The OFFICIAL Windows 7 Thread

[fugibo]

I VOTE THAT THIS BE MADE IT!

Alright, since we already have two users posting their "Beta" threads, and I'm probably about to Bootcamp it, I think we should consolidate all three into this thread and sticky it for now.

More on Windows 7:

• Based on Vista, and therefore has equal or better driver support
  
• Much better performance
  
• Significantly enhanced UI
  
• Works with most programs
  
• Currently in RC, to be released during summer
  
• Will have a pay-for Windows XP Virtual Mode < only paid if your'e a cheapo and bought Basic, if you buy Pro or Ultimate it's free. (NAMKCOR edited this in)
  

Too lazy right now to post more; my moderator brethren, please aid me!

[Blizzard]

If it gets popular, it gets stickied. Let's see how it goes.

[tSwitch]

I love windows 7 so far, it's surprising, but I can say "love" and "Windows" without an "I don't" in the sentence and be telling the truth.

Everything I've had worked so far, and it isn't crashing or anything.
If people ask questions, I can answer, but I'm not sure what to say other than it works and it's good.

[G_G]

someone should make a list of tested programs (working or non working) I'm thinking about saving up for a new computer with windows 7.

[fugibo]

Game_Guy, if it works in Vista, in works in 7. And if you buy a lappy with VT-x/AMD-V (yes, MS is requiring hardware acceleration) and Vista Business/Ultimate, it'll work with all XP programs, too, because of the XP compatibility mode.

[tSwitch]

someone should make a list of tested programs (working or non working) I'm thinking about saving up for a new computer with windows 7.

every program I have tested works, here's the list:

Firefox
XChat
Pidgin
Adobe Master Suite CS4
RPG Maker
3ds Max 2009
Audacity
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
VLC
iTunes
World of Warcraft
Final Fantasy XI
Osu!
Audiosurf
Fallout 3
gMod
Half Life 2
Left 4 Dead
Team Fortress 2
Melty Blood: Act Cadenza
NeoTokyo
ePSXe
ZSnes
No$GBA
Source SDK
Microsoft Office
Ventrilo
Steam
AVG Free 8.5
Hamachi
Daemon Tools
gBurner
Rocket Dock
Torque Game Builder
Safari
Stepmania 3.9
Warcraft III: Frozen Throne

Not only that, but any hardware I plug in via USB just works.  7 Will find the drivers online within a few minutes usually, which is badass.  I had my Rock Band drumset plugged in and working with a tracking program, and my USB Game Controller works flawlessly.

Lastly, I didn't have to install a single driver when I put it on my computer.  The install ran, restarted my computer, and all my hardware was operational.  Video card, sound card, wireless card, my tablet screen, trackpad, keyboard, special volume controlling buttons, -everything-.  Every last bit of it which would ahve required drivers for XP or VistAIDS.

All in all, it's like with a Mac.  Windows 7 just -works-.

Game_Guy, if it works in Vista, in works in 7. And if you buy a lappy with VT-x/AMD-V (yes, MS is requiring hardware acceleration) and Vista Business/Ultimate, it'll work with all XP programs, too, because of the XP compatibility mode.

to nitpick and be more specific, if you buy Winsows 7 Business/Ultimate you get XP Mode, which isn't a 'compatibility mode' but actually integrated emulation of windows XP.  That meaning, it pretends that you're installing the XP-reliant programs in XP, installing them in a separate place on the harddrive, and treating all of the dependant programs as though they are in XP, all with a simulated environment.  There's no compatibility, it's like running XP inside 7, except without worrying about multiple desktop interfaces, or resources being split by the emulator.

[fugibo]

Which unfortunately makes XP programs slow as crap -- unless, of course, you have VT-x or AMD-V, which are Intel's and AMD's, respectively, implementations of hardware-accelerated virtualization. And I can testify that VT-x does work wonders -- full speed in RGSS with Windows 7 in VirtualBox on a Mac.

[Kagutsuchi]

I've had the beta for about 4 months, and I think it is very awesome. Though my computer do tend to freeze a few times, and firefox doesn't run as smothly as I'd want it to.

The only program I have had troubles with installing is Photoshop.

(both rmxp and rmvx works ^^)

[fugibo]

I've had the beta for about 4 months, and I think it is very awesome. Though my computer do tend to freeze a few times, and firefox doesn't run as smothly as I'd want it to.

The only program I have had troubles with installing is Photoshop.

(both rmxp and rmvx works ^^)

Graphics card problem mebe? What card do you have/what drivers/is Aero enabled?

[Kagutsuchi]

I've had the beta for about 4 months, and I think it is very awesome. Though my computer do tend to freeze a few times, and firefox doesn't run as smothly as I'd want it to.

The only program I have had troubles with installing is Photoshop.

(both rmxp and rmvx works ^^)

Graphics card problem mebe? What card do you have/what drivers/is Aero enabled?

My gfx card is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260

Dunno what Aero is really

[fugibo]

I've had the beta for about 4 months, and I think it is very awesome. Though my computer do tend to freeze a few times, and firefox doesn't run as smothly as I'd want it to.

The only program I have had troubles with installing is Photoshop.

(both rmxp and rmvx works ^^)

Graphics card problem mebe? What card do you have/what drivers/is Aero enabled?

My gfx card is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260

Dunno what Aero is really

"Aero" is the name for all the fancy effects in Vista/7, like the see-through windows and the fancy Windows Key + Tab thing.

Sounds like your card would be up to it -- did you make sure to install the right drivers?

[tSwitch]

"Aero" is the name for all the fancy effects in Vista/7, like the see-through windows and the fancy Windows Key + Tab thing.

Sounds like your card would be up to it -- did you make sure to install the right drivers?

Lastly, I didn't have to install a single driver when I put it on my computer.  The install ran, restarted my computer, and all my hardware was operational.  Video card, sound card, wireless card, my tablet screen, trackpad, keyboard, special volume controlling buttons, -everything-.  Every last bit of it which would ahve required drivers for XP or VistAIDS.

this isn't your grandfather's Windows WcW.  he wouldn't have had to install a driver at all, though an update might help.  my mircophone was being wonky until I updated the sound driver.

[fugibo]

"Aero" is the name for all the fancy effects in Vista/7, like the see-through windows and the fancy Windows Key + Tab thing.

Sounds like your card would be up to it -- did you make sure to install the right drivers?

Lastly, I didn't have to install a single driver when I put it on my computer.  The install ran, restarted my computer, and all my hardware was operational.  Video card, sound card, wireless card, my tablet screen, trackpad, keyboard, special volume controlling buttons, -everything-.  Every last bit of it which would ahve required drivers for XP or VistAIDS.

this isn't your grandfather's Windows WcW.  he wouldn't have had to install a driver at all, though an update might help.  my mircophone was being wonky until I updated the sound driver.

Err, no. I've used Win7, and you do have to install some drivers - such as the 9400M in a MacBook. Windows isn't perfect at it, despite the infinite improvements made in this version. Given that he said Fx was slow and that his computer froze -- both issues I have personally experienced from having no/bad graphics drivers -- I have a feeling he might need to go seek out the drivers from the manufacturer themself, but I could be wrong.

[tSwitch]

Err, no. I've used Win7, and you do have to install some drivers - such as the 9400M in a MacBook. Windows isn't perfect at it, despite the infinite improvements made in this version. Given that he said Fx was slow and that his computer froze -- both issues I have personally experienced from having no/bad graphics drivers -- I have a feeling he might need to go seek out the drivers from the manufacturer themself, but I could be wrong.

easiest way to tell if it installed a driver, is if his resolution is skewed and out of proportions.  If that's not the case, then a driver update may be needed, if that is the case, then it's missing and Win7 missed one.

[fugibo]

Err, no. I've used Win7, and you do have to install some drivers - such as the 9400M in a MacBook. Windows isn't perfect at it, despite the infinite improvements made in this version. Given that he said Fx was slow and that his computer froze -- both issues I have personally experienced from having no/bad graphics drivers -- I have a feeling he might need to go seek out the drivers from the manufacturer themself, but I could be wrong.

easiest way to tell if it installed a driver, is if his resolution is skewed and out of proportions.  If that's not the case, then a driver update may be needed, if that is the case, then it's missing and Win7 missed one.

Once again, not necessarily. It turns out the Windows 7 can actually use proper resolutions without a graphics card driver now (which makes sense, since you wouldn't need DX/OGL for basic VGA/DVI). I had 1280x768 before I installed my driver, which is admittedly slightly off (my screen is 1280x800), but my resolution is kinda weird.

[tSwitch]

point taken.
this is all really moot though, since he said he had trouble installing Photoshop, nto running it, and until we get more details we're just jumping to conclusions with no real info to work with.

[Kagutsuchi]

Yes I have the most updates drivers, otherwise I wouldn't be able to play Age of Conan

[fugibo]

Yes I have the most updates drivers, otherwise I wouldn't be able to play Age of Conan

I'm sorry to say "not necessarily" again. As it turns out, Windows 7 can operate perfectly fine _without_ the proper drivers.

Of course, given that your problem is Fx's behavior, it's probably not the graphics card if AoC plays well =/

[Blizzard]

Err, no. I've used Win7, and you do have to install some drivers - such as the 9400M in a MacBook. Windows isn't perfect at it, despite the infinite improvements made in this version. Given that he said Fx was slow and that his computer froze -- both issues I have personally experienced from having no/bad graphics drivers -- I have a feeling he might need to go seek out the drivers from the manufacturer themself, but I could be wrong.

Since it would be so very smart from MS to include drivers for Apple hardware.

But graphic drivers ever can't be considered final so updating is a good idea. There will always be new graphic drivers and it is recommended to update every few months if not even monthly.

But my point here has actually already been said. Win 7 does work _without_ the proper drivers. Of course you would be smart to update them anyway.

[fugibo]

Err, no. I've used Win7, and you do have to install some drivers - such as the 9400M in a MacBook. Windows isn't perfect at it, despite the infinite improvements made in this version. Given that he said Fx was slow and that his computer froze -- both issues I have personally experienced from having no/bad graphics drivers -- I have a feeling he might need to go seek out the drivers from the manufacturer themself, but I could be wrong.

Since it would be so very smart from MS to include drivers for Apple hardware.

But graphic drivers ever can't be considered final so updating is a good idea. There will always be new graphic drivers and it is recommended to update every few months if not even monthly.

But my point here has actually already been said. Win 7 does work _without_ the proper drivers. Of course you would be smart to update them anyway.

The 9400M is just an uncommon part, it's used in PCs too, namely one HP I've gotten results for every time I've searched for Windows/Linux drivers for the card.


EDIT: I'd like to point out that I'm very sad the best feature most people can see in 7 is Aero Shake. Virtual Workspaces work much, much better and would've been much more welcome. Also, the feature that turns all your windows to glass (can't remember what it's called, I think it might be multiple actually) doesn't make any sense at all - it just makes it harder to see anything >_<