Evaluation copy. Build 7100
For the first time in my 25 years of computer history I have come across MS Windows OS that does not suck right out of the box. Miracles do happen.
For this moderate testing I run an older HP Compaq nc8000 model that has 1.6 Ghz Pentium M with 1 GB RAM and 14.1″ screen with ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600 graphics. Certainly nothing extreme or even fancy there if you consider up to date performance standards. However, it looks to me that this platform is quite efficient enough for running W7.
Why doesn’t it suck?
The doessuck/doesnotsuck sensation is eventually very personal opinion. Still it’s easy to point out some reasons that can contribute in general. The first observation is that everything runs smoothly. I mean that even with default settings and animations on it does not nibble or choke the puter. Simple test with streaming video, web browsing and program installation done all simultaneously gives promising results. Video does not cut off at any stage. In general the computer has good response.
I’m not used to this kind of performance and flexibility with prior Windows versions. Maybe it’s too early to say but for instance MS Word 2007 launches smoothly above all previous load. Naturally this reserves free memory up till 700 MB already. So I would imagine 2 GB RAM would be more convenient environment to work on a daily basis.
The second reason for sucking not is due to the fact that even a lot has been changed I still manage to find my way to connect Wi-Fi, play music & videos, browse Internet etc. without need for heavy retraining. I know that Word 2007 would probably be something I could benefit more while being trained properly. But I’m no Word expert anyway.
Yet W7 does not recognize my digital camera right away (like OS X does), it still identifyes the memory card while I plug the camera into USB. I have not tested anything else than Pentax *istD so far but there are at least two Canons and one Samsung video camera left. I’m only missing one firewire cable with proper (read: small) connectors at both ends.
Obvious conclusion what I have discovered is that W7 includes clearly less obstacles (less unlogical issues), than the predecessor Windows. W7 performs reasonably well in older hardware. Well better than the prior one. In addition to this, it looks good and attractive without any unnecessary and tasteless glaze.
Switching already?
Am I now going to switch into MS world and abandon Apples? Probably not. However, I’m prepared to use this along all other different computers in house. Let’s see if we are lucky to get really hot n sunny summer. Then I’m able to keep all these windows open.
Cheerio
