Windows 7 is the operating system from Microsoft that is currently in beta testing that will eventually replace Windows Vista.
Windows Vista has many detractors, and an enormous number of Windows users have chosen to downgrade or otherwise stay with Windows XP.
From what I hear, Windows 7 can best be compared to something like Windows Vista SP3 (service pack 3). It’s the same underlying engine, and basically that’s good. One of the biggest complaints with Vista has been the User Access Control (UAC). This is supposed to help prevent hackers and rogue programs from taking control of your PC.
Most people, however, find it to be an awkward, even infuriating annoyance. The system has been improved in Windows 7, offering the user a slider bar style customization of how much UAC to utilize.
The other major drawback to Vista has been lack of drivers for (sometimes not that) old hardware. This is still the case, but as that hardware gets older and new hardware cheaper and perhaps more enticing, should be less of an issue.
RAM is another drawback to Vista. If you had only 512MB RAM you were stuck with Windows Vista Basic. You have my sympathy. Actually, a machine like that should never be sold, but they are.
Good news is that RAM is really cheap. Go with 2GB minimum or 4GB if you want. Get your memory here.
Performance in general is improved in Windows 7 from Vista.
Am I holding my breath for Windows 7? No. But I do recognize that XP won’t last forever. If nothing else the conspiracy theorist in me feels that at some point Microsoft will offer an “update” that will turn it into a dog. I have no other explanation as to why Windows 2000 Pro boxes suddenly became slugs several years ago.
Not surprisingly, Microsoft is sticking to the awful policy of too many versions of Windows 7, just like Vista. Ditch the basic, hardware is cheap anyway. Add real networking to the home and just sell Pro. Vista Ultimate was ultimately an overpriced disappointment, so why bother? If you have extra goodies let people download them for free.
One version: Windows 7 Pro (or whatever it gets called). That’s my vote and I’m sticking to it.
