Windows 7 Keeps the Good, Tries to Fix Flaws, review.
And Pogue has some interesting comments based on the Win7 review's reader feedback. It is interesting for example that virtually all reviewers really liked Vista when it came out, but now it is widely considered very poor, and a flop. (Myself, I've only used it for a couple hours on my mac, so I have no strong opinion. Seemed all right.)
"As recently as this summer, at least two-thirds of corporate computers were still running the positively ancient Windows XP."
Really? Wow. Even though, as David also points out, nothing threatens MS, they gotta hate a statistic like that! Compared to that, the propagation of OS X is a triumph. Of course you could say they had a much smaller userbase to convince.
Or you could say for the first time Windows was adequate and corporate users just didn't see much value in upgrading. Given the costs and risks many IT departments decided to just stay with what was working.
ReplyDeleteAccording to what I've read there is no direct upgrade path from XP to W7 - you have to go via Vista. I find that hard to believe but if true then MS has royally shot themselves in the foot. If IT departments didn't want to upgrade to Vista what makes MS think they'll want to do it just so they can dump it for W7?
Well, the machines with XP on them must be pretty durn old now. Or what?
ReplyDeleteEO said, "Well, the machines with XP on them must be pretty durn old now."
ReplyDeleteNot true. You can still (as of yesterday anyway) buy computers (aka. Dell) with Windows XP on it. It's considered a downgrade option. You actually get a Vista OS, but it comes with XP loaded on it. If you ever wanted to upgrade to Vista you could.
FYI, I work in the computer consulting field and I only have 2 customers that are using Vista. Personally and Professionally I don't like it at all.
OK, off the bandwagon now..(grin)
Considering that I saw some computers in a non-home enviroment finally get upgraded from Windows 2000 to Windows XP last year, still have Windows XP on a computer is not as big of a deal.
ReplyDeleteI decided to forego Vista 'cuz I heard it was such a piece of "work"! I would much rather have something that works rather than an "upgrade" that is consistently failing me!! Now, that is pure MISERY!! :-(
ReplyDeleteHere is a site where you can find the latest figures on operating systems usage, and other related data such as browsers, etc. -
ReplyDeletehttp://marketshare.hitslink.com/
Check the links in the left column.
Up until a few months ago, 68% of all computer users were still using Windows XP.
The BBC has a story detailing 3 machines being upgraded to W7. It sounds like you can go from XP -> W7 but only using the "clean install" method. They do give you a tool to copy over program settings but you will need to re-install all software first. So you can bypass Vista but only by starting clean.
ReplyDeleteChris S. said...
ReplyDelete"...you will need to re-install all software first. So you can bypass Vista but only by starting clean."
Well that's equally "helpful" ain't it?! RIDICULOUS!! I am -- for SURE -- going MAC, next time!!! :-(
"Windows: the Good, the Bad, and the downright Ugly."
ReplyDeleteWatch sequel #7, now in overpriced download available everywhere.
"Sorry, sir, no more than one soul per customer accepted."
"I find that hard to believe but if true then MS has royally shot themselves in the foot."
That was definitely one of the most disturbing scenes in the movie...
"Well, the machines with XP on them must be pretty durn old now."
My new system after my hard drive incident has been running on XP for a mere couple of months...
Also, when I bought an Eee about one year ago, it came with a Win XP CD.
To think I had expressedly chosen it with Linux in hopes of paying less!
Effin' vermin is EVERYWHERE.
"I work in the computer consulting field and I only have 2 customers that are using Vista."
So you have two unsatisfied customers.
Oh, I forgot: the others are nevertheless using Windows... ;-p
"OK, off the bandwagon now..(grin)"
Watch that step, it's a doozy!
(Yup, it's a very BIG bandwagon. Used to serve for transporting whale aquariums...)
Well, maybe some of you will recall I mentioned I had to replace my computer early this year. Have been running Vista since, and I like it!
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious to me that most people criticizing Vista haven't tried it, for one. True, I wouldn't want to run it on an old computer, but I wouldn't want to use an old computer anyway, now that I've gotten used to the new one! :-D I also never adopt any piece of software that's not at least a year old or more, as I don't have any guinea pig ambitions. Vista was no exception, perhaps the early releases were really that bad, dunno.
Anyway, upgrading to Vista from Win2KPro was reminiscent of the quantum leap between Win3.11 & Win95, simply isn't the same breed of animal.
Some remote areas do feel unfinished, though, so I might very well be moving to Win7 in a year or so (performance improvements in the graphics department will be welcome too, if they are real).
(captcha = "endup")