Posted on 10/21/2009 2:40:21 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
Windows 7 has been a long time coming. In some ways its what Windows Vista was supposed to be back in 2006.
Its fast, super stable, but also clean and sleek. I love it and switch from OS X because of Windows 7.
It has restored my faith in Microsoft and it feels good to be back on a Windows system after a five year hiatus. I dont think Im alone either.
Reviews and previews of Windows 7 have been posted ever since the first public beta in January of 2009. Everyone seems to love it.
I havent seen or heard of any major bugs or flaws in the operating system. Microsoft nailed this one and should be proud.
Tomorrow, October 22, is the official launch date of Windows 7. Preorders are already shipping out from online retailers and I wouldnt be surprised if the retail boxes are already on the shelves in some brick and mortar stores.
In fact, TG Daily is reporting that Windows 7 has dethroned Harry Potter as Amazons most successful preorder item of all time. Its clear that people want Windows 7.
But do you? Seriously, Im asking. Do you plan on purchasing Windows 7?
Im not saying you should pay full retail for the system as there have already been a few deals for the OS including a student discount and the Signature edition found in the Windows 7 Launch Party packs landing on eBay for cheap.
Or you can snag an OEM version on the cheap too if you can manage without the retail box and documentation.
But if you do have to pay full retail, at least Windows 7 rings up at a lot lower price than previous editions of Windows 7 with the most expensive Ultimate edition costing only $319, which is slightly less painful than Vistas $399 MSRP.
Thats still a good chunk of change though. I can tell you that Windows 7 does provide a significant usability boost over Windows Vista, but besides that, even I have a hard time justify the price.
I know Microsoft and Apples business model are totally different, but Apple wins people over when it prices new operating systems for $29 while Microsoft charges more than a cost of a netbook.
Apple also doesnt have 17 different versions of the same operating system. Its K.I.S.S. strategy obviously means hardware and software.
You already know how I feel about the OS. Im using it right now and have enjoyed the free beta versions the entire time.
I doubt anyone will actually line up at Best Buy for the chance to be the first tomorrow to purchase the OS. (Okay, maybe a few will)
Theres a good chance that savvy Windows users already have the OS either through one of the beta programs or from one of those torrent sites I hear about occasionally
So whats your plan? Is your computer getting a Windows 7 upgrade sometime soon or are you still going to live in the depths of hell that is Windows Vista.
I’m curious about people’s experience upgrading from Vista 64 to System 7. If anyone has done it they should let us know how it went.
Yup. All ordered. Already running the release candidate on 4 machines. Smoking hot.
Wait until after the first service pack.
Have you given any thought to which laptop you would get for Freeping and web surfing? Something around 15 in.
When Steinberg tells me that 7 is stable with Cubase 5 AND I have confirmation from other Cubase users that they also feel it is stable then MAYBE.
But XP works fine for the present.
I have the 64-bit version running in a vmware virtual machine; it is like Vista with the rough edges polished off.
One has to make a couple minor habit changes. Some things that one could locate easily in Vista or XP are buried — the widget that adjusts the size of desktop features like title bars, for example. Google it; it can be re-enabled.
The UAC is less obtrusive. There’s a built-in defragger that might make Diskeeper less necessary.
Installation was uneventful (too easy).
Most Windows wonks are well versed in navigating the command structure (menus, dialogs) to find what they want. In Windows 7 that is less necessary; more subsystems (like defragger) can be found by search.
On balance I like it a lot. A friend of mine has had some minor instabilities that could be due to third-party drivers or hardware. I have neither of those; it’s been very solid for me.
Note that anyone with a .edu email address can obtain a Windows7 license for either Home or Pro for just $30.
There's no reason not to take advantage of such a deal.
Not until they release their third or so service pack.
I don’t do beta releases.
Ordered the $30 Pro upgrade incl. media thru the college kidlin some time ago; planning to test in a dual-boot environment w/ XP.
Not until XP is officially dead.
I’ve got it already (full Ultimte version - not beta) but haven’t installed it yet. I have had no problems with Vista so I think I am going to go for it this weekend.
The only reason I purchased Vista for my desktop build was to be able to take advantage of the upgrade option, after seeing LOTS of early raves for the beta test version.
If there had been no upgrade to look forward to, I would have gone with XP. After using Vista for a few months now I can say that most of the time it gets the job done, but getting the quirks ironed out, especially the internet and wireless connections, has been a real pain in the tush.
I like HP business class laptops but those cost a lot more than the consumer ones. Dell and Toshiba have always been decent computers but Dell was the very first to move their tech support to overseas so I won’t deal with them.
No Bite, I have Vista on a DEll Laptop and am having no problems. Besides, they are selling to students at $50.00 and asking me for $120.00.
After suffering through Vista, do I now have to pay for this new OS?
Our 9 year old HP desktop (our first new computer) is on it's last legs, so the timing is good.
We stopped by Best Buy this morning to talk with the geeks and axe questions.....there was nary a computer in sight; they were all having the new system installed.
I’ve been living with Win 7 beta since it first came out and now the RC. Have gladly moved beyond Vista and XP.
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