You knew this thread was comming

bye bye Vista, hello windows 7

from the few people I know that have used it, it seems to be a huge improvement

although i'm still a little scared to download it yet

any opinions?

Beta version can be downloaded here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/window … nload.aspx

Our stuff is running XP but many of our PCs are getting quite tired, so we are really hopping that Beta 7 gets good reviews. I skipped Vista because it was so sucky, but the clock is ticking for our office hardware and software.

I am also waiting to see how W7 goes, and its bacward compatibility with software - unlike Vista which did not work with about 60% of software on the market.

LOL looks like we're all in a holding pattern

never went for Vista - the wife's "new" laptop had it pre-installed and the little i've used have been my only experiences with Vista

The computer I'm working on is pretty old but it looks like it may have just enough juice to run windows 7

however i may just wait till i upgrade anyways (whenever that will be...)

about 18 months ago I bought a 64bit laptop (can't remember full spec) which came with windows vista home basic - i quickly put linux (ubuntu) on it. Since moving house the ubuntu refused to connect to any network.

Without any work on my laptop I decided to try windows 7

2 hour download (3.15Gb) - so make sure you have a good connection

Installation was pretty straight forward, but haven't got much further

Will play with it more later, but first impressions:

continues with vista 'areo' theme, which is ok

start menu is slightly improved over vista, as are the task bar and short cuts on it.

No network connection yet - wireless drivers may be screwed due to my linux attempt - but will use LAN cable for now.

Hoping for good things after a dissapointing vista of vista

He he - I'm posting this using windows 7, wirelessly.

Just wish my screen size was supported!!!

nice to hear!

how was it to install? I'm not the most sophisticated tech guy and was thinking to do it on the wife's myself...worth a shot   ?

Nic wrote:

nice to hear!

how was it to install? I'm not the most sophisticated tech guy and was thinking to do it on the wife's myself...worth a shot   ?

If you've got a spare computer, or want to completely overwrite what you've got then it's really easy. I didn't back my system up as it was going to be an overwrite of my linux OS.

As the drives were formatted for linux, I had to delete the partitions (which was through a windows install dialogue box) and then choose the unformatted drive to install windows on.

Really easy, probably the easiest windows installation I've ever done.

A bit later on I started getting updates, including a driver for my display adapter - so everything looks ok now

The download takes approximately 3 hours via a Broadband connection after registering with Microsoft. The trial version Windows 7 Ultimate is limited to 2.5 million and will expire on August 1st. 2009. It cannot be upgraded at present and Microsoft say that the beta version must be uninstalled prior to the final release. If you already have Internet Explorer 8 installed you must uninstall this back to IE7 first.

Before starting the upgrade make sure you have the copy of the New Product key issued during registration!



Windows 7 Install/Update

Time required to upgrade the existing version of Vista was @2hours 45 minutes
Reboots 4 times
2nd Reboot the screen display appears as if in Safe Mode
Completing the upgrade depends on the software you already had installed pre the upgrade

Comments:

Microsoft suggest you burn the ISO file to a DVD using PowerISO or similar
I ran the upgrade from PowerISO directly on a Vista 32bit laptop with Home Premium with Service Pack 1 installed.

Issues:

So far none.

Current Software in use: MS Office 2007 Enterprise (without Groove), Dreamweaver, HTML Validator 9, ULead Gif Animator, Fireworks, Photoshop, Flash, New Browser:Internet Explorer 8 (part of Windows 7)

NOTE After downloading and installing right click My Computer and select ACTIVATE when connected to the Internet. You have 30 days to complete this.

As a Freelance Web Designer I wanted to test this out especially for IE8 and web page rendering. So many people and companies have paid good money for a website which under W3C validation fails miserably. If you have a website and you paid a company or individual to create it visit W3C and enter your website address including the http: and check the results. Pass this on...

Windows 7 is quicker than Vista and overall I prefer it. Using a whole range of software and the only blip was using bluetooth to a new cheap mobile phone whilst my Sony goes in for repair.

From a design point of view it is good to see MS have committed to a quality browser now with IE8 but the loyal band of Firefox and Safari users etc won't like it anyway.

The features like "shaking" a window, an side by side window views etc and interesting but not amazing. In Private browsing sounds good from a safety point of view.

Anyway get it now and use till August and then decide...

http://xkcd.com/528/

I <3 it.  I wasn't exactly willing to try Vista, and never will, but I like this, and I'm going to completely use it (still keeping my XP around!) for everything I need.  Well, it's not going to do itself, so I'll have to go and start running and installing in it now.

It's definitely high quality, and seems to run FASTER THAN XP!!!  Vista compatibility issues are still around, but really, most things support the Vista base now.  Vista was the cutting (or indeed bleeding, painful) edge, and it laid the foundation.  Now Windows 7 is making it what we all wanted.

Looking forward to try Window 7.  I got bad experiences with Vista.....About 2 days ago, I reformatted my pc with Vista Home Basic Edition.....and I've problems with license activation.  I called up their Activation Center(AC).....then was diverted to their Support Service Center(SSC).....where I was promised my problem with be look into by their technical staff.  Nobody bothered....then the following day...I called AC again..then SSC....guess what?????  I was informed that since I did use the proper installation CD to format....so the activation code cannot be verified.  I was told to send my pc back to ACER(my supplier).  It's so cumbersome.  Really regretted purchasing this GENUINE VISTA OS.



Jimi

I've actually been using Windows 7 for a few weeks now. I have to say it is pretty nice. I've been following it closely on Neowin.net and been blogging about it as well.

I have a few screen shots of my desktop using it:

http://programming-designs.com/misc/Win7SS.png
http://programming-designs.com/misc/Win7SS2.png
http://programming-designs.com/misc/Win7SS4.png

Finally got around to installing it

Well my old comp gave out and i had no choice as the new one came with Vista (didn't even give that 1 minute)

however seems like i downloaded the 32 bit version, while i wanted the 64

I'm not going to bother reinstalling the 64 now as i'm sure there will be a newer version coming out soon

just wanted to ask, that if anyone does hear of a new version arrive to please let me know

as far as W& is concerned seems good so far (except for IE8 that comes with it - that thing will drive a man insane )

Nic, what sort of issues are you having with IE8?

2 large ones:

1) doesn't render lots of site properly even with the compatibility view (this is my main one)

2) seems to be returning a lot more "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" errors (in fact i couldn't remember the exact error message, but after trying to open 2 other windows, i soon saw it and copied it here )

I installed a new update and it broke my wireless driver.....am going to have to find a cable from somewhere and try and do another "update"

when did they put out an update?

you using the 32 or 64?

I've still got a key from them somewhere, but I never downloaded the program. Was too big and I thought it was too much of a risk for something that was likely to not have much change. Can I still get hold of the software if I have the key? And is it worth the time?

MS only let people try it out (download it) for a little while

I'm sure you can still find a copy floating out there in the www (torents)

They'll probably re-open it soon, so if you're in no rush, it's probably worth waiting for the updated version