Windows 7 is the next major update of the Windows Operating System; the most popular in the world.

I have now been running the beta version of the OS since Saturday, and I have used copies of previous builds in VMware.

The Installation ii the first noteworthy update; a clean install on my PC into a partition took under 10 minutes! First run of the new OS too was very quick; it started quicker that my copy of Vista Home Premium, and boasts a much nicer start up, with cool graphic effects.

The UI of Windows 7 is one of the most obvious differences. The new taskbar reminds me of the OS X Dock; something I’m not all that fond of. I find it a little bulky to use, with it becoming a clutter of icons and running apps. I hate the fact that it groups similar windows together, like Messenger and Internet Explorer ones. This is really annoying. It seems to take twice as long to open windows, and I just don’t see the advantage.

A lot of the new features in Windows 7 are very minor indeed! Aero Snap for example, and the detachment of the Sidebar. Jump Lists; hardly revolutionary! These are nice additions, but nothing that couldn’t just have been added to Vista in a service pack.

Some features of Windows 7 are quite new; for example the ribbon in Paint and WordPad. I personally find this an excellent choice, as I love Office 2007. For some though, this will be a nightmare. Perhaps Microsoft should give the user the choice on which system they use.

I do get the feeling Windows 7 is less temperamental than Vista. It runs faster, and it hasn’t crashed so far. Wireless networking seems improved as well, with the network selection menu being added to the taskbar. One thing I dislike though is icons being hidden in a new menu. It seems to do the same as the old hiding system, but seems to work worse, with it being harder to tell what icons represent which programs. Is this an improvement?

Aero Peek though is very cool! It looks great, and is something I’d show people. Do I need it functionality wise? Nope, it has no purpose but to look nice, and lets you see those desktop gadgets, which I never use.

Windows 7 worked flawlessly with my current Wireless Adapter and the Vista driver. One thing I can’t get to work is the new ‘Devices and Printers’ screen. It doesn’t seem to recognise the other network PCs or Printers in my household. By default, the only when I can see these is If I go through the Control Panel. In Vista, there is the useful ‘Network’ Menu. Why did they get rid of it by default? Why is ‘Default Programs’ there?

Many have said Windows 7 is just a service pack for Windows Vista. While Windows 7 adds a lot more core stability, speed and refinements, it is far from a brand new OS. This is what Vista should have been. Yes, Windows 7 provides more functionality upgrades than a standard service pack, but does it warrant a new OS? How can Microsoft justify a price tag over £30?

I think Vista users deserve Windows 7 as fast as possible, and as a free or heavily discounted upgrade. After using Windows Vista for the past two years, I know first hand that it hasn’t been a perfect experience. Not as bad as it has been said or appears in the infamous ‘Get a Mac’ ads, but still not quite perfect. Windows 7 fixes this, and returns Windows to it’s former “glory”. And this is only the beta!

JK

JK