Windows 7 your opinion...Good or Bad?

[stevemilw]

Hello, ive just downloaded windows 7, but i really dont like it.
Theyve removed the classic start menu, so now your forced to use a start menu that re-arranges it self all the time. You have to click loads just to get anywhere and they seem to have just modified all the GUI's to mae the operating system look different from vista, even when you dont need to. This means you have to re learn almost everything in it.
I think the following just about sums it up;


Once again Microsoft has forgotten the KISS principle. Keep It Simple, Stupid! I have seen comments about Windows is evolving. Into what? A MAC?

Where should I start?

First the Classic Menu... what is its value?

Simple! That's it.. it's simple. The programs don't move around and you don't have to hunt as much for what you need. It's faster! Why, because you don't have less hovering and or clicking to do. I really loved it when MS decided to add their adaptive / intuitive 'lets shuffle the short-cut' menu option the liked to call "Personalized Menus". Yeah, that's what I want, to have to guess where on the menu things will be when I using my computer (http://forum.novatech.co.uk/#). So what have they done now?

They've started playing 'lets shuffle the start bar short-cuts' and it's being referred to as Superbar. Is it super to mix running apps with the ones where the Quick Launch Bar apps used to be? One of the advantages of the Quick Launch Bar was that you knew where things were. Now you have to sort through the running apps to pick out what you want. By the way, I just minimized my browser and when I clicked what I thought was the icon to Quick-Launch a second session it reopened the first one. Why again did I put the icon there in the first place?

Let's face it, the idea is to make the computer easier to use, not harder. Maybe MS should study ergonomics and think about how much extra thought and time has to go in mentally sorting out icons to find what you are looking for. Try telling someone "It's the second icon from the left next to the start button" when it isn't because now there's a running application (http://forum.novatech.co.uk/#) there.

Advancement does not mean you have to change everything!

Just because you change the way something is executed does not mean you have to change the way it is done. That's forcing the user to learn something and usually unnecessary.

The idea is to make the computers (http://forum.novatech.co.uk/#) both easier to use and learn, not harder. Maybe MS should study ergonomics and think about how much extra thought and time has to go in mentally sorting out icons to find what you are looking for. Sound whiny to you, wait until you had to do it several hundred times a day and then try telling someone "It's the second icon from the left next to the start button" when it isn't there anymore because now there's a running application where there used to be a Quick Launch button for it.

Okay, so Windows 7 beta runs faster than Vista, Big Woop! Oh, don't get me wrong, that's a good thing. And its always good to make cosmetic changes and improvements to the way things operate in the background... so long as it is an improvement. You know, easier to use, adds functionality. Let's face it, they changed the look for marketing reasons, not innovation. MS still thinks its customers wont believe their getting their money's worth if it doesn't look and feel different. Wrong! They still haven't learned that it's bad to change the way things are done too much at one time. With Vista, and now with Windows 7, that's what they've done. It's time MS stop thinking like IT Dweebs and started thinking like users.

Has anybody counted the number of changes to the interface from starting with Windows Vista to Windows 7? How many things got moved in the GUI? How many things got added to the GUI? Does anyone really think the average home, or business, user for that matter wants to spend the next six months taking classes just to learn how things they used to know how to do? Does that make them a happier, more productive users? Or does that make them a more PO'd customer?

[gurusan]

i keep my frequently used programs on the quicklaunch bar and desktop. If I need something else I just type it into the search bar.

no biggie. of course there will be some changes, it is a new OS after all.

[Helior]

because setting the number of recent programs to 0 and filling the start menu with you most commonly used apps is hard....

The new start menu is better than classic if you bother to configure it. I didn't read the rest of the post, coz whoever your quoting is clearly ignorant.

I think windows 7 is the best windows so far, although its not a huge step forward.

[Recoil]

Im loving Windows 7. I love all the layouts, i find the menus are quicker to access than ever, the start menu is practically the same as Vista, which rocks.

I agree with Helior, its definitely the best windows so far.

R

[anti5580]

Just pin your fav apps to the start menu and they won't move around.

I generally much prefer Win 7 than the previous versions of Windows. Looking forward to the final release.

[Penfold_90]

That person REALLY doesnt like the new menu system!! Wow... at least it's a really detailed, in depth review of the new OS.

To summarise: -" I dont like the menu system because it's changed therefore the whole OS is rubbish - it's all a marketing gimmick anyway"

**** MS for "forcing the user to learn something" lol... maybe they should just turn it off and take a deep breath.

Personally, I'm liking Windows 7 and it's a big change over XP but I think it's generally easier to use and, ok, there are a couple of quirks but it's just the RC at the mo and I'm guessing/hoping they'll get ironed out by the actual release.

[madmaca]

Loving Windows 7 atm. it's very quick and easy to use imo - and the redesigned Media Center interface is perfect for my HTPC :thumbs:

Would like to see some benchmark comparisons against XP pro plus assurances about games compatibility before I put it on my gaming rig tho

[PhoenixRising]

Windows 7 looks a lot cleaner than Vista and all benchmarks show that it's faster at everything. I'm finally gonna install it this weekend now that Nvidia's brought out some decent drivers. So hopefully W7 build 7201 + Forceware 186.08 = Win!

[bofh1971]

I think windows 7 is great, I have tried 2 offical betas (including the RC)
only thing that didnt work well with mine was Punkbuster, and like they say if you are going to play on official servers dont use beta o/s :)

but its very stable, just as fast at xp on my x80r pro,

its basically what Vista should have been
oh and I finally get to go 64bit properly with it :)

[stevemilw]

yea, it is much better when i comes to RAM usages. On my laptop with 4gb ram (3.25 as 32bit) it uses only 20% idle where as vista uses 56% (2GB Ram) idle. Huge difference, however i think this is how it should have been in vista to begin with.
Maybe if they spent a little while longer perfecting it, instead of rushing out with vista that no one really wanted anyway until they were forced into buying it. They just care about the money, vista was just a testing platform, and hey, now everyone got to upgrade again and windows has made even more money!
Its going to take a while to get used to, but i do like the desktop shortcuts that come when u change it to classic start menu.
The only problem i have now is nothing is compatible. Hardly any software and only a few drivers.
I will have to wait for retail i suppose.

EDIT BY CODEMONKEY
No discussion of, or links to , piracy on this forum please

[Helior]

yea, it is much better when i comes to RAM usages. On my laptop with 4gb ram (3.25 as 32bit) it uses only 20% idle where as vista uses 56% idle. Huge difference, however i think this is how it should have been in vista to begin with.
Maybe if they spent a little while longer perfecting it, instead of rushing out with vista that no one really wanted anyway until they were forced into buying it. They just care about the money, vista was just a testing platform, and hey, now everyone got to upgrade again and windows has made even more money!
Its going to take a while to get used to, but i do like the desktop shortcuts that come when u change it to classic start menu.
The only problem i have now is nothing is compatible. Hardly any software and only a few drivers.
I will have to wait for retail i suppose.


You must be using some odd hardware? Almost all Vista drivers work flawlessly, and so does almost all software, the only software i've struggled with so far is virtual optical drive software!

[stevemilw]

I have a x55 laptop bought here from novatech, none of the software on the discs work.

[bofh1971]

ah yes stevemilw, you may have to wait for a proper driver for the vga too, since there seems to be a problem with the 9650gt and nvidia standard drivers as in the other thread

of course it goes to show that you have to be very careful with drivers for a factory overclocked card.

other drivers shoudl be fine, most vista 64 drivers work, and have you checked the ASUS website to see if drivers for your model are available for vista64 & win7?

[stevemilw]

Yea the only operating systems it supports is vista 32 and 64. There isn't even an option to search for winxp or win7.
Its not just the drivers though, none of the software works either.
Such as power4 gear, mail checking, the shortcut button software everything you need. Im going to have to wait a while before i can use windows 7 on my laptop i think.

[audiolink]

I am using Win 7 x64 for about two weeks now and all I can say is wow. It does not give me any problems running my old games, POTC, GTASA and 18 WOS truck driving series, all in 32 bit mode. Even Stronghold 1 works with it. My music and software altho made for 32 bit is running fine and no real problems. The only fault I have is not enough memory. I only have 2gig dual channel 800mhz with an AMD x2 3600+. Running at the moment with a few things open it is using about 700mb. 100mb more than win xp pro.
I will buy it if the price stays similar to what's quoted in the pricing thread. I think skunksmash said about £62.
On a nice SSD it will be quick enough.

[coursemyhorse]

That "review" looks a bit uninformed and more of a rant to be honest. I'm very much looking forward to playing with Windows 7 soon. Haven't had time yet. I'm a bit on an XP fan I must say and do feel its the most solid and reliable OS. But times change. One thing I am happy I did in my decision making with OS stuff, is that I've managed to "miss" Vista completely. I'm glad I waited to just jump straight to 7 rather than learn another OS again. My very limited experience of Vista was with mixed opinions, but mainly that it was frustrating to use coming from XP, but then that was me not giving it time to adjust and sus it out.

[jonmall]

Windows 7 is amazing. I have a physical volume control on my headset and one on my speakers. On xp and vista when I increase the volume of my headset it usually increases the volume of the speakers as they are my default output (use headset for gaming and skype calls). Windows 7 recognizes which volume i am increasing from the hardware. Its such a small thing but i was amazed by it. I have had no problems with windows 7 and i am looking forward to microsoft releasing something that works FINALLY!!

[sharpapotheosis]

... i am looking forward to microsoft releasing something that works FINALLY!!
Doesn't happen often does it? :P

[magichater]

Theyve removed the classic start menu, so now your forced to use a start menu that re-arranges it self all the time.

yes i personally love it but as above i hate the new start menu but will get used to it i recon.

[stevemilw]

Yea nice operating system, if my laptop worked with it id switch straight away, such a shame.
I think the RC works up untill sept 2010 so it has alot of free shelf life :)

[Naphta]

RC release day: Dual boot with vista.
RC release day 7 hours later: Dual boot with fedora core 10.

I'm really enjoying it; looks of vista but it actually likes you and doesnt steal your resources.

[stevemilw]

lol yea very good, i heard rumours that they were going to release a new direct x 11 with windows 7. Nvidia tried to buy dx11 specifically for there cards so that they would have a major advantage over ati.
Im not sure if this is bs or not, i also hear that windows declined to take on such a deal on the grounds of ruthless buisness tactics.

Perhaps microsoft though it would make them appear as the better conmpany, after all the agressive buisness tactics in their early days.

[Winston]

Windows 7 is good. Much better than Vista IMO. Looking forward to retail release and it will most likely be the first non-OEM OS i ever buy as long as the niggles with my soundcard are ironed out.

[Urrys Currys]

i keep my frequently used programs on the quicklaunch bar and desktop. If I need something else I just type it into the search bar.

no biggie. of course there will be some changes, it is a new OS after all.

yup and to search, you dont even have to click the search box one you have the start menu open.

[Shade]

Everything about it sounds awesome. It's what Vista was supposed to be. The majority of comments I've heard about it have been good. I'll be getting it day 1.

[Mattbot2]

Didn't like Win7 for the 30 mins or so I tried it for. The whole start bar / taskbar thing is awful IMO.

Will give it another go though.

[koolpc]

Win 7 is a really nice. Very happy with it so far

[Urrys Currys]

yeh everything i've tried has worked. backed up my vista, upgraded vista to win7, then transfered my vista to HDD from external. so i have dual boot, and all my programes work with win7 with exception of a few.

[Salvation]

Windows 7 is very smooth esp with 2 gigs of mem dont need more tbh, its what someone else said this is what windows vista should have been.

my only gripe is the rather desktop big icons tbh

Also i ran win 7 on a really unstable overclock but win 7 will not let the apps crash very nice tbh ( left 4 dead) just freezes for a while (memory errors)

question is are you willing to spend 100 squid for an os! only time will tell but i think so

Things that dont work and annoyed me

battlefield 2 (cod 4/5) punkbuster =rc fix
gameguard most mmorpg's = a patch fix, havent tried it yet

but i aint going back to win xp not now anyway :))

[gurusan]

You can change the icon size.....

[aspdend]

Yep - the desktop icons were very irritating, until I realised you can make them smaller - much better now and Windows 7 runs really well on my machine

[J1993]

i really like 7, i havent had vista on one of my pc's, only xp, but it is a lot more cleaner quicker and modern

[snakedoc]

Not over impressed so far. Had a few issues, one of which I can not resolve. Using the RC, I get terrible lag in games and when typing in word or a browser. Everything is fine in Vista. It may be possible that a fresh clean install will fix, but that's what this was. I really dont think it offers anything over Vista though, not for me anyway. I do like the look of the GUI and LOVE the fade between desktops, the only thing I would really want in Vista.

[Mungo]

Likewise. I don't think it's bad, but i can't see any advantages in buying it when i have Vista...

[Chewie]

so far its working great


except

lately i am having reall bizzarre issues opening web pages and downloads.

odd, because i ran speedtest.net last net and it all ran fine.

(must be the isp limiting things that or the host sites being spammed with so many folks that they can't respond)

otherwise, its running as well as i'd expect it too. no bsod's (since i had the drive failiure) but i need to see if my camcorder editing software will run ok with it (sony software, for the sony 1080p HD 5.1 camcorder i use for work)

[codemonkey]

so far its working great


except

lately i am having reall bizzarre issues opening web pages and downloads.

odd, because i ran speedtest.net last net and it all ran fine.

(must be the isp limiting things that or the host sites being spammed with so many folks that they can't respond)

otherwise, its running as well as i'd expect it too. no bsod's (since i had the drive failiure) but i need to see if my camcorder editing software will run ok with it (sony software, for the sony 1080p HD 5.1 camcorder i use for work)

When you say issues do you mean new browser windows or tabs are really REALLY slow to do anything? If so, have you downloaded Java at all? If you have, disable the java plugin and it will be back to full speed. Happened to me other week and puzzled the **** outta me for days.

[Chewie]

well, mainly sites such as youtube.

But i was trying to download some old tv shows, held on megaupload. sometimes it would go through no isues, other times it would time out and i give me caould not connect.

No jane's been noticing issues with her netbook, which runs XP, but that was with youtube. so this is why i'm wondering if my issue is a W7 and IE8 problem, a router problem, an isp related problem or something on the sites i was accessing.

edit

I did install java just the other day (i use vuse to watch torrented trailers in high quality at my leisure) and hadn't set it up since i redid the w7 install following that drive failiure.

[RawZ]

Installed last night. No probs yet. Everything i use and do works 100%. So much quicker and responsive. Goodbye Vista.

[iGoD ReleNtLeS]

personly i think its the best windows yet. sure some programmes arnt compatable with it yet. but its everything vista was meant to be.

[iGoD ReleNtLeS]

Not over impressed so far. Had a few issues, one of which I can not resolve. Using the RC, I get terrible lag in games and when typing in word or a browser. Everything is fine in Vista. It may be possible that a fresh clean install will fix, but that's what this was. I really dont think it offers anything over Vista though, not for me anyway. I do like the look of the GUI and LOVE the fade between desktops, the only thing I would really want in Vista.

i had the same problem, extremly unresponsive and laggy. installed a fresh version, works fine. no lag at all. i also made the partition i installed it onto twice as big from 50GB to 100GB.

but all is fine now.

[RawZ]

I got rid of Vista and now have RC1 64Bit as my main and only OS. Everything i use and do works with it. Even Punkbuster worked first time. I don't know what the problem was with everyone else who had COD 5 & Punkbuster not working with W7. I just downloaded and updated to the latest and voila, worked. The only thing that didn't work for me that i use is Tune Up Utilities 2009. However, i just ran that in Vista SP2 compatabilitiy mode and it works fine.

[koolpc]

Win 7 is a big winner as far as i am concerned. Really love it!

[Salvation]

punkbuster works fine since the realese candidate 7100 (huge problems before) but best to do a manual update/install of punkbuster first tho

also i think win7 has problems with games that use nprotect gameguard eg lineage 2, there are a few fixes on the internet but none of them worked for me, but no loss to me as i dont care for those types of games anyho

[H_a_p_p_y]

It's pretty good, far better than Vista, and as such I don't think I'd be able to switch back. Other than having issues with my RAID card driver (had to install Win Server 2008 X64 drivers) it's been smooth sailing.

[~Steve-o~]

a worthy successor to Vista and a welcome replacement. However, a fair bit quite obviously taken from MacOS 10.

[stevemilw]

Hello, ive just downloaded windows 7, but i really dont like it.
Theyve removed the classic start menu, so now your forced to use a start menu that re-arranges it self all the time. You have to click loads just to get anywhere and they seem to have just modified all the GUI's to mae the operating system look different from vista, even when you dont need to. This means you have to re learn almost everything in it.
I think the following just about sums it up;

ive got 7 on my pc now and i take this back. Its actually really intuitive when you get used to thestart menu, shaking the windows to remove all others, and the task bar grouping actually works unlike the annoying way vista and xp group tasks on the task bar.
I LOVE iT

[magichater]

hated Vista but love Windows 7

[xpress]

I love windows 7 more than my girlfriend!;)

[~Steve-o~]

which one crashes less?

[xpress]

which one crashes less?


Windows 7 crashes less...my girlfriends a terrible driver:rolleyes:

[system7]

Ran into my first real issue with Windows 7. :confused:

Tomb Raider Underworld runs like a dog on 2GB of memory. Horrible slowdowns to next to zero framerate at certain points. :(

Runs sweetly enough in XP though. Seems less cluttered in DX9 too. Has a sort of FarCry look.

Looks like some more memory is needed...:agree: