DigitalJournal.com got a sneak peek at Microsoft’s upcoming operating system Windows 7 and while the improvements aren’t mind-blowing, the upgrade is still impressive. Windows 7 is just right for those who enjoy multimedia networking and touchscreen PCs.
When Windows 7 debuts Oct. 22 around the world, people will take notice. It’s Microsoft, after all. But after tests with a beta version of Windows 7, and live demonstrations, DigitalJournal.com found the OS upgrade can best be summed up as simply “decent.”
It improves upon Microsoft’s previous operating systems by boosting performance speed and interface tools, So if you are using Windows XP, the upgrade is a no-brainer. If you’re using Vista, however, you can probably afford to wait until you buy a new PC before bothering with the Windows 7 upgrade. And those using Linux or Mac OS X: the switch won’t be much of a game-changer.
After testing out the OS and hearing what Microsoft intended to do with Windows 7, here is DigitalJournal.com’s list of pros and cons:
The Advantages
Microsoft has listened to its users. At the preview event in Toronto, a Microsoft official told DigitalJournal.com the tech giant asked for input from more than eight million users of Windows 7’s beta version last year.
“We wanted to tap into the technology community to find out how to give them what they want,” says Sue Borden, director of Windows consumer marketing for Microsoft Canada. “We think we’re in a great position to have a competitive product in this evolving ecosystem.”
Crowdsourcing feedback shows the company is interested in more than just what its engineers have been suggesting, and doing it on such a large scale is no small feat.
When it comes to actually using Windows 7, the OS is light and doesn’t weigh you down with applications such as Movie Maker, Windows Mail, and Photo Gallery. Borden says including those apps slows down the performance of other programs. But don’t worry, all those apps are still available free at the Windows Live website. Again, smart move by Microsoft, just as long as there aren’t any bugs in downloading the goodies.
When it comes to speed, Windows 7 definitely feels like an upgrade on its predecessor. In casual browser and application tests, DigitalJournal.com found the latest Windows performed well, especially with online videos.
Microsoft also claims Windows 7 boots up to 56 per cent faster compared to Windows XP or Vista. In our testing, we found the product lived up to those claims.
It’s also fun to “pin” a window or website to your Taskbar, allowing you to access it later on. Essentially, you can bookmark websites without using the Bookmark function, instead dropping them below. It’s a small tweak with great performance-enhancing results. This function also works for any app or tool — so if you use Excel a lot, or Windows Media Player, you can drop them on the Taskbar for easy access. Sometimes, it’s handier to go there instead of finding the icon on the desktop.
Multimedia mavens will likely find something to like about Windows 7; you can shuttle movies and photos to a Wi-Fi-enabled TV, no extra programs needed. HomeGroup is another tool that lets you share files between PCs in a network.
Finally, and we know this is superficial, but Windows 7 just looks better. A clean design and a soothing default pastel-blue background can go a long way into swaying visually-conscious tech fans. It’s an attractive choice for an OS, and customizing how your home screen looks has never been easier.
The Disadvantages
Despite the performance boost and clean interface, Windows 7 isn’t for everyone.
First, it isn’t cheap: pricing varies, but upgrading from an older version of Windows will set you back at least $120 US. Not a massive price gouge, perhaps, but compare that upgrade price to the $30 Apple heads pay to upgrade to Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
Another thumbs-down is the clean install required for Windows 7. That means you have to back up your applications, programs and files, which can be time-consuming, and then wipe your hard drive and perform a clean install of Windows 7. When Windows 7 begins running, you must either manually reinstall your software or rely on Microsoft’s Easy File Transfer to transfer your files for you. It’s a headache, and it’s a shame this obstacle couldn’t be avoided in some way.
But Windows is still a popular target for hackers, so if you use a Linux-based OS, you might want to stick with that less attractive enemy for Microsoft haters. A Computerworld writer even goes so far to say, “Windows has been insecure since day one and it’s still going to be insecure when Windows 7 shows up.”
Also, the upgrades to Windows 7 won’t compel you to exclaim, “Omigod, Oct. 22 can’t come soon enough!” It’s still the Windows interface you’ve come to either enjoy or hate, so don’t let the improvements make you believe Windows 7 is a whole new OS. It’s an improvement over Vista and XP, but it’s hard to say if this is the best OS of the year. Snow Leopard fans would most definitely disagree with that statement.
So if you’re in the market for a new computer, choosing Windows 7 is worth it. But if you’re already running on Vista (or another non-Microsoft product), we believe it’s worth waiting.
