Why do people like Windows 7 so much?

[Dreakon]

Outside of performance improvements and other "behind the scenes" things over Vista, why does it seem like more and more people are really getting into Windows 7?

/openrant

I tried it for a few weeks, I really wanted to like it. I enjoy the idea of incorporating something like a dock into the taskbar, however it seems like a mess when it involves new, un-pinned programs constantly being opened and closed. Especially if you're like me and enjoy pinning more than 5 or 6 applications to it for easy access. Whoever thought it was a good idea to mix a dock, the start menu button, the notification icons, the clock and have new programs open and close in the same taskbar needs a kick in the bottom... that or they expect everyone to have a super widescreen (not just widescreen like I have, super widescreen) monitor.

And I know I can fix it and make it look more normal, but Microsoft also decided it was a good idea to remove a feature from XP and Vista that I enjoyed very much. You can see a picture of it here:
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3795/25039092.jpg
Notice the bar at the top? It's pretty much a dock built right into Vista. It stays on top so any program that maximizes, you can still see it and use it (much like the normal taskbar at the bottom of the desktop). I love it. My desktop is clean of shortcuts because they're all in the bar at the top, it's very organized and everything on there is less than a click away. Thank god they got rid of it in 7, right?

/endrant

Those are my biggest complaints I guess, Windows 7 just seems so aesthetically displeasing... why is it so revered compared to Vista? Is there any hints or tips that can make someone like me really appreciate Windows 7?

I like to have the latest and greatest stuff, so staying on Vista and XP as the world moves to Windows 7 doesn't thrill me. Programs will continue to update to support Windows 7, and new programs will be built around Windows 7 (considering its market success). So I don't really want to get left behind... but what can I do? lol

Thoughts? Comments? Why do you like the Windows 7 taskbar? Do you simply tolerate it for the other benefits the OS offers? Is there something I'm missing? :devil:

Thanks guys!

   Warning

We had to close threads like this due to people not being able to discuss this calmly and rationally without being rude or just griping.

If you decide to do this anyway, you will be permantently banned. Keep the disussion friendly.

Shawn Brink

 

[Jonathan_King]

I like the new taskbar mostly because of the jumplists.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I personally like the looks, but I can imagine opinions differ. You are doing better than many because you are trying to have an open mind.

If you need a dock, may I suggest ObjectDock?

 

[Dreakon]

If you need a dock, may I suggest ObjectDock?

I find docks kind of pointless if any given application you maximize (Firefox for example) covers it right up. It cleans the desktop up I guess, but if I have to dig through any open windows to use it anyways, I might as well just use desktop shortcuts and save myself the memory. If there were some way to make it work exactly like the bar in that picture I posted in Vista, I'd probably give it a try. I have yet to find one that could though.

And I do like how the Windows 7 taskbar looks, its just if you actually want to use it as a dock for launching applications (crazy right?), it gets cluttered very easily.

 

[Brink]

   Warning

We had to close threads like this due to people not being able to discuss this calmly and rationally without being rude or just griping.

If you decide to do this anyway, you will be permantently banned. Keep the disussion friendly.

 

[Win7User512]

Outside of improved performance, I enjoy the new taskbar. The pinning and also opening a new instance of an app just by right clicking and selecting a new instance. For me, that beats using the start menu for my most-used apps or having to minimize windows to double click desktop icons.

I just feel that the UI experience is much better (smoother, slicker) than Vista.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Where did you see the Vista dock you showed?

 

[Dreakon]

Where did you see the Vista dock you showed?

Well, I didn't download it or anything. If you drag a folder from explorer and place it on the top of your desktop, it creates it. So I create a folder in Documents called "Desktop Toolbar", place all the shortcuts I want in it and do that... then you right click it and select "Always on Top" to keep maximized programs from interfering with it.

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/48/likethisg.jpg
Like this

You can do the same thing with XP as well, just not the same way. I think you actually drag the open folder to the top of the screen or something like that... instead of dragging the folder icon.

 

[Stevy22]

I simply like it.....

 

[Thorsen]

Im not liking the taskbar as much I would rather have the quicklaunch seperate from the list of programs open, but I installed rocketdock and it helps with keeping a quicklaunch like setup at the top of screen.
I don't mind the new start menu as much. I dont use it anymore. I just use the search box....It Rocks!

 

[Thorsen]

Also, from finding stuff on this forum, the UI is very customizable. for XP, the only way you could get a different look from windows was with WindowBlinds. I have seen many developers on this site doing awesome things with 7.

 

[ShadyGirl420]

I also like the way it looks, and it's very user friendly.

 

[Grimmjow]

If you need a dock, may I suggest ObjectDock?

I find docks kind of pointless if any given application you maximize (Firefox for example) covers it right up. It cleans the desktop up I guess, but if I have to dig through any open windows to use it anyways, I might as well just use desktop shortcuts and save myself the memory. If there were some way to make it work exactly like the bar in that picture I posted in Vista, I'd probably give it a try. I have yet to find one that could though.

And I do like how the Windows 7 taskbar looks, its just if you actually want to use it as a dock for launching applications (crazy right?), it gets cluttered very easily.

You can try Download RocketDock - RocketDock.com it can be set always on top, and you can add your shortcuts...example:

hope this helps,
cheers

 

[Dreakon]

You can try Download RocketDock - RocketDock.com it can be set always on top, and you can add your shortcuts...example:
View attachment 56168
hope this helps,
cheers

Wouldn't that get in the way of the address bar and the tabs and stuff? Thanks though!

 

[Grimmjow]

You can try Download RocketDock - RocketDock.com it can be set always on top, and you can add your shortcuts...example:
View attachment 56168
hope this helps,
cheers

Wouldn't that get in the way of the address bar and the tabs and stuff? Thanks though!

It appears when the cursor is over it, it isn't standing there whole time long (that is an option to). Its hidden

 

[Sydonai]

The update to WordPad and Paint to make them more Office 2008'ish is kind of interesting. I'm still not sure I like the Office 2008 scheme all that much. I use Apple's iWork for all my stuff (my job is on a Mac, after all) but when I helped in the open beta of Office 2008 I thought it was an interesting approach to organizing all the many different options and features in something as complex as a word processor. The response was very interesting to me (most people absolutely loathing it) though I expect they'll get used to it. It seems logical: related tasks are on the same stretch of "ribbon," so coming from the perspective of someone who has never used a computer before I suppose it would be easier. But kids these days catch on so darn fast, I'm not sure that building interfaces that are optimized for first-timers is even worthwhile anymore. (IOW, maybe we should be building interfaces optimized for power users? But then again, we'll get the Photoshop syndrome where there's so much power available that people can't figure out how to use it efficiently without taking a class at school. Or maybe that's just me?)

In a discussion like this there are not a lot of clear "absolutes" in terms of what is "better." Most of it is personal preference (I prefer Mac, some people prefer Windows. Nobody is wrong because it's a matter of personal choice).

 

[Dragonfly]

I find docks kind of pointless if any given application you maximize (Firefox for example) covers it right up. It cleans the desktop up I guess, but if I have to dig through any open windows to use it anyways, I might as well just use desktop shortcuts and save myself the memory. If there were some way to make it work exactly like the bar in that picture I posted in Vista, I'd probably give it a try. I have yet to find one that could though.

I think you'll find JetToolbar will do what you want. I've been using it for 6 years on many flavors of Windows (including Win7). Just set it "Always on top".

 

[pparks1]

I think for lots of us...years ago we were on XP and looking forward to Vista. However, upon release it was not up to snuff and many deemed it the next Windows ME. Thus, many of us stuck to XP for years and years awaiting something new. Now that Windows 7 has come out, many have tried again and found the waters to be not so bad this time around and have widely accepted it.

Vista did get better after some patches and SP1...but there are lots of people who do not actually realize this.

 

[CarlTR6]

I am also one of those who hung on to XP rather than upgrade to Vista. I like Seven. It is not perfect; but it is easy for me to use after I got through the learning curve. There are some things I miss from XP and somethings I would like to see changed in Seven; but I won't go back to XP. After I got my graphics card problems sorted out, I have not had a freeze or a BOSD and my computer runs 24/7. Windows is very stable, and, unlike XP, it manages resources and services very well .

 

[Dreakon]

Well, if Vista is working well enough for me (no BSOD's, no graphic problems or anything, etc) and I don't really like the Windows 7 taskbar very much... is there any real reason for me to switch to Windows 7?

Would the behind the scenes improvements mean anything to me, like extending the hardware life of my laptop (hardware not working as hard maybe), or anything like that?

And I'm guessing theres not much I can do about the cluttering in the Win7 taskbar? Outside of a third party dock program?

 

[valtonray]

i like the ease of use and the features built into the UI. before 7 i had never found an OS with a user interface i was satisfied with at the default level. they all seemed to lack so many features that i wanted. naturally i did the irrational thing and would always strip out the default UI and replace it with one i built myself so that i could have all of the features that i wanted. with 7 very few of these features i truely desire are missing and certainly nothing major enough to make it necessary for me to build my own from scratch again.