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Topic: Windows

Windows 7 RTM first look: More than just Vista fixes

Summary: A brief look at some key features and hidden gems in Windows 7.

Ed Bott

By |

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[Click to see full-size image]

This Winver dialog box shows the final Windows 7 build number, 7600. Note the new default wallpaper as well.

For more details, see the companion post, Windows 7 first look: More than just "Vista, fixed".
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Topics: Windows, Microsoft, Operating Systems, Software

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18 comments
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  • Wow ... so now they have Spotlight, TimeMachine, Dock, etc...

    More and more MS follows Apple direction .... now the video spots will
    say "I'm a Mac .... and I'm a Mac wannabee"
    fredyrosal@...
    Reply Vote

    • Mac wannabee

      Yes, Microsoft is looking a little Mac-like, but for a less money that can
      run on other hardware that cost less.
      The best of both worlds.
      jaud7
      Reply Vote

    • who cares

      This article is for those of us who are actually going to use Win7.
      Go find something else to whine about, no one here cares what your Mac does.
      ed@...
      Reply Vote

    • Spotlight wishes it were like Windows 7 Search

      Hi, I have been running Windows 7 RC and the latest Mac OS on the latest Mac 17 Pro and greatly prefer Windows 7. Spotlight for example is terrible when compared with the Windows 7 Search. If you frequently need to find a particular email or document it isn't even close.
      info@...
      Reply Vote

  • You do realize...

    Microsoft had image backup and Previous Versions (Time Machine) before Apple? Apple has a whizzier interface, but Windows does the core tasks better.
    Ed Bott
    Reply Vote

  • All OSes are alike

    People gotta realize that the basic functionality of all OSes and their window managers is mostly the same.

    Different OS distributions just provide different ways to access them.

    Some offer better interfaces than others, and some have functionality that other don't have yet. But you have to know that the missing functionality will be added to other OS distributions if they find out that people like them.

    I am just glad that I have the choice to pick the OS that fits my needs for the tasks that I perform. For instance, I use Win XP at work and Mac OS X at home. I have played around with Linux, but I haven't had a compelling reason to migrate to it based on my needs.
    fernande-zdnet
    Reply Vote

    • Mac OS X

      If you've used MAC you've played around with Linux
      already! :-)
      jimmyreed4tech
      Reply Vote

      • Mac is not Linux

        Surely you are not implying that OS X is built upon Linux.
        green[
        Reply Vote

        • No, it's UNIX

          No, it's UNIX.

          I think this is a matter of someone not understanding all the *NIX relationships (just like me BTW)

          Cheers.
          johnp@...
          Reply Vote

  • RE: Windows Easy Transfer (Windows 7 RTM first look: More than just Vista fixes)

    Thanks Ed.! Another great post.
    eargasm
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Windows Easy Transfer (Windows 7 RTM first look: More than just Vista fixes)

    linux is always better
    m_mgeh@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Windows Easy Transfer (Windows 7 RTM first look: More than just Vista fixes)

    Good one Ed, looking forward to next week when I will get my copy. I've been using the beta and RC since February without any major hitches on hardware designed for XP. A few 64 bit drivers missing but otherwise works well especially since Nvidia released their new drivers. I have felt comfortable enough to use it as my main system since March, just keeping my XP systems running in case of disaster.
    GreyTech
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Windows Easy Transfer (Windows 7 RTM first look: More than just Vista f

    I love the task switching ability. There is a slight learning curve
    but it is not bad. Win 7 still uses more memory and resources
    than xp but it worth the trade for functionality. I am sold on win 7.
    skottone@...
    Reply Vote

  • Windows 7 RTM (Build 7600)

    Great article, except for the libraries and search features that I do not need, you have touched on the very things that made me plunk down one hundred of my very sparse dollars for Win 7. The ease and quickness of evaluating my new system really pleased me, the ease of task switching is a mega bonus also.]
    But most of all, I am in control of my computer again and I know what is happening.
    I look forward to the next article, thanks!
    domiles
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Windows Easy Transfer (Windows 7 RTM first look: More than just Vista fixes)

    Its great to have a 64 bit version of Windows 7 but where is the software that can make use of the extra memory. I have used video editing software on Win XP and Win 7 on the same machine (a quad core Phenom) without any noticeable difference in speed of rendering. So where is the benefit.
    badders46
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Windows Easy Transfer (Windows 7 RTM first look: More than just Vista fixes)

    No. It is a copy of Free BSD that you need to pay for.
    MadWhiteHatter
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Windows Easy Transfer (Windows 7 RTM first look: More than just Vista fixes)

    Microsoft Forever. Every company has had problems. Good companies realize this and fix them ASAP. Microsoft is one of these companies.
    RAMTUFF
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Windows Easy Transfer (Windows 7 RTM first look: More than just Vista f

    Wow,,,,, it looks an apple wanna-bee to me. i just upgraded
    tiger to leopard and just amazed. I currently use XP Pro so far
    so good. Hm,,,,, seems like I`m a sucker for new OS`s. Have
    to try this one out. I just hope its more stable than the
    previous versions.
    jessecarpenterii@...
    Reply Vote
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