So this is the new Operating System that Microsoft is working on. The operating system isn't released yet but it is supposed to be better than Windows Vista when it is released. Of course they are going to say it's going to be better but of course that's going to be up to the consumer once the operating system releases. It looks like that Microsoft's main goal is to make sure that there is a lot more compatibility than what Vista had so they have a lot more focus on drivers. Well there is already a Beta version of Windows 7 that was released on the internet and I scanned it for viruses and didn't find any so I put it on to my computer. The icons were extremely similar to Vista but it was easier to browse through all of the different windows in my opinion. The only really problem I had with it was actually the drivers. The operating system wouldn't recognize my graphics card, sound cards, or my Ethernet card. Big disappointment on that part but that might just be because it's in Beta still. Who knows it might be better or it might suck like Vista on it's release. Anybody else look in to Windows 7 yet?

No. I'm not ready to get a new operating system yet. I just got used to Vista, which was really easy to get used to since it's AWESOME. Windows 7 is going to be Vista, but better. It's what microsoft meant to do with Vista, or at least that's the planning.

Drivers not working is because it's a beta, that's why you never download CLOSED betas.

Well from what I can tell, it's the "not-so-disappointing" version of Vista, with multi-touch capabilities. I second Maarten tbh, took too long to get used to Vista, and can't be bothered with it yet.

Well then again, it isn't going to be out till at least next year. If they finish it in time, most likely not.

Looks ugly (though it's just in production phase..)

Erm, that's wordpad. Wordpad is something you get with microsoft office, and not with windows 7. Besides, it looks a lot like the word 2007 layout, but then in wordpad. I don't know why that would have anything to do with the rest of the layout for Windows 7, so it's a crappy argument.

Seconded. I like the 2007 office looks anyhow. From what i can gather windows vista is a preview of 7. (Nice money making gimic - go MS) Cant wait for 7 however im waiting till atleast SP1 before i even think of getting it. Ive no doubt evereyone will rush to get windows7 then two weeks later some little hacker will have broken it, set it on fire then left a present in every users C:/ directory. HOWEVER! you know microsoft will claim its completly safe... *cough* vista got hacked, xp got hacked, IE is just a hack *cough*

1. I know it's word pad.

2. It comes default...just like notepad.

3. The rest of it looks horirble to. Have you seen the new "superbar" demos on youtube? They look horrible, in the sense that it looks very disorganized. They're going more for "easy to use for old people", and sacrificing functionality and overall feel.

Would you use windows if it looked like this?

DONT HATE ON WINDOWSRG. (runs best in IE)

There are Betas that you can get for it. It's like an upgraded version of Vista. I have heard nothing but good about it.

There are a lot of things you are forgetting. For starters, people have photoshop and other programs. They could be fakes. Second of all, everything is still in beta phase. Closed beta even. There is a lot which is due to be changed and optimized. And last, I actually don't think it looks so bad. I really like word 2007, it's a lot more functional actually and everything is easier to use and find. Even for more experienced users like me.

But above all, it's not cool to hate, as a lot of people seem to think. At least it isn't when you have unfunded arguments. You're judging a product that isn't even done yet, that's just stupid. That's like saying a car is slow, even though they havent yet put an engine in.

Which is why I wasn't trying to put it down yet. It looks like it has potential to be a decent OS but they still need to finish it.

I have read an extensive article on Windows 7, covering many pages in a magazine my brother bought at a Coles check-out counter . It seems that Windows 7 is focusing mainly on a few things:
1) Instead of expanding and progressing, they are focusing on running on lower requitemnets and running smoother.
2) Making more big icons than text (sort of thing) to make it:
a) More user-friendly
b) better for tablet-PC's, touchscreens, and SMARTboards, etc.

Windows 7 has been labelled by many people as "Vista done right." Many features I can't remember off the top of my head were changed to how they should be.

Thats most of what I can remember. However, I can remember two small things:
a) The sidebar gadgets are no longer locked to a fixed sidebar position.
b) The main taskbar (with the time and start button) has been edited. Now that the quick-launch icons are larger, the taskbar is taller, and the edges (on the right where the start button is and on the left where the time is) fade out so that it appears more as two separate widget things rather than a whole fixed bar. There was also something about previews, thumbnails and minimising being changed, so that the taskbar is "more like the Apple Dock than ever."

Windows 7 = Cleaned up, more compatible, more user friendly but with more perks, smoother processing, less requirements (so to speak) version of Windows Vista.

O not to mention, your going to need Windows 7 in order to take full advantage of the new hardware coming out.

@ Saebjorn.

You can already move your widgets wherever you want in Vista... Even just anywhere on your desktop

I'll be DLing the beta later this month. (see how my downloads go first.)

But they expand to full size when you do so.

If you are going to download it then id be very carefull, they may say beta on them but this is when MS makes a killing in law suits.

Now that the parenting is out of the way...

Im really looking forward to Windows7, Vista is a great operating system (after SP1 plugged the holes ofc). Its major downfall is that vista is really high specs. Its good to see that microsoft are addressing that and are applying patches to vista whilst working on 7.

If what you read on the t'interweb is to be correct then vista will seem like 7's beta. Vista with improved security, confirmation pop ups that learn that after the #th time youve run a disc cleanup its actually you there and not some random hacker that wishes to clean your pc. Lower specs which means im not going to get phone calls off clients who have just bought a new pc with only 500MB of DDR2 ram and excpect 64 widgets and 11 programmes to run on vista basic simultainiously.

Cant wait too see how the tablet intergration etc turns out, It will be a big leap and means i can better use the idea's i have for my store xD (They sort of revolve around tablet pc's :S)

Again, cant wait too see how this turns out and im not even touching a beta until its an open beta, I like having my GFX driver

u can use 32 or 64 bit vista drivers with windows 7 and has absolutely no problem.

I've downloaded and installed Windows 7 (it's a beta so I dual-booted it) and I have to say, it is very impressive, very nice overall and seems to take up less memory (I get 50%+ on Vista and only 30%+ on W7) which just adds to the good points. 1 bad thing is that since its a beta, some things don't work, such as RS HD on Java.

My brother got a copy of the beta before Christmas and he's been running it on his laptop since then. It's basically vista but not so CPU/ram-raping and a few usability functions sorted.

I've not used it extensively, but it looked quite nice for the time I used it.

I'd download it but my disk space is taken up.

xkcd always seems to share my sentiments.

My Fallout3 does seem to go smoother, and that's all that counts, right?

Aha! I knew it was too good to be true.

Oh gosh, no. NO. Microsoft: Make two versions: Windows 7 Home, and Windows 7 Full.

What ever Microsoft touches seems to be made by a rally of drunken idiots during happy hour.

That doesn't mean the actual products are bad, they are just confusing.....a lot - (before you buy it.) Once youve got your version, it shouldnt make a difference. Its like buying a computer. Once you've bought it, you rarely think about its specs.

You guys whine too much about stuff you don't understand. What's wrong with having something to choose from? Geez, get your own opinion, don't get it from articles..

Please, the first time I heard about vista having so many "options" I was just as disappointed. It's just another money scheme. WHY do you need that many versions? What other purpose than microsoft is milking their product would there be for having so many versions of the same operating system. What do you mean "having something to choose from"? You mean either get "vista with a new skin" or "what we advertised in the first place but you still have to spend 3x as much for". It's not options, it's just deciding on how much of the actual operating system you want to buy.

What if I wanted to sell a game system like that?

Wii:Basic - Plays Wii games but only gamecube controller compatable and gamecube interface $100
Wii:Plus - Plays Wii games better and gamecube games, and you can use the Wiimote, Wii interface $150
Wii:++ - Plays Wii games better and gamecube games, and you can use the Wiimote and nunchucks, Wii interface $200
Wii:Ultimate - Comes with Wii interface, can play both gamecube and Wii games equally, can use all Wii controlers $400

Pretty rediculous huh?

yeah.

Also M$ will limit Windows 7 Starter to only run 3 apps concurrently, no more.

It's called Price Discrimination, where a company charges as much as it can for different types of customers... so someone with a lot of money to blow will pick ultimate, whilst a student (for example) may opt for Home Basic or Home Premium.

Another situation it happens is Trains in England. Same service at different times has different prices. Why? Because more people are willing to pay higher prices during Peak Times, allowing the companies to rake in more profit. Sounds ridiculous yet it is perfectly legal and very common.

Which has a reason, because windows 7 starter is made for really low-spec pc's. Like eee-pc's. You can't even buy it in the store I think, or at least you wont be able to in the netherlands.

True. It's like 50-100 dollars more to fly to europe on a friday or saturday compared to a tuesday or wednsday.

For windows, it's good to have choices, but I still see no reason why there couldn't have just been:
Windows 7 Home
Windows 7 Business
Windows 7 Ultimate

Id run windows 7 if I got a new pc. I would also use ultimate/whatever their best version is. If you're upgrading already then why mess around and cripple yourself with a limited OS? It just doesn't make logical sense to me why people do it.

Valid point. I guess system requirements might vary quite a lot like they did for Vista (Home Basic to Ultimate) and many computer retailers might try to cut costs and therefore maximise profits by providing a mediocre computer and OS for the masses, rather than just those that know a thing or two about computers.