Windows 7 Beta Review (updated with RTM)
Here’s my detailed review of Windows 7 after using the Beta and the RTM since January (originally written after 3 weeks using Beta – updated after a few months of use). I’ll keep adding in more things as I find them.
Windows 7 Installation – A-, Easy and Quick
I’ve installed Windows 7, re-installed it, and also installed it on my laptop, and it was smooth and intuitive every time. It comes in at around 30-40 minutes.
The main things to keep in mind are -
- You don’t really need to burn a DVD. Use MagicIso’s DiscMaker or any virtual CD drive software instead.
- Its best to create a partition specifically for Windows 7 (or use one that already exists) – separate from your existing OS. This gives you the option to work with either your existing OS or Windows 7.
- Do expect it to take 30 minutes or so. Be ready with your Beta Activation key.
You can find instructions all over the net to install Windows 7 on netbooks, Macs, and more. Overall the install gets a solid A- grade.
Windows 7 Usability + User Interface – A, It’s Excellent.
The task bar really rocks. There’s loads of small little things that make using it easier and contrary to some negative reviews I feel that the benefit of having features like Jump Lists, Aero Peek, Aero Shake, etc. far outweighs the small learning curve.
Surprisingly, this is my favourite feature so far. I love how much quicker it is to use Windows, the easier switching between windows, being able to preview windows without switching to them, and much more.
Here’s a video to see what Windows 7 is like until my review is done -
Windows 7 Multi Touch – Its Great, Needs More Features. I Grade.
There is an included Multi-Touch Pack and multi-touch can be used in a myriad number of ways.
However, this is a beatuiful feature that needs more work.
This is an incomplete grade because a lot of the cool features from demos aren’t going to be available until later. There is something beautiful about just reaching out to the screen and touching your way through an OS and applications.
Windows 7 Application Compatibility – A-, Surprisingly Good.
I’m pretty impressed by the fact that apart from Skype I have not had any problems with any of the software I use regularly.
I moved up from Vista – so I do not know how the move from XP to Windows 7 will work out in terms of compatibility.
Also, the 32 bit to 64 bit change is handled very elegantly. All 32 bit programs get installed in a separate program files folder just for 32 bit programs (that’s the default), and they work perfectly.
Windows 7 Reliability/Stability – A, Very good.
I went 14 days without a crash and then ran into a BSOD caused by one of a number of random programs and plug-ins I had installed. System Restore works well – however, I decided to just re-do the install.
The RTM version – the one that ships to stores is very stable too. No Blue Screens of Death so far.
Internet Explorer 8 – B-, Improved in Windows 7 RTM Build
The IE8 in the Windows 7 Beta was terrible. The one in Windows 7 RTM is much improved.
IE8 has a strong suite of features like remembering your tabs when you re-start, reviving lost tabs, accelerators, blank tabs show your last few open tabs so you can always go back to pages you accidentally closed.
However, IE8 still takes up a lot of memory and has 3-4 processes running when I have multiple tabs open.
B- is rather harsh – However, the bar set by Windows 7 is so high overall, that anything less than stellar performance is an B-.
Windows 7 Security – A-.
This is great as Microsoft Security Essentials add to the security in Windows 7.
Have also used Kaspersky and would recommend using a security software suite in addition to MSE.
Overall I’ve had no problems using Kaspersky and then later after I switched to Avast Home Edition. Kaspersky had a lot of things like Hacker protection mode that caused too many alerts.
There have been very few UAC (User Account Control) prompts which is a relief.
Windows 7 Speed + Performance – A-, Better than Vista
I haven’t done any benchmarking. Truth is, that’s for later – most people want more basic things i.e. How fast does it boot-up? How fast does it run? and so forth. Well, it boots up fast and works fast. Its definitely, without any doubt whatsoever, faster than Vista SP1 running on the exact same machine. Programs start faster and I’ve not had any system slowing down because of running programs problems at all.
I haven’t tested any games yet. However, will add that in down the line.
Windows 7 Looks – A, Looks Great.
I’m considering this different from UI and usability because this is more about what Windows 7 aesthetically looks like. Well, it’s beautiful. There are some great desktop backgrounds and great color schemes and themes.
Forthcoming Windows 7 Feature Reviews
- Windows Media Player – initially my gut on this is A. However, I still have to try out movies and play around with things other than just music.
- Windows Media Center – Need to get one of those surge protectors and then try this out. It’s supposed to be one of the most improved features.
- Device Stage – Waiting to get a printer to try this. Might be a while.
- Voice Recognition – I’ve liked the initial playing around and want to test out the Speech to Text fully before reviewing.
- Windows 7 Home Group – soon.
- And more to come.
Biggest Opportunities for Microsoft
This is easy -
- Multi-Touch is the single biggest area Microsoft can really revolutionize OSes and the full Windows 7 release needs to have 3-4 very compelling multi-touch apps.
- IE8 – With such a huge amount of time spent online, having a rock solid IE8 is critical. Perhaps being able to ‘rescue’ failed tabs is making the IE8 team complacent – those tabs should not be failing at all. IE8, if not fixed soon, will become the Achilles Heel of Windows 7.
- Playing the PR and Expectations game right. Windows 7 is a definite winner – personally I’m really glad I started blogging on it because it rocks and now I can be 100% congruent about recommending it to people.
Overall Windows 7 : A-/B, Best Windows So Far.
Windows 7 rocks – it’s far better than Vista. Even IE8 acting up can’t stop me from loving it. The first few days in, I knew that I wasn’t going back to Vista and 3 weeks in that decision has proven to be a good one.
The feature that I think will really change things is full blown multi-touch and lots of apps to support it. At the moment, there is little multi-touch, and already Windows 7 is a hit. If Microsoft works out multi-touch and the polishing up and final touches parts well, Windows 7 is going to be something else.
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Filed under: Windows 7 Reviews
[...] read my Windows 7 Beta Review which is based on months of using the Beta and paints a very accurate picture of Windows [...]
I very dissappointed that you still need to install virus software to fix security leaks.
So you have to pay around 100 dollars a year to matain your system.
APPLE is the way to go.