- home
- reviews
- news
- downloads
- cnet tv
HOLIDAY HELP DESK: Broadcasting live at 1:00 p.m., PT
- log in
- join CNET
- welcome,
- my profile
- log out

CNET.com

The Download Blog

October 22, 2009 11:00 AM PDT

Windows 7 questions answered

by Jessica Dolcourt

We've spent the last few months gearing up for Microsoft's grand unveiling of its new Windows 7 operating system (full review). And it hit right on schedule on October 22. Does that mean it's time to boot out XP and Vista? For XP users, Windows 7 offers tighter security and a load of neat new features that aren't just flashy, but also convenient. With Windows XP being an eight-year old operating system, you might consider the upgrade. Windows 7 may appear to have more in common with Vista, its predecessor, but there are marked organizational improvements, including new media management and sharing tools, and a reining-in of those pesky User Account Controls.

However, there have been some reports of incidents in upgrading to Windows 7, including ours. While we recommend Windows 7 overall, potential upgraders should check out our full coverage of Windows 7 to help get all your questions answered, including how some Vista users can get a free upgrade and which of the four Windows 7 editions is right for you.

Are you planning to switch to Windows 7? See how other CNET readers voted. If you have upgraded, rate your experience, or see how others weighed in. Those making the leap to Windows 7 should also check out Ninite, a Web site that helps you customize a single install file for a heap of useful Windows 7 programs, including your pick of browser, instant-messaging apps, media apps, and utilities.

Jessica Dolcourt reviews the latest and greatest smartphone apps, in addition to a healthy dose of Windows software. E-mail Jessica and follow her on Twitter.

Topics:: The Download Dispatch

Tags:: Download Dispatch,; Windows Newsletter,; 10/27/09,; Windows 7

Share:: Digg; Del.icio.us; Reddit; Facebook; Twitter

Windows 7

See all Windows 7 coverage.

Recent posts from The Download Blog: So you got an iPhone, now what?; The 10 best new Firefox add-ons of 2009; New Android phone? Start with these free apps; Introducing the Utilities Starter Kit; Using Facebook and Twitter safely; Three free iPhone apps that make shopping easier; The last deal before Christmas; Opera 10.5 pre-alpha goes Chrome hunting

Add a Comment (Log in or register) (15 Comments)

prev
1
next

by keywestpirate October 27, 2009 4:38 AM PDT

i have tried the windows 7 , they it is the best, but i have found that it has a lot of bugs in it, the os seems like vista on crack. it will not play all the games from xp, and to try to sell 3 different versions, all with nothing in it , the other with a little more , and the last that cost a arm and a leg to got the crappy games, and not office in it all ,,,,,, thanks for the crappy os , i think i will just stay with xp, or or the one lie the best ,,,, would be fedora , yes i am a pirate, i check out all the computing world has to offer

so the conclusion is no not waste your money or time , UNLESS YOU LIKE VISTA ON CRACK

Like this Reply to this comment


by Garken October 27, 2009 7:37 AM PDT: Your an idiot keywestpirate ! of course Office is not included, it never has been.If you have XP software you want to tun then but Prof or Ultimate, the compatability mode works very well.MS has always sold 3 different versions and this time they are priced very well. In Canada we can buy Ultimate for well under $300.00 ( full version ). If all you need is Home Prem you can get the family pack ( 3 License ) for under $200.00 and you can do a clean install with the upgrade disk also. So go back to your misery hole and stop complaining you moron.; Like this


by l8rb October 28, 2009 8:13 AM PDT: After attempting to read (much less understand) your post, it is obvious you would know about 'crack'.; Like this

by peeskieeskie October 27, 2009 6:20 AM PDT

For almost 4 years I have read with amazement the trials and tribulations associated with moving to, and running Windows Vista. I'm dumb, I never paid any attention,, bought a computer a couple of moonths before it released because of free express upgrade that was offered. I did not experience any of the hassles I had read about in receiving the disc, it came as promised, of course I did follow instrucdtions when submitted mjy info. Read the instructions and because I was so new to computting I did the upgrade. Couldn't have been easier. Subsequently I started getting interested in Linux. I tried 8 or 9 dufferent distros, and again because I was not that computer literate, I ended up for one reason or another having to reinstall Vista. Wheather I was just using the disc to repair a boot failure, or doing a clean install, it always worked flawlessly, and because eMacines included a drivers and applications disc with the Vista upgrade, I always had everything I needed.

The point is, I quit believing all the paid anti reporting being offered by opseudo reporting gurus who had more than a personal involvement with the product. I bought my copy of Windows7, did a clean install, and to my amazement it went smoother than any other installation I had ever done. Seriiouisly, as it fiinished installing and rebooting, it found the periferals connected to my system and installed all the latest updates. Total time about 2 hours.

I have to consider, from the experiences I have had that all the negative hype is nothing more than a Holy War being executed by those haveing a monitary consideration and involvement that goes way beyong journalistic reporting, and as loyal readers of CNET I believe we deserve better. You can only shaped the future to a certain degree before all the lies and inuendos come back to bite you in the ass. Fortunately I put more stock in the readers ratings and comments, but there too, you have to understand who is a fanboy of another OS, or has a bone to pick because of their own ineptness!

Like this Reply to this comment


by Garken October 27, 2009 7:41 AM PDT: Very good observations. I agree with you 100 %.; Like this


by Kongar October 27, 2009 7:42 AM PDT: peeskieeskie, why would people slam Vista and praise windows 7? all the beta testers I have heard from loved windows 7. that essentially blows a hole in your idiotic theory. Vista hating is based on vista sucking and causing headaches galore. I have only two examples from which to draw personal experience. First, a friend of mine had to replace his motherboard and his memory was old so he figured he would snap up a good deal on a new dell machine instead. His rate of freezes, hangs and forced reboots rose dramatically. And of course, certain peripherals could not be recognized due to the well known driver problems. I played a game online with him - we would talk on the phone at the same time (party line with one other friend). Guess who's machines were NOT crashing all the time (but occasionally admittedly because XP isnt perfect either)? He got so fed up that he reinstalled Vista from scratch - didnt help. He just bought windows 7 and did a clean install to get that horrid junk off his computer - we'll see how that goes but, based on what I have read, I expect it to go swimmingly. Guess what - most people liked windows 95 and 98 (SE especially). Most people HATE windows ME because it was a POS operating system. just awful. And most people feel favorably towards XP because it is far more stable and does what it does well enough. People want their OS to do just that. I don't need anything fancy but one thing it can NEVER EVER EVER do is cause problems or cause me to spend time trying to fix it instead of getting work done or providing entertainment, pursuing hobbies whatever. Your experience may have actually been in the majority - I don't know what the stats are. But the experiences of those close to me (the other being my father - far worse because he is an advanced beginner with computers) and the things I read online were warning enough to not only feel no need to upgrade but also avoid vista like the plague. I love XP - it doesnt get in the way and its stable enough - just like a good OS ought to be. And had I built a new machine a year ago, guess what I would have purchased for an OS? So tell me, how could one possibly have an agenda against a company when touting one of their products but not another of their products? Most people continued buying XP quite happily. Shame on them for not buying Vista!!! how DARE they not conform to the wishes of microsoft. SCREW the wishes of Microsoft!!! There's a reason some people will buy a Saturn but wouldnt touch a GM car with a ten foot pole - same company, different product. its allowed and product competition is the basis of this entire economy. The consumer spoke and took a big meaty dump on Vista for a reason and that reason was NOT because they were paid to slam it. sheeesh - sometimes! they ask me why I drink!! : ); Like this


by John R Maier October 27, 2009 7:49 AM PDT: I went from 2000 on a Thinkpad T20 to Vista on a new Thinkpad T60p and that was a major JOLT for a self-taught. I later upgraded the T20 to XP and find that OS most clunky and can't find one micr-iota of an endearing quality which would make so many foam-at-the-mouth loyalists. Yes, my cheap printer and scanner went south along with some cheap software. I now have a new Thinkpad T500 Élite CTO, with all the whistles and stops and have paid-out that GOUGING $17.03 which Lenovo is insisting for the FREE W7 upgrade. I don't know how many æons it will take Lenovo to ship, but I am certain that it will install easily - I wonder if this 'upgrade' will overwrite the embedded "factory preload" which has been a godsend so many times and a "must feature" of Thinkpads for no 'install' disc is ever required for a rescue/restore scénario...; Like this Reply to this comment


by varick October 27, 2009 8:11 AM PDT: sharing? WHO shares? are you out of your mind? I don't share anything, period.
media management? do what? are you talking about windows 11 media player? it sucks! I want 10 back dammit.

sounds to me, one more time, that 7 is more for desk jockeys than home users.

no thanks!! sounds like a lot of bull...; Like this Reply to this comment


by mark2u--2008 October 27, 2009 8:16 AM PDT: Windows 7 not telling it like it is! Learned the hard way that Windows 7
Professional cannot be installed as an update to
Windows Vista Ultimate. Just as if you were upgrADING from XP - you lose
settings and programs; Like this Reply to this comment

by Kongar October 27, 2009 10:05 AM PDT

btw, let me rephrase something. I said "I love XP" . I dont really love xp. I like xp just fine. I like it because it doesnt suck. does that say something about the hold MS has over us or what? its like I'm grateful they allowed me to buy an OS from them that wasnt crap. Generally speaking, I do not like microsoft for one reason - they have such a monopoly that we had to eat their crap - no matter how shltty. That being said, XP was a huge upgrade in stability and overall, I like it just fine and I'm just glad they finally came out with an OS that was stable (enough). not all of their products suck - some are great - I really like MS Publisher for instance. but vista was a stinker and thats that. update: just got off the phone with my friend who got rid of vista and just installed windows 7 on his desktop. he just sold his netbook and is buying a thin and light lappy cuz he wants a bigger screen - after much hemming and hawing, he is getting a macbook air. he said he didnt want to give any more money to Microsoft. now what i would have done but he is a PERFECT example to illustrate my point about vista. good day, sir .........I SAY GOOD DAY!!!!!

Like this Reply to this comment


by peeskieeskie October 27, 2009 3:04 PM PDT: I would never ask you why you drink, the answer is obvious!; Like this


by larryandcathie October 27, 2009 11:40 AM PDT: I have two pc's one with XP one with Vista they both run fine dont see any reason to upgrade Vista works fine when you shut down all the Crap and bloat . If Windows Vista was so bad than Microsoft should update it for free . But lets face it Vista and XP where both considered Junk when they where released. If you want to make Microsoft rich go ahead and update.; Like this Reply to this comment


by FrenchyHey October 27, 2009 4:05 PM PDT: Have triple boot, from XP to Vista to Win 7 the last one is 64 bits,

All are rock solid, all work great, Win 7 Work the way I want also and more.

The common denominator are "The Hardware" all the problems I have seen are people running on cheap PC done on the cheap for the most part.

Yes I could have not grief with an Apple but certainly not an iMac ;) I want the freedom of a desktop the are cost efficient compare to a laptop and they are easily upgradable not the laptop and in certain case it is not possible to upgrade them or at a prohibitive cost that negate the reason to upgrade in he first place.

Go Apple that great and I belive you and I am sold now tell me were I could get their OS in my PC and I will gladly pay them.

If to pay a commercial distributor I will try at least to keep some freedom :) with the hardware, I don't need another IBM in my house.

Crysis games work just great on my stupid PC and Crysis is not tender with any hardware that is sub part. I would like your personal experience and not I have a friend of a friend blah blah.

I said go with Apple and have fun with their 'genius support' lol; Like this Reply to this comment


by kriddle1 October 28, 2009 12:40 AM PDT: I have used a Toshiba laptop and an HP desktop with XP operating systems for about 4 years, and another Toshiba laptop with the Vista Ultimate OS for over one year. My main use of the systems is for running MS Office applications, with some image manipulation. None of the systems is used for games. I have experienced no obvious OS related problems with any of the systems.; Like this Reply to this comment


by dellayhallberg October 28, 2009 4:29 PM PDT: i dunno...whats all the hubub?...i have vista...it is fast...does all i ask...works fine...why would i change anything...not gunna...; Like this Reply to this comment

(15 Comments)

prev
1
next

Search Download Blog posts

About The Download Blog

Download.com editors cover the world of downloadable software and beyond.

Add this feed to your online news reader

The Download Blog topics

download: Site map; Help center; Our software policies; Newsletters; Submit software

Popular topics: Apple iPhone; Apple iPod; Cell phones; CES 2010; GPS; LCD TV

CNET sites: CNET Site map; CNET TV; Downloads; News; Reviews; Shopper.com

More information: Newsletters; CNET Mobile; Customer Help Center; RSS; CNET API; About CNET

©2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.
© 2009 CBS Interactive. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy (UPDATED)
Visit other CBS Interactive sites:

#networkSites {display:none;}BNET | CHOW | CNET.com | CNET Channel | GameSpot | International Media | mySimon | Search.com | TechRepublic | TV.com | ZDNet

My Lists
My software updates
log in | join CNET