It’s inevitable that whenever Microsoft does something, someone will complain about it.
That’s happening with Windows 7, with the actual official launch date still ten days off. The most visible slam against Windows was from my old boss, Jim Louderback, who wrote of his woes with Microsoft’s new OS, stating that Windows 7 is Vista all over again. Whoa, now that’s harsh.
The Curmudgeons are Wrong
We’ll no doubt see more people taking potshots at Windows 7 as the launch process continues. And I’m not going to to a point-by-point counter to Jim’s article. He clearly ran into some technical issues, but his experience has been counter to just about everything written about the OS. Heck, even Walt Mossberg, who never met a MacOS he didn’t like, thinks Windows 7 is a pretty big deal.
(It probably comes as no shock that the Mac Faithful are starting to take potshots at Mossberg’s review.)
It’s always interesting to me to see the constant back and forth about new software. While my experiences with Windows 7 has been almost uniformly positive, I can certainly understand how people can run into issues with complex operating system, be it Windows, MacOS, Linux or anything else that requires supporting the vast array of hardware and software that people want to use.
I like to think historically. I’m reminded of ongoing arguments that I had on the old Compuserve OS/2 forums (talk about dating myself.) Brad Wardell and I carried on a spirited discussion about whether OS/2 or Windows 95 was better. He argued that OS/2 was technically superior to Windows 95. I argued that Windows 95 had an undeniable momentum, including substantial support from hardware and software developers.
We were both right, but we also know who won that battle.
Today, of course, the world is more complex. MacOS has made some pretty serious inroads, particularly among laptops. It’s unlikely that MacOS will ever overtake Windows in terms of unit sales, but it’s also true that Apple’s success has been a spur to Microsoft to do better. Competition is never a bad thing.
The real problem Microsoft is facing is not whether or not Windows 7 is a good OS, although I believe it’s the best desktop OS that Redmond has ever shipped. The problem isn’t the competition from Apple or Linux. The problem is competition from Microsoft itself.
Windows XP was, by any measure, a hugely successful product for Microsoft. It’s been around for almost eight years, officially launching October 25th, 200.
People forget all the wailing and gnashing of teeth when Windows XP shipped. Complaints abounded, whether it was the painful transition from Windows 3.1, the big jump in hardware requirements, issues with software compatibility or the lack of 32-bit drivers.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Then came Vista.
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22 comments
Mark says:
October 13, 2009 at 10:12 am (UTC -7 )
This is the best and most common-sense posting I’ve seen about Windows 7. People don’t remember how bad XP seemed when it first came out, and how everyone complained. I stuck with 2000 for a year or two, rather than move. And Vista’s actually become pretty decent after driver support has gotten better, hardware has become more capable, and people have learned how to work with it. Because of the experience people had with Vista, moving to Windows 7 is going to be a smooth transition for many. I’ve been with it for several months now, and I absolutely love it. Haven’t had a single problem with it, and there are a lot of features that work SO much better than they ever did before.
Most folks will get Windows 7 with a new computer anyways, but it’s the first OS upgrade that I would actually recommend some people to buy — it’s really breathed new life into my five-year-old Thinkpad.
Modred189 says:
October 13, 2009 at 10:48 am (UTC -7 )
This is a great overview of the whole situation. Personally, I have had a great deal of success with Windows 7 Pro RTM. I have 4 systems with Windows 7 on them, ranging from a 4 year old gateway (Turion MS32 and 1.5gb ram) laptop, to a dual core HTPC (dual core intel, 3gb ram, ati4650), to a high end gaming rig (C2Q Q6700, 4gb ram, GTX260 and 9800 physX) and a basic netbook (atom 1.6ghz, 1.5gb ram, Acer ASpire One). Each has installed flawlessly, and only the gaming rig needed any kind of driver hunt (the mobo, an Asus P5B Deluxe wifi/AP has built in wireless G, and the driver did not auto install, but that was expected). None of them have experienced any serious issues that have been deal-breakers. In fact, only the gaming rig has a reoccurring problem: it wakes up from hibernate in the night, randomly.
4 sucesses out of 4 installs is pretty darn good, especially considering the full gamut of hardware represented.
I think that though the VAST majority of people will get 7 via a new PC, I think that those who DO upgrade will be happy they did.
Mot Eugaet says:
October 13, 2009 at 11:16 am (UTC -7 )
Back in 2000 when I upgraded to WindowsXP from ME, I had many more problems than I did while upgrading to Vista. In fact I got so upset with XP, I remember putting the software in the closet for nearly 2 months before I decided to try it again. It was mainly hardware problems to a PC that was less than a year old at the time. Vista gave me one problem with video hardware. ATI had the new drivers available to the card I was using at the time that worked well with Vista itself, but the games I was playing rendered incorrectly. I then purchased a new video card, got the newest driver and I haven’t had any problems with Vista since. I still use XP on an older machine, and Vista by comparison is a much better and cleaner OS.
Bavarian says:
October 13, 2009 at 11:16 am (UTC -7 )
I like the fact that you mentioned the issues with XP when it launched. I delayed moving from 2000 to XP for quite a long time as it was absolutely horrible compatibility-wise compared to 2k. Even when I did shift, it took a while for things to really settle down and for XP to become the great OS we now consider it to be.
I have ordered many copies of the european ‘upgrade’ (home premium) which is, in fact, a full copy not requiring Vista etc. at the incredibly cheap rate of 50€. This is the same price as buying a new release game and at that price point it is an absolute steal to procure what is MS’ best operating system to date. Every company puts out a turkey now and then, and Apple have their fair share of them also! Let’s put Vista behind us and move on to Windows 7, the spiritual successor to XP.
Jeff says:
October 13, 2009 at 11:34 am (UTC -7 )
Nice post, agree completely and have been thinking the same thing the past few days. I’ve been using Win7 all along the release path and it’s steadily improved. I’m running it here at work and at home and beyond a few expected version compatibility problems because of running very old version of software, I haven’t had any real problems.
Then again, I never had Vista problems either. So take that for what it’s worth.
Derek Rost says:
October 13, 2009 at 12:20 pm (UTC -7 )
I like the stability and responsiveness of Windows 7 (64-bit).
I do have 1 issue that is probably MB-driver related – One of the two drives doesn’t always wake up from sleep mode. Since most of my programs and some of the data is on that drive, I basically have to reboot. This happens about one out of five time I put the machine into sleep mode (S3).
It is probably some interaction between the Gigabyte MB, the Intel drivers (USB, etc.) and AHCI. But since I don’t lose any data and I only put the machine into sleep mode every now-and-then I just use the opportunity to do a once-a-month reboot of the system.
Jeff Z says:
October 13, 2009 at 1:22 pm (UTC -7 )
Regarding Vista, I think a lot of the problems were blown out of proportion. I used Vista at work as an IT systems admin guy for a year and a half until I just moved to Win7. No problems with either OS.
I get sick of hearing all the Mac versus Windows arguments. I use both because of my job and I think it all boils down to preference. And of course they both have their problems. As long as whatever you use gets the job done by the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
Craig says:
October 13, 2009 at 1:45 pm (UTC -7 )
I’ve used almost every microsoft operating system since DOS 3.0. Windows 7 seems to be performing great in the 3 months I’ve had it installed, I was lucky enough not to have any troubles with Vista, and XP was definitely great, especially when service pack 2 came about.
Until the MacOS can be used on non mac hardware, it is going to languish in <10% marketshare for all time, no matter how good it is.
M. Zanfardino says:
October 13, 2009 at 2:50 pm (UTC -7 )
Over the years I have listened to a lot of what Loyd has had to say about hardware and software. I can appreciate his insight and look forward to reading his reviews. In this instants thought, I’m feeling a little bit empty.
The review doesn’t really say anything. Yes, it brings us back to the bad old days of the transition to XP (whether from 95, 98, Me or 2000) and reminds us how challenging that was, both in terms of the hardware requirements and just plain differences in the UI. I recall postponing my upgrade from Windows NT Workstation to Windows XP until SP1. But I also recall reading substitutive reviews of XP and how it differed from it’s predecessors.
However, insofar as any real depth when stating that Windows 7 is better, I guess I was hoping for a more detailed compare-and-contrast between Vista and Windows 7. I’ve heard time and again how Windows 7 is a vast improvement over Vista, but I haven’t yet found a clear and concise outline of exactly what those differences entail.
Maybe I’m being overly critical. Clearly this appears to be a quick shot at addressing the current wave of concerns/complaints regarding Redmond’s latest OS. But what I would really love to see is a detailed comparison between Vista and Windows 7. Maybe someone would like to post a link to their favorite site?
Loyd Case says:
October 13, 2009 at 2:59 pm (UTC -7 )
I don’t think you’re being overly critical; but you did miss the point. This wasn’t a review of Windows 7. It’s really a response to the inevitable backlash and naysayers.
I’ve been writing about my experiences for months now. While none of those have been reviews, I’ve covered aspects of Windows 7 in some detail, as it relates to what I’ve been doing. And I’ve been occasionally critical. I’ve yet to write something I’d call a “review” — there are already so many out there.
But if y’all want to see me write an actual review, I’ll take a shot at it.
trip1ex says:
October 13, 2009 at 4:30 pm (UTC -7 )
Good points about MS competing with itself. That’s the problem when the product you make doesn’t wear out.
Don’t agree that we needed Vista. More of an example of MS’s monopoly power than anything.
Potshots at Win7 now are also a byproduct of what is actually shipping vs what was promised.
OS/X is what I recommend to family and friends nowadays. Much less hassle.
M. Zanfardino says:
October 13, 2009 at 4:35 pm (UTC -7 )
Loyd – Yes, I guess I did miss the point. I see what you were trying to do but I supposed I got distracted hoping to read some qualifications to the general statements regarding W7.
Personally, I’d love to read what you have to say by way of a detailed review. I tend to gravitate toward those whom I trust when it comes to technical reviews. Extreme Tech (the pod cast) was always my favorite due in no small part to the level of detail you and the others always went into. I for one would appreciate something along the lines of what I came to enjoy when listening to ET by way of a review of W7.
Of course, this also points to my overall laziness when it comes to seeking information (see my earlier point). I only have some much time in the day and I’d rather not waste it surfing others nonsensical claptrap and stick to those who are tried and true.
K. Steidle says:
October 13, 2009 at 8:56 pm (UTC -7 )
Does anyone know if the Win7 upgrade disks will allow a full install of Win7 yet?
Duncan says:
October 13, 2009 at 9:05 pm (UTC -7 )
Loyd,
I totally agree with what you say. I think part of the reason why people liked Windows XP is because of the horrid OS that was Windows Me. Windows 98SE was quite good, but it still didn’t have the stability that PC users needed at the time. I remember all those times where I tried to install Me or 98 drivers in XP and it didn’t work. It’s pretty funny that people don’t remember about the driver issues when XP came out, I had many of my own, from printer drivers to keyboards and mouse. (XP had a very incomplete set of drivers when it came out). Vista after a couple of service packs and what not, is very good, although not as good as 7, but it’s very usable.
Microsoft is going to need to drop XP support I think to make people adapt the new OS, because at the end of the day, people need to move on and XP won’t be good enough anymore.
YS says:
October 14, 2009 at 12:20 am (UTC -7 )
With regards to XP, it really was a pain when it first launched. But the main difference is that compared to Win98/95, it was a vastly superior OS once the problems got fixed. Vista? Not as much.
And yes, I agree that in-place upgrades tend to be more trouble than it’s worth. I’ve always done a new OS install whenever I upgraded an OS. That included DOS, mind you!
Markeyse says:
October 14, 2009 at 1:21 am (UTC -7 )
I feel that Windows is like the President. Whatever you do, you’re just not going to please everyone. I think Windows 7 should be the pinnacle of OSes. The features is just that good. I haven’t played with Snow Leopard yet, but I can tell you I have ordered W7 and it should be on its way. I most likely won’t install it ASAP (Pro Audio programs will have to be certified), but I am thinking about doing a dual boot for the time being. I think Vista was just the first stepping stone. W7 make advances with today’s and tomorrow’s tech. I hate when everyone start complaining. Especially Mac Loyalist. If you don’t like it, don’t use it. Simple as that.
eBob says:
October 14, 2009 at 6:44 am (UTC -7 )
The real proof of Windows 7 will be when average computer users start to use it, not just those of us who are a bit more technically savvy. I have been playing with the last release for a while and haven’t had too many problems. In reality, I’m more excited about the release of Ubuntu 9.10 a week later.
Eric says:
October 17, 2009 at 11:00 am (UTC -7 )
The naysayers scream the loudest as if their singular anecdotal experience somehow nullifies the collective experience of the eight million plus people who downloaded and installed W7 with overwhelmingly positive results. It’s just retarded. STFU already and stop complaining about how you can’t upgrade from XP or that it doesn’t run on your VIA motherboard from 1997.
I don’t think Loyd should do a full-blown review of W7, but perhaps a short piece on some of the cooler, perhaps less-publicized elements of the system that are of interest to his admittedly savvy audience.
Lawrence Knowlton says:
October 19, 2009 at 9:02 pm (UTC -7 )
The boxed versions aren’t even on the retail shelves yet, of course its going have
issues its a brand spanking new OS. The hardware/software configurations are so vast and of
varying ages, Microsoft certainly can’t determine all the combinations that work/don’t work.
People adopting this OS so soon should know to run the Microsoft Upgrade Advisor on
their systems to determine if their hardware/software is compatible or not. At least then,
if something doesn’t work with Win 7 when the Advisor said it would, then they’ll have ‘some
kind’ of justification for being dissatisfied. Getting frustrated over issues without trying to
mitigate them first will only bring unjustified opinions that will kill the reputation of the OS
(case in point: vista, though its launch was poorly executed). Whining and crying should not
replace thoughtful discussion and reasonable expectations.
Jamie says:
October 23, 2009 at 1:11 am (UTC -7 )
I think every one must have amnesia when it comes to Windows 7! Vista was a poor product which Microsoft did very little to fix other than abandon its “Vista” product name and re-badge a fixed “Vista” product now known as Windows 7. I myself think that Microsoft should be offering free or reduced cost upgrades for all existing Vista users not just recent purchasers. It was released here the other day and AU$ final pricing for Ultimate is $389 (full) and $339 (upgrade). What a lovely punch in the face to all the people that purchased Vista Ultimate, no extras of any use and a limp OS to go with it, only to be slugged with a $339 bill to fix it. P.S I’ve been a windows users for more then 15 years and an Ubuntu/Linux user for about 2, I have Windows Vista Ultimate. I’ll let you guess as to if I will purchase a Windows 7 upgrade. Has any one seen a Tiny 7 version yet?
Maybe all you Microsoft fanboys should stop and think for a moment. You no doubt would have already seen all the drips lining up to get there 7 upgrade on TV. You know what that tells or re-enforces Microsoft knowledge of its users, that most Windows users are saps and that you will pay for their mistakes. Imagine if the product launch was a flop. They might finally do the right thing by their customers.
But yet again history repeats its self again (Windows ME). Will the public ever learn??????????
I’m not saying Windows 7 is shit that is not my intention and I’m not here blowing the linux trumpet either but why should you have to pay a fortune to fix Microsoft’s mistakes…Wakeup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric says:
October 23, 2009 at 2:43 pm (UTC -7 )
^ Some of us never had issues with Vista–I much prefered it over XP.
And who is paying $339 for W7?
Michael Miller says:
May 6, 2010 at 11:35 pm (UTC -7 )
I’m pretty much impressed with the stability of Windows 7. It is better than windows Vista which hogs my memory and cpu.*.`