Windows 7

[Lemur]

So, apparently the coding is done, the thing is baked to a perfect golden yummy crusty taste, and now all that's left is SKUs, marketing and packaging. The release candidate will be available for download tothe public soonish.

So what do Orgahs think? Will Windows 7 deliver in a way that Vista did not? Will Windows 7 become the new XP Pro? I'd especially like to hear from anyone who has gotten hands-on with any of the demos ...

[edyzmedieval]

I will wait for the first Service Pack, most probably.
Although if reviews are favorable, I will buy it earlier. Vista for me wasn't a disaster, it was fairly good, but it's not really my favourite operating package.

[Flavius Etius]

I have the beta of Windows 7 and in my opinion it's very good. The design is nearly the same as at Vista, but its much easier to change any settings, etc. than by Vista. Also hardware as a printer or a microphone are working without searching a driver for them and even many PC games, which didn't work on Vista work on Windows 7 again!

EDIT: Btw I think that the client will be released on May the 5th!

[Caius]

Can you get a demo of it? Do I need to throw down my HD in order to install it?

[Beskar]

You can get the beta of Wndows 7, or used to. There are still ways to get it though.

I have to admit, I tried Windows 7 32-bit Ultimate on a laptop that was presumingly "home basic vista" and it works absolutely great. It makes my Windows Vista look tired in comparison and with Windows 7 getting lots of feedback and support early on, where Vista lacked this big time, it should be a smooth ride.

[caravel]

MS are 90% hype and marketing. They're just fixing Vista (Longhorn) and releasing it with some, but not all, of the features it should have had in the first place and some fancy new themes (which look like OSX rip offs). Die hard Windows users get ripped off again and again, and still come back for more. People will pay out once again for what should be a Vista service pack.

Vista was also supposed to be a new OS "built from the ground up" or that's what the fanboys would have you believe anyway. It turned out to be more of the same, just another step in the twisted evolution from Windows NT.

It's interesting that Blackcomb which is supposed to be the next next generation Windows release was renamed to "Vienna" and then to "Windows 7". This is very typical of past trends - Longhorn also started as an offshoot from Blackcomb. It is evident that as with Vista, Windows users are still not getting the Blackcomb that has been in development since 2000, but once again another stopgap OS, with some cosmetic rework to keep the money rolling in until Blackcomb is ready (if it ever will be finished).

The renaming has been pure marketing as ever. I suspect Blackcomb has not actually been renamed, but instead put on the back burner once again. This is because Vista was a flop and MS now have no choice but to release something (anything) to fill the void ASAP. The rename to "Vienna" was supposedly to keep it in line with Vista, there is an MS statement on this (google). Due to Vista's bad press, MS obviously decided to ditch the "V" naming and take a different approach. This is why the latest stopgap release will be known as "Windows 7".

[Furunculus]

i don't like windows, but i am a gamer so its a necessity, and all signs point to 7 actually being pretty good, much like XP Pro.

i supported the DX10 only move from Vista as a way of killing a decade of cruft, and i think we as gamers will reap the benefits via the DX10 superset more commonly known as DX11.