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Jul. 31st, 2009 03:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
senusenuI installed Windows 7 RC as a dual boot alongside WinXP. I have only had it on my machine for about 36 hours now, but I'll go ahead and give my first impressions.
I know that Win7 is based off the same core as Vista. The package is quite similar, and it uses Aero (which is incredibly lol!shiny). It's more than just a Vista clone though- they are taking Vista's failings and fixing them, and upgrading the whole package. Win7 will be faster and more stable than Vista. So far, it's received mostly good reviews compared to Vista which was getting slammed before it ever was fully released.
Now, I have been a hardcode XP nerd for 7 years. I upgraded my machine long ago from Win95 to Win98 and was very pleased with the new shiny. XP was a profound upgrade a few years later and I never looked back. XP gave me stability, rare bluescreens, ease of upgrade, and the features I needed were in logical places, easy to find, and easy to use. XP has been the staple of my PC life for a long time and I am still exceptionally fond of it.
My first encounter with Vista was when I got my laptop. I was wary but didn't want to pay 200 to downgrade to XP (I cuuld buy OEM XP for 40 pounds or so if I needed). So I get my laptop and enjoy the lol!shiny for all of 30 minutes before scratching my head. I can't connect to the wireless, and when we finally figure that out an hour later, I can't set up file transfers between machines. Where's my network places? How do I choose my own folder for file sharing? Why does it randomly cut off?
I sludge my way through, get that sorted, and try to learn the new system. A lot of features I was used to were buried and difficult to find. Programs won't install without figuring out what compatability mode I needed. All in all I wound up incredibly frustrated because I felt like options were being hidden from me.
I know my way around a PC but things were deliberately obfuscated like I wasn't trusted to operate my own computer. And the constant NAGGING. "Are you sure?" every single time I tried to do something and I couldn't figure out how to turn it off.
After a week I bought another copy of XP and said bye bye to Vista. Yes I know some people liked it and did fine but it did not suit my computer style at all. I've also "dabbled" with Linux, but that goes the other way too much for my tastes- too much need for fixes, programming, etc just to install simple things.
When I started reading about Windows 7, though, and the improvements being made I was actually interested in trying it out. So I downloaded the Release Candidate to give it a try.
First impressions: it is very obviously based on Vista. I already knew this, though. It is very "shiny." Most features I need are actually easy for me to find and are in mostly logical places.
Negatives: lack of compatability. My sound card doesn't work (an SB Audigy). I bought a new one since I needed an upgrade anyway as the Audigy barely worked in XP as it was. The new card bluescreened XP to the point of being unbootable, and though compatable with Vista, did not work in 7. My onboard sound works with neither instalalation. Some programs- such as Firefox- can't simply be installed; you have to use administrater to do so. Useful for the average user, right? The NAGGING! But this time there was a button to go to where that can be adjusted (I turned it off, naturally).
Positives- yes, I like the lol!shiny. The themes are cooler, as is the bubble screensaver. Most things are easy for mee to find and to remember where they were. I am seriously digging the new start menu. It's fast, and the interface does look very clean. It installed all of my drivers but my sound (this seems to be a common problem). Once I hit the desktop I am connected to the net and can open Firefox within seconds while XP drags. Multiple sound schemes? Pity I can't hear them :/
All in all, so far I'm liking it, but there's still a good many months until final release. I am not sure of the cost, but a couple hundred won't be surprising. The RC is the "Ultimate" version so I assume there will be several to choose from.
Anyhoo, that's just my thoughts on this thing.
I know that Win7 is based off the same core as Vista. The package is quite similar, and it uses Aero (which is incredibly lol!shiny). It's more than just a Vista clone though- they are taking Vista's failings and fixing them, and upgrading the whole package. Win7 will be faster and more stable than Vista. So far, it's received mostly good reviews compared to Vista which was getting slammed before it ever was fully released.
Now, I have been a hardcode XP nerd for 7 years. I upgraded my machine long ago from Win95 to Win98 and was very pleased with the new shiny. XP was a profound upgrade a few years later and I never looked back. XP gave me stability, rare bluescreens, ease of upgrade, and the features I needed were in logical places, easy to find, and easy to use. XP has been the staple of my PC life for a long time and I am still exceptionally fond of it.
My first encounter with Vista was when I got my laptop. I was wary but didn't want to pay 200 to downgrade to XP (I cuuld buy OEM XP for 40 pounds or so if I needed). So I get my laptop and enjoy the lol!shiny for all of 30 minutes before scratching my head. I can't connect to the wireless, and when we finally figure that out an hour later, I can't set up file transfers between machines. Where's my network places? How do I choose my own folder for file sharing? Why does it randomly cut off?
I sludge my way through, get that sorted, and try to learn the new system. A lot of features I was used to were buried and difficult to find. Programs won't install without figuring out what compatability mode I needed. All in all I wound up incredibly frustrated because I felt like options were being hidden from me.
I know my way around a PC but things were deliberately obfuscated like I wasn't trusted to operate my own computer. And the constant NAGGING. "Are you sure?" every single time I tried to do something and I couldn't figure out how to turn it off.
After a week I bought another copy of XP and said bye bye to Vista. Yes I know some people liked it and did fine but it did not suit my computer style at all. I've also "dabbled" with Linux, but that goes the other way too much for my tastes- too much need for fixes, programming, etc just to install simple things.
When I started reading about Windows 7, though, and the improvements being made I was actually interested in trying it out. So I downloaded the Release Candidate to give it a try.
First impressions: it is very obviously based on Vista. I already knew this, though. It is very "shiny." Most features I need are actually easy for me to find and are in mostly logical places.
Negatives: lack of compatability. My sound card doesn't work (an SB Audigy). I bought a new one since I needed an upgrade anyway as the Audigy barely worked in XP as it was. The new card bluescreened XP to the point of being unbootable, and though compatable with Vista, did not work in 7. My onboard sound works with neither instalalation. Some programs- such as Firefox- can't simply be installed; you have to use administrater to do so. Useful for the average user, right? The NAGGING! But this time there was a button to go to where that can be adjusted (I turned it off, naturally).
Positives- yes, I like the lol!shiny. The themes are cooler, as is the bubble screensaver. Most things are easy for mee to find and to remember where they were. I am seriously digging the new start menu. It's fast, and the interface does look very clean. It installed all of my drivers but my sound (this seems to be a common problem). Once I hit the desktop I am connected to the net and can open Firefox within seconds while XP drags. Multiple sound schemes? Pity I can't hear them :/
All in all, so far I'm liking it, but there's still a good many months until final release. I am not sure of the cost, but a couple hundred won't be surprising. The RC is the "Ultimate" version so I assume there will be several to choose from.
Anyhoo, that's just my thoughts on this thing.
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-31 08:09 am (UTC)I'm too lazy to learn a whole new system, TBH, so I don't see myself not using Windows. They hooked me early. :| Our old computer back in the early 90s was Windows 3.1. (The Commodore before that doesn't count.)
no subject
Date: 2009-07-31 08:20 am (UTC)I am really liking this so far, and it really does seem to be an improvement. I just wish the sound issue could be easily fixed. Googling shows that it's extremely common for sound cards not to work, even with Vista drivers. I am returning this new card tomorrow. I don't know which one I should try now, and it's annoying as hell.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-01 01:32 am (UTC)