The Tech Savvy Firm

Windows 7 = Best Windows Ever

I'm on my first full week of using Windows 7 Release Candidate.  And having used every Windows version since Windows 3.0, I will have to say this is by far the best Windows version ever.  POSSIBLY, even better than Mac OS X.   I absolutely love this operating system.  In so much, as I would not have any problems installing it on all of my production machines that are hardware capable.  Ok... don't go and do this yourself, but I have to say Windows 7 is very impressive.

First, let's look at a little history.  Windows 1.0 was the first version of windows and would mostly be referred to as a graphical representation of DOS, then came Windows 3.0 which I did use on my first personal computer, an IBM PS/1.  I upgraded 3.0 to 3.1 which was a dramatic improvement  .... lol.... as you can tell from the huge jump in version numbers.  Then let's see... Windows 95, which was a leap forward for Microsoft, although a very problematic operating system.  You can also throw in NT Workstation somewhere in this mix.  We then were fortunate to receive Windows 98 which fixed many of the problems of Windows 95, but was still lacking.  OK, Windows ME should not be considered a true operating system.  I'm sure Microsoft would love to forget about it and so would I.  Windows 2000 was another true inovation bringing the more stable and secure NT kernel to the mainstream operating system and until now I would consider one of the most stable windows operating systems.  We then see XP which had a really cool name but took until service pack 1 to become successful in a production environment.  And finally, the disappointment of Vista.  With the exception of Windows 1.0, I have had experience with all of these operating systems as well as Mac OS and various linux distros. 

I installed Windows 7 RC on an Apple Macbook running Boot Camp as well as my home desktop computer.  Both are running the 64-bit version.  The Macbook install took about 20 minutes, I then installed the Mac Vista 64-bit drivers which worked flawleslly.  Before the drivers were even fully installed a message popped up telling me I had a windows update to install.  The update included a driver for my sound card.  I installed the windows update and rebooted.  I quickly went to the device manager expecting a number of yellow exclamation marks indicating some items did not install correctly.  There were only two and I pulled those drivers from the same Mac disk.  I have never in my numerous times of installing an operating system had such an easy time.  And keep in mind this is the not the final version but a release candidate.    I then installed my various scanners, printers and applications, again with no problems.  I was even able to run a client specific application that has not been updated since 2002.  The home Dell desktop was even easier with all of the drivers being found by Windows 7 during the install. 

My first impressions beside the stunning clean look of the new desktop is the speed.  Windows 7 is running noticeably quicker on my machines than Vista was or for that matter XP.  My favorite new features are aero snap, sticky notes and windows taskbar.  Aero snap allows you to snap windows to certain areas of the screen.  For example, dragging a window to the left side of the screen will snap it to the left half of the screen.  You can do the same on the right side and you have a perfectly split screen.  The sticky notes allow you to place sticky notes of any size and various colors anywhere on your screen.   The windows taskbar is very similar to the Mac OS dock and is a great productivity feature.

You can download the Windows 7 Release Candidate from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/ until June 30.  Microsoft has not set a date for the final release, but most likely by October.  You can read more about the new features on Paul Thurott's website http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/. 

XP Service Pack 3 - Better than Vista?

I recently updated all of my computers to the new XP service pack 3.  The upgrade was simple and took between 15 and 30 minutes per machine.  I did have to reinstall a couple of printer drivers that suddenly stopped working after the update, but otherwise the process was extremely easy.  Without any real stats to back it up, SP3 does seem to run faster, as some users had indicated with the release candidate versions.   Although it may be an illusion, because service pack 3 is basically a roll out of all of the service pack 2 updates into one nice neat package.  I suspect the speed increase from the update is similar to a speed increase from a clean install of your operating system.  The clean install gives your computer fresh life, as does service pack 3 in compacting and cleaning up all of the service pack 2 updates neatly into the operating system. 

Is it true XP is better than Vista?  Having used Vista for almost a year and going back to XP, I believe XP is still the better operating system especially for business users.  Don't get me wrong I love the latest and greatest and I really like Vista's eye candy.  It is just a simple fact, Vista currently does not run as well as XP on the same machine.  I also have had numerous compatibility and driver issues with Vista that I don't have with XP.  To be fair to Vista, I had similar issues when XP was first released.  I believe businesses just don't need the new features found in Vista, so there seems to be no current benefit for businesses to use Vista.

If I was ordering a new machine for my business today I would order XP, but how long will we actually be able to purchase Windows XP on new machines. The deadline from Microsoft is June 30.  Although there are many reports vendors are planning to still downgrade the machines to XP, if the customer requests.  I suspect demand for XP will continue through the rest of the year and maybe into next year.  Microsoft has extended support for all of the XP versions to 2014, so it is safe for businesses to purchase and utilize systems with XP for some time.

To receive the service pack 3 update simply go to your windows update.  You can read more about the update at lifehacker.com and as always Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

To XP or not to XP

Who knew Shakespeare tried Vista?

To XP or not to XP;  that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer Vista
The slings and arrows of Microsoft's fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of driver troubles,
And by Ctrl, Alt, Del end them?  To reboot, to reinstall XP;
No more; and by a reinstall to say we end Vista
The heart-ache and the thousand UAC requests
That Windows 7 is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd.  To reboot, to reinstall Ultimate edition;
To reinstall: perchance to Dreamscene; ay, there's the rub:
For in that reinstallation what problems may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal OS,
Must give us pause:  there's no respect
That makes calamity of my computer;
For who would bear the hard disk thrashing and wasted time,
Microsoft's wrong, Ballmer's contumely,
The pangs of "Ready for Vista", the law's delay,
The insolence of Office 95 and the spurns of Windows ME
That patient merit Jobs takes,
When he himself might his quietus make