Windows 7

[Anona.Mouse]

Have you heard what's coming next, after the massive debacle that was Vista?

I'm hearing good things about the new Windows 7, which is now available (free) in BETA form, for those brave enough to try a test-drive.

I'm reserving judgement for now, but I confess some bits look quite useful - from the safe distance of XP!

Putting Windows 7 to the test

Any comments from our more intrepid adventurers?

[silvers]

My son was at PC World last week for a new compoooootah.
The sales lady was enthusing about the new Windows, due out next March; apparently with lessons learned about Vista.

But as he can't wait till March he now has Vista !

[Soup]

Smug Git Mode Begins

Use Linux and get off the MS treadmill.

Smug Git Mode Ends

If you just use the computer for e-mail surfing the web and faffing about with photos. then Linux is all you need; for games, downloading programmes from the 'net etc then stick with Windows . It really is horses for courses .

[Anona.Mouse]

That's my problem - I do a bit more than the eternal e-mail and photos. And I don't feel I've got enough time spare to learn how to use a completely new OS.

But also I do like XP, and I'm very, very reluctant to let go of it for something new and untried, especially if it's going to be like the bridge too far that was Vista.

It's interesting to compare the years Microsoft spent developing their Brave New World - only to find that most people hated it - with the very much shorter time it's taken to bring Windows 7 up to BETA.

Still, with a bit of luck this trusty laptop will last me into next year, so I won't have to think about replacing it for a while yet.

Fingers, toes and everything else available crossed, of course . . .

[Soup]

That's my problem - I do a bit more than the eternal e-mail and photos. And I don't feel I've got enough time spare to learn how to use a completely new OS.

.

Anona there is an office application Open Office which has a word processor, spreadsheets software, presentation software(same idea as powerpoint) all free . Linux also has a list of all applications that work with each distribution so they are VERY easy to download.

I thought too that Linux was all compiling kernels and editing text files but unless you want to be really geeky none of that need concern you, I have used the command line only twice and even then I didn't need too (I am one of these perverse people who do things the hard way just to see if they can do them).

It seems to have come on leaps and bounds from the horror stories of a couple of years ago it is very like Windows to use and can be customised to look exactly like Windows ,

I must admit there was a bit of culture shock when I started using this but I got out of the "this is wrong" mindset to one of "this is different" I admit if you already have a version of Windows that works and you know there is very little point in changing. But if buying a new system consider that £100~£200 (more?) of it is OS whereas Linux is free and it starts to make a lot more sense. Basically just faffing about with Linux just now so as it is not too much of a culture shock when(if) finances dictate I can no longer afford a Windows O/S.

About the only thing Linux can't do is play whoopedo games ( [Duke Nukem, World of Warcraft etc]; it will play "normal" games [tetris, bloxorz, ramps etc] properly) but for that you would(should) use a games console anyway.
There still seems to be a bit of a lottery as regarding what distribution you should use Ubantu for toe dippers like me (very Windows like) to Solaris which seems to be very geeky and only really for those who like "getting their hands dirty" in code etc.

This seems to be the easiest way to try Linux. Wubi installs like a Windows program but allows a dual boot of Windows and Linux if you do not get on/can't be bothered with Linux just remove it like any other Windows program and you have your system as it was before.

[Anona.Mouse]

I've got Open Office, and I have used it for some things - but I still like Microsoft Works for clear, easy, functional databases. I use Word for word processing, usually, and it has its problems - sometimes it's a lot more complicated than you want or need - but I'm used to it. Not the latest version with those daft ribbon menus - I don't even like those with SolSuite . . .

Truth is I'm a bit of a dinosaur. I still regret the passing of bits of Windows 3.1, and going back even further, LocoScript was an incredibly good, easy word processor, when I had my old Amstrad. The only reason I moved up to a pukka computer was that the memory was so much bigger, and I needed the space.

I don't play a lot of games - mainly things like Patience (SolSuite) which I can spend a few minutes on while I have a cup of tea or whatever, and then get back to "work". So that wouldn't matter much if I was going to change.

One of these days I may have a look at Linux . . . it intrigues me, because people who use it are so enthusiastic about it. And like you, I do like to see what's going on out there. I never get a new programme of any kind, for example, without going through all the Options and Tools and Preferences and customising the life out of it to see exactly what it can and can't do.

One problem for me, though, is the kind of work I do on the computer. Some of my essentials do demand a version of Windows, and some of my reference pages can only be viewed and worked on with IE, which is a bit of a pain since Firefox is my main browser now. I have a couple of other webpages which I've had for around twelve years, and I can only edit them in IE!

[mentalbovine]

i have to say when i bought my new PC it had vista, AND IT REALLY IS THE SPAWN OF SATAN!

ILL WAIT UNTIL WINDOWS 7 IS UP AND RUNNING- BU I WONT BE SAD TO LEAVE VISTA

sorry my caps lock was stuck on there.......

[Anona.Mouse]

Vista does that to you, doesn't it?



I've had to use the dreaded V-word lately, since my proper laptop had its fit of the colly-wobbles, and I still don't like it. It has a habit of hiding things - files you've imported, or programmes you've just a minute ago installed. So you have to go hunting around all sorts of unfamiliar spooks and grannies to find them.

I'm hanging on until there's an acceptable version of 7 released in a really lovely new laptop, and then maybe I will be all systems go again . . .

Meantime, I'm trying not to scream "B*********Y VISTA!!!" more than two or three times an hour.

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