Windows 7's Unexpected 'Killer' Feature

As a former XP user who didn't want to buy a new laptop (Thinkpad T42p) when Vista arrived and flowed like mollasses in December, I went to Ubuntu and was somewhat pleased by the eyecandy, and speed (free software, too!) Then I found out that most of the really important things were only written for Windows and went back to XP on a dual boot - not the most convenient arrangement - for the old Thinkpad. Now I have 7 and Ubuntu 9.10 on dual boot and haven't used Ubuntu for days since 7 started getting squared away... it does take a little fiddling to get everything together. I can see myself deleting the Linux partition at some point because I'll want that space back. I also look forward to someday getting a new laptop someday and I'll already have the OS that ships with it figured, and the software to dump on it. This is Microsoft's killer feature: They are number one and this new OS will widen the gap. Linux is great, but you still need to constantly massage your setup to keep it running and most people will not want to declare their computer as their new hobby or as a dependent.

Whoa that is good to hear!

I'm an XP Pro fan because it works, it is paid for and compared to the older os' that are serving their time as coasters it is much better.
I used 7RC for several months and like it very much. My computer runs it well and updating my pc to 7 would be an easy process even running the "upgrade" path.

Saying 7 is "killer" anything because it is 250 times faster on an 8 core HP is very misleading. I wonder what percentage of the total computer using population is using an 8 core anything? I doubt very many. Hell one of my computers at work still uses Win95 and is stuck there because of a certain piece of software that I need for a test device and there are no drivers available to upgrade it...but it still works and works quite well in its' singular use.

I still like 7 but missing out on the "pre" order...my fault argh...means I am not in a big hurry to drop what ms wants for the new os when my current os works just fine.

bullfights said:

stillfreefilms said:

a lot of die hard xp fans hate vista and prob wont be switching to win 7

LOL... I am a diehard XP'er, as I type my W7 pre order is on the shelf waiting to be installed. Tho I am running W7 7100 x64 on another PC.

When Vista came along, I tried, then went back to XP and didnt look back until I saw what 7 was doing, I went thru the beta and liked it from the start.

I would install 7 on my main PC (XP) but have so many 32bit apps. I am also wondering why, with the 64bit PC I am almost out of space (2gb left on 69gb WD 10k drive), and dont even have that many apps installed compared to the XP box, which also has the same identical drive, but with 35 gb free space, and so many apps, like I mentioned. Will I need a large drive just for W7?

And then again I dont really like the mail setup for windows mail, it looks messy, I know I can probably clean it but havent even played with it, not even in the 64bit box, lol

I"m running the same WD 10k driive on my machine and found going to Win 7 uses about half the space Vista did.
I know you said your running XP what I did was install another HD and create a new folder named "Program Files 2". I install my programs there and save my setup files to another folder "set up files" along with passwords and serial numbers. If windows decides to take a hike I don't loose anything. Never save anything you care about on the drive the OS is on because sooner or later it's going to be gone.

Lets face some facts here. Those of us that are interested enough to belong to forums such as this are in the top ten percentile of computer users. I'm running Win 7 X64 build 7600 on my desktop, I have plenty of space and my configuration is running it without any push whatsoever.
I'm typing this on my XP laptop, while sitting on the couch next to my wife who is on her XP laptop browsing the internet.
I have four children which all have their own computers that run XP. XP runs BF2142, Fallout 3, Crysis... just fine and I have no intentions of switching them to Win 7. Why should I? XP works!
The biggest challenge Microsoft has in getting people to switch to Win 7 is the afor mentioned point. WIN XP WORKS!
I mentoned to my wife that I may put 7 on her desktop and she replied; NO! I'm not changing anything until it stops working.
Many people were scared when Vista came out. They thought that they were going to have to upgrade because there was a new Windows out there and that it wouldn't be long before features of XP were obsolete. When Vista flopped and manufacturers offered free downgrades to new computers that featured XP the masses became to realize that thier preconceptions of XP simply not working one day were unfounded.
That right there is Microsoft's biggest hurdle with Win 7; Win XP will not stop preforming it's magic for the masses just because a new release is out there.
I work for the Post Office and use a computer everyday and they have not even one computer running anything but Win XP! Many corperations are the same in this aspect.
I like Win 7, it's a great OS but it has it's bugs. First and foremost for me was evident from the first time I installed build 7200 about six months ago in the Betta trial. The hybrid sleep is screwed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to disable this feature in advanced power config to get the darn thing to run for more that 30 seconds after sleep. I spent many hours on this issue and could not resolve the problem. I'm not alone with this issue, there are hundreds of threads for this paticullar issue on many forums out there. There are also many other issues out there like having to get into the guts of the registry to tweek it so some pgms. will work. These apps worked fine on XP!
I don't see people flocking to the stores to upgrade thier hardware so they can install Win 7. With the Vista expirence under their belts, it's just not necessary and potentially a mistake in their minds. The average computer user now realizes they have a choice, and I believe their choice will end up being; Leave well enough alone! If it ant broke don't fix it! And many other age old euphamusms.
From a marketing standpoint, that's my two cents. Thanks for reading the rant. (I do like Win 7)