Windows 7: Boost or Bust for Microsoft?

CNET-TV's Natali Del Conte Discusses Pros and Cons of Latest Operating System from Microsoft

(CBS)  Windows 7 was formally launched on Thursday. But will the new operating system help computer users warm up to the company again after the lackluster response to Windows Vista?

CNET-TV senior editor Natali Del Conte said on "The Early Show" that, in CNET's six months of testing the system, it was found to be doing "really well."

Read CNET's full review of Windows 7.

She said, "I think people are really going to like it. It's a really light and fast operating system."

The new operating system would be a welcome boost for Microsoft. Their Windows Vista release two years ago got in users' way, Del Conte said, by asking for permission all the time to do everyday tasks, such as downloading a file or software.

"We had high hopes," she said. "But Vista was so secure that it got in your way. When you downloaded software, are you sure you you really want to do this? It was like just let me do what I want to do."

While upgrading from Windows XP is a bit more complex than going from Vista, Del Conte said you can get upgrade instructions on CNET's Windows 7 review. She explained you have to go straight from Vista to Windows 7 to attain the upgrade.

"Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith pointed out that new computers will have Windows 7 on them from now on.

But will they upgrade again?

Del Conte said it'll happen, but probably not for at least two more years.

[Resin-Smoker]

This whole thing just reminds me of the Nickle and Dime mentality of the hardward manufacture industry. Anytime something new comes out, it's hailed as being a break-thru. Never mind the fact that it's already several generations behind the current technology and isn't really that much of an improvement over the prior hardware.

While you'd think Microsoft would relase a product that is bug free and hacker proof, you have to consider that Microsoft makes a crap ton of money on the servicing of their contracts after the fact.

Hence minor sequencial upgrades with questionable reliability is the norm... All because it makes more money then it does to create a good product the first time around.

Resin

[curtis41]

XP was reasonably stable and usable. To me, Windows is finally coming around, but very late in the game. We just installed Linux on 8 new servers, and are switching over to Linux for most of our business applications. I have suffered through CPM for the PC and then, beginning with DOS 1.0 through XP. After installing Vista for one day, and then removing it the very same day, I started installing Linux on almost every computer I had. So, in this house, it is Linux, MAC for intense graphics and here's looking at Windows in my rear view mirror. Windows simply cannot beat free, stable and secure. It has not been much fun, basically beta testing windows operating systems as an end user.

[cjs_cnet]

If Microsoft truly wants to mend the damage to its customers, it should offer Win7 as a free upgrade to all the people who are running Vista.

[ralphing]

Windows 7 is basically Vista Service Pack 3.

There is no need to wait for bug fixes, because this has been done with Vista over the last two years. It works really well and is fast, however I think you are being ripped off by buying it because this should have been a free SP3 for Vista users.

[fcs25]

All the Vista hating is nothing more than silly trash.

[barbaram99]

There are things about Vista I hate yet it needed work fore MS put it out for us. I do hate the nabby and the darking of the display. It has things that XP does not. I trully love the flip and interface. Vista has Anna. I could not stand XP Sam. I am aware there is a love / hate with Vista, I can't afford to move to Windows 7. I like the names of the apps on the task bar. In XP it is my computer etc. In Vista it is computer etc. I used XP from 06. I moved to Vista as has sp needs things that XP does not.

[thesevenveils]

"While upgrading from Windows XP is a bit more complex than going from Vista, Del Conte said"...
What Microsoft says is to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 the user must backup all their data and important files and do a clean load of Windows 7.

The directory hierarchy of Win 7 is radically different from Win XP.

Under the hood Win 7 is a significant upgrade from XP. The biggest down side to Win 7 is it allows Microsoft to tell the user what movies and music they can and cannot listen to. In short Microsoft is trying to be the digital media rights police. And Big Brother Microsoft is watching you.

[tmittelstaed]

A really rediculous article. Any system that came with XP on it is going to be a dog under Windows 7 - why, because dual-cores wern't common under XP, idiots! Win 7 minimums for any reasonable speed are a dual core, 4gb ram, and a 3d video card, Nvidia G6 or better or equivalent. And very few XP systems had that during XP's heyday.

Vista systems will -mostly- upgrade to Win7 fine, but a lot of Vista systems came from the factory with 2GB ram - those WILL need upgrades.

Vista also had similar hardware requirements as listed above, and that's why so many people had trouble with it when they loaded it on their XP systems. But, new systems with Vista preloaded were fine - I have 2 around the house here, and had no problems with either.

As for boosting Microsoft, that's utter garbage. MS got a cut of every new system sold with Windows preloads, whether the system was preloaded with XP, or Vista, or Win 7. They get the same money no matter what they do. They only release new versions of the Windows OS to prevent people from buying "bare" systems and using their old
Windows preload disks from their last computer, which would cut back MS revenue from preloads.

[rwsmith29456]

Since Windows was first released all their versions have been self-corrupting pieces of trash where it was only a matter of time until a format/reinstall was needed. XP, however was/is very good. They need to do somethng right like XP to try to boost their really crappy reputation. And they also 'fix' interfaces that don't need fixing and it's like having to learn software all over again. MS bites. I'm not going to run out and upgrade but I HOPE they decided to do something right for a change.

[SusanStoHelit]

I can't stand Vista - so obnoxious. I've got a coworker who has been on Win7 for some time (beta) - several actually - and they're all quite happy with it - even the one who stayed with XP because he hated Vista so much.

[coppertrail]

Win 7 has been running great here for over a month, have yet to run into a single app incompatibility. Add to this I'm running it on 2 systems that are over 4 years old and it's running great.

[ibzjem]

Isn't this what they said about Vista? I'll let others leap into this long before I do, if ever. Let us know how the corrective updates work too.

[salsanjose]

I have tried Windows 7. Its great... Its going to rock for the coming 3-4 years. It will boost Microsoft. Read more at http://www.windows7-problem.com/

[hologram5]

Windows7 is awesome. I have been using this OS since the Beta version. I am currently using the RC1 release and am very pleased with the performance of it. If you decide to go with this OS then do not perform an upgrade, do a clean install. Back up all your data first then do the install and then perform a restore using Windows7 backup/restore tool. This tool is the most complete/robust backup app I have ever used. It works great.