Poll: Windows 7 users, well, how is it?

In my experience, it's a nice enough upgrade to Vista, but nothing worth getting overly excited about.

I wish there were more control over the new taskbar, so I could have things like only Firefox WINDOWS show up, not each individual tab. Other than that, it adds a few moderately interesting ideas to the OS X Dock which was clearly the inspiration for it. And IMO, I don't care who comes up with it, a good idea's a good idea.

The improved bootup times are quite welcome, and memory management seems to be improved as well.

It doesn't seem to play nicely with the Dell 5310 printers used at work, but I rarely need to print anything so it's not a great hardship for me.

All in all, it's a nice refinement of Vista, but I would stop well short of proclaiming this as some masterful OS release. I still firmly believe that Microsoft has pretty much hit the technical limit of what they can do with the current Windows code base, and it's time to chuck the whole thing, or at least a very sizable chunk, and start fresh. Smaller, faster, incorporating all the lessons learned since the rise of the Internet age, as well as being more nimble and better able to take advantage of multi-core CPUs along with the increasing multimedia demands of end-users.

I feel like I've gone into a department store where everything has been rearranged, re-cataloged and renamed. I can't find the sock department without stumbling over women's purses. So far it's been like and Easter egg hunt. I still haven't gotten a good peek under the hood yet but that will come with time. Once I figure out how to get it to look as much like XP as possible, I'm sure things will be fine.

I like eye candy, it is pretty! It loads fast, It eliminates some of the extra steps to whatever I try to do. Some are saying it is no faster, but it seems faster to me. I had some hassel getting my Canon ip4200 printer to work, Canon has drivers for Vista, got that, now I can print. My copy of MS WORD is 2001, so I am now running Open Office.
I have IE8, and Windows Live Mail, Avira and SuperAntiSpyware and WinPatrol. Also have all of windows security enabled.
BTW, I'm running 64-bit Home Premium.

I am debating as to whether or not I should install Windows 7 on my Dell laptop (M1530)... I have the Windows 7 software but have been reading a lot of Windows 7 blogs and am now getting cold feet (not to mention a cold sweat thinking about some of the nightmares folks have told of once they installed or attempted to install this upgrade). (On the flip side, there are others who absolutely love it!)

Is it really worth the hoopla? Someone please help me make up my mind. Thx for your input...

OnTheFence

Did a fresh install on a used disk with OEM version of Home Premium. Dell 4550 P4, 1GB ram, 2.4ghz, 32-bit, 5 years old. Works at least as well as former XP Home. Had drivers for my printers and video card (ATI 9800 AIW with TV tuner). TV tuner not supported, but otherwise runs fancy Aero interface just fine. All in all, I like it. Will need to install my old apps, but they are fairly new so don't expect any trouble. I used the free test version for a good while, so learning curve was easy on this PC. For those of you who are holding back, jump in, you should not have any trouble.

I now have 3 computers running under Windows 7. So far ... so good. It sure cured the problem I was having with my PC just dying sometimes under Vista. For some reason, my PC would just stop after a few minutes, especially when I used my webcam under VISTA in Yahoo. I would have to physically disconnect the PC from the power source and reboot. It worked fine for awhile, but then after a few large Vista updates, it started acting weird. The webcam seems to work fine under Windows 7, and no more dead PC.

The major thing I found disconcerting (and surprising) about Windows 7 is that Microsoft did away with Windows Mail. That really upset me at first, but then I found out that they've replaced it with Windows LIVE Mail. I don't like it was well as Outlook Express nor Windows Mail because it functions somewhat differently, and some functions are on your computer and some on the internet. I'm still not sure if my mail is resident on my computer or on some remote Microsoft webserver. Supposedly, your old mail messages are transferred during the Windows 7 upgrade process, but some of mine went missing, so if you have essential mail saved on your computer, I suggest that you back it up some other way to be sure you get everything transferred saved and transferred properly. After I lost some on my first computer, I actually EXPORTED my mail messages on the second computer and imported them into another mail program. On the other hand, you will now have a calendaring function with Windows 7 Home Premium.

Another thing I found a bit disconcerting is when you move the cursor off a particular screen, it will disappear on you ... but return when you move it back. That gave me a heart attack a time or two at first, but I'm getting used to it now. Anyway, so far, I am fairly pleased with Windows 7. I hope that sentiment lasts.

AWESOME!!!
ATTENTION!!! If you are Having PROBLEMS Installing Windows 7... TRY A BIOS UPDATE!!!!
ESPECIALLY if YOU have a Computer that is 2 or MORE YEARS OLD!!!
I Installed Windows 7 on 2 Custom Built Desktops (Previously running Windows XP_SP3) & My vista (UGGGH) Toshiba Laptop (Needed a BIOS UPDATE to Install)... & IT WORKS GREAT!!!
I ALSO did a vista (UGGGH) to Windows 7 UPGRADE Over the Internet... & IT WORKED FLAWLESSLY!!!
THANK YOU Microsoft!!!

why should I change....to put more money in Microsoft's pockets?

My old laptop computer (XP) was working beautifully for 3+ years until my young son ran by the table and hooked the power cord with his foot and off to a whirling oblivion went my workhorse. That was a year ago.

I got a new laptop by HP with Vista and still vow to fix it with a hammer or the nail gun.......oooooh, that would feel so good!! Can you guess Im a home remodel contractor?

I have all the issues that everyone complains about. I really want to clean wipe Vista and re-install XP. I dont want or need all the new junk and features of vista or W7. I dont need updates clogging the memory and causing errors every day. I would pay $ to have my XP back. I have heard that some newer computers with vista can only be upgraded because HP (and others) put hardware in to make XP not work. I have also heard/seen on C-Net that when installed correctly with updated drivers, the XP kicks a** and runs like a champ on the more powerful computers that came with Vista.

I have a HP Pavilion 32 bit machine, Nov 2008 build date.

Why give more money to microsoft for designing such crap to start with? W7 should be free!!I would rather go buy a MAC!

Anybody ... please reply/post with hardware and driver info.

I am frustrated with Microsoft, who in their infinite wisdom only develop software for high-end systems. My computer is about 5 years old, and therefore cannot have things like Widows 7 or Vista on because the specs are too low. I would love to try Windows 7, but according to the requirements, it will not work on my system. I have maintained my friends Vista for a while and really don't think much of that one. Don't think he will upgrade though

Since I use a Mac with VM Ware Fusion loaded with XP and have little need for any Windows applications, I have decided to stick with XP. It works fine for me when I use it and can't justify either the bother or the expense of another system whose advantages are doubtful, at best. OS 10.6.2 has sorted out a few problems I've had with Snow Leopard, and am a happy bunny!

a new computer for my wife on her birthday.It came with Windows 7 Home Prem. installed. We both loved XP ,but hated Vista. Which is want she has to use at her work.. After using W7 for 3 weeks now and doing a little tweaking to make it look as much like XP as possible. I will have to say It's "way" better than I had expected it to be. Microsoft hasn't reached the (awesome status yet) in my book. But they seem to working on it. I would recommend Windows 7 to anyone who wants upgrade from XP. And bypass Vista compleatly as be did.

Rick

...and I say that as someone who clung on to windows XP thinking that it would be tough to improve on.

It has pretty good backwards compatibility though I think that many people have too great an expectation of this and I wonder how of the operating systems these days are cluttered up with routines to make them compatible with old equipment and old software. I have two bits of redundant kit - my agfa snapscan scanner (must be 8-10 years old I guess) and my logitech zoom webcam. agfa pulled out of the scanning market years ago and havent produced a driver beyond win 2000 and Logitech simply havent issued updated drivers for their old webcams (shame on them) - To me however these are not issues to blame microsoft for - they have to update their OS to take advantage of the latest technologies and the production of drivers is something.

My upgrade from Vista went well and for a day or so I thought I was going to be glitch free. Then my PC started doing this thing when it goes to sleep. IF I can wake it up it is locked and the only way to reset it is to pull the plug. I have been working with windows about the problem and they are trying very hard to help resolve the issue. Now they are referring me to the manufacturer to get an updated Bios. I also have a little trouble getting regular updates. Honestly, if I could go back to my trouble free Vista I would. I already had Media Center and the new desktop functions are cool but don't make the OS any better. Perhaps in a year or so the will get it right.

After i installed windows 7 i found out that
Norton internet security 2009 that i only had for 3 months Does not work with it so i had to upgrade to norton 2010

I regret loading Windows 7 as I use Adobe Elements 7 and 8 and can no longer at this stage as a professional photographer share my photos (COULD IN vISTA) as Windows 7 does not have Outlook Express AND THEREFORE aDOBE WILL NOT WORK.. Can ant tec computer guy help me with this as I am not a computer expert ... Adobe 8 or Windows 7 sucks..