18 cool things Windows 7 does that Vista doesn't

45. You forgot one very important thing windows 7 does, which is to actually work! If i remeber correctly that was one of the crucial points in windows 7 sales :D

-

Peace out

44. @ kelv1969: That's because the way the Vista hardware scored compared with Windows 7 is different. They've changed the way the test is run. In other words, do your research. A lower Windows 7 score doesn't mean a slower PC.

43. Pc performance tests have shown me that Windows 7 clocks up a lower score than the same hardware running vista. So if your hardware is running nicely on vista I would advise not to change to Windows 7. It would be like 'downgrading' and paying for the privilege.

42. Windows 7 is OK. not worth scrapping existing equipment and spending extra cash on new systems just to run it though. Having said that I've found that even on a six year old obscure desktop windows 7 fully installed all necessary drivers, apart from the nvidia graphics driver (which is not supported). So don't buy a new rig. persevere with your current one and change the problem hardware and moan to the hardware vendor for not providing drivers for their older kit.

41. I started out with Windows (actually DOS) but now I am primarily an OS X user. I still use Windows laptops, and create Windows software.

I fail to understand how so many Windows users talk despairingly of Windows 7, and how reluctant they are to embrace new features. IMHO, Windows 7 is a giant leap forward from any previous Windows system.

40. Hi guys well for me windows 7 is just a better looking version of vista, although their are some nice differences compared to vista.

But for me windows 7 don't load up windows any faster than vista can, but for me i have got a lot more freedom with Windows 7

But you'll need quite a reasonable...spec pc to allow it to work & perform at it's beast.

Also as you know it takes Micrisoft a little wile to iron the bugs out with god knows how many updates,& yes i know that every operating system made by MS allway ends up making a newer OS system before finishing there last one...

I personally like windows 7 a lot so far touch wood lol...)

39. cool comparison, thanks for the post

38. There is one cool thing I am going to do... Stick with what I have got..the cool thing I wont have to do is start messing with the regedit to get the thing to work!

37. I just performed a clean install on my toshiba laptop (satalite p100-216). Although the toshiba website didn't have any x64 vista or windows 7 drivers I only needed to visit nvidia to download the x64 beta drivers and Synaptics for the touchpad. The wifi and sound worked straight away.

If deciding whether to upgrade or not it seems to me that if you have Vista then upgrade, if you have XP on a new quick machine then upgrade. If you have XP on a old machine or don't want DX10 stick with XP at least for now.

36. I seriously cannot believe that people who read this website to keep up to date with upcoming technologies find it so difficult to embrace the 'new'.

Windows 7 is an advance over Vista and XP. It may not be perfect but from the user's perspective the whole experience is significantly easier to get along with and far more intuitive. Throw in more stability and hey presto... a better system!

Whether 7 is better that OSX or Linux is completely subjective. We may as well argue how long a piece of string is. I, and I'm sure others too are sick of fanboys banging on about this that and the other.

For those with compatibility issues, why vent your anger at MS when the old software you should be updated to accommodate the new? I mean, you wouldn't blame MS if ATI made wrote drivers that caused Windows to crash would you? I may be wrong but it seems illogical as the market and tech has to move forward. it cant slow down for the sake of a minority.

@ Lovelid - I agree, If it runs on my old Tosh it will run on anything!

Sorry for the rant. Just curious as to why it gets so heated on TechRadar these days.

35. To summarise.

A few minor tweaks to the UI and the inclusion of some features that were previously only available as freeware you had to download yourself. The only major point is the workaround to the problem MS made for themselves with the inability to keep XP software running. They've obviously worked out that this is a factor for a lot of people.

So apart from the superficial desktop changes, there's no reason to upgrade my XP box - which is just as well as I doubt it could support the extra bloat.

34. @ sjlowe.

"So I ran the compatibility test on my Tosh laptop. Virtually none of the Toshiba features is supported from graphics card through touchpad to the audio system."

You have been to the Toshiba support and downloads page, yes? No major problems reported there. And the graphics wont be made by Toshiba, so you really ought to look at nvidia or ati for that solution. How old is your laptop? this guy,

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/11688-test-installed-7137-toshiba-satellite.html

loaded Windows 7 onto a satellite 3000 s353, a machine not even supported on Toshiba's discontinued laptops database. Fair enough its only good for browsing, but it works.

"Add this to the need to do a full clean install and then put all the software back and you may see why I won't be upgrading."

Lazy much? ;-)

33. So I ran the compatibility test on my Tosh laptop. Virtually none of the Toshiba features is supported from graphics card through touchpad to the audio system. Add this to the need to do a full clean install and then put all the software back and you may see why I won't be upgrading.

32. Being in my 50's I don't learn as quickly as the kids and I also find I have less time to devote to the computer. We don't know enough about Windows 7 to form an opinion yet but anything new will have its problem. I have a relative who has been engaged testing the system for a good while now and his opinion is: "Rock solid. Great. Nothing worries it and it doesn't fall over." Whenever I have to do anything on a computer there always seems to be a series of hurdles in the way. Either you need to re-configure, download yet another driver or software to make things work or generally get way out of your depth and end up scrapping the project. I quite like the idea that you'll never need to download another driver (maybe) and simply plug things in and let 7 do it for you. Personally, anything that makes the infernal box simpler to use has to be good. Let's give it a chance.

31. I'm 63 and I keep thinking I am reading a bunch of old ladies whining about sumthin as I go on in here. sheesh

30. why is everyone an 'it profesional'? Get of your freaking high horses. If that bloke like ubuntu (so do i), let him. If that other one likes mac os x (so do i), let him. If that OTHER one likes any windows os (meh, so do i, kind of), let him. I know what I like, to ME, os x is the superior of the three.

Oh, and speaking as an 'it profesional' (i'm an administrator - not a network admin, just normal admin with paper), stop bickering and just get on with it! Horses for courses. What ever floats your boat. Hoes for bros, etc..

Commentards, the lot of you.

29. What a bunch of whingeing killjoys!! Anyone would think that Microsoft had announced the end of civilisation as we know it from the tone of some of the vitriol on here. Ferchristsakes, if you don't want to use it, then don't. If you have lost your sense of excitement when a new piece of software or hardware comes out then read something else. There are those of us around who are still keen on news like this (and similar news about hardware, or Linux, or pretty much any tech advances). If you don't like it then bugger off elsewhere!

28. "12. Homegroup Networking

In Vista (or, frankly, any Windows OS), creating a shared folder over a network at home could be a bit of a pain. In Windows 7, using the 'Homegroup' wizard, check the default folders you would like to share. This will give you a passcode that will have to be entered in another computer on the same network to share the files. Sounds too good to be true? There is a catch: only a Windows 7 computer can join a Homegroup."

I managed to get my laptop running Xubuntu to show on my Homegroup so it is possible to get other operating systems to join your Homegroup.

27. I have been using Win 7 since the RC1 came out and I have to say it is really good. I also have a Mac, machines running XP, Vista, Server 2003 and 2008.

I think each OS has something that it's good at. If you want to run a unix OS at home, Mac beats the pants out of any Linux implementation I have used.

If you want to get work done you cannot beat Windows. Mac has a lot of visual gloss but I am not sure if it helps with productivity. If anything the Mac is cumbersome for multitasking. Try opening a modal dialog on an application, switching to another application to do something, then switching back to the app with the open dialog. Big problems! How about maximizing a window? Can't do it on the Mac.

On the other hand, all of the new visuals in Windows 7 directly impact productivity. It's not just for looks it's to help you get your work done.

The other huge change is the optimizations at the network layer. You may have read a bunch of blogs saying that browsing is slower in Windows 7. Don't believe it. Maybe JavaScript runs a fraction of a second slower but who cares. The fact that your network stack makes connecting to a server and downloading data faster makes the entire experience an order of magnitude more responsive.

Furthermore, any one who posts negative comments about a product that have never used just because they are a fan boy is an idiot.

P.S.

All of you XP hold outs. Either embrace change or embrace long term unemployment!