Ron Schenone

Windows 7 Beta – First Look

Posted by on Jan 12, 2009 | 18 Comments

This morning I put in a clean hard disk into my test system and installed the beta version of Windows 7. Setup of the new operating system was uneventful. It took less than 30 minutes for the install and to activate the OS using a product key provided my Microsoft.

The first warning I received was that the system did not have a anti-virus software installed. I clicked on recommend a anti-virus program, which included AVG paid edition. On the AVG site it even stated that it was in fact compatible with Windows 7. I have a paid version of AVG and attempted to install the program. No joy. After 2 attempts trying to install AVG 8, I continued to get an error message that the .exe file failed to install. What was ironic about this is the fact this is exactly the same problem I had when I first used the beta version of Vista. I immediately filed a feedback report to Microsoft indicating my disbelief that this was still a problem. I installed the free version of Avast and got onto the Internet.

I than downloaded the Free edition of Office 2007 with a 60 trial to see how Office would function. I’ll report back on this experience when I am not testing the software.

Oh, I almost forgot. Why is it that the default for Windows during setup is always having to ‘double click’. Does anyone even want to double click any longer. I went into Control Panel and reset the system to a single click. I know this is not a big deal but it is just an annoyance.

Hardware updates were available for my NVidia 7300 display adapter. This installed along with two other updates without a problem. I did experience one issue with a failed update for my Realtek hi-def audio driver. I finally did a manual install. Guess what? The sound driver for Vista didn’t work on my system so I have no sound.

The big question that most people will want to know is about performance. Is Windows 7 faster than Vista? My opinion is that it does appear to be quicker. But one has to remember that any clean install of Windows always seems faster in the beginning. I believe the system will need to be used before any judgment can be made as to performance improvements.

I will continue to test the beta and report back as I develop an opinion about the new OS.

Comments welcome.

  • Zetacon

    Thanks for your feedback on Windows 7. I tried to install Window 7 on VMWare Workstation, but it failed. I’ll probably try another virtual machine in the coming days.

    To be honest, I prefer the double click to the single click. Why? Simple. I have certain programs organized in my Object Dock that only require a single click. Other programs have shortcuts on the desktop that I would rather have a double click. These include Avast (which takes some time to load considering the built-in memory test) and my other security programs.

    I can see where you would want to use the single click, but personally, I only have a small use for it.

  • Phil

    Honestly, the only difference I see in Vista and Windows 7 BETA is simply a few adjustments to the interface (like the new task bar, which I actually really like), but that’s it. Windows 7 is just Vista with a slight face-lift. And quite an ugly face-lift if i’m honest. I actually can’t believe people will pay money for such a small upgrade.

    Although, it is just the BETA. Vast improvements are still to be made, and I haven’t got round to testing all of the little new features yet.

    Ron, can you see much of a difference between Vista and 7?

    Phil.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Thanks for the comments.

    Hi Phil,
    I honestly can’t. :-(

  • Andrew Buchanan

    I like the beta. It definately seems faster than vista on the same machine from the user interface perspective, but I haven’t used vista for a while so if I reinstalled it and patched it all up there might not be much difference.

    I also feel there isn’t much new though. better taskbar, slightly better navigation and menu’s, but mostly the same thing.

    I really do like the taskbar so far though. I have so many apps open when I work that I constantly had to fight my taskbar overflowing and I never liked the way they handled grouping similiar tasks before. It’s actually a big deal for me so I hope they release it this year.

  • Jeff

    there are probably features NYI that will rule, otherwise I heard that it idles less. any feed back on its idle memory/processor load?

    Does it utilize dual/quad core while booting? Any technical info would be awesome, Ron!

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone
  • http://www.generopolis.com/wpblog TheBeam

    Seriously? Didn’t they just release Vista? I’m so not impressed with Microsoft. And I went out exploring and finally uploaded the latest Linux OS, Ubuntu. Way way better if you asked me!! Not only is it completely free but it’s better, user friendly and to get software, you just click the equivilent of the start menu, hit ‘add software’ and the OS searches the net for you and gives you a list of things that you can click to install. No downloads, no hassles and no money!!! It rocks.

    Check out the link which has screenshots, a more detailed review and download links:
    http://www.generopolis.com/index.php?option=com_sobi2&sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=0&sobi2Id=123&Itemid=0

    And no, this isn’t spam…I just want to give people interested in Windows 7 a better option. Enjoy!

  • olly curtis

    i had same probs with sound – i searched live search and softpaedia have a driver for realtek HD audio, which installed no probs, i now have sound from the media player and the media centre, apart from slow download it installed ok.

  • olly curtis
  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello Olly,
    Thank you for the link. I’ll give it a try.
    Regards, Ron

  • Scott

    I have actually had rather pleasent experience with Windows 7 so far. It took way longer to download than to install it. Until I ran Windows update, I had no sound or dual screen support. Once I updated, everything worked perfect, even my old HP 1200 printer.

    Every program I have installed so far works perfect except for Office. But its Office 2000, maybe its too old. Still works, there are just a couple of glitches. Even my Spore game works perfect.

    Sometimes windows hang a little opening up, but its tolerable.
    It only gave my computer a 2.0 Experience Rating, which makes since. I am running a P4 3ghz single core processor and only have a 128MB video card.

    Anyway, no major complaints so far. Computer currently has about 2.5 days of uptime with no restarts. We’ll see what happens in the days to come.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Scott,
    Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Windows 7 does appear to be stable so far. Like you said, we will see how everything works in the days to come.
    Regards, Ron

  • http://www.growthhormonespray.net GrowthHormoneSpray

    You are right, in clean install everything is faster, wait for 3 o 4 months later…

  • jeff

    Well, the windows 7 beta, may have a few seconds faster load time then vista, but its not noticeable. My first testing proved there is an issue with the sound on windows 7 beta, well the system sound works, and it auto updated drivers for my onboard card, and PCI card (the one i am using). but my desired application are not producing sound, or at least the sound is not coming throught on my slingplayer, (critical app for me) and a game i installed on beta. So i was tihnking to disable the onboard sound card, but that doesnot seem right, because the system sound (windows sounds) works ok. not having sound is a deal braker for me on the beta,. if i cant get it working soon,.. i’ll just continue using vista…. if anyone has any ideas, i’d be glad to hear them./

  • Scott

    Well, I seem to have jinxed myself a bit. Shortly after I wrote my previous post, Windows update ran and I had to restart ( I guess update restarts don’t really count, tho.)

    A litte later, while my son was playing Spore, the sound started to hang up. I then stopped Spore and ran a few tests.
    I tried played a couple mp3s on WMP. They worked fine. Then I started Media Center and it made the computer run so slow that songs were unplayable and Media Center almost froze the computer.
    Most Windows sounds are hanging up now, as well. A restart will correct the problem for a couple of hours. Task Manager says there are 48 processes running (not too bad.)
    I have 2GB RAM and Win 7 seems to use apx 700 to 1000 MB at any given time.
    Maybe future updates will improve performance. We’ll see.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Jeff,
    I’m having the same issues with sound. But I seem to recall I had the same problem with Vista Beta as well. Maybe someone can confirm that with us.

    Hello Scott,
    I believe that future betas should fix many of the issues we all are facing.

    Thanks for the comments.
    Regards, Ron

  • jeff

    i found something that fixed it, in the control panel, there is a search for problems. And after selecting my PCI card, it did something, and then said fixed, device not set as default. Now my sound is all good.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello Jeff,
    Thanks for the information. :-)
    Regards, Ron