[confideinme]

I thought this was about windows not Mac's or any other window system's alike. To the guy who says you get what you pay for, who does use a Mac. Some of us aren't that rich to afford the best in life. I myself have a family to support and only casual earnings. I could never afford to live up to some that has money to splurge left right and centre. Before telling people you get what you pay for, how about we change employment and then I maybe able to live up to your standards. This is really becommng a war of words on this topic!!!

[TheBigOldDog]

I'm not a Mac fan. However, your point about the wireless card is dead on. Those are the sorts of things Microsft needed to focus on fixing instead of trying to redefine the entire UI and taking a seldge hammer appraoch to security.

The fact Microsoft ever consier UAC an appropraite appraoch to security shows they don't remotely understand users - neither pwer users nor novices.

All UAC did was PO power users and scare novices and they were told that right from the first beta release on and they simply wouldn't listen.

People want their computers to work and be responsive.

[BAMT]

Well, I thought XP looked like a good upgrade from 2k and XP to Vista as bad, which turned out to be true. XP ruled 2k, I had no difficulties, but XP to Vista? Forget it. Not only lack of drivers, but also lack of features. Who complains that Microsoft's software "overwhelm[s] you with features"??? Maybe they listen to only the complaints from the senior home...
Also, I never liked that ribbon thing. Someone actually had to show me that you clicked on the MS logo in the upper-left corner to access the menu (I had gotten used to not clicking Microsoft logos from IE). It's ugly and doesn't take advantage of today's widescreen monitors. Sure, you can fit more fat, pompous buttons across the screen, but then your workspace becomes flat. Graphics design? Video editing? Blech.

[mmm111]

MS sets unparalled standards for corporate greed!

MS makes hundreds of billions selling a lousy Vista, then expects Vista sufferers to pay for 7 which fixes Vista's problems?

The claims MS made for Vista are somehwere in between misleading and fradulent.

[hydroron]

What's new - Answer: Nothing! Windows 7 does some "window" dressing, strips out a few things that shouldn't have been there in the first place so it runs faster, and maybe improves some the issues like the driver mess, and then calls it a new OS when it's not!

[derickthegreat]

I'm still not willing to switch from windows xp- vista to the windows 7, all i see is that they've changed the look of it again, ) : and updated things like calculator and word! I want a better user interface, windows vista's was ok but it hogged a lot of graphics memory! What ever happened to the the user interface seen in 2002-2003 longhorn, i liked that and windows xp's! Microsoft's going to have to improve how they listen to there customers!

[Shadrack2k8]

Ok, this #&2!! me off. M$ hypocrisy, proof on paper. They threaten to sue linux distro giants for patent violations, then they turn around and rip off tasty menus on KDE. Why does M$ think it's ok to steal from the linux guys, yet they want a financial piece of the pie when linux puts out something non-remotely similar to Windows. Microsoft and their staff suck.

[edburnett]

So, where does it say that you must buy a brand new Mac? My Macs are all used and never bought new. No, I am not rich, I wish I was. I am 70 and retired and live on a fixed income. I was trained as a Windows Tech. also as a Mac Tech. My previous employer once told me that if MS ever came out with an OS as stable as what is being used Macs, he would be out of business! You can take that to the bank! 90% of all computer repairs were because the end user did not know how to install or upgrade the system on their computers. At $100 plus to do what they needed sure was nice. So, my friend, where were their savings. You like may others, do not remember the formats used for the early video tape machines. Beta verses VHS. Beta was so much better. But the VHS machines sold for much less than a Beta unit. Beta eventually lost out to VHS. To bad. The point is, cost is a big factor to the average consumer who is the one who eventually pays for all of the mistakes of the manufacturers that are doing their very best to make a quick buck. If PCs had a system as stable as Macs do, I'm sure Apple would be a thing of the past. Luckily for a lot of us, we have begun to wise up to what these so called upgrades are. But in the long run I'm glad there are at least two fighting for the supreme to spot. But we as consumers will reap the benifts in the long costly run.

[edburnett]

You are so very right about things should work without problems. My wife expects to start her computer and never have a problem. She very seldom has a problem, but, every once in a while something will happen, then it is only a matter of minutes and with my coaching the problem is solved. No big deal . But if the same issue happened with a PC it could become a major issue for no real reason. An average user probably would have brought the computer to me for repair and paid me willingly what ever money I wanted. This is not about the system as much as it is about those average individuals who use their computers on a daily basis. They are not all GEEKS or Technicians nor can they afford to go out and purchase a new computer or operating system when ever the need happens.

[rgreen4]

Vista does take advantage of widescreen monitors if you load the proper drivers to a current video card. I have three that do, all using various Nvidia graphics card. The only machine I have that will not display properly on a widescreen monitor is a 4 year old desktop running XP and using an integraded video chip.

Why does everyone say that Vista uses ribbon menus when it does not? Microsoft Office 2007 uses ribbon menus and they are there whether you are using Windows 2000 Pro, XP or Vista.

Please people get the facts and programs straight when you post your complaints.

And no one except the few Alpha testers know anything about Windows 7. You sure can't tell anything by a few photos of an early Alpha release, and that release is at least two releases older than the current Alpha shown at the Developers Conference. The final displays and screens won't be done until later in the Beta development.

The complaints about Windows 7 is good for one thing, it shows that many complainers don't care about reality and many times react to rumors or posts of others since they can't possibly have really had any hands on experience with Windows 7.

[StevenWang]

Microsoft, do you know that most of the users/consumers don't like Vista, so you should not use any things from Vista and make Windows 7 a really new OS. you can not simply ripped off Vista and sell it again, otherwise you are going to lose what you invested.

[quark]

PC World, you sure stirred a hornet's nest with your excellent article on Windows 7 and I have been reading the many and varied replies with interest. Frankly, my personal position remains the same: what on earth do I (me, personally) need Windows 7 for? With the advent of SP 3 I have an outstanding Operating System in XP and I really see no need to change to Windows 7. If I did change, would any benefits I may derive, be worth the cost? XP does all I need my PC to do, from A to Z, and anyway, it took Microsoft quite a few years to polish up XP, so my question is: how many years before Windows 7 is really a good operating system? I used XP from day one, and was used, among millions of others, as a "Beta Tester" or guinea pig, and I really don't want to go through all that rigmarole again! Hehe, it's been a good article for commenting on!

[rgreen4]

As has been said many, many times - if your current operating system on your current machine suits your needs and you are happy with it, there is absolutely no need to change in the near future. XP will be supported for at least the next 9 years with security patches, so it should be good until then. However, when you purchase a new machine, it will come with a new operating system and then you can decide which is correct, the hype or the hate.

[quark]

Exacto rgreen4 - nail struck on head and QED What all the fuss is about, I dunno!

[BAMT]

Sorry if I was unclear, I meant Windows 7 using it in its version of office, wordpad, and paint. Sure, it still works on a wide monitor, but if you are working on a square graphic for say and there are two of the same systems, but one uses ribbons and the other a side toolbar (mspaint). Sure, both work, but the ribbon system will make the image a little smaller and have more wasted "gray space".

And to be clear that it's the company and not just this release, I'd like to point out that there was a similar issue with 95 -> 98. 95 had a basic screen, blank desktop, used few resources. 98 (considered an upgrade by most) had some extra features and more advanced wallpaper options (like Internet wallpaper), but some thought, "why upgrade?". Microsoft then changed its kernel quite a bit and made a new filesystem, 2000. However, it still looked very similar to and had many features of 98, and, consequently, the semblance of 95. Just something to think about.

[rgreen4]

BAMT - the NTFS files system was never added to the Windows 9x line. The Windows 9x line came to an end with ME and only had the FAT32 file system. The NTFS file system started with NT 3.1 (the first version of NT but numbered 3.1 to correspond with Windows 3.1. NT was a totally different version of Windows.

The reason for the NTFS file system replacing the FAT32 file system was security by limiting authorized access at the file level or directory level, not just the system level.

As for the ribbon, it can be minimized - below are two full ribbons, first Word and then Excel





Next are two minimized ribbons -





And, oh by the way, those authors who wrote the article obviously don't know much about Vista, much less Windows. Two features they tout as new to Windows 7 are in Vista, and one is even in XP. The first is the magnifier which made it's debut in Vista, and the other that you can click on one item to minimize all the open windows to access the desktop is present in XP.

[techman247]

Listen Folks,

I agree with SAecurity 718 - Try it before you complain and whine about how awful it is. You couldn't get a clue if you jumped into a herd of clues!!! Look, I have been working with Vista for about two years. I have had my share of problems. But nothing like I had when I stared using XP. What a dog. I use XP Pro at work because I have to I run Vista at home and am loving it. I for one am looking forward to seeing more of this so-called Windows 7 before passing judgment. IIf you a worried about "bloatware", well, it's time to upgrade your "Killer PC"!!!

[GetReal]

Why upgrade my computer?



MS makes a "big" mess with Windows-7 (and they will--a HOG) and l am then supposed to quickly dump $$$ into new equipment just to compensate! Wow techman247, thats really impressive thinking.

So what I am thinking is let the dingbats of the world that need/want their irrational injection of "new" blow money away while I stay with what already works and is already paid for and already has more than adequate equipment to run on.



Everyone to their own choice, but MS already has lots of my money and are not getting more!

[PCnut]

As stated in my previous blogs ... M$ with all it's $ can't seem to do things right if vista is any indication ... everything is getting too bloated and therefore too complicated - hence buggy!
Talking to my gamer/software savvy son he praises latest versions of Linux with it's open, streamlined, uncomplicated, stable design ... do I need to go on?
He originally liked Vista beta, but saw major problems with it, but figured it would get fixed as was WXP (and all other previous versions) However, vista is apparently proving to be a major problem for M$.
He uses multiboot for all three major OS's to compare performances and game etc. compatibility.
He likes Mac OSX's, but thinks it's getting too bloated also and has instabilities ... for those thinking to switch to MACs.
He thinks Linux is the BEST OS at this time and with its low cost (I mean, how can you beat FREE - great for the third world, which we are rapidly becoming also) user configurability, millions of smart freedom loving contributors, etc.
If Linux appeared today at the same time along with the other other OS's it would win hands down and become the world-wide OS of choice.
If you don't belief me (and millions of other users world-wide) feel free to download your own copy and try it, or go to any bookstore and get a Linux mag with the OS DVD's in it ... and you can choose the variations of personal flavor, just like with ice cream.
I don't hate windows and have seen Wxp develop into a very usable OS over the years, but M$ with it's propensity of alienating win users driven by greed is signing it's own death warrant by coming out with premature releases of it's new OS's ... but this time we have a better choice and it is not vista or win7. You decide ... freedom of choice or more of feeding, but hopefully dying corporate greed ... HAPPY NEW YEAR and CHANGES for the better ... the world needs it and may be ready for it!

[GetReal]

PCNut its hard to tell from your post who is actually on-line here and who has the knowledge being disbursed, you or your son? Either way, I start by saying I agree with some few things said, I have had Vista on one computer for some months and keep forcing myself to use it---hoping for appreciation as my knowledge increases---long way to go! In response to the many postings I have seen in this thread praising linux and a recent PCWorld tutorial, I have this week installed Ububtu v8.04 on one computer to see for myself (yes I know there are later releases but this was from a friends CD). I experimented with early Linux about 10 years ago and this weeks short effort with Ubuntu so far has only confirmed my long-ago impressions (previous efferts were with releases by Knoppix and Debian).


> > > Ubuntu (and Linux) seem not yet ready for prime time! < < <
Ubuntu installed without problems (unlike Vista) and then rebooted, adding an entry in the multiboot menu, thats just great, then loads/runs fast, also just great!. Then automatically did an update from the web. Now I try to use things---so "where are all my HD partitions," finding that still we have to enable/mess/mount everything ourself if we want to go beyond the default desktop---my hard disks are part of the computer system, as are any USB thumb-drives I plug in---but not indicated anywhere in Ubuntu desktop. Dumb, the OS should show this without my intervention! Next I try to install a selection of optional apps supplied on the Ubuntu CD, indications & pop-ups were that probably everything installed(?) but I still don't know where or how to access as they are not in any menus I find and can't even reliably locate an "Explorer" for searching. Other lesser problems I won't discuss further as irrelivent---the above just proves my point. There are some very nice/useful apps default installed by Ubuntu and that show up in the menus but, every user will quickly want to install other supplied or downloaded programs and this seems difficult for a beginner with the OS!
Expecting your response to be in line with "I don't know what I am doing" and that is true, but, If Linux is going to overtake Microsoft by much then it will have to do so by grabbing existing windows users. Such users will hit the same initial blocks I have and many will quickly become dissatisfied with the OS. So, my conclusion is that its "not good enough yet" with the user interface. Don't respond with a tutorial or answers to any above questions---just for my own satisfaction I intend to get appropriate reference reading from the library and teach myself a bit, as might some other new users. For me, the Vista UI sucks and Ubuntu is not much better. Seriously hoping that Windows-7 fix's some of MS's wors't things/errors/munges/changes and also gives me more options in what/how I can configure, as compared to Vista but, based on articles I am not optimistic. Anyway, all have a happy & safe holiday season.