How good is Windows 7

When Windows XP came out and especially after SP2, most people thought it was a great OS
Then Vista came out and some thought it a slight improvement and some people did not like it. I thought that its stability improved after its SP1.

Now we have been running Windows 7 for a few months what do you think of it?
What are its best points that make it better thasn Vista?
Is it Faster? Is it more Stable?

I think this is a discussion worth having before we all dash out and buy Windows 7

Well Nehoma it's a bit late for me as I've already 'dashed out and bought it' (although I don't get to play with it until October)
In answer to your question though, I think it's a huge improvement over vista simply because it works (or 95% of it does).
Admitted vista did improve an awful lot but once the 7 beta came out it was game over really.. I do like the fact that it still has a vista feel though as I did actually like the vista GUI but then again after 5yrs of using XP anything would have done lol...
It's obvious by some of the questions we've been getting in the forum that 7 still has a way to go but it is early days and the os hasn't even been released to the 'wild' yet..
What about you? Still to make up your mind or are you already bitten like so many of us already?

It's clearly better and shall we say more refined than Vista. However, it's got a ways to go yet. Expect a service pack to it sometime after it comes out for real. Maybe once it comes out for real, 64bit will finally become better than it is now. 64 bit, tends to lack especially in browsing the web, at least for me anyway. From what I understand, some programs that I currently use which are not 64 bit, are still awaiting 64 bit compilers. We shall see but, it's clearly better than Vista and who knows maybe it will be a real success in the future.

The best way I can think to put it at this point in time is Windows 7 is the best Windows OS since Windows NT/Windows 2000..

Originally Posted by Radenight

The best way I can think to put it at this point in time is Windows 7 is the best Windows OS since Windows NT/Windows 2000..

AMEN to that!

Yeah, I got it preordered too. I will buy it because its there. It seems ok, I am using and will use the 64bit variety. Sometimes IE 8 seems a bit slow but otherwise it has been very stable and eventually there will be new drivers for everything, we hope. I expect it is complete now and in production already getting ready for distribution. I wonder what the uptake will be like in the present economic climate though.

Very few people buy an o/s - just the tiny number of enthusisasts.

Almost everyone buys a new pc.

They go into pc universe, or whatever, and buy the prettiest laptop with the largest screen they can afford.

The o/s just happens to come with it.

Depends how well laptop/netbook sales go.

Originally Posted by SIW2

Very few people buy an o/s - just the tiny number of enthusisasts.

Almost everyone buys a new pc.

They go into pc universe, or whatever, and buy the prettiest laptop with the largest screen they can afford.

The o/s just happens to come with it.

Depends how well laptop/netbook sales go.

This is very true but I hear alot of buzz in the general population about this one.I'm thinking it has alot to do with people feeling left out because their computer guy, or nephew, or whomever they ask said to stay away from Vista, even to the point of not buying a new computer unless absolutely necessary. This combined with the people who are running Vista and are dissatisfied seems to have resulted in an OS release from Microsoft that appears to have unparalleled awareness in the general public. It still remains to be seen if these people will upgrade their OS or simply buy a new computer, the economy may actually help in this regard.

Originally Posted by textureDnB

This is very true but I hear alot of buzz in the general population about this one.I'm thinking it has alot to do with people feeling left out because their computer guy, or nephew, or whomever they ask said to stay away from Vista, even to the point of not buying a new computer unless absolutely necessary. This combined with the people who are running Vista and are dissatisfied seems to have resulted in an OS release from Microsoft that appears to have unparalleled awareness in the general public. It still remains to be seen if these people will upgrade their OS or simply buy a new computer, the economy may actually help in this regard.

A very interesting way to look at it my friend.. You make some very valid points.. I don't agree with friends, technicians, whoever telling people to avoid 7 because Vista was such garbage.. But at the same time the final decision comes down to the person buying the OS.. If they let that decision be influenced by the word of someone else then it's hard to feel bad for them in the end.. I'm not arguing with you here, I'm just looking at it from both sides..

Originally Posted by textureDnB

This is very true but I hear alot of buzz in the general population about this one.I'm thinking it has alot to do with people feeling left out because their computer guy, or nephew, or whomever they ask said to stay away from Vista, even to the point of not buying a new computer unless absolutely necessary. This combined with the people who are running Vista and are dissatisfied seems to have resulted in an OS release from Microsoft that appears to have unparalleled awareness in the general public. It still remains to be seen if these people will upgrade their OS or simply buy a new computer, the economy may actually help in this regard.

A factor contributing to the fact that the masses update their OS by buying a new computer is the fact that buying a new computer only costs a small bit more than buying a new (Microsoft) OS for their existing computer. (just wanted to make that point) Yes, new computer sales will account for the vast majority of Windows 7 sales, while the percentage of enthuiasts who build their systems or upgrade their "old" systems is very small.

As to MY opinion of "How good is Windows 7?", Windows 7 has a long way to go. I have Windows 7 RTM installed and activated and I am seeing ENTIRELY too much Vista characteristics. Iam experiencing approximately daily screen freezes requiring a reboot and loss of whatever website or document I was working on. On two occasions, I had to turn power off to the power supply to get the computer to reset and reboot. Libraries has helped very little in the train wreck that Vista Windows Explorer was/is. Generally too much Vista "look and feel" which is a subjective characteristic which some like and some do not like. (I totally do not like it) Many of the old familiar capabilities that we used and liked are now gone. Classic Start Menu and the ability to arrange icons in Windows Explorer folders are two that come to mind immediately.

While I do have Windows 7 RTM installed and activated (legally) I am not one of Windows 7's enthuiastic boosters. There has been far too much taken away from what XP has become and far too little improvement in "user experience" and in reliablity and function. Windows 7 has a LOOOONG way to go before becoming a fabulous OS.