Windows 7

[gr8fl4porsche]

I have it installed on my home computer network and I really like it so far.

I have been a Vista fan for a couple of years now and 7 is even better.

Microsoft has really dumbed down the whole network install with a system called HomeGroup. It only works with '7' computers but basically you install the OS and it instantly recognizes the other computers on the network and configures the sharing and permissions depending on how you answer a couple of questions.

Check out this link for some other cool features.

http://www.sevenforums.com/news/22625-18-cool-things-windows-7-does-vista-doesnt.html

[MysticLlama]

I like it so far too, have been running it since RTM on two laptops and a desktop. The desktop will be my main machine at the office within a few day once I do a few more installs and configs on it.

It is basically just a tightened up/revised Vista, amazingly people hate Vista and love 7, which I don't get. I find my Vista machines (running on appropriate hardware and drivers) a lot nicer to use than XP.

A lot of people may not remember, but the move from NT4 and Win98 to Win2k was just as rough if not more so than the change to Vista. Lots of hardware wouldn't work because it didn't have NT drivers, or NT drivers didn't work well because they weren't set up right, etc. Early adopters trying to use Win2k for games had a terrible time, probably about equal to early adopters of Vista using beta stuff for the new video driver model, etc.

[masraum]

I haven't yet tried 7, but when I bought a new PC ($270 refurb Dell), it came with Vista, and runs much, MUCH better than XP (which ran pretty good compared to 98 before it).

[exitwound]

I'm running it now, full version given to me by the Microsoft Academic Alliance. Been running it though since Beta was released. It's fantastic. Absolutely love it. I have encountered zero problems with peripherals and drivers. Cameras, printers, all work without any frustration.

[Christien]

Hmm, my experience (and that of most people I've talked to) is the opposite. XP is/was a very good system, whereas Vista pretty much sucks. My wife just got a new laptop with Vista on it, so I've been using it more over the last week or 2 and I have to say it's irritating. It wants to do too much for me, and doesn't give me enough control and access to what I want. Things like hidden files, folders, etc, stuff where you don't expect it (why do they have to relocate the desktop, my documents, etc with every new release?)

Windows seems to be like 911s - every second generation is the good one. 98 good, 2000/ME miserable, XP good, Vista frustrating, 7 supposed to be good (haven't used it yet).

[svandamme]

i hate the lack of a classic interface ...

it's to slow for those used to working with keyboard&mouse to navigate quickly


start
run
command of choice
ENTER

doesn't work anymore, so i'm sticking to XP

[jyl]

Vista has been okay for me. Not particularly better or worse than XP. Different in some interface and feature aspects but that is not good or bad. I don't get too far under the covers of Windows any more, have purely a "user" perspective now.

Windows 7 sounds good, by most reports. We won't get it, in my office, for at least a year. I don't use Windows at home.

Office 2007 is the real irritant as far as I am concerned. I hate it. All my colleagues hate it. They changed all the toolbars and some other interfaces, for no discernible reason other than to occupy more screen real estate.

[MysticLlama]

Windows Key + R for Run
Or
Right click taskbar, start menu, customize, check run command
Or
Window Key/Start Button, use the search tool (works for some things great, not everything)

These are the same for Vista or 7

I've only found the new interface of the control panel the annoying one, this is changeable to a full list on both Vista and 7.


As far as the Office 2007 apps, I like them, but I've been using them on all my machines since release. Hated the ribbon the first few weeks too, but I like it now.

The irritant there for me is when I have to go back and forth. Going from Access 2003 to 2007 and back because you have a server that's stuck on 2003 sucks and makes both interfaces seem confusing.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I personally love the continual changes. I like Vista and 7 for the exact reasons why some don't like it. I like learning. When things don't work properly, I enjoy figuring out why and conquering the challenge.

Sure, Vista and 7 are a little different from XP, but that is the fun.

Vista has been incredibly stable for me - I have/had 7 Vista boxes - no issues whatsoever. My company software and network has never run so smooth. XP machines with minimal RAM never worked good - too slow for multitasking. Not until Vista forced everyone to RAM up their boxes did Windows come to life.

It took me 2 weeks to get 7 to install on my notebook - but I dam sure wasn't going to let that little box beat me. Finally figured it out. It was a strange one. Not until I used Darkin's Boot and Nuke to completely erase the old drive would it take 7. Using windows to format (Quick and Standard) never did the trick.

So, 7 taught me another lesson about computers and hard drives.

Thank you Microsoft - I enjoyed the challenge. Can't wait for 8.

[Christien]

Originally Posted by MysticLlama

As far as the Office 2007 apps, I like them, but I've been using them on all my machines since release. Hated the ribbon the first few weeks too, but I like it now.

The irritant there for me is when I have to go back and forth. Going from Access 2003 to 2007 and back because you have a server that's stuck on 2003 sucks and makes both interfaces seem confusing.

Yes, absolutely. It took me a while to get used to the ribbon, but I use it fluently now. My question is why bother? I can't see any advantage to it over the traditional pull-down menus (in fact some tasks take longer, and I have yet to discover any that are shorter) so why make users learn a completely new system for accessing commands and tools? Seems like change for the sake of change, something I expect more from politicians trying to keep their jobs.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Christien

Yes, absolutely. It took me a while to get used to the ribbon, but I use it fluently now. My question is why bother? I can't see any advantage to it over the traditional pull-down menus (in fact some tasks take longer, and I have yet to discover any that are shorter) so why make users learn a completely new system for accessing commands and tools? Seems like change for the sake of change, something I expect more from politicians trying to keep their jobs.

I don't think the changes are for computer people. The big changes like the 2003-->2007 gui changes are for the general public. If it's not like WWE with lots of flashy crap, they won't buy it. If it looks like the same old thing, they don't think there's a reason.

Take most computer people. If you can leave the interface the same but make the program faster and/or more efficient, that would be perfect for us.

[stealthn]

Been using it for @ 3 months, and I've only had one crash so far. I'm running OpenOffice on it and it works great (sorry I don't like Microsoft products).

I was going to get another desktop, but I'll wait until 7 releases so I don't have to upgrade vista.

Don't forget if you are running the pre-release don't put too much into the system because the final release is not an upgrade; it's a full clean install (wiping existing data/config)

A lot of hype for something that does really give you anything IMHO, although XP has been around a long time, what's the real business drive to upgrade an entire Company to 7?

[jyl]

Originally Posted by masraum

I don't think the changes are for computer people. The big changes like the 2003-->2007 gui changes are for the general public. If it's not like WWE with lots of flashy crap, they won't buy it. If it looks like the same old thing, they don't think there's a reason.

Take most computer people. If you can leave the interface the same but make the program faster and/or more efficient, that would be perfect for us.

The ribbon takes up way too much screen space, especially on a notebook. MSFT's choices on what controls belong in what groups are not always logical. It isn't as clear how to do keystroke commands. I've had to laboriously pin selected controls to the quick start bar (I think that's what you call it). Now Windows is giving me messages that the quick start file is getting too big and is slowing down Office. It does take forever for my Excel to open now. The whole interface change sucks and why should I deal with lower productivity for months until I get everything sorted out?

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by jyl

The ribbon takes up way too much screen space, especially on a notebook. MSFT's choices on what controls belong in what groups are not always logical. It isn't as clear how to do keystroke commands. I've had to laboriously pin selected controls to the quick start bar (I think that's what you call it). Now Windows is giving me messages that the quick start file is getting too big and is slowing down Office. It does take forever for my Excel to open now. The whole interface change sucks and why should I deal with lower productivity for months until I get everything sorted out?

exactly

[exitwound]

I wish the ribbon would just autohide itself. Wouldn't that solve its real estate problem?

[gr8fl4porsche]

Getting a bigger monitor solves the ribbon issue.

I use a Dell 22" monitor at work and can see an entire typical letter sized page below the ribbon.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by gr8fl4porsche

Getting a bigger monitor solves the ribbon issue.

I use a Dell 22" monitor at work and can see an entire typical letter sized page below the ribbon.

But my Vista/Office 2007 is on a notebook computer.

Oh, another gripe, what is the point of the xlsm file format?

[slodave]

A little late to the game, but just installed Ultimate on my laptop. No issues so far. Only the sound drivers were not found.

[Paul_Heery]

Originally Posted by stealthn

A lot of hype for something that does really give you anything IMHO, although XP has been around a long time, what's the real business drive to upgrade an entire Company to 7?

BINGO!

We have been running Windows 7 in our lab for quite some time. There is nothing really outstanding or beneficial that would prompt us to upgrade our installed client base. Is it new? Yes. Is it different? Yes. Is it better? We haven't found anything substantial yet.

I've been doing this for a long time. It used to be a question of "When" you would upgrade to a new Windows OS for the clients. Now it has become a question of "If". We have had the opportunity to question our reliance on Windows and Microsoft products in general. We don't need to move off of XP for now, because it is still supported. However, when the time comes that it is no longer supported, that becomes our compelling reason to move to another client platform. We are actually ready to make that move now.

[jyl]

What platform(s) are the contenders and why? Just curious.