Windows 7-how is it?

[golfgal]

DS17's college computer is due to arrive any day. It comes with Windows 7. My laptop runs Vista, I am less than thrilled with Vista. I am just wondering if it is worth upgrading to Windows 7. Also, can I use the disc that comes with DS's new computer to load 7 on to my laptop?

 

[MushyMushy]

Windows 7 is soooooooo much better! I hated Vista from the day I first used it. Loved the look of it, but hated the performance. I think they got a lot of things right with 7.

That said, I don't think most computers come with a disk anymore, do they? If so, I'm pretty certain you wouldn't be able to use his disk on another computer.

 

[creativeamanda]

I like Windows 7 as well.

You won't be able to use the Windows 7 disk on another computer. Each computer's software is specifically programmed for that computer's hardware. Loading it onto another computer can cause problems.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Windows seven is amazing. I absolutely love it. What you can do, if your child is a student at a university with a university e-mail address, he can qualify for something known as "Ultimate Steal." This means that you can get Office and Windows 7 for a very reduced price. I don't remember the link, but I'm sure if you Google it you can find it.

 

[golfgal]

Windows seven is amazing. I absolutely love it. What you can do, if your child is a student at a university with a university e-mail address, he can qualify for something known as "Ultimate Steal." This means that you can get Office and Windows 7 for a very reduced price. I don't remember the link, but I'm sure if you Google it you can find it.

I know what you are talking about, we can get the same deal through the high school which is what I will do but didn't want to spend the money if I could use the disk that comes with the new computer.

 

[Darsa]

I personally don't care for it, but then I don't care much for change when it comes to my computer I'm still using XP in fact; never even went to Vista.

 

[LoraJ]

I actually really like Vista. So I guess I will like Windows 7. I'll be installing it on my MacBook Pro whenever I get it.

 

[sunshine1178]

I got 7 at work a month ago. I'm on my third hard drive with it. The Dell tech says I'm the exception. Maybe, but re-loading my computer over and over has me giving it a solid thumbs down.

 

[Carly_Roach]

We've been using Windows 7 at work for awhile now. We never went to Vista because of all the trouble our IT heard it caused. I have to say that I love, love, LOVE Windows 7!

At home, I'm waiting to get a new computer that was built for Windows 7. I've been told that installing Windows 7 on an older computer may cause problems and it's best to get a computer that has been designed for this OS.

 

[Lintasare]

I run Vista on my desktop and 7 on my laptop. Never upgraded the desktop because I saw no point. I haven't had any problems with Vista.

But I will say I love 7. So easy to use.

Also computers do not come with discs anymore. The OS is preloaded specifically for that computer so you can't transfer to another computer.

 

[bicker]

My wife is using Windows 7 and says it is the best thing since sliced bread. She's going to have us upgrade all of the computers in the house to Windows 7.

 

[Chuck S]

I purchased a laptop w/Vista, just before Win7 was released (I go the free upgrade). My desktop was running XP (it died shortly thereafter, and my new desktop came with windows 7) I didn't upgrade the laptop until after I used the Win7 on the desktop, so I could see the differences.

Windows 7 is good, and makes for very easy file & printer sharing in a home network.

Just be sure you know that Windows 7 does not come with an email program installed...no Outlook Express, you will need to download an email program....so be sure you have all your passwords and mail server setting written down before you upgrade.

I'm using Mozilla's Thunderbird email. Microsoft recommends Microsoft Live.

I never had a problem with Vista, but I only had it for a short time. But so far Win7 has been very stable and I've only had minor compatibility problems with my old XP programs.

Fortunately, my old XP hard drive is fine, the motherboard died, so I was able to transfer the important programs and data.

 

[jsmith]

Vista is fine if you have adequate memory-never had an issues at all-but-im a Linux fan and if an OS that comes pre loaded annoys me to much i wipe it and load Fedora core or Ubuntu. That said-i know people who have had issues with Windows 7 and are not happy. Microsoft is not known for its through testing of anything an i wont install a new microsoft OS until its been out for at least a year-so im still using Vista.
To answer your question-if the computer does come with recovery disks (toshibas do ) its likely to be a ghost image of the hard drive of the computer as it was shipped from the factory-what a ghost does is make an exact copy of the contents of the hard drive-so you can not use it to load another computer-it will be missing drivers and such. ( on the other hand its windows-it comes with almost everything-if you are willing to take a risk on it not working and the two machines have hard drives that are the same size-or the machine you are upgrading has a bigger hard drive-go ahead and load it-it will find all the different hard ware and install the drivers-you will need about six reboots but its about 80 percent that it will work-i would do this-but systme administration is my profession.)

 

[golfgal]

I purchased a laptop w/Vista, just before Win7 was released (I go the free upgrade). My desktop was running XP (it died shortly thereafter, and my new desktop came with windows 7) I didn't upgrade the laptop until after I used the Win7 on the desktop, so I could see the differences.

Windows 7 is good, and makes for very easy file & printer sharing in a home network.

Just be sure you know that Windows 7 does not come with an email program installed...no Outlook Express, you will need to download an email program....so be sure you have all your passwords and mail server setting written down before you upgrade.

I'm using Mozilla's Thunderbird email. Microsoft recommends Microsoft Live.

I never had a problem with Vista, but I only had it for a short time. But so far Win7 has been very stable and I've only had minor compatibility problems with my old XP programs.

Fortunately, my old XP hard drive is fine, the motherboard died, so I was able to transfer the important programs and data.

Interesting--why no email program? Are Thunderbird and Live compatible with Outlook? We use outlook at work and I often send invites back and forth to get things on both calendars.

 

[bicker]

FWIW, I always thought that Microsoft Outlook Express was far too far down the path to crippleware. And I suspect that the benefits to Microsoft of offering such a limited email program was rather small, especially given how there were so many "free" programs, like Thunderbird, that don't have the expectations placed on them that Microsoft products have placed on them. So for Microsoft, it was just all down-side and no up-side. That's my guess.

Anyway, email software (Thunderbird and Live) wouldn't be compatible with other email software (Outlook). Rather, the issue is whether the software is compatible with the sources of data you need to use the software to view. In your case, you're talking about calandar entries, and there are standards for that. I have no problem sending invites back and forth between Microsoft Outlook and even Lotus Notes!

 

[Chuck S]

I had read (whether it is true or not?) that Microsoft removed the email program from Win7 because of a lawsuit in Europe claiming that Microsoft was making it impossible for competing email programs.

 

[bicker]

I cannot imagine that anyone would say that about Outlook Express. If anything, Microsoft including Outlook Express made things better for competitors, because it made Microsoft look bad.

 

[jlmarr]

Curious - what has been improved in W7 vs Vista that all of a sudden makes it worth having?

 

[WestCOT]

Windows XP > Windows 7 > Windows Vista

Curious - what has been improved in W7 vs Vista that all of a sudden makes it worth having?

It's sort of more stable and functional, but it still doesn't feel as sturdy as XP did/does.

 

[pixiewings71]

I love love love my Windows 7