windows 7 compared to XP Pro

[wilfj]

I subscript to several PC magazines each month and most of the reviews are written comparing Win 7 to Vista.

I never ran a vista machine and don't plan to, but i have 3 XP units up and well.

The point being, the articles are for Vista folks. Have the XP millions just left the Planet when Win 7 was released? It seems to me the editors of the magazines and MS want to barry one of the best operating systems every offered to the public. It took some time to get there but they have it now.

I've been using Win 7 for over 2 months it's fine but I'm not convinced it's all that much better then XP for what my needs are in computers.

Would be nice to see some comparisons and users views on Win7 compared to XP.
Several of my family work for large international Co's. They say there are no steps being taken to convert to Windows 7 in the business world.


Just some observations as the hip over Win 7 starts to wear down.

 

[pparks1]

Windows XP is extremely old. I don't like to use extremely old things when it comes to my computer. In my opinion, 7 is a ton better than XP. The interface looks better, the aero snap feature is functional, the superbar is nice, libraries are cool, the UAC system works pretty well now, it's got a built in system image utility, it detects "ALL" of my hardware without having to install any 3rd party drivers....and the list goes on and on.

 

[Jacee]

I had XP Pro on my laptop. I bought Vista Business and did a clean install. I've never looked back on that XP OS ... it performs extremely well, everything I throw at it, including beta testing.. does not affect it. I love my laptop!

My main desktop computer was built to run Vista Ultimate. I have beta tested Windows 7 (among other apps) with it and decided that Win 7 Ultimate was my official OS for this machine.

I still have another computer (3rd) that runs XP home, just to keep up with the crapware that others are experiencing while being on the Internet. This is what most people are running and I need it, in order to help them.

 

[madtownidiot]

cold startup time on my current hardware,
for windows xp pro x64: 43 seconds
windows 7 ultimate: 32 seconds
as for the rest of the comparison.. so far I'm impressed, but there are always bugs and glitches that don't make themselves obvious in the first few weeks

 

[peterlonz]

Windows 7 Home prem versus XP Pro

Well Win 7 should be unmistably better & its not.
Win 7 should address some ongoing basic weaknesses in all MS OS's & IMHO it does not.
Win 7 should allow those who favour a quick learning curve to operate in a "looks like XP" mode & it does not.
Win & should not make un-needed changes just for window dressing but it does.
MS should recognise that XP Pro was the first really decent OS they ever had but they clearly do not, they instead wish to offer something that is new & shiny regardless of genuine functionality & this subverts development time & effort from real basic improvements.
Ask the people who are already getting stuck with "Windows 7 won't start" & yes that happened top me too.

 

[wilfj]

Windows XP is extremely old. I don't like to use extremely old things when it comes to my computer. In my opinion, 7 is a ton better than XP. The interface looks better, the aero snap feature is functional, the superbar is nice, libraries are cool, the UAC system works pretty well now, it's got a built in system image utility, it detects "ALL" of my hardware without having to install any 3rd party drivers....and the list goes on and on.

Thanks, some very valued points.

Yes it's old but so I'm I. Do I do things better now then when I was 20 years younger? I sure hope so!

looks anything new, can always look better.... ask Tiger ,( we better not go there)

Hardware and drivers have never been a problem, at least for me in XP. I have almost ever thing backed up. New hardware today is certainly better on install and Xp is first on their list.

Most of the important new features in W7 have been around on the net as freebies for a few years. IF, you need them , I don't.

Yes the list could go on and on...... XP is still a fine OS .

 

[wilfj]

Well Win 7 should be unmistably better & its not.
Win 7 should address some ongoing basic weaknesses in all MS OS's & IMHO it does not.
Win 7 should allow those who favour a quick learning curve to operate in a "looks like XP" mode & it does not.
Win & should not make un-needed changes just for window dressing but it does.
MS should recognise that XP Pro was the first really decent OS they ever had but they clearly do not, they instead wish to offer something that is new & shiny regardless of genuine functionality & this subverts development time & effort from real basic improvements.
Ask the people who are already getting stuck with "Windows 7 won't start" & yes that happened top me too.

Win 7 , will improve, remember XP had 3 ServicePacks and still having updates every week. That's my main point, XP has gone through the growing pains for what about 7 years. When the hackers get going on W7 and they will, I wonder if some of the current shine will disappear. I hope not but if something can happen it will.

 

[wilfj]

cold startup time on my current hardware,
for windows xp pro x64: 43 seconds
windows 7 ultimate: 32 seconds
as for the rest of the comparison.. so far I'm impressed, but there are always bugs and glitches that don't make themselves obvious in the first few weeks

Gee 11 seconds, I would lose that in just opening my email in W7 as compared to XP. Yes, it's a win/loss situation on balance the time , to me has not been a factor either way.

W7 has some great features, I some what doubt that the average home user will never have a need for them. I haven't, I just get to where i want to go and finish up .
Oh! i guess we have to bear in mind as far as time is concerned, we haven't seen the updates that could/ may start to flow down from MS. They could have a effect on loading and operation functions. There coming !

 

[wilfj]

I had XP Pro on my laptop. I bought Vista Business and did a clean install. I've never looked back on that XP OS ... it performs extremely well, everything I throw at it, including beta testing.. does not affect it. I love my laptop!

My main desktop computer was built to run Vista Ultimate. I have beta tested Windows 7 (among other apps) with it and decided that Win 7 Ultimate was my official OS for this machine.

I still have another computer (3rd) that runs XP home, just to keep up with the crapware that others are experiencing while being on the Internet. This is what most people are running and I need it, in order to help them.

Sorry, i lost you a bit, as I understand it you have installed Vista on your laptop over XP, and assume over W7. Your happy with Vista, great.

However, you are testing W7 and it will become your official OS on your desktop.

finally , you still have XP to keep up with the crapware others are experiencing.

Well you have all bases covered and if you need 3 OS going so be it, but I'm still at a loss why your laptop is still in Vista if your decision is to go to W7?
Who's on first !

 

[ggrrttdd]

I think Xp is a good OS. Start up time is faster for Xp (x86) on my system when compared to windows 7. Internet browsing with firefox and my addons is also slightly faster in Xp. Xp only uses about 350mb memory when idle on my system, whereas windows 7 upto 970mb.

Windows 7 does load and run my programs slightly faster than Xp. I also find that logging onto wireless networks is much easier in windows 7. I find aero snap very handy, but the other new features are all pretty useless. I think most are available for Xp anyway. Windows 7 looks better than Xp.

In my opinion I think Xp and Windows 7 are both ok OS's. If you're rich (or can get a copy cheap) and want to have the latest stuff go for 7, if you are not bothered so much then Xp does all the important stuff and you've still got your money in your pocket and not in the bank of microsoft.

 

[vicvic]

i still don't understand why people like xp?

Can't search programs in start menu
Can't access as many controls in control panel

Starts up slow - ( my xp can't bet the vista and 7 machine ( both restart usually under a min) - i have also seen people in business enviroments wait 20 mins to use xp after a restart.)

Talking about businesses running xp. They don't turn there computers off at night because it takes to long to restart in the morning.)

I am a little unsure if this is a failure for the program or IT staff. ( some of the case i would think IT staff. I have walked in after they have done an over hall and nothing works )

one last thing xp start menu takes up half the task bar??

cheers

vic

ps

7 rules best ever

 

[Muhammad]

Come on, Windows XP is nearly a decade old now. Yes, it's stable and less resource-hungry, but it's boring old technology with no really interesting features for us software-lovers. For most users, though, it's enough.

One thing which surprises me a lot is how long Windows OS's go on being used. That hardly ever happens in the Linux world, of which I partially live in. Don't know anyone who uses SuSE 8 now ... and is happy with it. But then newer versions of Windows OS's are not complete rewrites, so maybe that's the reason.

 

[ggrrttdd]

@vicvic

In my experience a lot of people use home computers to surf the internet for the majority of the time.

Maybe use MS office or a couple of other programs now and then.

So for these people you think that spending £X amount on windows 7 just because they can search programs in their start menu matters? For these people speed of internet is probably most important to remove associated frustrations. And in my opinion Xp is as good if not better than windows 7 at running most browsers.

Windows 7 will also become bogged down with programs that start with the OS if you don't keep on top of them (Adobe Bridge and Office groove are pretty bad

 

[stormy13]

Come on, Windows XP is nearly a decade old now. Yes, it's stable and less resource-hungry

And the exact same thing was said about XP when it came out. Most of the ones that throw out that old argument all fail to remember what XP was like on the hardware of the day.

I can remember seeing people that were clinging on to Win 98 4-5 years after XP came out, and we're seeing the same thing all over again.

 

[ggrrttdd]

Its not really 'clinging on to ' Xp.
What people need to do is compare the OS's weighing up the pros and cons for their system/s whilst considering the ways in which the system/s is/are used.
Then make a rational choice as to whether the purchase of windows 7 is justified for that system, or to wait until a new system is purchased. (Price influence)

To be able to compare OS's people need to get non biased opinions rather than listen to hype generated by organisations/people with vested or financial interests.

 

[Tews]

Thats all well and good, but lets make sure we are comparing apples to apples.. Windows XP has gone through several SP revisions and is almost 10 years old... Allow Windows 7 to at least get one SP under its belt and 6 months on the shelf before trying to compare the two... Just my opinion though...

 

[MacGyvr]

Well Win 7 should be unmistably better & its not.

Based on what? Your opinion?

Win 7 should address some ongoing basic weaknesses in all MS OS's & IMHO it does not.

Again, based on what?

Win 7 should allow those who favour a quick learning curve to operate in a "looks like XP" mode & it does not.

This would simply add needless bloat to the new operating system. Why emulate something nearly 10 years old? Windows 95 didn't emulate Windows 3.1.

Win & should not make un-needed changes just for window dressing but it does. MS should recognise that XP Pro was the first really decent OS they ever had but they clearly do not, they instead wish to offer something that is new & shiny regardless of genuine functionality & this subverts development time & effort from real basic improvements.

Do you wear the same clothing for 10+ years...never change your home decor? Of course things should change for "window-dressing." And MS has always acknowledged the success of XP. The new functionalities built into Windows 7 make XP look like something archaic. The improvements are probably the best work MS has ever done.

Your post sounds like sour grapes to me, and really serves no productive use in this forum.

Ask the people who are already getting stuck with "Windows 7 won't start" & yes that happened top me too.

It's a very isolated problem, and your time would be better served looking into how to solve it, or even better, reinstalling Windows XP on your PC.

 

[tcman47]

I just upgraded my entire house's entertainment systems to 1080P HD, with pure HD interface softwares such as Xbox Media Center and J.River Media Center.

I couldnt imagine staying with old XP, windows 7 has the look, speed and features to keep up with todays fast emerging HD entertainment areas, XP doesnt and wont.

Windows 7 can stream music, burn iso's, has better media players, way more views for viewing all kinds of media, etc, XP in this area is pales.

Also networking and driver installation is seemless. Windows 7 found all my drivers, set up my home network, internet connection and tons more without me having to do anything, try that with XP, it ain't going to happen, lol.

TC

 

[wilfj]

I just upgraded my entire house's entertainment systems to 1080P HD, with pure HD interface softwares such as Xbox Media Center and J.River Media Center.

I couldnt imagine staying with old XP, windows 7 has the look, speed and features to keep up with todays fast emerging HD entertainment areas, XP doesn't and wont.

Windows 7 can stream music, burn iso's, has better media players, way more views for viewing all kinds of media, etc, XP in this area is pales.

Also networking and driver installation is seemless. Windows 7 found all my drivers, set up my home network, internet connection and tons more without me having to do anything, try that with XP, it ain't going to happen, lol.

TC

You score some major points ! I'm not sure what percentage of computer users today use their unit for entertainment functions . 10 % ? i don't know. if they are, it sure seems they should load W7. There is no question XP will not be adding any new functions but I've done several reloads and never had a problem with drivers etc.

i could list a few of my software that will not work on W7 but that will always happen with a new OS. So i have to go to XP or wait for a new revision for W7 and pay to have a working program again....every one is collecting funds except the user. Great for MS and the software Co. I have a program that works now! that's the case i would make.

 

[computersplus]

Resisting Change

I think that the whole XP or Windows 7 thing is just a human issue it's not really what's faster or has more features or what not.

People resist change, something new puts most people outside their comfort level and I have found most PC users have a very low comfort level, a lot of people don't understand or utilize XP even so the thought of something new or more complex scares them.

For those who get brave enough to try something new a lot of time won't give it a real chance they use it for a few hours or days and because it is strange or different they get the I don't like it attitude.

For us power users most of us have trouble understanding why everyone else does not see what we see a shiny new play thing!

With Windows 7 the thing that has impressed me is the increased driver support, I have built several new PC's for clients and after the install of 7 is done all hardware has been detected and device drivers are already loaded and if for some reason you plug in something that 7 does not have a driver for a quick Windows update will find and install the driver usually no muss no fuss.