Windows 7 is awful

[Teancum]

I've done my fair share of playing around in Vista/7, but I recently had a tech refresh (means my machine got replaced with a newer one) at work and got a Win7 machine. I hate it - nothing is intuitively where it should be, nor can I revert several of my preferences back to XP-style menus. No you might say that's a dinosaur-ish way to look at things, but consider this: When your work depends on you being able to get to specific settings and programs quickly in order to resolve issues, moving everything around to "better" the UI is NOT a good thing.

Tech support takes every bit of 50-60% longer now. Why? Two reasons: 1-the number of clicks to get where I need to go is more, and 2-I'm running a bloated OS and so even with a dual core system w/3.0ghz cores and 4gb of ram things are slow. WinXP only requres a Pentium 1 233mhz processor. Vista/7 require a 1ghz processor. XP supports all of the physical hardware in this machine, so I'm getting it refreshed back to XP.

I'm sorry, I had to rant. Frankly I'm getting sick of MS trying to reinvent the wheel. They should focus on polishing what they have rather than doing everything over each time.

[Maveritchell]

Speaking as an average user who's used both (all three? I use PCs running on XP, Vista, and 7) systems often (and whose switch to a Win 7 PC was dictated by circumstance and not by choice), 7 is far better than Vista, and it's growing on me compared to XP. MS obviously tried to gussy up the look of the UI, but it's not terrible even if it does take some getting used to (as you mentioned, it can't be set back to a "classic" look like Vista could). The preview panes on the items in the taskbar and the stacking of taskbar items by instance is the only real notable difference I've noticed, and while I would probably prefer each instance as a separate taskbar item, I can see why it was changed and it's a suitable alternative after having used it for four or so months.

Functionally it's really just different, and not inherently clunkier like Vista was to XP, in my opinion. Getting used to change always takes time - it might be worth your while to take that time this time around, because I don't think OSes are going to move back to the function-over-form look from XP or '95.

[Teancum]

True, but at the same time WinXP SP3 has support until 2014. I just find it so frustrating. From the layout of Windows Explorer to the format of the Start Bar, nothing can be customized enough to give me quick access to things. That's what bothers me. Things are locked down in such a way to limit freedom rather than grant it. Without it I can't quickly do what I need to. The bloat I can deal with, it's the inaccessibility that I can't.

[redgroupclan]

I'm sorry, I had to rant. Frankly I'm getting sick of MS trying to reinvent the wheel. They should focus on polishing what they have rather than doing everything over each time.

Indeed; they should focus on perfecting XP instead.

[AgentSmith_#27]

Frankly I'm getting sick of MS trying to reinvent the wheel. They should focus on polishing what they have rather than doing everything over each time.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

I hear you. It's theme is "simple"... well for me it's so simple I have a very hard time working on it. I work on PC's for friends and I've found windows 7 extremely annoying to work with. I'll probably use XP until support for it is dropped.

[Fingerfood]

A family member recently got a Windows 7 laptop which I've gotten to use while visiting, and I have to agree. It's way to simple and pretty looking, while lacking features that actually matter. It reminds me of having a few predefined grouped settings (Like having a graphics option only have a "Low", "Medium", and "High" settings) and not being able to tweak each setting to the way you want (To go along with the graphics example, being able to set resolution, anti-aliasing, texture quality, etc separately).

I will admit that I'm a pretty big Vista fanboy, having used it for around 4-5 years now, but from what I've used of it, 7 seems too awkward.

[501st_commander]

Windows 7 > XP > Vista > all other editions

I find windows 7 muuch more easy to use. Better performance, organization, and overall better features.

Tean, i think you should of given it more time, looked at the features more, and searched things you wanted to change. I was about the same way at first, but the more i use it, the better it is (now xp is a dinosaur to me).

Frankly I'm getting sick of MS trying to reinvent the wheel. They should focus on polishing what they have rather than doing everything over each time.

Mostly true. But sometimes, redoing things make it better, and faster (I think this may apply to coding it more than the look).

[Delta 47]

I find windows 7 muuch more easy to use. Better performance, organization, and overall better features.

Exactly what I think.

I've used XP for years, then I upgraded to Vista, and just a couple months ago I upgraded to Windows 7. I really like Windows 7, it just seems so much smoother. Windows 7 is not different, its just simplified. Most of those same tweak-able settings in XP are now just simplified in 7, they're not gone they're just combined and relabeled, if you get what I'm saying. XP only seems easier to navigate through because it lacks Windows Aero. I admit the newer versions of Windows do have extra "windows" to click through to get to the settings but its nothing you can't relearn.

Windows can't keep progressing if it includes options to revert its looks and features back to previous versions of Windows completely. And they did include the options to change the theme back to Windows Classic and the taskbar back to side-by-side. And there's always the option to download a custom XP theme for Windows 7. They're all over the internet.

I think the ups and downs about Windows 7 are just based on preferences. But Windows 7 does offer much more if you get use to it and it does take some time.

[THEWULFMAN]

True, but at the same time WinXP SP3 has support until 2014. I just find it so frustrating. From the layout of Windows Explorer to the format of the Start Bar, nothing can be customized enough to give me quick access to things. That's what bothers me. Things are locked down in such a way to limit freedom rather than grant it. Without it I can't quickly do what I need to. The bloat I can deal with, it's the inaccessibility that I can't.

Overall i could agree more, I am getting a new HDD and a new Windows License with it, and I am refuseing to get win7, or god just shoot me now, vista. I am getting good ol' xp.
I have been useing it forever, it runs pretty much everything, and it is clean.
My good friend (alias TheDuke) has a cpu with vista, he HATES IT, he cant stand it, nothing works. Any new programs he dls dont work, new game and old games dont work.

I like xp.Vista sucks and Win7 is only a little better. but they still beat a mac

[Teancum]

Windows can't keep progressing if it includes options to revert its looks and features back to previous versions of Windows completely. And they did include the options to change the theme back to Windows Classic and the taskbar back to side-by-side. And there's always the option to download a custom XP theme for Windows 7.

First off, that makes no sense to me. If you offer me a car in 25 new colors, it's got GPS, voice technology, and makes me milkshakes, but I have to roll down the window, push the horn, and adjust my mirror to get the left turn signal to turn on then they haven't improved anything. People expect things to be intuitive, not buried behind layers of frustration.

And how in the world can an OS that requires four times the system requirements have better performance. It's simple math. But let me point out the most obvious flaw in the Vista/7 umbrella. I don't want to have to tell the system to run something as an administrator. (especially when I'm already an admin on my machine) I expect it to work always without jumping through hoops.

I realize there's Vista/7 fanboys, but if you're talking a tech support standpoint it's just flat out horrid. Like I said, I have to double the amount of clicks to do the same things, and that's beyond [a certain diet soda with 23 flavors] stupid. (and no, I didn't actually swear there) Frankly I'll see Windows 7 in late 2014 when XP doesn't have any more support. I'll keep my Win7 machine for another week. If I can't find third party apps to restore the quick functions I need I'm dropping it forever. And I know all about XP "themes". Themes, however do not restore the functionality of XP, and doing so requires programs that make fairly major registry edits, which is beyond the chance I'm willing to give 7.


We are not amused.

[THEWULFMAN]

We are not amused.

I concur :plokoon:

again, I agree with you, I had high hope for win7, im very sad it isnt what the public wanted, well Tean and me at least

[Teancum]

It's like what they did with the latest 360 update. They went to this really, REALLY odd 'Retro' look that matched their other operating systems, but previously the "layered" look was really amazing and intuitive. Honestly each time MS updates one of their OSes I like it less - in the case of the 360 functionality improved, but "art style" took a major nosedive.

[AgentSmith_#27]

Another example is Websites like Youtube and Facebook that just seem to keep changing just for the sake of changing. I don't see them bringing anything "better" to the table, just different, and quite often it's actually worse than before the update.

I have to disagree that Windows 7 isn't what the public wanted, though. I think your generic windows user will fare a lot better by them self than they have with XP/Vista, because 7 does hold your hand more. I think the ones that dislike 7 are generally the more advanced users that are used to the amount of customization they have/had with XP. I have my system set up just like I want it, but with Windows 7 I can never have it set up just like I want it because it's too simplified.

[guru]

I prefer Linux so I can tear windows users into oblivion.
But really yea win 7 is like winme was supposed to be... all user freindly and GUI but nothing customizable. I do like that I can remote desktop in win7 from an iPad

Sorry to hear you don't enjoy win7 but a new os is already in the coding state now so maybe something new for you in WinX

[commander501stappo]

Sorry to hear you don't enjoy win7 but a new os is already in the coding state now so maybe something new for you in WinX

great, I hope that they get it to be good, cause even if win7 is better than vista...it's terrible!
and all since I pressed "Post Reply", I forgot what I was going to say.

[ANDEWEGET]

I don't want to have to tell the system to run something as an administrator. (especially when I'm already an admin on my machine) I expect it to work always without jumping through hoops.

I cant remember where it is, but there is an option that lets you change this. The first system i really used was XP, then I had Vista for about 1 year, downgraded to XP again, and about 4 months ago upgraded to 7. I have to say that for my purposes Win7 beats XP. Of course, it might not be very good for your purposes, but you cant just say its bad in general because of this.

[Dohnutt]

I'd just like to say that I really, really enjoy Windows 7.

[Dakota]

My cousin just got a new laptop i must make sure it is XP.
My dad wants to get win7 i must stop him before it is too late...
Kinda off-topic:my mom has vistas on a laptop it is always losing the internet .
With win7 the computer does this to you: and then u look like this
XP ROCKS

Edit: i wonder if they will replace win7 with XP if enough people hate win7 (someone write a letter to microsoft sooner or later...)
my second idea is: maybe they will make another version of windows which is just like XP

[Maveritchell]

Edit: i wonder if they will replace win7 with XP if enough people hate win7 (someone write a letter to microsoft sooner or later...)

There are always people who aren't fans of a new product, and they never force a company to change back to an old product. Besides, the general reaction to Windows 7 is pretty positive - lots more people like it than don't, whatever you may see in this particular thread.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7#Reception

I cant remember where it is, but there is an option that lets you change this.

It's called "User Account Control," and there's a slider that lets you simply remove it altogether in the control panel.

[Teancum]

I suppose if I didn't have to do what I do for a living I could get used to 7. It is a pretty operating system, I'll give it that. It's just that in simplifying it for the standard user they've overcomplicated it for us techies, and that's beyond irritating. And since I see zero reason to switch (1-it's not faster, 2-XP has quad core support, 3-XP is supported until 2014) I'm not going to bother.

Oh, and let's not even get into the utter migraine headache that is using a Remote Desktop Connection with Win7.