Windows 7 Pros and Cons

Simon · Oct 23, 2009, 19:21:56

The BBC's Jason Palmer gets hands-on experience to test out the good and bad points of Microsoft's new operating system.

Windows 7 is designed to operate more speedily than its predecessor, Vista.

It also incorporates touch screen technology and several new features.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8315541.stm

Sebby · Oct 23, 2009, 23:32:33

Some light-hearted comedy - watch 'Broken Promises'.

http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/

Simon · Oct 23, 2009, 23:38:08

Niall · Oct 24, 2009, 09:19:32

I like the way it says Quicktime needed and won't let me view it, despite having the latest Quicktime installed

cavillas · Oct 24, 2009, 11:26:09

I can view it and don't have quicktime installed and that's using Windows 7, praise the Great God Microsoft, Amen.

Den · Oct 24, 2009, 14:45:25

Thats it then I updated to Windows 7 Premium on my desk top as I did not want to reinstall everything and that worked fine. Now I have managed to do a clean install of Windows 7 Professional on my laptop and that went so smoothly and my lap top is faster than it's ever been.

All I have to do now is reinstall the programes I need on there and I will be well happy. Kaspesky is still giving me the same problems on registration so I have had to set it up as a trial version on both computers but will sort that out later.

Niall · Oct 24, 2009, 15:46:38

What did you have on the laptop before Den? I read that XP is faster than Windows 7, and my laptop is getting long in the tooth now (although it's still quite good), so I don't want to slow it down, but quite fancy using windows 7.

That being said, I'm not sure if my Toneport GX will work under Windows7 (I wonder how many times I can say Windows7 in one post) so I may just use it on my main system. Although I want 64bit for my main system, so I can't use it on more than one PC. ARGH!

Den · Oct 24, 2009, 16:12:38

I had Vista Home on both my main computers and did a update on the desktop (Premier) and clean install on the laptop (Professional). Vista was far better than XP and W7 is far better than Vista. The lap top is running much faster but I still have to install Office 2007.

psp83 · Oct 24, 2009, 22:05:25

Quote from: Niall on Oct 24, 2009, 15:46:38
I read that XP is faster than Windows 7

This is not a go at you Niall.

But when i read this (loads of people post it) i just have to laugh. Of course XP will be faster than Windows 7. Its 2 OS's old. Common sense really.

But saying that, my windows 7 install actually boots quicker than my xp install.

Sebby · Oct 24, 2009, 23:28:35

Quote from: psp83 on Oct 24, 2009, 22:05:25
But when i read this (loads of people post it) i just have to laugh. Of course XP will be faster than Windows 7. Its 2 OS's old. Common sense really.

Not necessarily. Microsoft have a habit of making each new OS more demanding without actually adding much more than eye candy. I bought my Mac with Leopard. Apple then brought out Snow Leopard, which performs significantly better on the same hardware, so it is possible.

psp83 · Oct 25, 2009, 01:03:38

Quote from: Sebby on Oct 24, 2009, 23:28:35
Not necessarily. Microsoft have a habit of making each new OS more demanding without actually adding much more than eye candy. I bought my Mac with Leopard. Apple then brought out Snow Leopard, which performs significantly better on the same hardware, so it is possible.

Because it has less security!

hehe, sorry. i just had to say it with all the reports about it

So, Leopard / Snow Leopard is kinda like Windows Vista / Windows 7.
Windows 7 performs better on the same hardware or even hardware vista wouldn't run that well on.

Glenn · Oct 25, 2009, 06:30:37

Comparing XP and W7, would be the same as Tiger and Snow Leopard, 3 software generations. Is Snow Leopard faster than Tiger on the same hardware?

Niall · Oct 25, 2009, 12:09:55

Quote from: psp83 on Oct 24, 2009, 22:05:25
This is not a go at you Niall.

But when i read this (loads of people post it) i just have to laugh. Of course XP will be faster than Windows 7. Its 2 OS's old. Common sense really.

But saying that, my windows 7 install actually boots quicker than my xp install.

I was specifically asking from the point of view that my laptop would be a good candidate (now I've discovered that Windows7 comes with 32 and 64bit install discs, and can be installed on 3 PCs, so I can use it on my main PC and my laptop) but as it's older I was curious if it would put more of a strain on the system and actually be a hindrance, and not an improvement. It wouldn't be a major issue with my main PC as it's semi decent.

My only other concern is NOD32 as I haven't checked. I'm wondering if yet again I'll be forced to purchase another antivirus product due to an OS upgrade. Also, I'm wondering if Photoshop Elements 8 that I bought last month, will work at all. I'll check on that in a moment actually. If it doesn't support Windows 7 I won't be upgrading as I'm not paying £67 again!

Okay I've checked, and both are supported. Yay!

psp83 · Oct 25, 2009, 12:16:29

Quote from: Niall on Oct 25, 2009, 12:09:55
I was specifically asking from the point of view that my laptop would be a good candidate (now I've discovered that Windows7 comes with 32 and 64bit install discs, and can be installed on 3 PCs, so I can use it on my main PC and my laptop) but as it's older I was curious if it would put more of a strain on the system and actually be a hindrance, and not an improvement. It wouldn't be a major issue with my main PC as it's semi decent.

My only other concern is NOD32 as I haven't checked. I'm wondering if yet again I'll be forced to purchase another antivirus product due to an OS upgrade. Also, I'm wondering if Photoshop Elements 8 that I bought last month, will work at all. I'll check on that in a moment actually. If it doesn't support Windows 7 I won't be upgrading as I'm not paying £67 again!

Okay I've checked, and both are supported. Yay!

I run NOD32 v4 on this machine with Windows 7, It doesn't like NOD32 v3 though. But if you have v3 you can upgrade to v4 for free anyways.

About your laptop.. you could dual boot and see how it runs? atleast you could go back to XP if it slows your laptop down.

Niall · Oct 25, 2009, 12:19:34

I don't like dual boots. I'm an all in kinda guy!

I think I'll buy a new hard drive for the laptop actually to get a bit of a performance increase, as it's just an old 5400rpm thing with a small cache. I may get Windows 7 the month after as I've got to get Christmas prezzies for mother (now she's bought me a guitar for Christmas I'm forced to!

)

psp83 · Oct 25, 2009, 12:26:21

A note about NOD32/ESS if your planning on using homegroup, the ESS firewall blocks this. You have to enable beta updates in the settings as this will allow you to download version 1052 of the firewall that has homegroup support.

Ray · Oct 25, 2009, 12:34:03

Quote from: psp83 on Oct 25, 2009, 12:26:21
A note about NOD32/ESS if your planning on using homegroup, the ESS firewall blocks this. You have to enable beta updates in the settings as this will allow you to download version 1052 of the firewall that has homegroup support.

How do you enable beta updates? Paul, I've found another way round this problem by temporarily disabling the fire wall while I joined each MC to the Homegroup and then renabling it afterwards, seems to work as I've had no problem using HG with the firewall enabled, it just seems to block the joining process.

Den · Oct 25, 2009, 12:44:47

Niall before you but it, you do realise that to install on more than one computer you have to buy the family version of Windows 7 not the standard.

Niall · Oct 25, 2009, 12:51:34

Quote from: Den on Oct 25, 2009, 12:44:47
Niall before you but it, you do realise that to install on more than one computer you have to buy the family version of Windows 7 not the standard.

Really? Hmm that's not what I read on a site that was selling it last night. I'll check on this now!

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/GettingReadyforWindows7/thread/98446282-a524-4ec0-a45d-3ebefb3ed799

This says up to 3 PCs too.

psp83 · Oct 25, 2009, 13:04:13

Quote from: Ray on Oct 25, 2009, 12:34:03
How do you enable beta updates? Paul, I've found another way round this problem by temporarily disabling the fire wall while I joined each MC to the Homegroup and then renabling it afterwards, seems to work as I've had no problem using HG with the firewall enabled, it just seems to block the joining process.

Setup > Advanced Setup > Update > Click on the setup button next to advanced update setup > Tick the "Enable pre-release updates" box at the bottom.

Once updated you should have Windows 7 Homegroup Support in the IDS and advanced options

You also might have to set the firewall to "interactive mode" in the personal firewall settings and you might have to enable file sharing in the firewall settings aswell. But i would just try the above first.

Ray · Oct 25, 2009, 13:06:58

I think they're talking about the trial version on that forum, Niall, if you want to install it on 3 machines you would need to buy the family pack or 3 separate licences.

psp83 · Oct 25, 2009, 13:09:00

Quote from: Ray on Oct 25, 2009, 13:06:58
I think they're talking about the trial version on that forum, Niall, if you want to install it on 3 machines you would need to buy the family pack or 3 separate licences.

Correct

QuoteThank you for using Microsoft Answers forum. Your product key will work for up to three separate computers, so if you want to install the the RC on another PC, you can re-use the same key.

Niall · Oct 25, 2009, 13:11:55

Quote from: Ray on Oct 25, 2009, 13:06:58
I think they're talking about the trial version on that forum, Niall, if you want to install it on 3 machines you would need to buy the family pack or 3 separate licences.

Yep you're right. I found another post on those forums. That sucks

Simon · Oct 25, 2009, 13:17:37

But doesn't surprise. Microsoft aren't made of money.

Niall · Oct 25, 2009, 13:23:46

It strikes me as being more than a little bit stupid having 32a nd 64bit with the package if you can't install it on more than one PC. The odds are that people will just buy the OEM version which is cheaper, of 32 OR 64bit. I know I will now, if I bother to upgrade at all. It doesn't really seem worth it now

Ray · Oct 25, 2009, 13:26:24

Quote from: psp83 on Oct 25, 2009, 13:04:13
Setup > Advanced Setup > Update > Click on the setup button next to advanced update setup > Tick the "Enable pre-release updates" box at the bottom.

Once updated you should have Windows 7 Homegroup Support in the IDS and advanced options

You also might have to set the firewall to "interactive mode" in the personal firewall settings and you might have to enable file sharing in the firewall settings aswell. But i would just try the above first.

Thanks, Paul, now updated my copies, I usually run my firewall in interactive mode so it's set to that anyway and

Sebby · Oct 25, 2009, 13:32:21

Quote from: psp83 on Oct 25, 2009, 01:03:38
So, Leopard / Snow Leopard is kinda like Windows Vista / Windows 7.
Windows 7 performs better on the same hardware or even hardware vista wouldn't run that well on.

Perhaps, but only because Vista was so poor performance wise. It's almost a given.

Glenn · Oct 25, 2009, 13:37:10

Having both 32 & 64 bit OS's on the same disc, will save Microsoft a fortune in manufacturing & shipping. It also gives the end user a choice of what they want to install, most will use the 32 bit version, but more and more people will be using the 64 bit install, to take advantage of the larger memory address limit.

Sebby · Oct 25, 2009, 13:38:37

It does make a lot more sense. Vista started the move towards a single disc, and it really was much better.

psp83 · Oct 25, 2009, 13:45:06

Quote from: Sebby on Oct 25, 2009, 13:32:21
Perhaps, but only because Vista was so poor performance wise. It's almost a given.

Never had a problem with vista, was fast on my computer.

Intel Core2 Quad Q9450 : 2.66GHz
Memory (RAM) : 4.00 GB

Time to upgrade the CPU

Sebby · Oct 25, 2009, 15:41:15

Well of course with those kind of components it's going to run well. But when it was released, and to some extent now, they are not common.

wecpcs · Oct 25, 2009, 16:02:14

Quote from: Niall on Oct 25, 2009, 12:51:34
Really? Hmm that's not what I read on a site that was selling it last night. I'll check on this now!

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/GettingReadyforWindows7/thread/98446282-a524-4ec0-a45d-3ebefb3ed799

This says up to 3 PCs too.

I have just read that article and it is talking about Windows 7 RC1 not the RTM version, which is limited to just one PC, unless you purchase the 'Family Pack', which is for three PC's.

Colin

wecpcs · Oct 25, 2009, 16:07:14

Quote from: Glenn on Oct 25, 2009, 13:37:10
Having both 32 & 64 bit OS's on the same disc, will save Microsoft a fortune in manufacturing & shipping. It also gives the end user a choice of what they want to install, most will use the 32 bit version, but more and more people will be using the 64 bit install, to take advantage of the larger memory address limit.

The pre-ordered copy of Windows Home Premium I received last Monday came on two disks, one 32-bit and the other 64-bit. All pre-ordered copies though came as full retail product at upgrade prices, maybe that is the difference.

Colin

psp83 · Oct 25, 2009, 21:24:10

Cons : You have to listen to them annoying adverts "I'm a PC, Windows 7 was my idea!"

Steve · Oct 26, 2009, 08:25:05

Having upgraded the wife's Toshiba laptop to 7 premium from vista it seems to have given it a new lease of life , its much snappier in performance.

I was pleased to see this AM that the WHS had done its backup automatically overnight The only hassle was having to download a program from Perfectdisk to eradicate all trace prior to the upgrade I then installed v10 without issue. Just need to find the HDD protection utility as the Toshiba Vista version was incompatible.

Still awaiting an Ultimate version to arrive for the lad's machine which will be a clean install.

Niall · Oct 26, 2009, 20:38:20

Can I have some of your considerable wealth please?