Windows 7
Windows 7 is due out next week, but I have access to download it now from MSDN (thanks to my most excellent company’s subscription!). I’m very tempted to try it and am curious about changes from Vista to 7. I have too much “stuff” on my work machine to format it, but I could probably clear off my laptop enough to format it.
We’ve had a couple of guys around the office running Windows 7 previews for awhile now and they love it. Our network admin has been trying it out and hasn’t had any real complaints, although we’re not going to convert everyone from Vista to 7 right away. Our migration to Vista was slow and painful, done mostly as we replaced or upgraded hardware, and we don’t care to do that again.
For all of it’s shortcomings, I have grown to live with Windows Vista. I still believe that Windows XP (SP2) has been Microsoft’s best OS ever. We still have a few XP machines (some virtual, some physical) in our network for various reasons. Some users grew up with Windows XP, it has great application compatibility and is very stable.
But Vista brought a slick new interface, the Windows Sidebar and User Access Control. It also brought multiple versions, just like Microsoft did with Office. I run Ultimate at the office and Business on my laptop. Relatives have either Home or Home Premium, and I’ve been fortunate enough to avoid support situations that were version specific.
Windows 7 is Microsoft’s attempt to appease those XP users that didn’t want Vista forced into their faces. They even include an “XP Mode” for any applications that can’t run on 7, although I imagine you’ll need a decent amount of resources to run what amounts to a VM within the Windows 7 environment. Windows 7 also allows Microsoft to end-of-life Windows XP, which it had to continue selling and supporting during the Vista backlash. Large networks will now have to seriously evaluate their XP nodes to decide if it’s worth supporting an old OS rather than upgrading.
I’d like to install 7 on my laptop when I get a chance. If nothing else, it’s supposed to significantly improve battery life which would be great!