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Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Cyber Cynic

Windows 7 beta is already better than Vista

50 comments

TAGS:Vista, Windows, Windows 7
IT TOPICS:Desktops & Servers, Laptops & Netbooks, Software, Windows & Microsoft

If you're expecting me to kick Windows 7 around because I like Linux, you'd be wrong. Windows 7 is actually a decent version of Windows. It's not, however,a new version of Windows. It's Vista Light or Vista Second Edition if you prefer.

I've been running Windows 7 beta for the last few weeks. I'm running it in a VM (Virtual Machine) on openSUSE 11.1 with VirtualBox and natively on a HP 7360n. This PC is powered by a hyper-threaded 2.8 GHz Pentium D 920 dual-core processor, 4 MB of L2 cache, an 800 MHz front-side bus, and 2GBs of DDR (double-data-rate) RAM.

People who know my work well will recognize that HP 7460N as the same machine on which I found out just how truly awful Vista was. In fact, one of the reasons why I put Windows 7 on it was that even after all this time Vista still was fouling with hardware. In its latest foul-up, I ran straight into an ancient network bug with multiple NICs (network interface cards) and video transmission that still hasn't been fixed.

So, it was good-bye Vista and hello Windows 7 beta.

Honestly, I didn't expect much. But, for once, Microsoft pleasantly surprised me.

Windows 7 actually works. No, really!

It's not, however, in any way, shape, or form a new version of Windows. It's just Vista with most, but not all, of the crap ripped out. It really is Vista Light or, thinking back to the days of Windows 98, it's Vista Second Edition.

The only real new 'feature' I see in Windows 7 is the use of a ribbon interface. I hate the ribbon interface. Change for the sake of change is stupid. It doesn't matter whether the design comes from an open-source provider or a proprietary company, recreating an interface without adding a user-benefit is dumb.

In the ribbon's case, Windows tools, programs, drives, etc., are all hidden in the ribbon. And, I need to hunt for everything I need in the ribbon because ... Let me know if you have a good answer because I sure don't have one.

On the plus side, so far, Windows 7 has worked with all my hardware and all my software. That's more than Vista SP1 was doing. It's also faster than Vista SP1. Of course, that's not saying much.

For today, Windows XP SP3 is the best version of Windows. If Microsoft continues to refine Windows 7, however, Windows 7 might finally get users to move away from XP.

One thing Microsoft could do, should do, is to offer to replace Vista with Windows 7. After all, improvements and all, Windows 7 really is just warmed over Vista.

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What People Are Saying

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vist vs apple

Submitted by AnonymousShaow on October 30, 2009 - 1:50 P.M.

I heard some one saying that vista was daesighned to make microsoft look moreapple.
I agree with this after buying my laptop with vista home premuim.

What do you think???

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Vista is NOTHING like

Submitted by Anonymous on February 5, 2010 - 8:54 P.M.

Vista is NOTHING like leopard when people actually think about it. People just said that because they hated Vista and wanted to criticize it... I mean think about it, if you had Windows Vista and it acted so crappy that you were about to throw your computer out the window and buy a Mac, or used XP machine, wouldn't you be mad, and try to criticize it in every way?

It's weird though, I'm on a Toshiba Satellite A135-S4656, it's an EXTREMELY great computer to me, with Vista, with NO service pack. It actually runs smoothly with no problems.

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Would i be able to install

Submitted by Anonymous on October 30, 2009 - 1:44 P.M.

Would some body be able to install it on a 500gig hard drive
4gig Ram Over vister
It's a Dell inspiron 15??
PLease reply using my emailor post it on here

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Hey bud, with the dell 1515

Submitted by Anonymous on November 23, 2009 - 10:11 A.M.

Hey bud, with the dell 1515 inspiron or what not, download easus partion manager, and split ur hard drive to where u can keep vista, u prolly have 200gb or less on ur HDD so split ur partion to 250gb and 250, label ur new partition Windows 7 or whatever, go to inster the disc for 7 and u can put it on that partion, now u can dual boot ur OS's, have fun! also if u dont know much of the facts for partitioning its uber easy so just lookj at a few read mes and tutorials.

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there the same

Submitted by Anonymous *infinity on October 9, 2009 - 1:49 A.M.

everyone thinks 7 is gonna have so many cool features on it, but microsoft did squat to add to 7. oooooo windows media center!....i have that installed on my XP and Vista computers!...its nothing new. the cool search that can find things on ur comp......is on vista. you can click on the bottom right to see ur desktop right away...thats on vista next to the start button. the only thing that i see that they added was the thing that lets you shake a window to make all other windows disappear/reappear. AAAnnd then the big old internet explorer 8!!! just continuing the worst browser ever for more ppl who have no clue about computers to keep using. its the slowest, most unsafe, and least customizable out their.....ooooo im soo excited for that...

The only reason i am going to buy it is cuz its faster and because i recently installed more ram on my laptop to bring it to 4GB but i only have a 32bit processor so, which(from what i've heard) only supports up to 3.17ish(something like that)Gigs. theres otherwise jack squat new on windows 7.

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So, one can assume you don't

Submitted by IdiocracyBuster on November 22, 2009 - 1:07 A.M.

So, one can assume you don't know the correct use of "your" (you confuse it with "you're") so you hide your ignorance by using "ur", right? Also, you don't seem to be cognizant of the fact that "I" and the first letter of a new sentence are capitalized in the English (or American) language. Oh, and "cuz' is spelled "because". Yeah, I'm a stickler on language usage because I was a programmer. How is that relevent? Because, just like compilers, humans rely on correct syntax for proper communication. Where did you go to school? Your grammar, spelling, and punctuation are HORRIBLE! It really detracts from your intended message.

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It's not "relevent", it's

Submitted by Anonymous on December 18, 2009 - 7:54 P.M.

It's not "relevent", it's relevant.

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Your poorly written wall of

Submitted by Anonymous on December 8, 2009 - 8:46 A.M.

Your poorly written wall of text hurts my eyes!

I thought programmers knew how to write in order for an easy read by others...

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Programmer or not, bashing

Submitted by Anonymous on December 8, 2009 - 8:44 A.M.

Programmer or not, bashing out on people is just plain sad and goes to show how much of a pathetic loser you are!

If you have been bullied in life, pushed around in school, you do not need to take it out on others OVER THE INTERNET where you hide behind your keyboard in order to make yourself feel powerful by criticizing others.

The very fact that you do so goes to show how sad you truly are! :)

Peace.-

P.S.
It's funny what you can come across when you're simply searching for peoples opinions of Windows 7 over Vista!

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Language Usage

Submitted by Ancientone on November 25, 2009 - 9:30 A.M.

Thank you for the scolding! I too am fed up to the eyebrows with this lazy language usage. I suspect it comes from "Texting" jargon. Fight this stuff tooth and nail! ! !
The Ancient One.

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