Will you give Windows 7 a chance?

[rajcan]

Ok, I know here in the linux community the release of Windows 7 is a big topic. My question is how many of you will give it a chance? I know there's those of you who absolutely refuse to use proprietary software, and I don't want this thread to turn into a free software rant, I'm just curious as to how many of you will actually use Windows 7. Either in a VM or full install. I'm using it, and having been a former Vista user I can say that I'm adoring it! It really is everything Vista was supposed to be!

[Mad Hacker]

i already did =D i tried the RC, and relatively soon thereafter erased it to make room for gentoo, it's nice(er) though

[skierkyles]

Im not going to use it, and probably wont have it on any of my machines.

However I have used the beta and rc, and they were both great. It really is a great os, its rather fast, and not at all buggy.

Note I am not Paul Thurrot or related to him in any way.:P

[Whiffle]

I will if I find that I have a need for it, otherwise I'll just stick with Linux and XP.

[LookTJ]

Options are limited.

But I would've voted "maybe" or "other". It depends on whether someone/company/school forces it on me like they do with office. It also depends on my needs.

[mamamia88]

i gave it a chance and liked it but not enough to buy it for now

[-grubby]

I used to use Windows 7. It wasn't bad at all. I missed my command line though. I'm not going to hold that against Windows.

[foxmulder881]

Tried the early betas. Nothing innovative, as usual.

[RabbitWho]

It will be free since I recently bought a Dell, so yeah, why not. (especially since nothing is free and in actual fact I already paid for it (you can't get anything with ubuntu on it in Ireland)) I need to have a windows OS on this in case of emergencies, and Vista is poison. I'll only give it 20GB though.

The current plan is that next Christmas I'll download Karmic and install it over the whole hard drive, then dual boot it with Windows 7. I'm expecting problems doing it in that order but I was told that hard drives read and write from the inside out, and that your first partitions will run very slightly faster than the later ones. Is that true?

[sudoer541]

Depending on the reviews, I will buy it.
I hate vista but I love 7

[ram2500]

I think I will give it a chance. I've tried and use Vista at work, and had previously had it on my own machine for a short while. I'm only going to buy Home Basic, though, as I don't justify the need to have Ultimate, Business, etc. I have tried a beta version on my friend's PC (I don't try betas on my own machines) and I was somewhat happy with it...so, I think I will purchase it or buy it with it pre-installed on a laptop. I won't use it as much as I do my two Linux machines, but I'd have it around for running Windows programs so I don't have to use Wine (which isn't too reliable as of yet, but it's OK in a pinch).

[ChrT]

(you can't get anything with ubuntu on it in Ireland)

So build your own. I would never (and never have) buy a computer that someone who believes he knows my needs better than I do installed anything on, be it proprietary or Free.

And Vista SP2 aka 7 isn't changing my don't-poke-MS-products-with-a-ten-foot-pole policy.

[lswb]

I have not used Windows on my personal systems in more than 2 years so I can't see why I would suddenly need to use it now.

oops, I take that back, I do have an old laptop with XP installed that I fire up once a year so I can use TaxCut!

[earthpigg]

Will you give Windows 7 a chance?

i voted that "Never! I refuse to use proprietary software!" because that is the closest option i saw.

i use ubuntu-restricted-extras.
i use proprietary VirtualBox.
i have used win7 in VirtualBox.

i will use proprietary software on my computers, but not for something as essential to the computer's functioning as the computers operating system.

[running_rabbit07]

I have it installed because I got it for free from MSDN. I have yet to find a free anti-virus. I have two programs that I need to work for college and they are not compatible for Windows 7, yet Wireshark is in the Ubuntu repositories, which works great and Cisco PacketTracer is offered from the Cisco site for free for Linux and works well. Go figure.

I expected it to be the other way around this semester.

I thought I was going to have to install MS to get my schoolwork done, but nope.

BTW the pole is a little messed up. It does not have a listing for, "Yes, it is installed, but I am dual booting and not using Windows 7."

[David-IT]

lol i have beta tested 7 since it last year it fails just like windows i saw that commercial "Windows a world without walls"LOOLOLOL wow the biggest sack of crap in the world!

[rafita]

I would have voted for "No, I don't have the time and money to try it right now". :)

[jerrrys]

after years of dealing with virus and virus protection (don't know which one was worst), wouldn't use it even if it was free...

[leachyboy2001]

I'm forced to use it at work. It isn't nearly as terrible as Vista was...but it is still windows, so therefore it is suck. BTW I still like XP better, lol

[pcybill]

For me personally I just can't justify spending money on an OS when I can get everything it provides for free. That and it really is very high maintenance compared to the other operating systems currently available.

[starcannon]

Missing an option:


If Linux no longer allows me to be productive.

I have no need to use another OS; I can currently do everything I need to do, right here in Ubuntu. So no, for the time being, I won't give Win7 a chance; but, if at some point it were to become necessary, then I'd definitely give Win7 the same consideration that I'd give BSD and OSX.

[khelben1979]

I voted no.

At the same time, I can't know if I like it or not until I've tried it. It seems like an improved version of Windows Vista and I know Windows lovers will argue to say it's not, what ever, Windows is Windows and we all know what that means...

[CoolHand]

I have tried it on my work PC as I am forced to use Win there. In the 3 months I have been using it I have had to reinstall it twice and this week it managed to break itself again. It's a simple config. I don't install and uninstall a bunch of stuff. Once I have my needed software I just go and 90% is all from MS. If it can't be more stable then it is the same crap it's always been. So long story short...no Windows *****!

[SuperSonic4]

No, I've better things to spend my money on

[noebenjamin]

I will if I find that I have a need for it, otherwise I'll just stick with Linux and XP.

Me too... just if it is absolutly necessary...
I mean, if one of my friends have it and he ask for my help to solve an issues...

[PhilGil]

Already given it a chance and I'm not interested.

I've played with the RC and Win 7 is a decent OS. However, the release of a new Windows version does not impact the reasons I switched to Ubuntu in the first place - security, low resource usage, simplicity and price.

[Maheriano]

By mere principle I refuse to pay for this when I already paid for Vista. This is simply the finished Vista project which they released mid-development and unfinished so I don't see why I have to pay for it. So my vote is a huge NO.

[SuperSonic4]

+1

[hyperAura]

ill probably give it a try just to see what improvements people of microsoft did to their OS..:)

[Marlonsm]

I've tried the beta, it's a great OS, IMO much better than Vista and XP. But it isn't good enough to make me leave Ubuntu. (But it'll be a though decision between it and Windows XP for my VM or dualboot)

[dumblebee100]

just today I saw the review of windows 7 in engadget

they gave full review but Im not at all satisfied

they didnt say that it will boot in less than 20 seconds .so ubuntu got upper hand

they threw some good apps , drivers for devices too some time and didnt work out of the box

even the graphics and aero theme ..nothing special in it
compiz has done all those fancy moves year or so back ..so why would I bother

instead of wasting time for searching drivers for win7 I would rather search for ubuntu and make it more usable ....

earlier windows has a plus point ...when provided with manufactures installer CD devices work ...but people are searching for drivers ...so not a good move from windows ...


overall opinion ..after reading engadgets review I thought I will never try win7 ..why waste time when I can do almost everything in ubuntu and its rock solid stable even for alpha 5 version

[ram2500]

I know I won't win a lot of brownie points by saying this, but personally, I believe that Microsoft should be entitled to charge and license their products. I realize that the Linux community in generally doesn't agree to varying extents, but I feel Microsoft is doing nothing wrong by licensing and selling Windows. I do agree, however, that the pricing can be outrageous ($600 or so for Office Ultimate) and that Microsoft hasn't been doing its end users a favor recently with the rollout of Vista with its issues (DRM, compatibility, operability, etc). I think, though, the Open Source community needs to look at Apple and their refusal to allow PC users to install OS X. How ridiculous is that? To simplify, picture Ford saying, "You can't install an engine from a Chevy or a Dodge in our vehicles, and we'll sue you if you do so." That's exactly what Apple is doing. Even if you purchase the copy of OS X and use it on a non-Mac, you are 1) breaking the EULA and opening yourself up to potential litigation and 2) breaking the law (depending on who you ask as this is wishy-washy.) Must I mention that it's (ridiculously) against the law to refill some inkjet cartridges, mainly Lexmark ones?

The main reasons that I don't use Windows is that it tends to have more problems in the stability and security areas. It also is very restrictive and not very open as far as customization is concerned. I also have used Unix in my college days, so I had previous experience with the Unix-like operating systems, so I decided to go back to it after a while with Windows. I, at first, just like other "newbies" had a big adjustment. Even though I had extensive Unix exposure in college, Unix and Linux, while being very similar, was completely different in some respects. The Unix I used was primarily command line with a rudimentary X interface which was cutting edge then. All these new GUI configuration screens and new commands wasn't what I was accustomed to seven years ago, when I made the switch. Now, I am a power-user. Anyways...

I am giving Windows 7 a try because I am interested in what it has to offer. I most certainly won't replace Ubuntu or Fedora with it, but instead, use it for Windows programs so I don't have to run WINE (nothing bad about it, but everything and everyone is most comfortable on its own soil). My laptop is three years old and is already due for replacement soon, so I figure that I will buy a Windows 7 notebook when it's released. And if I don't like it, then let Use Entire Disk prevail. :)

I am somewhat not convinced that 7 is like Vista, but I could be wrong. After all, I've only sat down with it for about an hour, so I couldn't determine my conclusive opinions of it. I have to see and feel it more. And if I don't like 7 after all, then WINE'll do. It'd be nice to run Windows-centric programs on its own home turf, but if 7 is not for me, then WINE'll do. WINE is maturing into stable software slowly but surely.

[JDShu]

Add me to the "I have no money to blow" category.

[lisati]

I'm not in a rush to try Windows 7, even though I downloaded a copy a couple of months back (I never bothered burning it to disk); kinda like not being in a rush to try 98SE, XP or Vista - I was happy to wait until I got myself a machine which had it preinstalled. I have three usable machines with a different flavour of Windows on each, two of which are dual-boot setups with a couple of different flavours of Ubuntu. They can usually be coaxed into doing something useful, in spite of a dislike of some aspects of Windows.

[Cope57]

Tried the early betas. Nothing innovative, as usual.

I hate vista but I love 7

Some interesting quotes, and the first one is more accurate.

Windows 7 is basically the same a Vista, but with slight improvements?
Does changing the locks on a car door make it a better car?

If Microsoft released a service pack for Vista, you would have Windows 7. Other than that, there is no real improvements.

Microsoft released a bugged OS, and reselling almost the same thing to get their money back they lost from Vista. The sheeple will never know...

[ndefontenay]

The sysadmins have it installed already in my company and when it goes public Windows 7 will most likely replace XP.

After 10 years finally a new OS. I'm happy.
As for home, I won't change a thing. I'm desperately waiting for Karmic Koala to install it on my gf laptop (She loves linux and she is a normal user). I stay on my OSX Leopard.

[gn2]

Pay money for a product which is inferior to one I can get for free?

That'll be a no.

[CJ Master]

I'm forced to use it at work. It isn't nearly as terrible as Vista was...but it is still windows, so therefore it is suck. BTW I still like XP better, lol

That's the same attitudes racist people have. "Well, he's X color, so therefore..."

COMPUTER RACIST! :lolflag:

[Sand & Mercury]

I've given it a few goes and think it's a great, solid Windows release. I have nothing against it at all, but Ubuntu still caters to my needs best, so I'm content to stick with it.

[jocheem67]

I've tried the RC and the RTM but went back to xp, as some of my windows-apps run happily with it ( Ableton and traktor ).
Security isn't an issue for me, I'm too well informed on the caveats of xp and pretty good on locking all doors within xp.

I did like the appearance though of 7, xp does 'feel' very legacy...

On both my laptop and my desktop ubunt remains my primary OS..just when I'm having some spare time, I'm trying some new distro's...

That's basically my whole computer-filosofy..nothin' fancy here..:KS

[Viva]

Why would I do something stupid like that?

[Bachstelze]

Using it right now. Apparently Viva thinks I'm stupid, hmm?

[Cityscape]

Hi, I was an official Windows 7 beta tester and after using both Beta & RC I think it is much better then all previous versions of Windows (except maybe XP). However Windows is Windows, and if I were to use Windows I would use Windows 7 unless it was an old or slow PC.

Right now I like Ubuntu better but if I do need Windows 7 i'll use it. Although I may switch to the Mac OS X (which is by the way a relative of Linux) first.

So I voted Yes because i already have tried Windows 7.

[Giant Speck]

I've already tried it.

Anyway, I think we all need to do this:

http://snukes.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/give-peas-a-chance.jpg

Since we're giving things a chance and all. :)

[Sukotto]

I have used the RC, ot blows vista out of the water, but then again did not run it through the gauntlet. I like Ubuntu and will stick with it. I will problaly get Win7 for my ipod and iphone and a few games but Ubuntu will definalty be installed on the SSD drive I plan to buy :)

[BigSilly]

Can't vote, because I'm still very undecided. I actually do have it on pre-order pretty cheaply, but I'm still having trouble kinda seeing the point of it for me personally. I only got XP for the odd game I play, and other than games I'm using free software on it such as Firefox, Open Office and Infra Recorder. For me, installing Windows 7 could be a bit like running to stand still, you know?

So I'm still unsure of whether to proceed with the order. It sounds good but I'm really happy with what I have.

[triplesick]

By mere principle I refuse to pay for this when I already paid for Vista. This is simply the finished Vista project which they released mid-development and unfinished so I don't see why I have to pay for it. So my vote is a huge NO.

GOOD POINT!! I'm actually stoked about 7; I think that I might even give up Linux b/c from what I hear, 7 solves the problems that made me check out linux in the first place.

but you're absolutely right...how could they possibly release such a stupid OS as vista, and just leave vista users hanging? if everything is backwards compatible, 7 should just be a big free service pack for vista. M$ owes it to vista users.

[doorknob60]

Yeah, I have it installed right now. I don't use it a lot, but for when I need Windows, I'd rather use 7 than anything else :)

[itreius]

Yes, I'm using it right now.

[Tipped OuT]

Windows 7 is a good solid operating system. No one can deny that.

Anyways, I'll definitely be switching to Windows 7 as soon as I get a new laptop.

[hessiess]

Tried the RC, its just the same as its always bean, same old fundamental bad design problems as always.

[Tipped OuT]

Tried the RC, its just the same as its always bean, same old fundamental bad design problems as always.

Bad design problems? Can you point me into the right direction please?

[Dullstar]

I might. Though I'd rather get a Mac and dual boot with Linux, just because that would be a Microsoft-free computer that can do what I need and what it to do.

[MasterNetra]

Using Windows 7, better then XP and Vista, and probably what Vista should of been. Dispite it recommending 1GB of ram as minimal. I have it running well on a system with 768, and can probably get away with going as low as 512, granted however if you install in a system with less then 1GB then Aero will be disabled by default and idles at around 295MB of ram. (Vanilla, it will of course be higher with AV, Anti-Spam, and whatever else you put on. but meh.
With Aero Disabled your limited to using WIndow 7 Basic theme or the old pre-XP theme stuff. (Custom pre-xp themes should still be able to be saved in the same way you save custom aero themes).
That said, Aero actually takes a step forward with being able to change Aero theme color to any color you desire, though I wish they did it using RGB instead of sat, hue, and light slider-only bars (there is density, but that deals with level of transparency.
Additionally Window 7's firewall is supposed to be better then the previous OS's and has more options.

The Negatives. No longer are you able to create toolbars in the start menu and drag them out to be their own window or sidebar, tool bars restricted to start menu only, which bothers me. Also no more Dream-scene...unless you use the hack to get it working (though the text beneath the desktop icons tends to glitch into transparency. )

All in All, best system M$ has released to date. In my opinion anyway.

Using RTM which is = to what is to be put on shelves.

[madjr]

i might virtualize it yea

[sudoer541]

I tried the beta and I was amazed. I am sure the final version will be way better than the beta off course. I am willing to buy windows 7 depending user reviews, although the user reviews give a perfect score for 7. One problem, I have a AMD 64 3200+ @ 2.20 GHZ 1GB ram with ATI 128MB card and Aero is disabled. the minimum requirement for aero is 128MB right?

[CJ Master]

GOOD POINT!! I'm actually stoked about 7; I think that I might even give up Linux b/c from what I hear, 7 solves the problems that made me check out linux in the first place.

but you're absolutely right...how could they possibly release such a stupid OS as vista, and just leave vista users hanging? if everything is backwards compatible, 7 should just be a big free service pack for vista. M$ owes it to vista users.

"M$" also actually needs to make money. It's a company.

[73ckn797]

Not for the cost they will probably charge. I have 4 computers and 3 users between the 4. That would be more than I would want to spend if I upgraded. Would probably only upgrade 2 at the most, if I upgraded. All are running XP quite well. Ubuntu is on 2 of the units.

[Lemmy's Wart]

I am still at a loss to explain the hysteria surrounding the release of Windows 7. Didn't we have the same degree of hysteria displayed with Vista, XP and every previous version of Windows for that matter (no, I am not including Windows ME :-)).

After installing and testing Windows Vista (with service pack 2) side by side with Windows 7 on the same machines, 7 simply did not live up to the hype. The similarity in performance was in stark contrast to what I read in just about every article giving praise to Microsoft's latest incarnation of it's ubiquitous platform. But then again these are the very same publications that proclaimed Vista was the holy grail of operating systems. If this was true then Microsoft would not have seen fit to release Windows 7 in the first place.

A new machine with Windows 7 is a no-brainer, I doubt hardware drivers for XP will be available for much longer anyway. But as the much anticipated and vaunted successor to the much anticipated and vaunted successor to Windows XP, I'm on the fence. I guess I'll be sticking with XP for now and the near future.

[jthomsonmain]

I have to say, I was VERY skeptical of Windows 7 to begin with, but I got a free copy of it off of MSDNAA because I am a college student. I have to say, Windows 7 is friggin amazing! In my opinion, it is the best Windows OS I have seen so far. Dont get me wrong, I am not a Windows fan boy, Every OS has its time and place, but I was very surprised at how well 7 Worked. I was expecting another Vista!

[Exodist]

HELL NO.
They just got 150 bucks from me 2 years ago for Vista and it was a huge disappointment and I dont even have it installed.

[hoppipolla]

I'll give it a go. But I'm a Linux fanboy to the end hehe ^_^

Plus I do genuinely prefer Ubuntu as well xD

[NormanFLinux]

Yes. Windows Vista is still a dog. Microsoft says its fixed all of Vista's shortcomings in Windows 7. So I will indeed see on October 22nd if those claims have been borne out.

[mdsmedia]

And Vista SP2 aka 7 isn't changing my don't-poke-MS-products-with-a-ten-foot-pole policy.
Funnily enough, I have a magazine DVD with Windows 7 RC AND Vista SP2 on it, so your aka's might be a little out ;).

[akscotsman]

I personally won't be buying Windows 7 for home use, but I will have access to it at work for testing purposes.

[mdsmedia]

I bought a new low spec Toshiba Satellite notebook a little while ago, with Vista Home Premium on it.

While I quickly installed Ubuntu and Arch, triple-boot, on it, and Ubuntu is the default and mainly used OS on it, I find that Vista is far better than XP in a lot of respects.

I have the 7 RC on DVD, to try at some stage, but I'm new to Vista and it's generationally better than XP.

[Tipped OuT]

HELL NO.
They just got 150 bucks from me 2 years ago for Vista and it was a huge disappointment and I dont even have it installed.

They'll give it to you for free. Calm down.