Windows 7 desktop
So when the final version of Vista came out I tried my best to avoid it. However, when I bought my Dell XPS 420 I could not get it with Windows XP; instead I got Vista Home Premium. And since the first time I booted it, I have had a thorough love-hate relationship with it. To this day I am convinced it is the worst Windows version ever made by Microsoft (even worse than Windows ME). Simple tasks require seventeen mouse clicks and then you end up with the annoying UAC popping up asking for your permission to do whatever you wanted to do. In short: Vista is a nightmare unless you tweak it seriously.
Anyway: Windows 7 final is released (to manufacturers) and will be out for the general public on October 22nd of this year. So what better timing than to wipe out Vista? So I backed up all my stuff and popped in the installation DVD.
And here is what happened.
As I noticed before when installing a beta version, it took less than 25 minutes to install. More impressing: I only needed to answer a minimum of questions and off I was. After installation I more or less expected that I would need to go in search of drivers and such specifically for my XPS hardware. But low and behold: every part had all the necessary drivers installed and everything worked: my Logitech Webcam, my Dell remote control for Windows Media Center, my Samsung ML-1610 laser-printer etc. etc. Now that's what I call a nice "OBE" (out-of-the-box-experience).
And my first impressions have not been spoiled so far. In fact: Windows 7 delivers where Vista failed miserably.
So what makes Windows 7 better than Vista in my opinion? Well, it boils down to user interface improvements and enhancements and some actual new and useful features.
At the heart of the (improved) interface is Aero Peek: making every open window transparent except the one you're focusing on at the moment so you can find what you're looking for (I consider it a variation on Exposé on Mac). Now, it does break with my 15 years of maximizing every window I use; that needed some adjustment from me. Instead, I simply let windows put, because it is easier to use them. In other words: it does reorient the Windows UI around multitasking.
The redesigned taskbar is also nicer than Vista. Other new options include: pinning applications/shortcuts, using jump lists, Aero Shake, Left/Right alignment, full-desktop gadgets, themes and new shortcuts in Windows Explorer. I had to get used to it, but it works and I like it.
In fact; after just one week of using Aero Peek behind my belt, and the new launcher taskbar, going back to XP's taskbar (still running on two other PC's I have) and digging through collapsed app bars, or using Alt+Tab just feels... I don't know.. Old fashioned?
Another really handy feature I like, are jump lists. When you right-click an application you see a history of files you opened with it and you can also "pin"it to the taskbar. In Internet Explorer, it shows your recent browsing history; in Windows Media Player, it'll let you play recent videos; and Windows Explorer will give you quick access to pinned and frequently used folders and files. Nice.
There are other things there as well, like Aero Snap, Aero Shake and such, but I find them not that useful (so far). I guess Microsoft was just trying to squeeze in some eye-candy there.
You can quit your complaining now
So, my impression after about a week (reinstalling a lot of stuff; so I did play around many, many hours) is very positive. My biggest complaint about Vista - performance - has been addressed. My second big issue; the shitty (pardon my French) UAC that hassled you with every little mouse click, is gone (no verdict yet on what it does to security). Other than that you get some nice new features that - unlike the eye-candy in Vista - actually have a function other than just trying to impress (remember the dumb Vista commercials? "The wow, starts now"?).
So to all Vista users out there I say: get Windows 7 and you can quit your complaining. And if you still use XP because you hated Vista or wanted to skip it: Windows 7 will change the way you are used to work, but I think it's worth it.
The good and the bad:
What I like:
+ It works!
+ They put a muzzle on the UAC!
+ Clean install is lightning fast (don't know about upgrading; I hear mixed results)
+ Clean interface: less clicks to do what you want
+ Nice enhancements to the GUI: Aeropeek is handy and so are jump lists
+ Media Center is clean and improved
+ Way faster than Vista (but then again, how could it not be)
+ Detects hardware better and even installs a smaller footprint on Netbooks and such
Dislikes:
- Why wasn't Vista like this in the first place!
- Internet Explorer 8 (still sucks like all IE versions)
- Still a bit slower than XP (in benchmarks, in the real world you probably won't notice)
- Evolution, not revolution
Overall I give Windows 7 an 8,5 out of 10 (as there is always room for improvement).
