What’s really new in Windows 7?

[johngalt]

What’s really new in Windows 7?

January 19th, 2009

What’s really new in Windows 7?

Posted by Ed Bott @ 3:41 pm

In the past few months, I’ve written extensively about Windows 7, often focusing on a specific set of features or technologies. Inevitably, someone in the Talkback section says I’m dodging the most important question: Is there a single killer feature in Windows 7 that justifies an upgrade, especially for someone who is happy with Windows XP and has chosen to avoid Windows Vista?

For another perspective on this topic, see Adrian Kingsley-Hughes’ post, Windows 7: revolutionary or evolutionary?​

The obvious, if oversimplified answer, is “No.” For most mainstream business and home uses, there’s no killer feature in Windows 7. You can rip an MP3 file, edit a Word document, browse the web, read a PDF file, and probably do just about any other common task, especially those involved with basic business functions, with any hardware and any OS from the 21st Century.
But who needs a killer feature? After using several builds of Windows 7 for roughly three months, I can see enormous potential for greater productivity. But before I dive into the list of why I think that’s true, a few caveats:

• Bring an open mind. One refrain I hear regularly from Win7 skeptics is that Microsoft is indulging in “change for the sake of change.” But every time I look at a feature that’s been redesigned, I see a reason for it. If you’re willing to try to adapt your behavior, you’ll be more successful.
• There’s a learning curve. If you’re bound and determined to do things the way they’re done in Windows XP, then stick with Windows XP. If you’re deploying Windows 7 in an organization, you’ll need to budget for training. To Microsoft’s credit, they’ve resisted the urge to stuff their new OS with wizards and pop-ups bragging about the new features. The flip side of that bargain is that you’ll need to invest a little effort to find the new stuff.
• One size does not fit all. Microsoft’s Raymond Chen neatly summarized the dilemma of developing for the Windows interface: “No matter what you do, somebody will tell you that you’re an idiot.” If they fail, they create an annoyance, of which Windows 7 still has its share. But hopefully those are fewer and less annoying than they were before.

With that as prologue, here are the five places where I think most users will benefit from Windows 7.

Read the rest @ What’s really new in Windows 7? | Ed Bott’s Microsoft Report | ZDNet.com

 

[damoh]

Read the rest @ What’s really new in Windows 7? | Ed Bott’s Microsoft Report | ZDNet.com

*sarcasm time*

Well the new thing for me are the following:
Boots under 3 minutes
Looks nicer
Works nicer
Works faster

Im sure i could think of some more if i try hard enough

 

[scsaus]

indeed same goes for me looks better boot faster

 

[patrickbdunlap]

Man, Win7 does look nicer, doesn't it? Never underestimate eye candy, it was the main reason that i liked Ubuntu Linux was all the candy that I could prop up on the screen.

 

[ittech]

works faster for my laptops, boots in just over a minute here, and shuts down (bends down and kisses very scratched black plastic) in just over 90 seconds. the toshiba with vista on it took well near 4 minutes to shut down, and occasionally would orbit "shutting down" forever. i can start it, use it, and shut it down...productivity for these machines have gone way up.

for my employees laptops i no longer have to consider blowing the op systems away, nor replacing units that are just over a year and a half old. i call that a big NEW.

 

[garysgold]

Good read, JG. Thanks.

I agree with the author. There are many subtle differences that just make things easier. And there's no law that says it can't work well and look nice at the same time. MS has done an excellent job, IMHO.

Gary