. you could run on 1GB of RAM if needed
easy install and dual boots my XP and WIN7 fine
Cons: download glich
background glich
gaget glitch
i think it is stable enough right now to realease in a couple months. i will be useing this as my primary OS for a while and definetly buy it when it comes out.
Cons: when i am dowloading sometimes it reapeditly opens new windows and new downlaod windows while refreshing the page. ??? it has haooend with downlaod.com as that is the only websight i have dl from. so it might be some script error or something.
the background changed by its self once. i was sending in fead back with the feadback app and i noticed the background change.
the feadback app lets you submit feadback even if you have no internet connection. (mabey it saves the fead back and sends it next time your connected)
over all i think everyone should try the beta as it is very stable. i happend to have the 64bit version and im assumeing the 32bit will give you the same performance for basic computing. also, i think it rivas OX X
the beta gets a 4 outa 5 because it still has some problems and is not an official relese
out of 31 user reviews
Windows 7 os
Pros: Iit is perfect with the new interface and much faster then vista is
especially with build 7000, It totally rocks the new icons also and the way it performance so far it is really a great operating sytem
Cons: still can't run older programs in windows 7
compared to xp and vista you can!!!
out of 31 user reviews
My Review is for the 7000 build released on Jan. 13.
Pros: It is much better than XP at detecting hardware and finding the drivers instead of making you do it yourself. If the beta is this good, I bet the final product will be even better considering how many people have downloaded this one.
Cons: I am using it onl a tablet from Gateway. It is a bit quirky but it works which is all I wanted.
out of 31 user reviews
Muy bueno para ser un beta
Pros: mas rapido que Windows Vista. Menos cargado con cosas que usas poco o nunca usas como aplicaciones para table pc y ese tipo de cosas
Cons: sierta incompatibilidad con algunos programas pero son de 10 - 1 que es bastante bueno para ser un beta
out of 31 user reviews
Love the Beta!
Pros: 1. The UI - 10x better than the traditional "Start" menu.
2. Super easy to organize files, navigate multi running apps and find information.
3. Simple to install. 2-3 clicks + 25 minutes.
4. Runs fast. Looks great.
5. Love IE8.
Cons: 1. Don't like Media Player. Better than old version, but still a bit kludgy.
The beta quality is exceptional, and I believe Microsoft in on to something with Windows 7. I can't wait to see the product once it's done.
out of 31 user reviews
Very good for a beta
Pros: Stable, blocks Firefox, improved graphics
Cons: Firefox will probably eventually install, some small bugs, no Mail, IM or movie making app
out of 31 user reviews
Why did people bother with Vista?
Pros: It will work on current hardware using Vista drivers.
Cons: To have it means paying M$ more money
Thats hardly comforting to those who have bought new PCs over the past couple of years and have been faced with Vista or nothing.
Vista has some flaws in the sound department, and is generally bloated so M$ release what Vista should have been.
I bet they can't wait to jump on the "uses less resources = less power save the planet idea".
out of 31 user reviews
Doesn't look like major change from Vista, from XP yes!
Pros: This has faster boot time and Vista does boot fast when it isn't cluttered with programs, so hopefully vista will be upgraded for those of us who spent money on it, or we will get Windows 7 as a free or cheap (real cheap) upgrade
Cons: I see nothing different from Vista, except a new interface for paint, and a slider for UIC setting, this is a fix for Vista with a new name to sell to XP hold outs! Lipstick on a pig? This is a way to milk more money out of current Vista purchasers.
It's all about paying the hired software writers, we never will see the perfect OS, just a new version every few years touted as the solution to last disaster!
out of 31 user reviews
Good information!
Pros: It suggests to go directly from XP to 7, bypassing Vista
Cons: It is OK for an early information.
out of 31 user reviews
hopefully not another Vista
Pros: Increased user options
More gear towards consumers, not developers
Cons: could potentially be like other Microsoft OS upon release......Slow and filled with bugs
out of 31 user reviews
Lets wait and see
Pros: Vistas main issue was compatibility and stability. If Windows 7 fixes those 2 main issues, Microsoft has probably found a keeper
Cons: Knowing Microsoft, it will take longer than they say and cost alot. Although the new naming system makes sense, for those that dont know the version names of the windows OSes, it might seem a little confusing.
If 7 is stable and is fully compatible with other programs from xp and vista, then this has some hope. I recommend to those that can, to wait a while and see what comes out of it. If you need a computer now, get a Mac so you can always add it on or get a cheap PC so you can upgrade to 7 just as it becomes nonfunctional.
I would wish that Microsoft would get rid of the different types when it comes out. One OS should have all of the features that anyone would need from a pc.
Here are some tips to anyone from Microsoft that reads this review
- GET RID OF THE FREAKIN FLAVORS!!!
- Make sure that the PC manufacturers are making their PC's up to snuff so that it all works perfectly
-Add some sort of program pause so that if it stops responding, you can simply pause it and do something else and come back to it so that the computer doesnt crash
-Add a bootcamp sort of program
- Integrate a sound security system that isnt annoying.
-Make it so that the desktop is movable so that if I have more stuff than what can fit on one screen i can simply move around or have another screen
-Add some cool features and programs that simplify things
- add a program that acts like a mini-OS for games and other media
If Microsoft does what I said above, then 7 will be the perfect operating system, or as perfect as one can get. I gave it a three because no one but the programmers have any idea what this will be
out of 31 user reviews
Looks like some stolen features from MacOS X and Linux
Pros: Better for what it is, will help out those poor Vista users, and may compel those with XP to finally move up.
Cons: Nothing significantly new from Vista. Seems like Microsoft can no longer come up with anything good and is just re-spinning ideas designed into other operating systems.
More like a giant expensive bug-fix.
It's a giant bug-fix.
Let's hope it gets that right at least.
out of 31 user reviews
Microsoft is improving dramatically with Windows 7
Pros: Interface improvements, lower specifications required to run, faster accessing times of documents, music, pictures, and videos (Libraries), native multi-touch support
Cons: Unsure of what the breakdown of features will be with each version (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate). I don't like the fact that I cannot use it now, because I could not attend PDC
out of 31 user reviews
Cant wait to try it
Pros: Love the new taskbar features and its integration with the yabs in Interent Explorer. Also like the sys tray changes and new libraries features
Cons: Not sure yet have to try it
out of 31 user reviews
Ho is it different from vista?
Pros: ok i will give it that it is less clutered...
Cons: changing a few things around and add 2 features does not make it its own OS....granted this is their first build...it should have some better tweaks to it
out of 31 user reviews
Best Windows Ever
Pros: Much better UI
Enhanced security
and so on
Cons: They will remove Windows photo gallery and Windows Mail from the final version of Windows 7. That's really weird
out of 31 user reviews
How innovative... not
Pros: Not Vista, that has to be good
Cons: Not Innovative
out of 31 user reviews
Hope you are not using vista waiting for this
Pros: Works on same hardware as Vista
Not so many annoying icons in system tray
Docking windows will be very useful especially for large monitors
Cons: Taskbar is bigger
May require lots of live downloads
out of 31 user reviews
Sounds great!!! First Post!!
Pros: speed, quality, etc that vista didn't really have + vista's same look
Cons: none...yet!!!! (hopefully) except for no sidebar
1. the speed, quality and other things are being added and taken out
2. BETTER THAN VISTA!!!!!!!
3. this is only the prebeta, which is good since it's the last windows before cloud computing which I heard or read
I think that this could be the best windows ever...SIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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