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Windows 7 Launches Today

2009-10-22-Windows7

Well, it’s not exactly a secret. Microsoft’s well-received OS is now official. Those of you still playing with the free release candidate can keep using the free version until March, but going forward, new PCs will be shipping with Redmonds latest and greatest.

When I say greatest, I think it very well may be. After using just about every version of Microsoft’s OS, I have to say that Windows 7 is probably the best they’ve ever done. A few months ago, I might have said that honour would have went to Windows 2000, but after playing with 7, it’s no denying that Microsoft has outdone themselves.  In a lot of ways, Windows 7 is really a super fancy service pack for the much (overly?) maligned Vista, but the slicker interface, and code optimization that allows it to run smoothly on low end hardware like Atom processors, puts it beyond that designation.

The Wall Street Journal has a live blog of the launch event, which just ended, where Ballmer and company highlight some of the new features.  Amongst my favourites is the Home Group setting, which allows sharing of media remotely between machines on the same Home Group.  In other words, if you’re on the road, with a network connection, you can stream your media without the need of 3rd party software.

I liked the beta of Windows 7 so much it was the first time I bought stand alone upgrades of the OS.  Even the WSJ’s own Uncle Walt likes it!

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11 thoughts on “Windows 7 Launches Today

  1. crosseyed_mofo

    just bought 2 upgrades

    the only thing microsoft has to do is streamline the OS

    get rid of this ultimate/professional/home premium horseshit

    heres the OS, boom! 2 versions, 32 and 64

    quit faffing about with the other shit

    1. There was a bit of streamlining compared to the earlier one, in that each successively expensive version has all the features of the version below it.

      In Vista, some features of Home Premium weren’t in Professional and it was a pain in the ass to figure it all out. I agree that they DO need to streamline somewhat, but on the other hand, Microsoft has a VERY broad cross section of customers, moreso than any other OS. They could probably lose at least ONE edition, but it’ll be another iteration or two before they become sustantially more streamlined, if ever.

      1. crosseyed_mofo

        Oh i dont actually expect them to ever get it streamlined

        just me finding ANY reason to criticize microsoft and its all i had

        you are aware how dirty i feel actually liking a windows OS

        it fucken smarts 🙁

        1. Probably about the same when I considered picking up a PS3 a couple of weeks ago. [biggrin]

          1. crosseyed_mofo

            LOL

            btw im reading that upgrading RC to Home Edition is a bit of a clusterfuck

            bah ill do a clean install on the P

  2. crosseyed_mofo

    I am just absolutely giddy with how painless the upgrade to 7 was on my laptop

    after 15 years of being the dominant OS, windows gives us a reason why

    took em long enough

    1. This was the smoothest upgrade I ever did. I never really encountered many problems in the past, but there were always little tricks you had to do to keep your old OS.

      This time, just installed and it validated.

      1. crosseyed_mofo

        on the AW it asked me to remove my wireless driver before instillation

        which worried me

        boom

        no connectivity problems at all once installation was completed

        still not sure what THAT was about

        1. I’m guessing that the older driver may have caused some conflict, so it ditched it… was the old one a Microsoft driver or one that came with Sony… if it was the latter, that’s probably why.

          1. crosseyed_mofo

            Intel driver that came with the sony

            anywhoo

  3. Windows 7 is really a super fancy service pack for the much maligned Vista.

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