I not willing to download Windows 7 RC 1 as of yet with all the compatibility issues and driver issues. I'll wait for the public release date. Now, will 7 be offered as a stand alone 64 bit OS or will it be offered in both 32 and 64 bit OS's. What is the time frame on the 32 bit OS and 32 bit software? When is 64 bit OS's going to be the only OS out there? Just curious.
BF, ltns.
OK, here's the skinny:
Windows 7 *should* be the last 32bit OS offered by M$ - the current Beta release of the Windows Server 2008 R2 (being dubbed Windows 7 Server) is 64bit only, and rumor has had it more than once that this is it for 32bit Micro$oft OSs. With how well this OS performs on netbooks and older machines, it is not surprising that they offered it up one more time for 32bit users, but the life expectancy of 32bit only CPUs is going downhill fast.
Secondly, everyone else who said there are *mostly* no problems is correct. Anyone that said that there are *no* problems needs to realize that there are more configurations possible out there in terms of computer hardware to run Windows 7 then there are people in a large metropolitan City like *Atlanta* GA.
The good news - they are stoked b/c they have had no issues with Win 7.
The bad news - it is not perfect - but still a lot better than Vista.
The ugly - there are some people having *major* issues with it, and not just driver issues.
It is up to you to try it out, but it is *easy* to understand your reluctance in trying out a new OS - I remember when you first came over to the Vista x64 forms.
Don't let anyone bully you into trying it - yes, it is fast, yes, it rocks, and yes, it is good bit easier on your system resources - *but* - it is not for someone who is relatively new to computers. if you feel uncomfortable with it, don't use it. There are alternatives, such as installing Virtual Box or VMWare and trying it out in there, or else slapping another HD in your machine and trying it out separately (completely separately) from your current OS. Yes, you can also partition your HD, but that gets to be a PITA, a new HD is a lot easier these days - that way if something really really bad like Windows 7 crashing the HD occurs, your other drive is still safe....