Windows 7----My Early Impressions.....

[johnrr6]

Got a brand new Asus EeePC for a steal using Ebay coupons and a 30% off Microsoft Cashback deal.....

And for the absolute heck of it.....

I installed the pre-release Beta of windows 7 which has been leaked for a couple of weeks.....

My early impressions-----and remember this is a PRE release beta----not even a beta yet.....

And please remember that these are just MY impressions------your milage may vary.......

Impression #1
If you like Vista-----you will easily adapt and like Windows 7..... OK-----I'm just going to say it----Let's face it-----it's a repackaged Vista with some optomizations and some "slimming down." If you have learned the Vista interface-----and learned it's little quirks (like renaming Add-Remove Programs to "Programs and Features" You will have ABSOLUTELY no problemes in Windows 7 because.....

It's basically the exact same interface with some sprucing up of the task bar and a couple of other little goodies.....You will have virtually NO learning curve jumping from Vista to Windows 7. A jump from XP WILL be a learning curve----and it may be fairly steep for some.

Impression #2
Major likes:
It is DEFINITEY fast on lower end hardware. I'm running it on a standard EeePC with an Atom 270 and 2 Gigs of RAM (not exactly your barn burner system) and it performs excellently. I think the software will run nicely on older, mid grade hardware with 1 - 2 gigs of RAM and this will be a major plus for businesse and schools.(I have not tested this claim----it is just my impression----and logical thinking)

Likes:
NO learning curve coming from Vista as stated above
Easier network setups-----especially home networking and wireless
Abilty to make a restore DVD from the backup software
Entire backup images to network locations-----much like Windows Home Server
Slimmed down "somewhat" installation-----and the ability to pick add on software features from Microsoft. (But don't be fooled by this-----Microsoft is in essence----forcing you to their "Windows Live" products as features like Photo Gallery and MovieMaker can now only come from the "Live" offerings of Microsoft.....it is not embedded in the system any more....

Impression #3
What I'm neutral about----so far:
Internet Explorer 8----hooo-hum----OK----I guess----not sure about Web Slices and some other new tech in the Beta of IE8.

Impression #4
-----and this surprised me a little...
They left Speech Recognition in the basic embedded software----and it seems to be even better than Vistas version (which I thought was quite good to begin with)

Impression #5
Microsoft has definitely optomised memory usage and CPU cycles form SOMEWERE.......and it appears to me that they did this through limiting the amount of running PROCESSES. For example:

My 64 Bit Vista Ultimate AMD Spider rig currently has 101 processes running in the background (a LOT)----it still runs fast and quick (albeit with 8 gigs of RAM)
Windows 7 on my EeePC currently has 43 processes running---albeit I don't have anywhere NEAR the volume and diversity of programs loaded on the Eee as I do on my AMD rig....

But still----101 compared to 43-----a BIG difference.

Impression #6 Microsoft is going to make a FORTUNE with this software!!!
Why?
1. It was TOTALLY easy and cheap or them to develop----all they did was take Vista and spruce it up a bit----the basic code was already there
2. Pent up demand-----many schools and businesses are RIPE to change to a newer OS after the reputation Vista has had (some deserved----most not----at least IMHO)
3. It WILL run nicely on older, mid grade hardware so it's a much easier "upgrade" for most folks to bite off
4. Everybody wants "change"----heck, a majority voted for change in November----even me----a die hard Republican.....

All in all----I like Windows 7----a lot-----and look forward to it's release.....

Whenever.....

In the meantime----if you want basically the same thing NOW

And you have a newer more horsepower rig....

Go get a copy of Vista Ultimate 64 Bit...

John

[Ozzie]

You're just the guy I wanted to hear from about this...
I did it too...most everything works, and I'm working at getting things dialled in. I hope it isn't a 'pig' like Vista is - Vista ate up whatever partition size you gave it.
I'll be looking for your posts about this OS...I'm liking it so far.

[fvbounty]

Very nice review and I can't wait for Windows 7, I'm still a XP holdout and with your review I'll be getting 7 has soon has it comes out!!!! Thank You....

[Ozzie]

I'm looking for a good defragger...my old ones don't work...

[Ozzie]

It's free:

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[jaketerminate]

Great review!

I just started using it as a main OS on my tablet and right off the bat it had most of the graphics drivers and touch screen interfaces installed. I agree that Microsoft is going to see a turn in profits along with alot better audiences with Windows 7.

Glad to hear you got it running on the EEE!