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114 Comments
- mkriss5681, on 11/09/2009, -3/+56I stopped reading after "I skipped the upgrade from NT to XP."
- roflcopter47, on 11/09/2009, -0/+49What a moron. Let me get this straight:
He wants to make the next Windows 7 DIAL-UP user friendly, yet he wants to REMOVE 32-bit support?
What kind of cutting-edge hardware does he think those dial-up users are running? - JoeHague, on 11/09/2009, -3/+47"I have 22 icon shortcuts on my desktop"
That's when I stopped reading/ - diggdong, on 11/09/2009, -1/+33I've spent hours and hours watching the old graphic defrag operation. Very entertaining.
- Spanq, on 11/09/2009, -1/+32No more rebooting. End that *****. It's almost 2010 and I still have to reboot my machine because I changed my workgroup name?
- bashmohandesx, on 11/09/2009, -3/+33Basically the article should be renamed too, "The 10 things can screw up windows 8", the 10 things are pure *****, like remove support for 32bit & 16bit apps, this is the best feature of Windows ever, it is backward compatible, if a business paid 1 million dollar for an application in 1995 they won't go pay another 1 million dollars to get a newer version just for the sake of running the new shinny windows 8. this is exactly what happened with Vista when some crappy applications were not working right on Vista, and Microsoft will not do that again.
Just for honesty sake, I second the footprint part - madwh, on 11/09/2009, -8/+33Windws 7 NEEDS an expose-like feature, don't even mention flip3d.
this http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/8366/vistaflip3d. ...
vs http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/4075/screenshot20 ...
Which one you'd say is more useful? - mufasa, on 11/09/2009, -0/+23That's how i spend my saturday evenings.. Nothing like a few beers, some good food, and watching the defrag with some friends.
- enantiodromia, on 11/09/2009, -2/+21#1: a root login (if you want me to use Windows at work, you have to meet me half way)
#2: a BASH shell (if you want me to use Windows at work, you have to meet me half way)
#3: an SSH client (if you want me to use Windows at work, you have to meet me half way)
#4: all of the SysInternals tools, native (Microsoft bought SysInternals, yet don't use their tools)
#5: no DRM (duh)
#6: customizable Control Panel (95% of those icons are never used and cause clutter)
#7: intelligent file transfer (one failed CRC should not halt the entire batch transfer)
#8: remember Windows view settings (getting tired of reminding Windows what columns I want to see)
#9: the WinCustomize tools (it's sad it takes third party apps to make Windows look and act nice)
#10: apps store/repo/ports (like every other OS in the world) - burrdugg, on 11/09/2009, -0/+17I always loved that game. Beating the blue team was near impossible, the red team got owned every round. I never quite understood the reason why. Too bad Microsoft removed it in Vista.
- ryrocker, on 11/09/2009, -2/+18but i like the task manager
=[ - pika2000, on 11/09/2009, -1/+151. Get rid of the current notion of "upgrade" vs "retail" versions. Just 1 type of license for the consumers, and allow people to do straight install from the install disc, period. No ifs or buts, just do it straight, less confusion and makes legit owners happy too. Piracy? Let's face it, pirates are not affected with this crap in the first place, only legit owners are.
2. Price it accordingly. Really, charging that much money for the full retail license is ridiculous. The pre-order pricing is what the prices should've been.
3. Simplify the SKU. Really, just release the pro version as THE version. No need for starter/home premium/Ultimate. I bet it will actually cost more money for MS to make different DVD/ISO versions of the OS then simply stamp out 1 version.
4. Force PC manufactures to include the REAL Windows DVD. Or, at least allow users to download the ISO of Windows straight from Microsoft. Piracy? People would still need the key anyway, so providing the ISO straight from MS will only benefit users instead of trying to find one on P2P and risk being infected with malware.
5. Make USB installation as standard. In the age of netbooks, optical drive is not that commonplace anymore. More and more laptops are void of optical drive too. Even better, ship Windows on USB drives. Save on packaging, shipping, and carbon footprint!
Well, that's what on my mind so far, only 5. Windows 7 itself is already pretty nice (minus all the complaints above). I can only complain about tiny things, like how the network icon is not showing activity signs anymore. - Tddupre, on 11/09/2009, -3/+13How about replacing the registry
- ldkronos, on 11/09/2009, -1/+11Don't worry. You didn't miss much
- crazzy88ss, on 11/09/2009, -4/+13Why digg that down? I use it dozens of times on my mac, and I miss it when I switch over to run windows.
- Bbanda, on 11/09/2009, -1/+10Ever since 7 I haven't had a single desktop icon. NONE. I'ts not hard people its just folder/file management especially with the new pin system and right click for explorer/control panel. Not to mention windows key is instant search. I decided to let this one go cause lots of people can't do without icons. I stopped reading when he said he was one of those geeks that does constant reinstalls. Bet it was for viruses too, If he knew how to use a computer right you don't need to do a reinstall. I haven't used virus protection in who knows how long you just need to use your damn head, go ahead click porn.exe I dare you.
- sylv3r, on 11/09/2009, -2/+10Antivirus (MSE is a separate download) was not included in Windows 7 because MS will again get sued for anti-competitive practices (just like in the case of bundling IE and WMP).
- ldkronos, on 11/09/2009, -1/+9#2: "I found three that could not be pinned — one of them being a shortcut to a text file I use to keep notes and edit in Notepad."
The solution: pin notepad to the taskbar, and pin your text document to notepad. Then you right click on the notepad icon and get a list of all of the documents pinned to notepad. Interestingly, his other complaint about pinning a command line process is sort of interesting. If you right click on a .cmd file, you don't get an option to pin it. However, if you shift right click, you can pin it to your start menu, but not the taskbar. Not sure why the inconsistency exists.
#5: LOL. Yeah, sure buddy. They still make 32-bit only versions of Window 7, and 90% of apps don't even have a 64-bit version available. But sure, lets go ahead and drop 32-bit support. Now 16-bit...I'm sure someone would complain about some really old legacy app that can't be replaced, but I think 99% of people could get by without it these days.
#8. First, I find that defragging provides minimal performance benefit on most setups these days. I had given up on wasting my time with it years ago. I had an XP system that I ran for 4 years without defragging, so I decided "what the heck" and ran it. I saw no visible performance difference. Maybe there was a small difference that could be measured, but if I can't notice it without a stopwatch, I'm not sure it's worth my time to bother.
Second, he says: "What exactly does the Disk Defragmenter do? Does it do its job well? Without a graphical interface, it’s impossible to tell." Uh...sorry to break it to you, but with a visual interface, you STILL have no idea how well it does its job. You can't tell what files are where and if that's the most optimal place to put them.
Third, with solid state drives gradually taking over the market, defragging is going to be less and less valuable. You're a bit late to the "let's make a better defragger" party. Perhaps you've got some suggestions about how to better optimize your conventional memory? - mcwattersm, on 11/09/2009, -1/+9I like it when people who don't know what they are talking about talk about things like they know what they are talking about.
- IphtashuFitz, on 11/09/2009, -1/+8You actually suggested using telnet as an alternative to ssh? Just how clueless are you? As a sysadmin I've relied on ssh for 10 years to remotely connect to systems I manage all around the world. Telnet simply isn't secure and nobody in their right mind would use it for connecting to remote equipment. And suggesting using putty is just as absurd in this day and age. Every single operating system OTHER THAN WINDOWS that I've used in the past 10 years has included ssh support right out of the box. It's absolutely ridiculous that Microsoft still doesn't include something like ssh which is used as a standard application on virtually every other mainstream operating system.
I've also seen plenty of cases where a shell like BASH is extremely useful on Windows. For one thing, advanced scripts written for other platforms can and do run on Windows when you install a third party BASH shell. In fact I recently worked with a product that is written to run on Windows but is written by developers who use linux and write most of their user tools as BASH scripts. And I seriously doubt you'd be able to convince Hitachi engineers to switch they way they develop their software: http://www.psynch.com - Kronos6948, on 11/09/2009, -0/+6I purposefully try not to have any desktop icons. I usually turn them off.
- x2wenty4x, on 11/09/2009, -0/+6they don't necessarily need to adopt a Unix type file system, just something better than NTFS.
- dynamicx, on 11/09/2009, -1/+6With what exactly? It's effectively a super fast specialized database, not to mention most problems the registry has would not change if you were to use a ton of .ini or whatever instead.
- iwasnevy, on 11/09/2009, -0/+5What a waste of webspace! This guy has no clue what he's talking about, and rather than this being a review of what IT pros think of Win7 (as the article summary leads you to believe), it's a whiny personal wishlist of STUPID stuff from an ignoramus. I wanted to stop reading after he says he skipped XP, almost hit the back button when he suggested dropping 32-bit support, rolled my eyes at the brain drivel about backup and archive manager, and my brain bled all the way through the decimal capacities and measurments section - is he really that niave? really???? The metrics that measure capacities, memory sizes, and data transfer aren't "windows" standards or even determined by windows - wow - does this guy even know anything about computers??? But unfortunately, I kept reading all the way to the sad, sad end, just to see how deep his stupidity runs.
- thelastcivilian, on 11/09/2009, -7/+12I want it to give my grandma a hip replacement so we can play soccer like we used to.
(In all seriousness, most of these are pretty reasonable. It's refreshing to read a well-written article that doesn't bash Windows for the sake of bashing Windows.) - Aeroboy, on 11/09/2009, -2/+7I use the taskbar...
- raydeen, on 11/09/2009, -0/+4File fragmentation wouldn't be a problem if MS adopted a Unix type file system where the files automatically have space inserted between them in order to allow for file change and growth. Fragmentation only becomes a problem then when the HD reaches about 80 percent capacity or so. Some would eventually run into that problem (I'm pretty sure I would) but the average user might not. I've worked on some average user machines and they will typically have 40 to 50 percent free on their drive.
- doshindude, on 11/09/2009, -1/+5Who the hell wrote this article? John Dvorak's cousin or something? It's some old fart that doesn't know dick about computers and hasn't used a Windows OS that was newer than NT.
- Insane40k, on 11/09/2009, -1/+5There's one, called Switcher and it's free: http://insentient.net/
Works great under Vista, though on my Win7 installation it was unusable, don't know why. - nicktx, on 11/09/2009, -0/+4The Windows registry is the digital equivalent of a landfill. I dare say ALL of the problems with it will go away if applications had to use their own config files. Heck, for compatibility reasons make applications believe they are writing to the system registry but have Windows create their own file in the application folder.
- AlphaDrake, on 11/09/2009, -0/+4An alarm clock
- enigmatics, on 11/09/2009, -0/+4For those who don't know how:
Right click on desktop -> View -> uncheck Show Sesktop Icons
Also, if you take a print screen of the desktop with icons, make it the wallpaper and then turn off desktop icons it makes a great prank to use on the computer illiterate. An oldie, but goodie. - nevinl, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3Control panel regarding support....not a good idea...I'm guessing that would result in 10% increase in calls where the solution would be to "click on the SHOW ALL items in the control panel')
personally, I like classic view...that new format is a pain in the ass...every time I'm asking myself "Now, would this be a user | display | whatever category | issue?" - CalcProgrammer1, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3#11 No Internet Explorer
- fuzzynyanko, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3I agree with removing 16-bit program support (I'm using a 64-bit Windows, and 16-bit isn't supported), but not 32-bit ones right now. We are still in the 32-bit to 64-bit transition. However, I do wish that Windows 7 was 64-bit to push the transition faster (but still have the 32-bit compatibility).
One thing I would love to see is a dramatically-improved GUI API. Microsoft has too many right now, even though Direct2d may gain steam - imikedaman, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3I was going to warn you that you'll be buried since that's the way the pendulum has swung lately (mentioning Win 7 does something better in an Apple article, regardless of how unrelated it is, will get you dugg up), but I'm bored so I'll actually answer your question as best as I can:
1. smaller footprint: yeah. I actually lost some space when I upgraded to Snow Leopard but I think that's because I had previous used some utility that deleted unused binaries in things, and the upgrade re-installed those binaries. Whatever.
2. new way to access icons in the desktop: Expose, so yes.
3. replacement for WGA: OS X doesn't have a WGA equivalent, so yes.
4. improved installer: I've only ever done clean installs for Windows so I don't know how it compares.
5. removing 32-bit: what? This article writer sounds kind of dumb in places. Anyway it's much easier for Apple to shed off legacy functionality due to the difference in their markets. And even they aren't going to remove 32-bit support anytime soon. My MacBook is 32-bit for Christ's sake.
6. simple backup thing: Not sure. I don't use Time Machine or Restore whatever on Windows. I'm just that hardcore. (and retarded since I've had multiple hard drives break on me over the years, each time resulting in significant data loss)
7. decimal measurements: yes, right? I think I heard Snow Leopard uses 1000 for things now, as retarded as that is. You can tell what kind of person he is when his request for consistency in the OS is for file size calculation.
8. better defragmenter: ***** the defragmenter. A mainstream operating system should not require you to know what a defragmenter is. Anyway, OS X defragments in the background too.
9. firewall: he doesn't trust Windows Firewall, for whatever reason. What are the odds he'd trust the new version he claims he wants? Moving on...
10. task manager: maybe? I'm not entirely sure what he's going on about. There are so many utilities out there for what he describes, and he clearly used one when writing that article, so I'm not sure what the problem is really. Not sure what Snow Leopard does.
Anyway, there's your answer. And yet it doesn't really matter since 10 minor things does not define an operating system. - pissshivers, on 11/09/2009, -1/+4#11no crapware
- tama00, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3*nods head*
I especially like the idea of a customisable control panel! The only problem would be help and support trying to direct a user there so there would need to be the standard old classic layout as well. - inactive, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3Windows SXS is a mess of hard links and crazy *****, it might've said 40GB used in the properties dialog but it was probably closer to 8GB. The Windows UI really needs to take hardlinks into account when checking sizes and such, it gets ridiculous if you don't.
- Bbanda, on 11/09/2009, -1/+4you know they have a game folder that automatically keeps track of that stuff right? Even if its not there you can still add the shortcut. Steam starts with windows for me so thats good to go. Never saw the problem with just one more click rather than ***** tons of icons. Too many games for that maybe.
- CalcProgrammer1, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3Removing 32 bit support would be suicide, there are a vast number of companies who still refuse to make 64 bit drivers and 64 bit versions of their software. 64 bit should not be anywhere near as limited as it is, but it's the fault of stupid manufacturers who care only about the stupid money and can't be bothered to upgrade their software because "it isn't worth it". That said, removing 32 bit support on a new Windows would be a really nice wake-up call to those stupid companies, they either adapt to the future or die which is not a bad thing at all.
- jrm125, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3Works on my W7 installation.
- magnet14, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3Flip3D sucks - it's far less usable than even Alt+Tab (which is pretty awesome especially with Aero Peek)
- Insane40k, on 11/09/2009, -1/+4Yep, pulling support for 16-bit applications is a great idea, but for 32-bit, are you insane? Absolute most Windows programs are made for 32-bit mode, and many of them will NEVER be ported to 64-bit mode for some reasons. This could be done like 5 years since we get rid of 32-bit windows at all. And I'm afraid it's not gonna happen any time soon, since we have netbooks, cheap PC with low amount of RAM and just users with old PCs that don't want upgrade. Till then I believe most software will be 32-bit for broader support.
- IAmMrTea08, on 11/09/2009, -0/+3How about a new file system?
- nevinl, on 11/09/2009, -2/+4isn't this article regarding....windows?
- imikedaman, on 11/09/2009, -0/+2This is only vaguely related (using Expose on Windows), but it just reminded me of a problem I recently had so I figured I'd ask on here for a solution:
Last week I noticed you could map shortcut keys to shortcuts in Windows XP from the Properties panel, so I made a shortcut to the "Show Desktop" command that was in my task bar, moved it to the Desktop, and assigned F11 as the shortcut key (Mac users will know what I was going for with that).
I pressed F11 a few times and it worked well, so I moved the shortcut off my desktop and removed the "Show Desktop" button from the task bar since I didn't need it anymore, then it immediately stopped working (whoops). I tried undoing the problem by adding the "Show Desktop" thing back to the task bar and deleting the broken shortcut and making a new one, but it won't let me assign F11 as a shortcut key anymore and none of the other keys work anyway.
The old shortcut to the command has long since been deleted, so why haven't I regained access to the shortcut key? And does anyone know why it wouldn't be working anymore? It's not a huge deal since I'm only on XP until this batch of work is finished, but it's kind of frustrating not knowing why it refuses to work. - CalcProgrammer1, on 11/09/2009, -0/+2Microsoft has no control over Norton/Symantec, but the user has the ability to not use lousy anti-virus applications.
- sauron256, on 11/09/2009, -0/+2When I went to TechEd a few years ago a few Microsoft engineers spoke about their work to lessen the amount of times a system would need to be rebooted, particularly when installing updates etc. It's a hell of a lot better in Vista/7 than XP, although it still needs more work. I reinstalled XP for someone else the other day (they didn't have a license for Vista or 7) and I lost count of the amount of times I needed to reboot after installing drivers, updates etc. When installing 7 I don't recall having to reboot many times at all.
- phalanxcronos, on 11/09/2009, -3/+5There is also alt+tab which allows you to switch between active windows/programs. Also with Flip3D is you hit windows key+tab and then release the tab key you can use your mouse to click on what ever page you want to come to the front instead of cycling through.
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