Blogs3,454 Entries

Windows 7: consumer heaven?

October 15, 2009

Windows 7Kudos to Microsoft: Windows Vista is iconic. Even outside the confines of the tech ghetto, Vista is now a byword for failure, recently appearing as a punchline in Radio 4's venerable News Quiz. Vista has arrived.

That level of public recognition is an achievement, and unfair. I mean it. Vista isn't a bad piece of software. It isn't.

But it didn't match expectations - given the hype, how could it? And anyway, even if Vista had arrived fit for purpose, features and peripherals working seamlessly (and it palpably didn't), there'd have still been disappointment. Because, in line with all other Windows OS releases, Vista's system overhead is greater than its predecessors.

Think about it: if you bought the hype and purchased a Vista licence at launch, you'd have put it on to a machine used to running XP. The result of your investment - instantly slower PC. Slower, more expensive PC. Boo.

Even if you bought a brand-new Vista computer, the chances are it would cost more and run more slowly than a similarly priced XP rig. No single feature in Vista made this a worthwhile proposition. (You've got to really love UAC to buy that deal.)

Windows 7 changes this. In line with the current mania for less is more, Windows 7 is, in fact, easier on your PC than its predecessor was at launch. As processing power gets faster and cheaper year on year, this makes a Windows 7 PC a faster PC.

Consider it: the computer is now a consumer technology purchase. The majority of modern PC buyers are non-techies who require only web browsing, iTunes and productivity apps. They buy on price and looks, and they want their 'pooter to, well, just work. Such users care little for underlying technology: speed counts. A lot.

Vista's good name was battered by yer average punter trying it, finding it unfamiliar and slow, and slating it. Imagine then the PR effect of the reverse: a surprisingly fast, familiar OS. Could be that Windows is back.

Posted by: Matt Egan

What is this?

<<newer entry  |  older entry>>

Comments

Posted by The Judge on October 15, 2009 :

This is badly written. The child that wrote this is re-cycling vapid comments in the real media. Off you pop young lad: time to bench test a processor methinks.

Posted by Randall C Kennedy on October 15, 2009 :

Mr. Judge. Why don't you shut your god damn mouth? Huh? I mean these guys do good stuff. Peanuts for pay, they keep pumping out content day after day and all you can do is sit back and be really snarky.

Posted by Penuzpuz on October 15, 2009 :

Matt's right. If it's on the News Quiz you know you've really arrived. Excellent article.

Posted by JR Raphael on October 15, 2009 :

I'm with the big man - senor RCK - on this one. You need to watch your god damn mouth Mr 'I'm so goddamn clever' Judge. You lie.

Posted by don't get it. on October 15, 2009 :

say you had a machine runing win98, then bought win2000 on a new machine. Do you ever think about how fast Win98 would run on new machine?

I can't think about how stupid this argument is. For so long people ranting about Vista, they are lying.

Posted by Beve Stallmer on October 16, 2009 :

I think we all agree that you should shut your goddamn mouth Mr Judge.

Posted by Gazo on October 16, 2009 :

PC Advisor on and offline is usually pretty good - this article does provoke thought and comment. But let's be polite to each other.

Posted by don't get it. on October 16, 2009 :

say you had a machine runing win98, then bought win2000 on a new machine. Do you ever think about how fast Win98 would run on new machine?

I can't think about how stupid this argument is. For so long people ranting about Vista, they are lying.

Posted by Stout yeoman on October 16, 2009 :

Methinks you doth talketh out of yonder bum.

Posted by Matt Egan on October 26, 2009 :

Wow. Good time to take a week off! I think that Windows 7 having a relatively reduced system overhead is interesting. Actually, I think it's disruptive. But hey ho, not everyone agrees. As to our peanuts for pay: all donations gratefully received!

Matt

PC Advisor staff
Blogger Daily news, views and thoughts from the PC Advisor staff as they put together the magazine. Collectively the PC Advisor team has over 100 years of computing experience, so as you'll imagine they're never short of an opinion or two.
Email author(s)

Latest entries


Entries by month

Feb10  |  Jan10  |  Dec09  |  Nov09
Oct09  |  Sep09  |  Aug09  |  Jul09
Jun09  |  May09  |  Apr09  |  Mar09
Feb09  |  Jan09  |  Dec08  |  Nov08
Oct08  |  Sep08  |  Aug08  |  Jul08
Jun08  |  May08  |  Apr08  |  Mar08
Feb08  |  Jan08  |  Dec07  |  Nov07
Oct07  |  Sep07  |  Aug07  |  Jul07
Jun07  |  May07  |  Apr07  |  Mar07
Feb07  |  Jan07  |  Dec06  |  Nov06
Oct06  |  Sep06  |  Aug06  |  Jul06
Jun06  |  May06  |  Apr06  |  Mar06
Feb06  |  Jan06  |  Dec05  |  Nov05
Oct05  

Google

Search blogs

PC Advisor Software Store


Other blogs


 Our RSS feeds

Sponsored Content

  • Take the internet to new places with the Nokia N800
    Communicate how you want to, where you want to with instant messaging, email and internet calling. View movies, browse the internet wirelessly and watch TV on the high-resolution screen and listen through high-quality stereo speakers with headphone jack.
    Buy now