Windows 7 review

Updated: Our final and definitive verdict on the best Windows operating system ever

Our Score 5

Last reviewed: 2009-08-07August 7th 2009

Operating systems Review

Price at launch	£229.99
Product Type	Operating System
Brand Name	Microsoft
Software Sub Type	Client
Distribution Media/Method	DVD-ROM
Licence Type	License and Media
Platform Supported	PC
Language Supported	Danish
Licence Quantity	1 PC
Manufacturer	Microsoft Corporation
Product Name	Windows 7 Ultimate - 64-bit
Software Name	Windows7 Ultimate 64-bit
Licence Pricing	OEM
Manufacturer Part Number	GLC-00734
Manufacturer Website Address	www.microsoft.co.uk
Marketing Information	Windows 7 Ultimate is the most versatile and powerful edition of Windows 7. It combines remarkable ease-of-use with the entertainment features of Home Premium and the business capabilities of Professional, including the ability to run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode. For added security, you can encrypt your data with BitLocker and BitLocker To Go. And for extra flexibility, you can work in any of 35 languages. Get it all with Windows 7 Ultimate.

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Windows 7

On sale for

£173.03

from Saverstore com

Retailer	Price
currys.co.uk	£168.95
Europc UK	£169.76
pcworld.co.uk	£168.95
Novatech.co.uk	£184.99

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Product Summary

For

Improved performance

Pinned icons

Live thumbnails

Jump lists and window snaps make Aero useful as well as attractive

New ways of organising files with libraries

Improved backup

Less annoying notifications

Against

XP Mode isn't an integrated option yet

Microsoft backed down on libraries and Ctrl-E brings up My Computer instead

You can't add NAS drives to libraries

Ultimate edition is almost unnecessary except for adding BitLocker – which should be in the Professional Edition – and rather expensive (as are the Anytime Upgrades)

Yes, it's what Vista should have been (but it's more than that)