How Does Windows 7 Compare to Vista? (Part 1)

If at last Microsnot produces a decent OS, then Mrs Cat will buy a new laptop..(I should be curled up on her lap)
I think Microsoft has contributed to the recession by releasing VISTA, it must have hugely reduced sales of PCs.
Del

Vista was a very poor release of an OS, even by Microsoft standards. Windows 7's prebeta was even more stable then Vista.

Okay, so perhaps this isn't the place, but I didn't think Vista was that much of a failure. Let me explain...

I had Windows XP on my laptop for the longest time and it was okay (3 re-images later, an hour long process apiece). I decided to switch to vista because I was having a problem with XP. It worked well. I had seemingly no issues and once you get used to the differences between XP and Vista, I liked it.

Yes, Vista had a rocky start (compatibility issues, bugs, etc.) which fueled much opposition from computer junkies. But that is why you wait to download so that all the bugs can be fixed. First impressions may mean a lot, but since I waited a couple of months, my first impression was favorable.

I am in agreement with you on this Jaxy. I have had vista for a year now and I have had no issues with it at all.

Like you I waited till the bugs were out of it and I bought a computer that was made for Vista. It did take a bit of getting used to but for themost part seems to be very stable on my system.

I am however looking forward to windows7 because it is built on the Vista engine but has been revamped to cut back on a lot of the things that run in the background with Vista.

So the way I see it 7 will be a win win for me.

I Agree with you as well and I have not had any bad problems with Vista personally. I am not what I would call (or want to be called one for that matter0)a computer person but I do own several and use a computer every day. I can surf the web, do my work, play World of Warcraft well enough to be productive, have fun and not get fired at work for being a total idiot. When I got my first computer with Vista the changes seemed to be more than usual and it was a little confusing to change over to. Once I got used to Vista it has not been a problem and seems to run faster and has many more features than my old one. I only learn a new system when my old computer dies and I am forced to use a new OS because it is the only one available. I am sure some people that understand the backbone of an OS and computers would say I don't know what the hell I am talking about. They probably have many legitimate reasons why they think Vista is not up to par. Most of these problems are not noticeable to me on the level I use the computer. I actually like Vista better than the one I had before but to tell the truth I would still be satisfied with the old one if I still had it and had never tried Vista.

Only thing is Microsoft stopped giving out the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) last week.

Also for those running the RC, Microsoft does not make it easy to upgrade to the final version. You will either need a fresh install or use this hack to upgrade.

At this point the final release is widely available online so there's no reason to install the RC.

I wouldn't suggest running the RC as your everyday computer, but dual booting makes it easy to evaluate. If you like it and plan to buy it, you would delete the RC partition and upgrade from Vista.

The final release is only available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers, and to volume license customers, unless there is another legal way to get this that i do not know about. Although you cant download the RC from Microsoft anymore, it is still floating around the internet, free to try out before the general public release on October 22. Microsoft is still giving out product keys for it. RC and RTM versions usually have negligible differences, so it is a cheap way evaluate an operating system.

Look to see if you can attend one of the Launch Events for Windows 7 and get a free copy!

• Atlanta - Sep. 28
• Baltimore - Nov. 9
• Boston - Oct. 5
• Chicago - Oct. 20
• Cleveland - Oct. 12
• Dallas - Nov. 4
• Denver - Sep. 24
• Detroit - Oct. 28
• Houston - Nov. 9
• Kansas City - Nov. 4
• Los Angeles - Oct. 28
• Miami - Sep. 24
• Minneapolis - Sep. 24
• New York City - Oct. 20
• Orange County - Oct. 26
• Philadelphia - Sep. 28
• Phoenix - Sep. 28
• Pittsburgh - Sep. 30
• Portland - Oct. 14
• San Diego - Oct. 26
• San Francisco - Oct. 20
• San Jose - Oct. 5
• Seattle - Oct. 12
• St. Louis - Nov. 9
• Washington - Nov. 4

Nah, can't see Harlow there

Hi All,

I've had the Windows 7 RC running for several months now.

Since XP, I've been using many different linux systems on home PC (most success with Ubuntu, loved it's ease of use and Open source philosophy). I didn't bother with Vista, wifes computer had it and many many issues. I have to admit I haven't been a fan of M$ for many years, found many of thier products poor in many ways.

But I am very impressed with Windows 7, I've found it well designed, and a vast improvement to previous efforts. Logical, easy, makes the computer pleasant to use (as opposed to difficult - VISTA).

To be honest I've moved away from ubuntu, back to using M$, even though I don't like to admit it (IMO it's simply better).

If I could remove the LOGO and Windows / M$ references from the OS - it would be even better.

Just my thoughts, for what they're worth.

Kind Regards,

Anthony

How Windows 7 compares to Vista is insignificant. How does Windows 7 compare to a good operating system? How fast is Windows 7 when compared to, say Windows 98 SE or even Windows XP? How does Windows 7 compare to Linux, in whatever flavor you favor? How does Windows 7 compare to Apple's latest version of UNIX? Get real, Microsoft. Your last two attempts have been pretty flakey. You should be thinking more about where you stand in the real world, rather than your imaginary play land...

So far.. faster, less errors, less annoying pop windows (I disabled UAC on Vista), and better organization.

Vista was a new prototype and style. I never buy anything when it first comes out. The second one is better most of the time IMHO.

I may not be a completly clued up techie but i don't think that Windows XP was "pretty flakey" i use it on all my home and work computers and find it a pretty good operating system. It does everything I want it to and i haven't had an reall issues with it.

I do agreed about Vista tho!

"How does Windows 7 compare to Linux, in whatever flavor you favor?"

true. I'm a newbie with Ubuntu 9.04, but have been using Windows since the DOS ages, so I can tell the difference if I see one.

when comparing speed and stability, Linux leaves XP & Vista behind, biting the dust.

booting, responding to mouse clicks, opening & closing applications, running processes, shutting down from Linux is amazingly FAST.

For the past years I had XP on my computers. I bought recently the HP 8730W mobile workstation and installed Vista64 in combination with a load of HP software.

I run Solid Edge, Algor, gear calculation and simulation software and Adobe photo software. I didn't experience any problems with Vista, all my software runs faster if compared to XP32. I will get free of charge Windows 7 but I'm absolutely not in a hurry to install Windows 7, first I will see what happens with the first service pack.

Willem van Beers

The Netherlands

I am not a big fan of Microsoft, but it is inevitable that at sometime you will need to use Windows. Vista has improved a lot since its release, but 7 is much better. It was very easy to set up, ALL of my drivers downloaded automatically, unlike Vista, where i had to download my network driver from another computer so i could dl the rest of the drivers i needed. I usually wait a while to buy things from Microsoft, but i am buying this asap, its faster and nicer then Vista, and even has features i wish my macbook had (like the "superbar").

I'll probably avoid it until I need to use it. Let's let the bugs run out of the first few versions. I'm actually trying to stray away from Windows now since I installed Ubuntu on an old laptop yesterday. While a different OS provides a learning curve, you have to love that fact that it comes with GIMP and Firefox already installed.

I'm running (on my home computers) Win 7 RC 32 bit on a desktop, dual boot with XP that got hung on an upgrade to SP3. I can't be bothered to fix XP because 7 is much nicer on that older machine.

I also have Win 7 RC 64 bit dual boot on a Vista laptop. I really appreciate not having to turn off all the overbearing security features that I had to on Vista to perform common tasks.

So far my impressions of 7 are very good as compared to XP and Vista. But, caveat emptor, my pc based cad system and related software and not supported on 7 yet, so time will tell.

I would love to move completely to linux but, unfortunately, a lot of the stuff I need to use is not supported.

Hooker

PS - From what I'm hearing, and from past experience, I would not even consider the Win 7 upgrade from Vista. Spend the money and do a completely fresh install.

Not unless I absolutely have to.

This situation reminds me of the Detroit cars in the late 60's and early 70's. Those vehicles were absolutely abominable. Compared to other vehicles of that era, some were "not as bad" as others. But in light of the decades of automotive engineering available at that time they were very bad. This was when the imports began offering quality and value and took over a large market share from Detroit. (And now of course we are bailing them out.)

I would like microsoft make a just as bare ass basic OS Like win 95 or slightly better than 3.1 But have it like a browser is, Basic, streamlined, FAST!!!!!!!!!! and capable of adding plug-ins where needed to be able to do something it can not do bare boned. Instead of this huge bloateware they make now, Let us all decide what we want our machine be able to do. talk about speeding it up!

Windows Seven:

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING MORE CLOSELY THAN EVER.

Here are some highlights from the so-called "privacy" statement:

The information we collect from you will be used by Microsoft and its controlled subsidiaries and affiliates ...

... information collected through one Microsoft service may be combined with information obtained through other Microsoft services. We may also supplement the information we collect with information obtained from other companies ...

We occasionally hire other companies to provide limited services on our behalf ... We will only provide those companies the personal information they need to deliver the service ...

Microsoft may access or disclose information about you, including the content of your communications in order to: (a) comply with the law or respond to lawful requests or legal process; (b) protect the rights or property of Microsoft or our customers, including the enforcement of our agreements or policies governing your use of the services; or (c) act on a good faith belief that such access or disclosure is necessary to protect the personal safety of Microsoft employees, customers, or the public.

Information that is collected by or sent to Microsoft by Windows 7 (M3) may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country ...

THIS IS EVEN MORE INVASIVE THAN VISTA.

So who cares if it is faster or more stable?

If you value your freedom and privacy, avoid this OS like the plague!

_

What does it mean, how does W7 compare (i.e., in what ways is it like?) Vista? The question (or one regarding contrasts) as yet doesn't seem to make much sense.

The question (or one regarding contrasts) as yet doesn't seem to make much sense.
What?
What part of 'compare' don't you understand?
They are both operating systems...and thus have similar functions which can be compared.
We are not asking you to compare Ice Cream to Beethoven's 5th Syphony!!!.

Although If pressed I'd say the Icecream offered a more Immediate pleasure, whereas the Symphony was more spiritually uplifting...
Del

My dear Puss, the point of the question has been missed. Absent even the fact that W7 has yet to go to market where it can have gained a body of experienced users (who are also experience Vista users), it would have been my hope (and will remain my hope) to learn from discussions such as this:

1. The ways/instances in which the two systems compare (i.e., are similar if not alike), and
2. The ways/instances in which the two systems contrast (i.e., are not alike...are strongly dissimilar).

After all that was the original question. As to answers (other than very broad [as well as MS Corp.] generalizations, visceral responses and guesswork), it might have been gleaned from my mention of "as yet" that answers are likely to be less that well informed until the W7 programs is use on a large scale...or even among many CR4 cats.

Ice cream and the Fifth might be said to compare in that each can produce pleasure; to contrast by doing so via different senses.

Thanks for your willingness to assist.

Bell...