There's a lot to love about Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 7. However, there's also some features that we're less enthusiastic about. Check out Windows 7's worst features.
Features we really could do without
Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 7, has been available for more than six months.
In that time, its become clear that there's a lot to love about the Windows 7.
It's fast, it looks great and it has some cool features - like Jump Lists for quickly opening recently used files, Homegroup for sharing files between computers, and Aero Snap to help you quickly organise your open desktop windows.
The operating system addresses some of the problems that plagued its predecessor, Windows Vista, such as the Universal Access Control security system, the constant stream of notifications, and the lack of device drivers for printers and other peripherals.
Microsoft hasn't solved all of those issues - in fact, getting Windows 7 drivers for some printers continues to be a struggle - but so far Windows 7 is a vast improvement over Vista, despite their underlying similarities.
That said, Windows 7 has downsides of its own.
Some of the problems involve minor inefficiencies that grow annoying over time; others truly degrade the user experience through lack of functionality, poor organization, or an overabundance of choice.
Here are the problem children of Windows 7 - the faulty features I found in the Home Premium version of Microsoft's latest OS.
When clicking isn't switching
If you're looking for a good reason never to use Internet Explorer 8 in Windows 7, try this: Open multiple tabs in IE 8 and open a Microsoft Word document.
Then click the IE icon in the taskbar, and... nothing happens.
Instead of switching over to Internet Explorer as you'd expect it to, Windows 7 greets you with miniature pop-ups for every tab you've opened in IE and asks you to choose the one you'd like to go to.
This feature, called Aero Peek, is actually a nice idea, since you get to choose the tab you want to see.
But we've been trained for years to expect to switch to a new program when we click on its icon in the taskbar, so why change the behaviour now?
In Windows 7, many Microsoft-made programs (including Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer 8 and Windows Live Messenger) use this feature.
But since you can also activate Aero Peek by hovering over a taskbar icon instead of clicking it, a better solution for Windows 7 would be, hover to peek but click to switch.
NEXT PAGE: The automatic switch
- Features we really could do without
- The automatic switch
- Windows Live – an essential hassle
- Vague control panel
- Elusive 'My Documents' folder
Comments
Jon said: I dont mind Windows 7 but for once there are things in 7 that just complicate the hell out of people I would really wish there was just a basic modeand then add features as you want them because explaining it to someone who doesnt know it or use them is a pain in the proverbial backside
Neil W said: The only problem with Windows 7 is no way of switching off Full Row Select in Explorer this was possible in Vista why does it not work in 7
Ekim said: This has got to be the worst article Ive ever read on PC AdvisorNot only are half of the points actually incorrect as you can do what he says you cant but those that are true - to an extent are just complete and utter nit-picking And you cant seriously expect OS X and Windows to interact theyre foe not friendA tip for you Ian Paul if Win7 is really this bad in your opinion then either stay with your OS X and dont moan or even better attempt to create a superior OS to both of those and then post your pathetic attempts for us all to ridicule and nitpick
Cyteck said: I for one can see both sides of the argument- a for those with XP who are happy or dont have deep pockets why change or upgrade just for the sake of it So if it aint broke dont fix itb Actually if you like XP then in my opinion you wont be disappointed by windows 7 its an excellent windows version and does improve on XP in a number of subtle ways OK I accept moving to XP isnt a simple job for a non technical person but after backing up your data amp wiping the disk amp rebuilding a new system the end results are 100 worth it Nobody like facing change but moving from XP to win7 was one change I have regrets about even after 7 years of using XP
ardubbleyu said: Isnt this a bit nit-picky And isnt it time to leave XP behind I for one would have been disappointed if I had installed 7 and found the it behaved exactly like XP
callum said: The article says its a hassle to change the desktop background No its not just right click a photo and click set as desktop background - exactly like the older OSs worked
Cyteck said: Microsoft has evolved amp developed amp tried to improve windows along the way over many years Some versions of windows were to put it politely rather a poor job such as windows ME amp Vista for a variety of reasons which we all can appreciate now looking back However Microsoft has also produced some outstanding versions of windows again not perfect bye any means but extremely good amp windows XP is one of those great versions Windows 7 is also an outstanding windows version YES Microsoft has I think finally started to learn that windows is made worse by adding far far too many features to much complexity to an already highly complex product Windows 7 is good because of what Microsoft removed NOT so much for what they added IMOFinally windows 7 amp device driver support is a MASSIVE improvement over XP
hoppy said: Given the problems of previous versions of Windows it would be fair to say that this article is rather pettyI hated Vista and binned it after a short period for genuine reasons but ive found 7 to be a worthy upgrade from XP and with all upgrades there is change Simples
Trevor Dennett-Thorpe said: What an utter load of rubbish Your first 2 points are basically moaning about something having changed because you liked it the old wayThe screen-grab issue is also just another moan and comparison to OS-X You fail to mention that you have always been able to do a full screen grab in Windows by pressing the Print Screen key or the current window by pressing Alt-Print ScreenAlso OS-X may save it as a PNG automatically but what if want a JPEG I would then have to open it in an imaging package to convert it At least in Windows it gives you a choice something Apple like to avoid doing as to what format to save it asAs for the gadgets I hated the sidebar in Vista as it was ugly Again moaning for moanings sakeMaybe you should go back to Windows 95 or even 31
chris markham said: this is one very goodactually no its an awful article all youve is list a few features that make windows 7 even better and tried to tirn them into negatives you do realise that most of the hates that youve listed have been lauded by the majority of people as major leaps forward for a windows os are you working for apple on the side by any chance
Col said: Completely agree with T0yz As i was thinking the same the whole time i was reading itcomplaining about Homegroups not being in an older OS is just stupid and shows the level of cry-baby-ness of this articleMany more sighs
Col said: Completely agree with T0yz As i was thinking the same the whole time i was reading itcomplaining about Homegroups not being in an older OS is just stupid and shows the level of cry-baby-ness of this articleMany more sighs
t0yz said: You guys actually pay this Ian Paul I never read such a cry-baby article on a major site before Are you afraid to learn ANYTHING Afraid to adapt to new stuff Well thats OK people are different but some of us just face the ahem challenge and find solutions Or are Windows 7 users supposed to be idiotic fools that have no will to investigate why things happen differently nowYeah the system could be polished its not perfect but most of your worst bits are just fear of change because of poor tech education Please bash the Homegroup exclusivity by all means thats indeed a shortcoming but Elusive My DocsMany sighs here