Those of you using Vista or Windows 7...is it worth the upgrade?

[davidg4781]

I'm currently running Windows 7 RC1 and, while it looks really awesome, to me, I don't see any reason to upgrade from Windows XP. I haven't used it all that much, so I thought I'd ask this question to those who may be using Vista/7 more than I have.

Do you think it's worth the upgrade cost? I rarely use Windows XP, but I do have it if I need it. If anything, I may use it to play a few older games. Even so, if I'm just a light user (like my mom and grandpa), should I bother upgrading? Are there any awesome features that I may be missing?
[/LIST]

 

[Heilage]

I use Windows 7 daily on my gaming computer, and all I have to say is: Get it. You won't regret it.

 

[MacDawg]

I have Vista installed and rarely use it
I recently installed Windows 7 and I have to say it is a vast improvement over Vista

Everything in Vista was clunky for me
But the speed increase of Windows 7 is clearly evident

Whether you will benefit enough to actually pay for Windows 7 is something only you will be able to answer based on how much you intend to use it

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[umiwangu]

I agree with MacDawg (again).

I've been using Win7 RC1 on my 06 MacBook for the past month or so as my main OS (upgraded from XP) and I think it is much more productive than XP. XP was nice, but there were little things that I didn't like. It's actually up to you, depending on what you would use Windows for. If it's only for gaming, I would just stay with XP (for the next year or so). If you would use Windows every day (like I do), use 7.

And no, don't use Vista. Whenever I go to work on a computer running Vista, I just cringe. The layout is too much like XP with a lot of eye-candy on top, not very well thought out. 7 does have the eye-candy, but it's well-placed and not too much (imo).

As for a list of awesome features that actually change the way I work (from XP to 7), yes there are some. Not so many if you are moving from Vista to 7. The searchable Start Menu helps me a lot. Another thing I like is the Libraries. Mac OS X may have something like this, but I rarely use Mac OS X. Uniformity and intuitiveness are some things. You don't have to hunt around as much for features as I do in Vista. If you can't find something, just start typing in the search box...

HTH

 

[SHADO]

I agree with some of the previous posters: if you don't use Windows much, don't bother upgrading. I currently run W7 RC1 on my Boot Camp partition, and I think it's way better than Vista and XP due to some of the features that others have mentioned before me. However, if you don't use it that much, then there is no need to spend the extra cash to upgrade.

 

[bruinsrme]

I use Windows 7 daily on my gaming computer, and all I have to say is: Get it. You won't regret it.

I agree. I have been running win7 for over a month on my laptop. Vista seemed to be a pig on resources. open a few IE windows with itunes running and outlook and evrything seem to turn into a crawl.
Vista original was horrible, SP1 made it more usable, win7 is very good and can't wait to load it on my network.
RC1 doesnt seem to have the backwards compatability with video cards as vista did.

 

[JessicaD]

It's great that so many of you are loving Windows 7! It is very stable, powerful and efficient. For those who are still unsure, Microsoft does have a site with whitepapers, tutorials, walkthroughs and screen casts on all the “under the hood” features in Win 7. Check out the Springboard site for Windows 7 on TechNet here http://tinyurl.com/832nco

Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team

 

[arjen92]

don't upgrade. I wouldn't spend the bucks when using windows so few. So I'm not spending those bucks.

 

[LtRammstein]

First off, don't upgrade the OS.

What I mean is, backup all your current Windows stuff, then do a fresh install of the new OS.

I would recommend Windows 7 RC 7100 64-bit. Fast! Actually quite stable. The only down side is that I hate how the Control Panel can't be changed back to the "Classic View." And a few cosmetic issues are very cumbersome. For example, if you want to share a folder, you have to tell the OS what folder in like 3 spots.

Other than that, get Windows 7 64-bit.

 

[Gav Mack]

It's great that so many of you are loving Windows 7! It is very stable, powerful and efficient. For those who are still unsure, Microsoft does have a site with whitepapers, tutorials, walkthroughs and screen casts on all the “under the hood” features in Win 7. Check out the Springboard site for Windows 7 on TechNet here http://tinyurl.com/832nco

Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team

Thanks Jessica.

Could it be a possibility that you could ask the drivers team to put more effort than Apple in improving the driver set for Windows 7 for the Mac range, and maybe utilities such as Wifi/bluetooth switch and fan control.

With a bit of work it might be useful point scoring against Snow Leopard in October and might force Apple to actually bother enough to improve their poor driver support

 

[spinedoc77]

I'll second that. There's no reason why we even need Bootcamp at all. I've installed Win7 onto half a dozen PC's and laptops and am always amazed that WIn7 provides the correct drivers 99% of the time, except in the macbooks.

Thanks Jessica.

Could it be a possibility that you could ask the drivers team to put more effort than Apple in improving the driver set for Windows 7 for the Mac range, and maybe utilities such as Wifi/bluetooth switch and fan control.

With a bit of work it might be useful point scoring against Snow Leopard in October and might force Apple to actually bother enough to improve their poor driver support

 

[steveza]

Thanks Jessica.

Could it be a possibility that you could ask the drivers team to put more effort than Apple in improving the driver set for Windows 7 for the Mac range, and maybe utilities such as Wifi/bluetooth switch and fan control

Most of the driver support is down to Apple. I don't think the guys at MS can help out too much with that one - although I did get an update for my MBP graphics card today. I think SL will have a better boot camp driver package but we will have to wait and see.

 

[Gav Mack]

Most of the driver support is down to Apple. I don't think the guys at MS can help out too much with that one - although I did get an update for my MBP graphics card today. I think SL will have a better boot camp driver package but we will have to wait and see.

Maybe so, but the cost of dev team to get proper Windows support would be outweighed by the marketing for Windows 7's usability on a Mac, especially since Apple have fired the first shot with Snow Leopard's pricing. In the end they'll only be one winner - better drivers for all Mac users running Windows 7 and maybe a few utilities which are considered as standard by every other PC manufacturer except Apple!

I'll give Apple a bit of credit; thanks to a developer friend I've been using the SL beta drivers since I ran into grief on initial setup because the bootcamp drivers on my 10.5.6 disk made the bluetooth stop. Despite beta they seem a lot more stable on my system with no hangs for Bootcamp.exe (unlike it's predecessor KbdMgr). All we need now is a Bluetooth/wifi switch and fan control, I suggest they hurry up and get it done before Microsoft beats them to it