no, I don't like Vista, nor Win7 that I tried out. After all the time I spent on testing win7, I went back to linux, where I have the full control.

I am thinking the only reason people don't use linux is they do not know how and the learning curve is slightly long, what if most people understand linux, will there still be anybody use windows? I doubt, seriously.(by then suppose all games are perfectly compatible in linux)

Been running the Win7 beta exclusively on my main machine since its release. There are a few oddities, mostly caused by being 'beta' (Your current operating system is not supported) but beyond that rock solid and very user friendly. Boot times are also amazing.

As much as I hate to give M$ any more money,(already bought 2 Vista licences) I think I'm gonna have a copy of Win7 on day 1.

It's better than Vista but not revolutionary in any sense. Reminds me of the XP -> XP SP2 improvements. I know one developer that is using the beta regularly (MSDN) but I don't know anyone else that is planning to upgrade (even Vista users).

i'll definitely upgrade to Win7 from my current XP. It just so happens that i'm about to upgrade my machine too, so, all the better..

Honestly I have had a much better experience with windows 7. I have been using it since a motherboard swap was done on my Asus G2s and everything has been running not only smoothly but even better than it did with Vista. I haven't had the chance to update it to the leaked 7070 Build yet but even so the official 7000 build is still many times better than Vista and I would even say a great improvement over XP.

Prior to the beta release I knew I would upgrade to atmost the Premium version, but now after actually using just this Beta Ultimate release I do see myself purchasing the Official 7 Ultimate

What you fail to understand is the utter lack of user knowledge. Mac's advertise that you don't need to know anything, and with Linux, you need to know way too much for the average user. Windows Vista and "7" are moving too much (IMO) towards the dumbed down Mac OS. If most people knew enough about the operating system there would be a lot less windows issues, because most of the issues are user inflicted. Asking users to become smarter to use a computer is never going to happen.

I will paraphrase this comment for you.

"I have looked at video footage of Windows 7. I am a linux fan boy. I will not try Windows 7. I love linux."

One thing I would like to point out is that the move from vista to 7 will be easier than xp to 7. A lot of this has to do with what experience the user is accustomed to. Doing things the xp way is not the same as in vista. Some people don't want to change their ways and therefor will have the most issues with a switch. I still see some people use vista like it was a win 98 machine.

Another thing is that vista and 7 is that they are version 6 and 6.1 respectively. That's much less a difference than xp to 7.

So basically if you are still using xp you will have to flex your abilities to adapt a bit more than if you had vista.

As for me, once I retrained myself to use vista I would never go back to xp. Probably will be the same with 7.

+1 Well said, one of the best comments here.

Yeah that's pretty much exactly what I did. Left Linux as main desktop after about a year for a couple months to use Vista, then Win7 came out and I used that for maybe a month before I yawned back to Linux, where I have full control - like you said.

Honestly, I don't care if some people don't use Linux. I'm perfectly fine with the number using it now. I just wish it were more known and respected

I have a computer running XP, Windows 7 and Ubuntu, I still like XP the best, but wouldn't mind upgrading to Windows 7. I do like Ubuntu also, but as time goes on I use it less and less. My sons friend once infected his computer (while checking his on-line email) with a virus that took days to remove, the next time he wanted he wanted to I booted up Ubuntu.

I recently built a computer and decided to try Vista 64, since Win7 isn't out yet. So far, I haven't had any compatibility issues and boot time is very fast. I don't see a need to upgrade when Win7 comes out, but I also didn't try to run Vista64 on a slow single/dual core CPU either. Upgrade your hardware or go back to XP.

I7 920, 6Gb Ram etc...

I have been dual booting Vista Ultimate and Windows 7. Overall I have had a good experience with both. I built my own rig and made it beefy, at least for when it was built a few years ago. (Q6600, 8 gigs of ram, 2600XT) I have added a new video card (Radeon 4850). I am probably one of the rare few who have had not too much trouble with Vista. The only problem I had with vista with getting my drivers for my printer to work properly, but to be fair my printer is probably over 15 years old now. Windows 7 however surprisingly identified the printer immediately (Something I have not experienced before). I am also running XP on two Laptops (Compaq R3000, Dell Lattitude D520) -Both are pretty old now. But XP still runs fine, I just had to uninstall a lot of the bloatware. I also have a tablet running vista ultimate (lenovo X61). I use this computer quite a bit and vista has had very few problems. It is sometimes slow to return from hibernation, but I tend to be running a lot of programs when I hibernate so quite a bit must be stored onto the HDD. It also has 4 gigs of ram. I also have a linux box, I've tried a variety of distros including redhat enterprise , fedora, slackware, and i'm currently using Ubuntu. Ubuntu is nice because it is much easier to use than the others in my opinion, also a lot of drivers were preinstalled which made things easier on me. But as for my impression of Windows 7. I really like it a lot. Mostly the little things that they have done to improve the interface I have appreciated. Like the little box on the bottom left for the desktop, being able to maximize windows while dragging. I have a 3 monitor set up so it's useful when i'm moving my windows around. As for linux, it is nice to play around with and have full control, but realistically it is not effective to have to be playing around with these things when you are trying to be productive. Windows XP is nice for the lower power computers, but Vista hasn't been a burden on me.

Odd. I too am running XP, 7, and Ubuntu (technically Ubuntu Studio 8.10), but more and more I'm using Windows less. I'll probably buy Windows 7 on day one, get rid of XP for good, while still only using Windows 7 for testing code, gaming, and the occasional app that only works with Windows.

I personally had no issues with Vista 64. Lets face it too many companies tried to sell cheap systems with 1gig of ram and vista.

My personal system is a Core 2 Quad 3.0 machine with 8 gigs of ram. as such vista's super fetch does great things.

Not really, I think it is more Windows 98 -> Windows Me (minus the shameful instability). It looks a bit different, and XP SP2 looks the same as vanilla XP except for the Windows loading bar going from green to blue.

I agree with Petesonic too: Linux is nice and all, but I have spent far longer trying to tango with it than actually doing anything useful. I have Vista for work

Now that multi-core systems are becoming the norm, I think the single most compelling reason for me to upgrade from XP to Win7/64 is it is finally time to go 64-bit and get past the 3GB RAM limitation.

People dont like vista because they dont know how to use it. I had vista until the windows 7 beta came out and it was fine. Rare crashes, glitches ect. Service pack 1 really helped out vista alot. But not ive moved on to windows 7, at first i was just amazed how easy it was. Then i noticed start up time, reliability, compatability everything. Its just that easy. I love windows 7 never switching back.
Only thing i wonder is, some games, programs ect require vista xp. How long will it be until windows 7 is compatible with those. That should have been changed a long time ago

You're asking why a piece of software, still in it's beta stages without a Release Candidate (it may not even release this year), doesn't have the full support of all the software you like to use?

Er yeah, thats why MS has extended XP for retail... You don't own/run companies with dozens, hundreds or thousands of computers. A properly setup XP computer is just as weak or strong as Vista... in a sense, vista is more idiot proof - to a point.

I really need to start using Linux...

That or the fact that since it is a free OS and there is no support people don't like it. No patches and you have to either rely on someone else for drivers (stability not guranteed) or yourself if you know how to write them.

Then again if Linux took off I am sure it would have become a non free OS and it would be just like Windows. Not as stable and people would complain. Then maybe it would be Windows that would be free and better.

Linux doesn't need patches, it's perfect remember.

Wow, right off the bat, it's obvious you have no idea what the **** you're talking about. Ubuntu has daily updates.



How is that different from any other operating system? I have to rely on Nvidia to create drivers for my Video card regardless of my OS. Their Linux drivers are pretty good.



Linux isn't an Operating System, it's a Kernal. You can't sell Linux, you can sell an Operating System based off of Linux, and there are already distros being sold for money.

True, most Linux distros find safety in their tiny niches, much like OSX. But their general security scheme is better managed (I'm not encouraged to run as the administrator at all times). Not to mentio most of the people that get viri are those that are ignorant.

Now, I'm not saying Linux is ready for the mainstream. It would be great if everyone was comfortable with compiling code from source, installing drivers without a GUI, and using a terminal. But they aren't. But that's the benefit of most Linux distros, some of them try to be user friendly, but it doesn't get bogged down trying make it idiot proof for ignorant users.

Windows 7 & i7 ... you think these guys may have coordinated that on purpose? Hehe. Anyways, Win7 looks quite promising. I will be extremely interested to see how well it optimizes the abilities of 4 i7 cores with hyperthreading compared to Vista.

Tindytim

You like bashing ordinary users, calling them ignorant merely because there interests are not the same as yours. I liked your comment very much until the useless, offensive namecalling.

If you go to your autoshop to get your tires changed, or to the barber to get a haircut, do you want him to start bashing at you for not knowing how to do it yourself? Everyone cannot know everything. That's not how the world functions, luckily.

You cannot expect Joe the Plumber to take a course in the use of Linux, just as he doesn't expect you to take a course in elementary plumbing!

User friendlyness, albeit to some (you) "idiot proof" is exactly what is needed. If the Linux distros got this right, along with the proper software support (games is probably the part lacking the most at the moment) I'm sure lots of users would switch from Windows (including me).

I'm a tech guy myself. I work on Windows Servers all day every day, but I have no clue how to use the terminal in Linux and I don't want to read for days just to figure out how to install an application with commands instead of double clicking. Call me an idiot, that want it easy, but why make it harder?

Linux fanboys are always fond of telling everyone how easy it is to install something and manage something, well I'll tell you what. It doesn't make the installed application function any better that it's been installed with via a CLI instead of a GUI. It does the exact same thing.

I see nothing wrong with windows having an option to make vista or wi7 feel more like old windows , I am still running xp mostly due to lack of money for a enw OS , but my XP deost have allt ehc tue flowery crap interface taht you would associate with XP , in fact at first glance any one might think i'm still runnign 98 because i turend off allt eh xp crap, i hope that win 7 has this ability to look and feel like the older OS. i'm not afraid of doing any thing "new" it's jsut i like the more utilitarian look and feel of win 98. i don't need an os to look cute for me i jsut need to to do what i want it to do when i want it to do it

As long as a user has to use the terminal for simple tasks, Linux will NEVER hold any threat to Microsoft or Apple. Never.

For everyday consumers, it's completely unnecessary to attempt to replace a decent OS that's user friendly with an OS that requires you to memorize a myriad of commands.

I'm not anti-Linux. I'm just not naive. The sweet spot lies somewhere between Linux and OS X. Find that, and you'll really have something.

it might get more respect if most the users werent toatl snobby dicks, (and NO i'm not talkign aobut you ) talkign aobut many of teh other linuxz users that post here. You on the other hand are what linux users need to be , you didn't get on adn start bashing folks for not runing linux nor did you call them retards for likign windows easier to use interface. and i thank you for that , so againt eh snobby dick coment was not to you , i was jsut answering your question with blistering honesty. keep on keeping on and perhaps one day other linux will start acting better like you do ,again thanks for not doign what a milion other linux users have done

No, I call them ignorant because, as far as the topic of conversation goes, they are. If you think I'm saying that to insult them, you'd be wrong. I use the word in a denotative manner, I'm not interested in it's connotations.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ignorant



I don't remember bashing anyone, and I certainly don't remember bashing someone to their face when they asked for me help.



I don't remember saying that either, mind point that out?



It's needed for the people that are ignorant, and would like to stay that way. And that's fine. I don't need idiot proofing, but I do want a high level of customization, so Linux fills part of my computing niche.



That was my whole point of the last paragraph. Most Linux Distros aren't meant for Average Joe. Sure, they have quite a few overlapping niches, but they both have unique ones.



There are plenty of apps that install with a double click. Just check Getdeb.net for a huge amounts of apps with simple installs on Ubuntu. In fact, in the case of most .debs, I'd say it's easier to install than apps in Windows, I literally just have to confirm what I want to install. I don't have to select a directory, I don't have to select which users I want to install for, I don't have to click a bunch of check boxes to keep a toolbar from installing itself.

My point is that, it's not idiot proof, because you may have to get dirty occasionally. But I rarely have to go into the terminal, hell, I rarely have to open my browser to look for, and install a new application. It's the initial setup, and the occasional needs that create the need for certain knowledge. But it's extremely user friendly if you know a bit about what you're doing. And I'm still learning new things.

Average Joe maybe be able to get by with Ubuntu, if all he did was some basic things like e-mail and IMing. But it's not for him in the first place.



From my own experience, 95% of the time using Ubuntu is easier than anything else. It's that 5% where the difficult ramps up a little higher. I don't mind learning how to cope with that 5%, so I use it.



Maybe you haven't used Ubuntu, but I disagree. The graphical method is much better in most cases, it automatically sets up a simple menu system, versus either a much longer configuration, or having access a program from a terminal (or creating a short-cut with a terminal command).

You misunderstand me, as if I'm some sort of Linux fanboy. I happen to like Windows quite a bit (I'm still looking for a Windows 7 t-shirt to go with my Win2k one).

I love it...a thread about Windows 7 (which appear by all reports to be a needed improvement on Vista) becomes dominated by Linux versus Windows - mwahaha! "All your desktop are bleong to us." Seriously though, and in a good natured, non-fanboi way, one main reason Windows remains the most popular OS is that it comes preinstalled and most people can't be bothered / never learn how to install another O/S, or even how to reinstall their Windows if needed.

Now, this is not a bad thing, or a negative mark against those people, simply the reality that most people when they buy a computer 'just want it to work and don't care how' - kind of like cars.

For those who do like to tinker, *nix and other open-source software offers a genuinely alternative experience, and one which is steadily improving in both useability and functionality. In my experience since using GNU/Linux (currently running Arch on Desktop, and Ubuntu 9.04b on Laptop) over the past 3 years it has been a genuinely positive experience and feeling of freedom from 'the man'.

To overcome the 'inertia factor', I've installed GNU/Linux distros (mostly Ubuntu) on several family member's computers, and have had universal adoptance and uptake once the initial 'how can I check my email' has been worked through.

So in summary, roll on Windows 7 for those poor souls suffering under Vista, and roll on the continuous evolution that is FOSS

Pax.

I am glad to hear that you don't have problem with Vista and from what I am reading and limited experience with Win 7 you should have no problem with it.
All companies were forced by Microsoft to use Vista.
The bad reputation for Vista is very well deserved, because Microsoft blinded by their dominate market position try to force Vista on everyone very early without taking the time to perfect the OS. At the same time I have to acknowledge that Microsoft is making attempt to fix the issue. So MS is not dead by any stretch of imagination. But I don't see how they fix the fact, that forcing Vista allow many power users to start looking for alternative and many of them have discovered Linux. I see my self using Linux more and more, but my transition has started very long time ago. New users coming to Linux are really testing the Linux distributions them self. For the first time they have to deal with users that are not interested in learning the inter-works of the computer. This is big challenge and TUX communities have to learn some things. For example see how different was interpretation of the word 'ignorant' used by spazoid and Tindytim.

For all Windows users cheers you have better OS coming. All fanboys (Windows, Linux, or OS X) do not spoil the day. It is better day for everyone.