What I find more interesting though is that it runs better, cooler and faster on my computers – including some old and crappy XP-based laptops that technically shouldn’t be able to run Windows 7 at all. It’s breathed new life into our old Toshiba M100 that we thought was lost for good. Not only has the battery life improved (from 1 minute to about 10) but startup, shutdown are faster and hibernation works properly. And maybe most interesting of all, the laptop works the way it’s supposed to without any custom driver installs at all. Installing clean XP and Vista on the same laptop was a 3 hour process with endless driver installs from Toshiba. With Windows 7 the generic drivers just worked right out of the gate with no problems.

A side note: If I could I would run Linux on all my computers. Unfortunately my work requires that I run Illustrator, PhotoShop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Expression Web etc etc all the time – mostly together. And none of these work well under Linux without massive emulation software draining my resources. The day Adobe releases fully working and par performance versions of their Creative Suite for Linux I’ll probably switch back. But that day is way into the future. So until then I’m going to rest comfortably knowing my Windows 7 computers work just fine.

Lets consider that even with a modern machine you are going to have to donate much of your system resources if you want all the “bling” 7 offers. Have we really reached a point where computer users are more interested in flashy visuals than functionality when talking about an OS? I hope not.

COMPIZ has been offering “bling” for a long time. Linux system requirements are low and if you wanted to I bet you could get a 4 year old PC running Linux/compiz and looking “flashier” (or just as much so) as Windows 7. Difference being Linux is free.

I think even the casual computer user has become more aware of their surroundings. Sure even Vista could look pretty but try and find many “average users” that actually liked it.

Maybe this has been MS’s problem all along, add the bling and bloat to the detriment of the end user because they can always upgrade their machine.

An OS should be a platform in which to launch other software. It should not apply a “CPU tax” prior to you even running anything, that to me makes no sense and maybe explains why some Windows binaries run faster through Wine/Linux than they do through native Windows.

XPM mode on 7? Even if you have the modern chipset you are not getting DX compat and thats forgetting that allegedly XPM is only available in the more expensive versions of 7.

Windows 7 (and Vista) in my opinion try to be “Jack of all trades, one size fits all” unfortunately with the advent of Iphones, Blackberries and talk of a Google OS users are not frightened anymore to rely on something that doesnt have the Microsoft brand name. Look at the increase in popularity of Linux and the fact that even Microsoft is donating code to the Kernel. I could go on, I won’t.

How about you give me one example of 7 doing something that a Linux user can’t? (or indeed an XP user)

Fact is Microsoft want to sell people 7 (IMO) unfortunately I can’t see any compelling reason for users to leave XP.

Its funny how the same things appeared to be said about Vista at its launch. We all know the Vista “issues” and even the MS Faithful were saying “Vista is loved”. That was until 7 was due to come out. In my opinion Vista users are the only people who should either consider upgrading or switch to another OS..those poor souls and I take my hat off to anyone who has been a Vista user since its release.

I’d be interested to hear your views.