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QOTD: Are You Going Windows 7 from Vista or XP?

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8:40 PM - May 8, 2009 by Tuan Nguyen, city_zen


When there's a major Windows release, users and companies face two major problems: software compatibility, and hardware compatibility.

The learning curve for upgrading to a new Windows environment has never been steep, except from the transition between Windows 3.x to Windows 95. However, hardware upgrades have always been a major determining factor on how fast the upgrade pick-up is on a new Windows build. Driver support and compatibility play critical roles. This is one of the primary reasons why large businesses take a long time to do OS migrations.

Then there's the software aspect. Users have to wait for software vendors to retool or update applications. If you've ever had your favorite app broken by a new Windows install--or even an update--you know it can be pain.

With Windows Vista however, Microsoft clearly created a divide. Many users chose to stay on Windows XP while some were early adopters and quickly changed to Vista. Either way, Windows 7 must now try to support both an upgrade from Windows XP and Windows Vista. Thanks to city_zen for today's QOTD suggestion.

The question of the day is: Are you upgrading to Windows 7 from Vista or from XP?

Maybe you don't want to upgrade at all.

Source : Tom's Hardware US

Talkback
Add your comment
kamel5547 05/09/2009 2:46 AM
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-6+

@tuannguyen: except 7 isn't really a major release, its more of a rehash of Vista. Much like Win 98 wasn't a major release.

I'll be moving on from Vista to 7 (good excuse for a new build :) ), but we're still on XP at work, and I expect we'll stay for a bit longer. We definitely won't be visting Vista ever...

battousai831 05/09/2009 2:48 AM
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-0+

yes.

derek2006 05/09/2009 2:52 AM
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-4+

I was using Vista and really liked it. I just installed win7 to try it a few days ago and it deactivated my Vista. Online activation gives me the error 0x88008EFE. Tried phone activation and my call would be dropped after 5 minutes of waiting. Pissed me off. So to answer your question, I am sticking with windows 7 RC1 already.

geminireaper 05/09/2009 2:57 AM
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-4+

Going from Vista 64 Ultimate to Win 7

frozenlead 05/09/2009 2:57 AM
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-2+

From Vista. It's really an excellent OS (just wasn't so at launch). The university is on Vista, too, and I'll be helping them upgrade.

7amood 05/09/2009 3:01 AM
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-7+

From XP to 7
I never decided to go Vista... but after all what I've seen regarding 7
I think it's worth it.

smlong 05/09/2009 3:03 AM
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--1+

Yes - from Vista x64 on my desktop and WinXp on my laptop/VM to Win7. I am already running Win7 RC for both home and work.

icepick314 05/09/2009 3:03 AM
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--1+

i WILL switch to Win 7 from Vista 64 myself...

but it won't be right away...i'll wait till SP 1 for Win 7 comes out...

i did same thing when i upgraded from Windows XP to Vista 64...

mattblum 05/09/2009 3:04 AM
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-1+

Not going to upgrade my Vista laptop. Thing is far slower than I like, and I don't want to risk making it any slower. I will try Win 7 on the next box I build. The current XP main box is getting Linux.

Nik_I 05/09/2009 3:05 AM
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-0+

i went from vista x64 to windows 7 beta, and then to RC1, and eventually upgrade to the final.

afrobacon 05/09/2009 3:05 AM
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-3+

XP to W7

I've tried vista a few times, we just didn't 'click'. With W7 it was love at first sight, I can see a long fulfilling relationship; at least until I get bored with it and start looking at other OS's.

ChaosGS 05/09/2009 3:06 AM
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Just downloaded the free Windows 7 RC, will be installing it after i beat the game The last remnant. I judge my OS by looks, and speed. Vista beat every OS in existence by both, if 7 is better looking than i will keep it, if not than vista till windows 8. I cant stand ugly designs and ugly themes, i had to use windows Blinds to make XP look half ass decent.

zehpavora 05/09/2009 3:21 AM
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-1+

I will wait until I can buy my new i7 build (soon, I hope) to go straight to Win7. Since we have XP into it, I don't see why not to upgrade.

erafael 05/09/2009 3:22 AM
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--1+

I still keep Vista x64 SP1 and the next move would be just SP2.So far Vista works fine for me.I try not to move to the new OS for at least six months after the final release - just my rule - so far working very well:) However,reading all the reviews about Windows 7 improved graphic and memory features, it looks very tempting.I might just try RC for a couple of weeks and see,but I will still keep working on Vista as my major OS, sticking to the rule.

city_zen 05/09/2009 3:25 AM
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-7+

Yay! That's my QOTD! :)
You're welcome, Tuan, glad you guys liked it

apache_lives 05/09/2009 3:27 AM
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--1+

Currently have vista (from early pre sp1 days) - yet to test Windows 7 but no doubt a great producs, i really dont believe in the "wait for SP1" BS myths everyone craps on about - ill upgrade when im due to do a reinstall on my main system.

SDSUMarcus01 05/09/2009 3:33 AM
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I dual booted windows 7 RC with xp and after just an hour I deleted the partitions and re-installed only windows 7.

So yes, I'll be moving to windows 7.

LATTEH 05/09/2009 3:41 AM
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-2+

i like win 7 so im gonna go from XP to win7 since XP is probably gonna be dead.. D:

haze4peace 05/09/2009 3:41 AM
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-2+

I'm currently on XP and will be moving to Windows 7 as soon as i build my next computer, which should be within a few months. Also going to get me a SSD *drool*

phatboe 05/09/2009 3:45 AM
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--1+

Been using the RC1 for a few days, and have already had a few problems: 1) for some reason the installer refused to install windows on my HD unless I unplugged my other hard drives. 2) A few programs like MS Office XP and mIRC use MS agent which is not included with Win 7 so everytime I close Office or mIRC I get this annoying error message that I need to install it. Problem is when I tried to install MS agent 2.0 I got a BSOD (I guess cause It was written for XP). 3) The NVidia drivers from Windows Update would cause a blank screen on start-up. I had to install the newest beta drivers from nvidia.com to fix the problem (not that this is necessarily MS's fault but I think I might wait till the nvidia drivers mature).

Also I'm not to fond of how MS has dumbed down the interface, I guess it's supposed to make it easier for newcommers but for people like me who are used to the win XP GUI it's a pain.

Overall though I like Win 7, it seems a lot more responsive than Vista and looks a lot better than XP. The OS runs smooth as butter and what is surprising it that I am running this on a 5 year old computer (Athlon 64 3500+ and 512MB ram (less than the reccomended) + a old 1GB flash drive using ReadyBoost).

I probably won't be upgrading to Win 7 upon release though, maybe after SP1 is released and I upgrade to a newer computer.

ispyamoose 05/09/2009 4:03 AM
Show
gamefreak62 05/09/2009 4:14 AM
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-1+

I only really use windows for games, and I haven't been impressed by recent game titles and so I didn't feel a need to upgrade to Vista. Most games I like are compatable with XP new or old.

Most of my work is done on Linux and I have to update and rearrange that all the time, so it wouldn't really bother me to put up with early release bugs so long as it didn't go off randomly deleting my files. Bugs do get fixed eventually (one would hope anyway).

It's supposed to be better, what with DX11/10 support, so I suppose I'll upgrade to Windows 7 when it comes out, or probably build a new PC altogether for the new games when it happens.

ajcroteau 05/09/2009 4:15 AM
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--1+

I'll be going from Windows Vista x64 Ultimate to Windows 7 x64.

talys 05/09/2009 4:15 AM
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--1+

home: 2 desktops vista, 3 notebooks vista, 1 desktop xp, 1 notebook xp -- as soon as it's available

work: a few vista, lots of xp -- but not sure when

JMcEntegart 05/09/2009 4:18 AM
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--1+

city_zen :
Yay! That's my QOTD! You're welcome, Tuan, glad you guys liked it



Yeah, I don't know if you got the email but you're co-authored. :)

caffeinecarl 05/09/2009 4:22 AM
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--1+

I use Vista x64 right now and I've been using the betas and RC's of Win7 and I've been pleased. Not sure if it's been enough that I'd want to drop cash on a new OS.

mrmez 05/09/2009 4:25 AM
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--1+

Switching from both. Vista and XP both have their advantages and disadvantages, so... i use both on the same machine.
Hopefully 7 doesnt suck satan's balls and i can replace both xp and vista at the same time.
At work i still use OSX

thuan 05/09/2009 4:26 AM
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-0+

Well am I the only one who was not really impressed with W7 RC. Half of it, I blame it on ASUS for their unreliable and underperformed Xonar driver on W7 though (cracking sound). And the other half are on actually all these new under the hood improvements do not make it faster on my computer (it's an upper mainstream rig); new GUI features are good but I rarely use these features as I'm the type that use keyboards to navigate and open apps far more than the mouse; Media playback is kinda annoying, too, MS changed something in the way they build DirectShow filter graph that makes it hard to use filters I like.

All in all, at its CURRENT form I don't think I will move to it right away. It does improve on Vista but it is not impressive enough. Vista SP2 over here actually feel smoother subjectively.

anamaniac 05/09/2009 4:28 AM
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-1+

I did, and I don't regret it.
I don't even run a XP/7 dual boot anymore.

XP Home x32 to Win7 Ultimate 7000 x64 to 7100 x64.
I've had to reinstall the 7 OS once, but that was largely due to my own fault.

phatboe :
Also I'm not to fond of how MS has dumbed down the interface, I guess it's supposed to make it easier for newcommers but for people like me who are used to the win XP GUI it's a pain.



Nicely put.
Yes, too many factors were simplified.
I understand that it only affects enthusiasts in the long term, only counting for a small market share, but it can be rather annoying.
At the same time, it's nice. I don't use programs to burn CD or ISOs anymore, managing my music library is easier etc.


The transition from XP to 7 is easy.

horendus 05/09/2009 4:30 AM
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-0+

Of cource ! Already running multiple builds of Win7 included RC

Will be using it until release

There are so many fundermental reasons why your be crazy not to choose it over xp and vista.

The way it handles multple pieces of hardware such as 2 sounds cards or 2 videos cards is alone a reason why I run it.

I can switch audio cards in realtime during playaback. Something XP would probably crasdh when trying to do if it had the option and and something vista cant do without stopping the current sound stream.



Apart from that its the most stable for everything especially gaming.

Open your eyes, everything else was made reduntant from beta 7048.



horendus 05/09/2009 4:31 AM
Hide
--1+

Of cource ! Already running multiple builds of Win7 included RC

Will be using it until release

There are so many fundermental reasons why your be crazy not to choose it over xp and vista.

The way it handles multple pieces of hardware such as 2 sounds cards or 2 videos cards is alone a reason why I run it.

I can switch audio cards in realtime during playaback. Something XP would probably crasdh when trying to do if it had the option and and something vista cant do without stopping the current sound stream.



Apart from that its the most stable for everything especially gaming.

Open your eyes, everything else was made reduntant from beta 7048.




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