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[Lt. Maverick]

I created this thread for us to share info on the new Microsoft Windows Version 7 PC Operating System so people can learn more about this new and exciting system. I'm starting this off with a video and several useful links that explain more about Windows 7, the differences between the various versions of Windows 7 and tell you more about it's feature set. There are also some videos about how to use some of the key features.

Initial Overview Video

Windows 7 Overview

View Windows 7 tour videos here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/tour?browser=other

(Note for above: Once the video loads, select one of the 4 pictures to run the corresponding video)

Compare the Windows O/S versions (XP, Vista & 7) here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/compare

View the Windows 7 system requirements here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/system-requirements

See if your system can run Windows 7 by going here: http://windows.microsoft.com/upgradeadvisor

See the Windows 7 version comparison here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/compare

Read about 64-bit support on Windows 7 here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/64-bit-support

Watch very helpful videos on Windows 7 here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/videos

Watch Windows 7 product feature videos here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features

Please share your thoughts, tips, tricks and anything else for Windows 7 in order to help others that are trying to learn about it as well.

Thanks,
- Mav

[Lt. Maverick]

Well it's been 2 weeks since I first installed Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Edition on my PC and thought I'd share with everyone how things are going.

The start off, most of the people who read these forums know I'm a die-hard Window XP user and absolutely HATE Windows Vista. Yes, hate is a strong word, but it's fitting for my relationship with Vista. For 2 years I tried loading Vista on PCs and each and every time there were performance problems and things that made me go right back to XP. Now I have 3 copies of Vista here collecting dust and can't even sell them.

Windows 7 again made promises to be the end-all of all operating systems, but I heard that before when Vista came out so I was more than skeptical. Needless to say, I waited till the public release before attempting a Windows 7 load.

I decided to go with Windows 7 because I was unable to use all my RAM in Windows XP. That lone fact is the only reason I wanted to change. Everything I use runs runs beautifully on XP so why spend the money. If it weren't for the RAM limit, I'd still have still been using XP. Now I'm glad I made the switch. There's just something cool about running the latest and greatest stuff when it works right. And this time Microsoft finally got their act together. There, I said it. GULP! Anyway, here are the results of my first 2 weeks of using Windows 7:

1. Windows 7 does not allow a seamless upgrade from Windows XP. If you run XP, you will need to reload your entire system. For the average home user, this is a lot of work and it a serious shortfall that Microsoft should have done a better job with if you ask me. Most home users will not reload their PCs so Microsoft will likely lose money on this until those people buy new systems.

2. As a fresh load on new hardrives, Windows 7 installed quickly and without any trouble at all on my system. It will save your old Windows folder under a "Windows_old" folder if you are running XP and are upgrading so you can retrieve stuff if needed. Most people will simply delete that folder as there was nothing useful in it for the average user.

3. Windows 7 runs very smoothly and loads fairly quickly. With the exception of my Intel PC Webcam, all my hardware worked as soon as Windows 7 loaded. Sadly, my camera is totally unsupported so I will need to toss it and upgrade to a newer webcam. I didn't need to update or load any other hardware drivers to make all my stuff work. However, I did install the ATI Catalyst video card software so I could use the advance features of my video card. I also loaded my Sound Blaster software for using it's special features as well.

4. Windows 7 looks very clean and the interface is relatively easy to learn. Bear in mind that if you are switching from XP, you will find things look quite different than you're used to, but if you were using Vista, the change will be easy. Windows 7 is basically Vista's interface with improvements and a few additions.

5. All my software and games run perfectly on Windows 7. I have had no crashes at all on anything.

6. The Windows 7 file indexing no longer runs your hardrive 24/7 like it did on Vista to keep things indexed for easy searching. This was terribly annoying with Vista and was one of the many reasons I couldn't stand it. Even though Windows 7 doesn't index constantly, files searching is fast and simple to use. Much faster than XP.

7. Home networking with Windows 7 is very easy. The interface is intuitive and makes moving files from PC to PC a snap. The interface is an improvement over XP's network interface, however I have noticed that connections take just a little longer to establish, probably due to added security and the checks and balances that Windows 7 has over XP. The speed difference is insignificant but I thought I'd mention it.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

If you are looking to run a top of the line system with the latest Windows Operating System that has all the bells and whistles, Windows 7 is for you. It allows for all the latest programs, more memory and has a cool interface, all while being more stable than Vista, If you run less than 3 GB of RAM and XP is doing what you need, save your money and upgrade when you buy your next PC. There is no need to waste your hard-earned cash on Windows 7 if XP is working for you.

Take care,
Mav