Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

at least if I've read the article correctly.

V- Full Article thru link -V
Microsoft's Ballmer: Windows 7 is nearly final

So, anyone thinking of trying it? Is it going to suck like most first releases? And on a more frivilous note, is it just me or does the old guy in the picture look just a little possessed?

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

Eh, what? They're already releasing a new Windows?

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

Well, the article does seem to indicate that it will be a general release. I don't think MS has done it that way before, though. In the past they have you sign up for Beta releases, and then you get selected on a lottery basis, right? Anyway, they are not paying me enough to do their testing...know what I mean?

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

Got enough troubles with Vista. I 'm not going for it till I know it's stable and working (if ever).

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

XP RULES!!!

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

Well supposedly it's going to follow the same overall framework of Vista (red flag), but it's supposed to fix some of the areas where complaints were most prevalent. If this is the case I don't know why it wasn't released as a service pack instead of a whole new OS, aside from the $$$ factor.

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

BINGO!!!!!

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

I've been using the 7000 build for a little while and I love it.

Then again, I loved Vista, most likely because I was one of the people that actually used it rather than flamming it on the internet because some other windows hating people said it was bad.

Sure it had issues, but XP had more, and look at XP now...

Enough of that though, I'd rather not start an argument. THe Beta should be a great way for them to hopefully approach this release with a more PR friendly launch...

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

I thought all Windows version released were Beta version. :D

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

Good one!

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

The flame/deification circle happens with every new Windows version but was only really justified once since Win95; when ME was released...
If Windows 7 comes out this year, it means MS is back to the 1OS/2-3years schedule they've been on since Win1.0. The long gap between XP and Vista was due to a complete kernel rewrite.

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

Rules what, you, your PC, or what exactly?

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

From yesterday's white paper:

Reasons to skip Microsoft’s Windows 7 Beta download
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=11410&tag=nl.e539

Many links included with that page.

A few more links in this one:
http://updates.zdnet.com/tags/Microsoft+Windows+7.html

AND, in classic Redmond style: UPDATE x2: Microsoft pulls plug on Win 7 beta download due to heavy traffic
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3311

Lastly: Windows 7 - What we still don’t know …
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3284

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

I myself have never had any great issues with Windows. The occasional frustration, but I don't know of an OS that won't deliver at least that.

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

At the price these OS are, I think it's ridiculous to expect the whole user base to change every 3 years.

That, and operating systems are supposed to be stable. Do they really expect everyone to upgrade their whole computer, possibly formating, disrupt everything, software, file systems etc for no good reason?

The only time you should ever have to change your OS is if there is a legitimate need, a major new feature we suddenly can't live without, or a huge bug that can't be patched. Buying basically the same OS but for a slightly different UI every 3 years is crazy. Most people haven't even moved to Vista yet and they're already pushing their next product. I don't know, but THAT is making me lose faith in the Microsoft brand. Talk about shovelware...

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

What you said!!

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

Rules what exactly?

I've got over 3,000 hours logged on this rig, and it has yet to fail!

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

I actually asked about this in another post, but it seems appropriate here also.

I have been considering upgrading my OS; I currently have Windows XP and have never really had any problems with it. I think most of my problems are associated with the video card and processor. I have an older dell computer, 8300, and 1 gig of ram. I use my computer mostly for my business stuff, some internet stuff, and to play games (although I have not been able to buy any new games for a while because they won’t run).

Should I upgrade the OS and if so to what is my best option?

I am thinking I should just wait until I get a new computer but that may still be a year or so.

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

Bumbus , it sounds like you've got no real reason to upgrade. Is there some program you'd like to run, or some feature with Vista, that you can't do under XP? If the answer's "no", then I'd say save your money...

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

I guess what I am asking is, “are there any features with the newer OS that make it worth getting?”

Will the computer run any better, will It be more protected, is there some assume new program or such that I do not have with XP? Also will any of the new games run if I just upgrade the OS? I am guessing “no” on that one, but I am not sure.

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

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Quote:

I guess what I am asking is, “are there any features with the newer OS that make it worth getting?” Will the computer run any better, will It be more protected, is there some assume new program or such that I do not have with XP? Also will any of the new games run if I just upgrade the OS? I am guessing “no” on that one, but I am not sure.

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If your games will not run with XP, there's no way that Vista will help. In my opinion, there is no feature in Vista that you are missing out on, and I don't even think Vista would perform at it's best in your current hardware configuration. You would see noticeable results in performance with new hardware upgrades. If you want to lay out your spending limits with us, several people here on IW will be able to assist you with buying the best parts for the best price and tell you how to install them...or maybe you'll need to buy a whole new computer, already maxed out. In that case, Vista would come already loaded and your decision to upgrade the OS or not would be a moot point.

Re: Windows 7- marked for beta release Friday...
 

I am thinking the same thing. There is no sense in upgrading your OS to Vista, especially since it would result in a performance hit across all boards. Also, Windows 7 (which is still a years off from arriving), shares much under the hood in comon with Windows Vista. The ongoing joke/theme/attitude towards Windows 7 in many circles is that Windows 7 is simply Windows Vista SP2.

It's also pointless to do a hardware upgrade with your given specs. I say start from an entirely new computer. When you want to do that is your choice obviously, but if you need help in picking some stuff just drop a thread :) .

Your computer will not run any better, if anything it will run slower on Vista. I'm echoing Larry's sentiments here as well in terms of features. Unless you are a gamer (but you don't appear to be) there is no real tangible benefit from you making the switch right now. Windows Vista has the newer DX10 graphics API, while XP is stuck forever with DX9.0c. Windows 7 will come with DX11. All these fancy names simply mean that games that take advantage of using these API's will have more graphical goodness and eye candy and more photo-realistic images. I might also add that nearly every game that runs on Vista runs on XP. Game developers have yet to create a game that is DX10 only. Every game that has been released has had a DX10 mode and a DX9.0c mode for XP users. As to when they'll make the switch to a "Vista/Windows 7 game only" product... who knows.

The newer versions of Windows (Vista and 7) are also "safer", whatever that means. I think this is really a moot point when trying to point out the benefits of Vista over XP. The fact of the matter is you are always going to be updating for security updates. People will always find ways to exploit things, and people will always find ways to patch them. I don't really care for the "safer" argument, because if it were truly a "safe" and "secure" product, I wouldn't have to constantly update the damn thing.

What I am actually fond of, and what I think is the best reason for moving towards Vista/Windows 7 is the 64-bit versions of them. Windows XP 64bit simply sucks. Vista 64 is pretty damn good, and going to a 64bit OS is really the best "future-proofing" you can do. But for you, I'd still say buy a new computer whenever you are ready/have the money.