Dipping into the Windows 7 mailbag
With Windows 7 reaching the near-final stage and due out later this year, lots of folks are trying to get their heads around the next version of the operating system.
I've gotten a lot of questions from readers, mostly centered on key issues such as what Windows 7 has to offer, whether it will work with their existing software, and if they should buy a PC now or wait for Microsoft to offer Windows 7, or at least a free upgrade.
In this post, I will try to tackle some of those issues.
"Will programs that didn't work with Vista but did work with XP work in Windows 7?" (several readers)
Windows 7 is a lot like Windows Vista under the covers. So, in general, programs that run fine in Windows Vista will run fine in Windows 7. That also means that, in most cases, those programs that did not run in Vista also won't run in Windows 7. There are a couple of exceptions. In particular, Microsoft has done some work to "rescue" certain applications that did not run in Vista so that they can indeed run in Windows 7.
Microsoft has also added an "XP Mode" to some versions of Windows 7 that allows programs that won't run natively in Windows 7 to run via an XP virtual machine. XP Mode does require more memory as well as a machine whose processor has hardware support for virtualization, something many older machines and some current machines don't have.
"How does Windows 7 compare with Windows XP?" (Jim Lawrence, technical writer, Glenn Rock, Penn.)
For those used to Windows XP, Windows 7 will be a significant change.
It brings with it both a lot of the good and the bad from Vista--albeit with some improvements--as well as new features of its own. It shares the more modern graphics engine, desktop search, and security architecture that are part of Windows Vista. As part of an anti-malware feature known as User Account Control, XP users will also be asked to verify certain changes to their system. Microsoft has worked to lessen the number of such prompts in Windows 7, but since XP has no similar feature, it may still seem like a lot of intrusion to some.
Windows 7 also brings features of its own, most notably the taskbar at the bottom of the screen that allows quick access not only to frequently used programs, but also one-click and two-click access to commonly used actions within those programs. Windows 7 also adds Internet Explorer 8 and built-in support for multitouch gestures, provided you have a machine with a compatible touch-screen display.
For a nice side-by-side chart comparing Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, check out this piece from my colleague Seth Rosenblatt.
"Do you have any sense of 'free upgrades' from Vista to Windows 7 for people like us who will purchase just prior to the release?" (David Derr, Reading, Penn.)
Microsoft hasn't made public the details of such a "technology guarantee" program, but it appears all but certain it will do one. It did a similar program with Windows Vista, and given that it has now said Windows 7 will ship this year, to not do so would probably slow sales until its release.
In an interview last week, Senior Vice President Bill Veghte would not offer details but suggested that such programs have proven useful in the past and indicated one is likely for Windows 7. Rumors of the program have been around for a while, with many pegging July as the start for such a program.
"I have a licensed copy of Office 2003. Will I be able to install it on the Windows 7 machine?" (Haim Snyder, Petah Tikva, Israel)
Microsoft says "yes" on that one. Office 2003 should run fine on Windows 7.
If Windows 7 is installed on a Netbook will Windows Aero (its fancy graphics) work?
Microsoft says that, "if you have Windows 7 installed on a Netbook, Aero will work with any version except for Starter."
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
Its worked fast on netbooks.
@monkeyfun14: have you actually run Windows 7 on a netbook, or know of an independent party who has? I'd like to see those results.
Just my experience.
@Random_Walk, I found the Win 7 experience on my netbook to be quite pleasant.
Several
http://www.cnet.com/8301-18603_1-10142629-73.html
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Windows-seven-Netbook,review-1164.html
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/reviews/article.php/3803966
Currently I have Enterprise edition installed, and I've installed it on pretty much all the netbooks out there without issue.
It just worked.
Closing the lid and putting it to sleep? 5 seconds. From the time I open the lid and get the unlock screen? 3 seconds. After I unlock with my password to the time I can actually *use* The system? 1 second.
That's right, seconds. Win7 has finally made putting a machine to sleep with the lid useful. With a netbook you have long battery life so you can use it a mobile terminal and just pop in and out of it as you need to. It's a very elegant solution.
After reading all three given, I have a couple of questions.
The CNET reference noted that the netbooks they used were slower with Windows 7 than with XP - enough so that it is noticeable to the user (e.g. the iTunes test took 16 seconds longer on Vista and Windows 7 than on XP). Also, the disk footprint is larger with Windows 7 than XP... question is, why would I want that trade-off. In other words, what benefits does one gain in exchange for losing disk space and CPU cycles?
On the wifi planet reference, something very interesting showed up:
"However, my worry when it comes to Windows 7 is that OEMs will push the Starter edition of the OS in users to save money."
(this is what I'm thinking as well).
So what would the odds be of finding a full-blown Windows 7 on a netbook (I suspect the RC and beta versions are close to this) versus the Starter Edition?
Once RTM arrives, we'll know for certain. After all, the Vista betas were hyped very heavily (by both press and fans), but RTM reality, well, didn't meet expectations (at least by majority perception). I'd like to see what the RTM Windows 7 looks like and tests to as well. I suspect that it won't run as well on a netbook as the admittedly stripped RC and beta versions have.
The trade off on the rendering tests comes with more features, better wireless and battery management, and a more intuitive interface along with other functionality.
The reason I believe the OEM's will not push starter on netbooks is because when the user finds that it won't run more then a certain amount of programs or it doesn't do something that the user could do in previous versions the user see's it as a problem with the computer it's self and will complain to the OEM.
Starter would work on extremely cheap netbooks though because the 3 app limit doesn't count towards background programs multiple instances system programs and other tiny things it only counts towards programs such as photoshop, a game, and a web browser but I find it unrealistic that the app limit will be hit very often even though I do agree it is stupid and should be reviewed.
Do you know how idiotic your comment sounds?
"Usually on purpose" Yes there just out to **** you off for no reason.
Given Vista between RC and RTM, one would be well inclined to believe that the breakage wasn't entirely accidental, albeit not done out of malice, either.
I have no major complaints about Vista SP1, and there is always some risk in upgrading operating systems.
That said, I would suggest installing a second hard drive for the system in question (if it's not a laptop), installing Win7 clean and then use easy transfer to bring your settings, favorites and the like from your vista install. I did that with a migration from XP to Win7 and it even brought over all my Firefox settings and add ins.
So why did MS gouge people for nothing more than a test OS?
Line up to be fleeced again, suckers.
With the amount of trouble Leopard had when it was released no one has the right to be to criticizing another OS as a testing bed.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/leopard-osx-problems,review-1028.html
People who have tried Win7 don't complain about it- they are too busy using it.
People who do complain about it, either haven't tried it at all or are so biased that they cannot possibly believe that Microsoft could do anything right so they won't allow themselves to acknowledge that Win7 is indeed a good product.
I haven't run across anything that didn't work under Vista32 or Vista64. Including some games/apps that are well over a decade old.
While I have had zero problems with Vista, I'll upgreade to 7 because it's less of a pig. Even though my machines can handle Vista just fine. No blue screens compared to the weekly bluescreens with XP (even on a clean reinstall).
Now that isn't a problem with the OS- that's a problem with the way the driver installer was set up. Other drivers don't do version checks like this and wouldn't have any issues.
Good call- one was a Mustek, the other an Acer. I wouldn't be surprised if one company had built them both though- it seems like there is only 1-2 actual manufacturers out there for all the brands currently in production, just rebranded or in a different case.
The scenario is that I install the RC. I decide that I like it, and that I will buy the real deal on release, or soon after. But somewhere along the path from RC to RTM, Microsoft decides to change feature sets. Most changes will be bug fixes, perhaps even true enhancments a. But, there could also be changes to UAC, DRM, core features vs. the edition, (and, therefore, $), or whatever.
Are these fears unfounded? I've never used a beta or RC OS from Microsoft before -- some of their software packages, yes, but never an OS. I have no baseline here, no real feel for this, no idea what the the history there may be. Beyond bug fixes and relatively minor tweaks, should we expect any core feature set shifts or major adjustments between RC and RTM?
The difference between the last RC and the release of Vista was startlingly different. Lots of bloated added, lots of drivers and apps broke, etc.
However, it should be clear that RCs and betas are always works in progress. There is always the potential for a significant change. That being said, the different between build 7000 and 7100 was relatively minor. I don't see them introducing major changes at this point. What is important to understand is that there likely won't be an official upgrade path from the RC candidate to the RTM/Gold version.
But realistically, with the amount of fanfare and attention this is getting, I don't think we'll see any feature creep that happens with this one.
I will most likely forge ahead with the RC install, and probably would have anyway. This was just one of those, "hey, waaaaait a minute, what if ...' things that sneak up on you. This seemed like the right thread for the question.
When I first saw them in Office 2007, it took me about a year to get used to them. I wanted my old toolbars back, but now that I am used to the ribbons in Office 2007, it is much easier to get work done.
I agree that the ribbon in Paint on Win7 sucks. I would like the old Paint interface back.
The OEM's really did do customers a disservice there.
I Think it was Intel doing, bribing MS to make their integrated video crap "Vista capable"
First let me say that I've been reading your articles on CNET anonymously for a while now and I find them to be interesting and informative as with this one.
There are a couple of thing I thought I'd mention about the virtual Windows XP mode
1) The virtualized copy of Windows XP requires that the computer's processor support a very specific set of instructions that aren't very common on today's desktops.
2) This mode will be available as a free download to users who purchase Windows 7 "Business" edition or better.
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I've been using the Win7 RC (unintentionally) as my main OS since it came out - aside from the fact that it failed to detect my copy of WinVista and set up the boot menu accordingly, I like it. I think it's a decent offering from Microsoft and I plan to buy it when it comes out (along with a new computer, my current system is 3 yrs old and showing its age)
Most laptops and desktops built within the last three years are hyper-v capable. Even today, unless you buy a very cheap netbook or entry level machine, then you're going to get that support built in by the OEM.
It's true that you'd have to have a upgraded version of Windows 7 to use the feature. But again, unless you buy Starter or Home, then you'll get that included. Those people who buy Starter or Home are not typically businesses, and that's what the XP mode is targeted for. The average home user will never need or use this ability, so why make them pay for it? Choice is a good thing.
I dunno, I have a feeling that alot of people who buy prebuilt systems from Dell and the like might need this but will be unable to access the functionality because they will have Win7 "Home Premium" (I'm sorry, I don't remember what Microsoft is calling its tiers fro Windows 7) or because don't have a compatible processor. I've seen a couple articles from Ars Technica and Newsweek echoing this.
I know that MS isn't marketing this to Joe User but I think that Joe User could benefit from this
The list of processors that don't support Hyper-V is fairly extensive:
http://news.cnet.com/some-intel-chips-dont-support-windows-7-xp-mode/
and what is very cheap NOW was very high end three years ago :)
Hopefully when MS supplies a readiness tool, it will check for XP Mode compatability.
In some ways, it's a lot of fuss over nothing. Just about everything will run Virtual PC -- and most users with an OEM or retail disk aren't going to think twice about firing the disk into a VM if they really need it. Just like 90% of bootcamp installs :)
They have already provided such a tool, their 'Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta' package, but it does not yet check for that. (Unless they've updated it within the last 3 0r 4 days.) It is beta, so don't be surprised if they add that feature. Meanwhile, you can go to the CPU manufacturer's sites and download their utilities. I'm pretty sure there are links laying about somewhere here at cnet for both Intel and AMD utilities.
- by queticomn May 13, 2009 11:32 AM PDT
- --> haiku <--
- Like this Reply to this comment
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- by monkeyfun14 May 13, 2009 12:36 PM PDT
- Wow very relevant.
- Like this
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