Hello everyone!
This post is coming to you from Windows 7! I have had Windows 7 on my laptop for over a year, but now I have the official version on my super fast desktop computer. It was released on October 22, 2009. I am not sure how well it is doing, in terms of sales numbers, but I tested it long enough and decided to get it. For $30 bucks, why not? Anyone with a .edu email account can get it for cheap at: windows7.digitalriver.com
Installation:
This is the worst part. It took forever. Almost 2 hours? Unbelievable! And I have a super fast 64 bit, quad core, solid state drive system (if you know what that means, you know how long that took)!
Is it worth it?
For $30 bucks it sure is. Would I shell out $200? No.
Is it better?
If you have been following the Microsoft Windows 7 development team through their team blog, this is supposed to be the mother of all operating systems. And it is, as far as I can tell after a year with this thing. The way I explain it to people is that this is what Windows Vista was supposed to be. It looks and acts very similar to Vista, so if you are used to that user interface, you will be fine. The bar at the bottom is different and it does a few neat tricks. But that functionality and those neat tricks could easily have been added to Vista with a patch or two. Underneath it all, this is supposed to be a completely new thing and very different. And it is. It was built from scratch, it's not just an upgrade to Vista 2.0. It is an entirely new thing, that sorta looks and acts like Vista, but isn't and does a few neat things and runs a little faster.
How much faster?
It takes my super computer less than 30 seconds to go from off to the windows login screen. Vista was also fast, but I never timed it. According to published reports, 7 should makes things go about 20% faster. I already notice that Internet Explorer 8 runs and renders pages much, much faster! That in and of itself is a relief. Especially, complicated AJAX and dynamic pages like Facebook.
Crashes?
I never experienced crashing with any operating system I have ever had, but I am a computer guru, and get along with all my technology very well. I spent 3 years of my life building custom computers and fixing them. But most people have never done that. But yes, it just works.
Should you get it?
Soon it will come with every computer. Netbooks still come with XP, because it is smaller and faster, but that may change in the near future. If you or someone you know has a .edu email account, then by all means, go get it! It's only $30 for the full professional version (64 bit too)!
Here is a decent review: http://www.taranfx.com/blog/windows-7-rtm-final-review-benchmark-vs-xp-vista-the-revenge-of-the-fallen
Anyone else try this new Windows yet?
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