First Look at Windows 7

Rahul Srinivas, Oct 29, 2008 1441 hrs IST

A look at everything the next iteration of Windows promises

As reported earlier, the finer details of Windows 7 were revealed at the Professional Developers Conference(PDC) that is underway at Los Angeles.

We now have a fair idea of what Windows 7 really is all about.

The PDC coverage also answers the biggest question people had in their minds -- Is Windows 7 just a "spruced up" Vista? This is what it was considered to be, when we had a very restrictive initial look at the leaked screen shots that appeared few weeks ago. Well, that argument has been laid to rest now with Microsoft offering a "hands-on" to the journalists who attended the PDC. They had on offer a Dell Laptop loaded with a Windows 7 pre-beta Build 6801.

These are the initial impressions of what the Windows 7 is all about -- and what it is not.

To start with, it is not just a Vista rehash. Yes, it retains the "family look" but there are many underlying changes that makes it a far better OS than its predecessor. Although I still think they should have opted for a full design-change to alienate itself from Vista, Microsoft chose not to do so and I believe they have valid reasons for that decision. So, what's new? And what is not? Read on.

First off, the build that was showcased during the PDC (6801) is reportedly an older version. This meant that several of the new features that were seen in some screenshots were not present in this build. For the record, screen shots have revealed newer build versions; namely build 6926 and 6933, which seems to be a more complete package -- albeit an unstable one.

Networking -- the Windows 7 way

To start off, connecting to a wireless network is now far easier. In fact, it is just one click away from the task bar -- to digress a bit here, the taskbar is another Windows component that has more or less remained the same over the years. Not any longer! The good ol' taskbar "text" has given way to icons (which does impart a somewhat gaudy look to it). More on the taskbar improvement later. As for choosing a WiFi network to hop on to: click on the icon on the task bar and you get a list of all the networks available. Click on the one you wish to join to and you're done! Now that's nifty but leaves me wonderin why such an interface was not offered earlier, through Vista.

UAC remains; but subtler now

The dreaded UAC (User Access Control) pop-ups still loom large. Yes, you have the option to turn them off in Vista... However, Microsoft thinks there are folks who would still want their computers to be a bit more proactive and let you know what your background programs are up to. So what's on offer? A slider control through which you decide whether to turn UAC off completely or let it pop up only when a program (and not you) makes a change to the system settings. Nice!

Sidebar: Killed

I am not sure how many of you found the Vista sidebar irritating, as I did. When screen real-estate is at a premium, it was a pain if you wanted to use the gadgets without the accompanying sidebar to eat up your resolution. Windows 7 has shown the sidebar the door but the gadgets remain: you are now free to place them anywhere on your screen. Finally!

HomeGroups

The Homegroup is supposed to be a tool to share files and media over a small home network. Apart from sharing printers, it can also help setup a share for other hardware, and allows for seamless inter-machine connectivity along with added security: you decide what to share and what not to. This is one of those networking solutions that is wizard-driven. The problem is that wizards rarely work uner the Windows ecosystem -- how many times have you run a networking wizard which successfully does nothing? Let's hope this one actually works.

Device Stage

Device Stage is an enhanced "auto-play" pop up when you connect an external device to your computer. The only difference is that now you have different interfaces for various hardware. By supported hardware, I mean the devices which provides content for the Device Stage will show up with "extra features", when connected, instead of the plain auto-play window that is the current norm. It remains to be seen if device manufacturers pick this up.

Taskbar

Yes we're back where we started. As I mentioned earlier, the taskbar has undergone a complete transformation after having been left unchanged since eternity. The quick launch has been discarded and now we have icons replacing the text that displayed running programs (very Mac OSX). The right click offers greater access to features and flexibility -- offering options such as opening recent files and related goodies.

Multitouch

Finally we have multitouch on the PC and prima-facie, it seems to work pretty well. While you might need a slight learning curve to start off with it, it won t take an user significant time to master it. And yes, it supports all the gestures you have in mind -- pinching, stretching and the others. Happy?

User Interface

Ok, nothing revolutionary here. It still looks like Vista (which most people might not like). But there have been minor changes. The Flip 3D remains along with the new taskbar (already previewed). Notable additions include a new windows resizing feature which has managed to turn some heads. And yes, the system tray has been upgraded as well. It now offers you more control over the (annoying) balloon pop ups -- letting you decide if you want to display an item on the tray permanently or not.

Mac Users Boo (as usual)

While many have welcomed the changes, Mac users claim most of the new features on the Windows 7 are simply Microsoft's version of existing OSX stuff. Yes, we have been hearing this ever since the Vista launch and now it has rather become a norm. Windows 7 is arguably the biggest change to the user interface that Windows have been through since XP and from what I see, it is a far cry from a rehashed Vista. With an expected 2009 launch it remains to be seen how it fares against the OSX SnowLeopard 10.6 due mid-2009.

A faster Windows?

Windows 7 will also aim to be leaner, faster and it won't crib for system resources -- a lesson well learnt from the Vista debacle. Remember the 'Vista capable' labels? To prove this, Windows SVP Steve Sinofsky showcased his personal laptop during the keynote which ran the OS smoothly. The netbook reportedly ran at 1Ghz with 1 GB of RAM. Now that's nice. An OS easier on the hardware is certainly welcome.

So what do you think of Windows 7? Is it enough of a change to encourage you to adopt it when it releases? What about those of you currently using Vista? Does Windows 7 offer sufficient reason to upgrade? Let us know by taking the poll on our homepage.

Via: Gizmodo

USER COMMENTS

WhaT IS THE COST AND WHEN WILL IT BE AVAILABLE IN INDIA. wILL i GET A UPGRADE OFFER FROM VISTA ULTIMATE?

by Rajanesh R.Swam, Bangalore, on Mar 20, 2009 01:35 PM, Report abuse Reply

For the people who say there are no new features, go ahead and suggest some. Provide some information to back up your arguments. And try not to take the features from Mac, you'll annoy the fanboys and they'll throw a tantrum. I personally won't upgrade to Vista until they have complete reverse-compatibiliy with XP hardware, software and drivers. Windows 7 will be out before then. Lets hope its good. Looks pretty nice so far. Yes, some of it is reminiscent of Mac, but Apple made the logical steps before Microsoft and they are now following the same logical processes. Ultimately there is one perfect OS, not two, and somewhere along the way Apple and Microsoft will join forces to create it. Until then, enjoy watching the two come together feature by feature.

by ReveredDesecrat, Adelaide, on Nov 04, 2008 08:38 PM, Report abuse Reply

it's previews who says MS OS' are good or better but afetr actual users review it will be actually reviewed. But nonetheless MAC OS' are good

by bhavin, ahemedabad, on Nov 03, 2008 12:06 PM, Report abuse Reply

well...worked on OSX last weekend...the experience was nothing short of exhilirating! if I were to buy my next computer...it would be a macbook or if in extreme poverty..would get a mac mini [:)]. for gaming I think it would be good to get an Xbox or a PS3...and games for the MAC are increasing though at an easier pace!

by Anish Nambiar, Hyderabad, on Oct 31, 2008 11:32 AM, Report abuse Reply

Even if Apple is not perfect, you have been "illuminating". Hope so much that Apple bring their OS to pc. Take a look at Hackintosh, for pc built using Mac OS - cheaper if you have the guts. Regards

by Micromou, Montreal, on Nov 02, 2008 09:20 PM, Report abuse

Everywhere I see articles on Windows 7, I just figure the same, Microsoft just don't understand what Apple did... They just try to imitate (like 3.1 versus Mac Classic) It just frustrating to see how many people are just sold with an OS that take almost 3-4 years to make it stable after it was on market. Are you really thinking that Microsoft code will surpassed BSD (or any Unix variation) in one way or another? They had 30 years to do it... but I think they need another billion years.

by Micromou, Montreal, on Nov 02, 2008 09:11 PM, Report abuse Reply

I'll believe it....when I see it. For the most part, there hasn't been a stable MS OS since 3.1. Wish I had it again.

by JustAUserNOTaTe, Fort Worth, on Nov 01, 2008 06:57 AM, Report abuse Reply

XP still rules... why would many of it's loyalists skip it for a newly groomed Vista.

by Grim, Blore, on Nov 01, 2008 12:00 AM, Report abuse Reply

expected trial version to be provided to users who is responding to this writeup. expecting the new os may function with lesser RAM capacity like MAC os.

by p.rajeevan, NEW DELHI, on Oct 31, 2008 12:17 PM, Report abuse Reply

XP is Aging too fast, We need to adopt a New OS with exceptional features & one that is easy on the system, Whether windows7 lives up to that reputation remains to be seen. XP has seen way too many service packs & enough patches already.

by Gadget Guy, Hyderabad, on Oct 31, 2008 05:57 AM, Report abuse Reply

this is really damm good man ..................i think it will much faster than vista...hope so

by nipunx, Delhi, on Oct 30, 2008 11:11 PM, Report abuse Reply

I'm not much of an M$ fan though I use XP alongside Ubuntu. I think in the long run, Vista will be like Windows ME - long forgotten. And good riddance too! Now WinME was closely followed by XP which became a huge success. Whether W7 will emulate this remains to be seen. I think it will - to a large extent because Vista has been such a spectacular failure; and people have to upgrade sometime!

by vjm, bombay, on Oct 29, 2008 08:53 PM, Report abuse Reply

If its really leaner on system resources then its welcome.... BTW it looks like a cheap rip off of Mac OSX......Major OS release so soon wont change the fact that Vista got lukewarm response and W7 wont be success unless final built has something really useful.

by VVK, Mum, on Oct 29, 2008 06:33 PM, Report abuse Reply

XXXXXXX

by VIRENDER, AMBALA, on Oct 29, 2008 05:51 PM, Report abuse Reply

Can't find any thing new...... It just the same old thing which are there in Vista. They have re-organized thing in new way. how this make window 7 better? Some UI changes that it.... Not enough to spend money.. It just the first preview.. hope MS will wake up and show something genuinely new and good.

by Rafiq, Bangalore, on Oct 29, 2008 05:42 PM, Report abuse Reply

depends.....they said they were going to use a newer lean mean kernel. that's one good reason to buy it. i'm still not convinced though.right now the only thing i'm waiting for most eagerly is ubuntu 8.10

by sandeep, chennai, on Oct 29, 2008 05:29 PM, Report abuse Reply

wow if windows 7 access less resource then it is certainly welcomed.

by karthik, Chennai, on Oct 29, 2008 04:42 PM, Report abuse Reply

i sure this Microsoft Windows 7 Flop guaranty Flop Windows Xp is Microsoft Everytime Best OS And tell Microsoft DO NOT COPY APPLE OS Wait and watch Microsoft Windows 7 Flop guaranty Flop

by justchillout, New york, on Oct 29, 2008 03:42 PM, Report abuse Reply