Thread: Hasta la Vista, baby: Ars reviews Windows 7

Hasta la Vista, baby: Ars reviews Windows 7 - Ars Technica

I'll admit that I did not read this entire article. It's very long. It is the most in-depth review of Windows 7 I have found. Ars Technica is very respected in the technology field. This article includes the history of upgrades; going from Windows 98 to XP, businesses switching from 2000 to XP, the canceled release of Longhorn, the switch from XP to Vista. One major issue they cite is that every new version of Windows uses more resources. Vista also had driver issues from the very beginning.

I like this excerpt about about XP: "The thing that XP had on its side was time. XP should have been replaced by Windows Longhorn in 2004 or 2005, but the cancellation of the Longhorn project and subsequent wait for Vista meant that everyone—users, software developers, hardware vendors—treated Windows XP as the main (or even only) version of Windows, with the result that everything worked with XP. The early woes were forgotten, and XP, old and clunky as it was, became the version of Windows that everyone loved and adored (or at least, tolerated)."

Especially noted is the fact that Microsoft can take advantage of flaws and legitimate complaints related to Vista and XP by learning from their mistakes. I'm a skeptic, but I see why there's hope for Windows 7.

From the article, overview of the different versions of Windows 7: "Nonetheless, Windows 7 still has a plethora of versions. From worst to best, these are: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate. In practice, though, there are only three versions that matter. Starter Edition is worthless; it's crippled (it omits most of the user-visible features that make Vista and Windows 7 worthwhile), only available for 32-bit systems, only available as an OEM pre-install, and really should never have seen the light of day. Its only purpose is to allow Microsoft to have a dirt-cheap OS to offer to netbook makers as an alternative to Linux, but frankly you'd be better off with a pocket calculator. Home Basic is restricted to emerging markets; though less limited than Starter edition, it too lacks most of the features that make Windows 7 attractive to consumers. Enterprise and Ultimate can be taken together; they're identical except for their licensing; Enterprise is for volume license customers, Ultimate is available through retail and OEM channels."

Win7 is honestly amazing. I was using it at my parents home all weekend and theres so many things I like in it.

The dragging windows to the corners of the screens to make them full sized/half sized is great!

Plus it loads up so much faster than vista (and XP) do. But that might have been partly the computer I was on.

Originally Posted by tsdesigns

Win7 is honestly amazing. I was using it at my parents home all weekend and theres so many things I like in it.

The dragging windows to the corners of the screens to make them full sized/half sized is great!

Plus it loads up so much faster than vista (and XP) do. But that might have been partly the computer I was on.

What kind of computer were you using? CPU? Ram?

No idea. It's my dads laptop, said he upgraded the ram the other month but can't remember what to, I'd guess it's pretty good though. Can't say I really cared...it worked for what I wanted it for (pretty much just surfing the net...)

I agree with you that windows 7 is amazing. It works according to our wishes. It offers better thumbnail previews, easier-to-see icons, and more ways to customize. It is designed to sleep and resume quicker, be less memory hungry, and spot USB devices faster. It offers full 64 bit support.

yes! that was i use windows 7..

windows 7 works really well on 2gb RAM , processor >1.6ghz for laptops

Originally Posted by weblover50

windows 7 works really well on 2gb RAM , processor >1.6ghz for laptops

Is that a processor with 2 cores?

Hi,

I got WIN 7 on mine and if some can tell me how to fix stuff that would be great.

:flower:

Sami

Hi,

Forgot all of this I know you'll ask.


Win 7 Ultimate

Pent Dual-core T4200 4.00 Ghz

4 Gig Ram

32 bit OS

:flower:

Sami

Originally Posted by Sami4u

I got WIN 7 on mine and if some can tell me how to fix stuff that would be great.i

I will eventually create a Win 7 security, optimization and repair site like I did for XP. I just have to get my hands on 7 first. Are you having any particular problems with 7?

Originally Posted by Sami4u

Forgot all of this I know you'll ask.


Win 7 Ultimate

Pent Dual-core T4200 4.00 Ghz

4 Gig Ram

32 bit OS

That's a good configuration. Pretty solid.

Originally Posted by vectro

Are you having any particular problems with 7?

Hi,

Most of what is wrong I just have no idea what stuff is.

This one is driving me nuts.

What the hell is an encryption key? Damm pop up keep coming up say back up my encryption key.

How do I change the folder pics?


How do I del the extra crap win7 added? game and such.

:flower:

Sami

Originally Posted by Sami4u

What the hell is an encryption key? Damm pop up keep coming up say back up my encryption key.

Encryption is a way to protect files, e-mails and other data. It basically converts the data so it becomes unreadable by anyone who doesn't have the encryption key. If you are using this feature it is highly recommended that you back up the key. Did the notification you received give any instructions? If so you should follow them. Unless of course you are not using this feature.

Originally Posted by vectro

Encryption is a way to protect files, e-mails and other data. It basically converts the data so it becomes unreadable by anyone who doesn't have the encryption key. If you are using this feature it is highly recommended that you back up the key. Did the notification you received give any instructions? If so you should follow them. Unless of course you are not using this feature.

Hi,

Ok Now that you explained it I have no Idea if I am using it or not. I must be because the popup keep coming up from the action center.

I'll see if I can figure it out. Something else that was turned on when I got the computer I'll bet because I don't remember turning any thing on.

How do I turn that off?

:flower:

Sami

Heard good things so far, guess time will tell

Win 7 is a great OS, but I prefer not to use it because some of my friends say that win 7 chooses limited pc games.

I've been using w7 for 3 months now and i'm very impressed.. they improved a lot compare to vista.. i love their new features...

I haven't even seen 7 yet but would like to try it out. I still have xp and probably will until this computer dies completely. One think I don't like about the upgrades is that they change the language where it is not necessary. My step-dad wanted to remove a program this morning in his Vista puter. I looked for add/remove programs and they had renamed it.
Finally found it but what is the point in putting completely different names for functions that have been there since Windows 95?

Originally Posted by kenjpet

Finally found it but what is the point in putting completely different names for functions that have been there since Windows 95?

That's always been one my of my major gripes about Vista. They give the same old features different names and put them in different places in the control panel right after everyone got used to the XP control panel.