Windows 7
If you've already read this and want Part Two, click HERE. Warning, graphics intensive page!
After a year and a half of suffering through Windows Vista, I've decided to try out Windows 7 Beta, made available just two days ago from everybody's BFF Microsoft. Like countless others, I'll be describing all the fun and games, but unlike others, I'm not going to use the latest and greatest hardware, nor am I going to bore you with meaningless benchmarks. This is intended as a Regular Guy review, as in, normal people who just want to use their computers for normal things, word processing, spreadsheets, Email, web surfing, and maybe a game or two.
However, I'm not quite ready to place this unknown quantity on my main computer. Although Vista is a truly sucky OS, it more or less works, so for now I'll leave it on my main system for now. I have a dandy little Dell that's just itching for a new OS, and as a bonus, we can find out just how Microsoft's new brainchild handles something that isn't state of the art.
Allow me to introduce:
Dell Inspiron 4000 Laptop
Pentium III 700mhz
RAM 512mb
Hard Drive 60gb
Video ATI Rage Mobility 3
Video Memory 8mb
Audio ESS Maestro 3i
Network 3Com Built In
Wireless Network Airlink101 PCMCIA Card
Yes, I could go on with the specifications in great detail, but that's hardly useful. This thing came with Windows ME, which was an OS that impressed many for it's uselessness, and it's mere mention is a good way to make a Microsoft employee bow his head in shame. That is, if Microsoft actually hired someone who could feel shame. Anyway, it took about 30 seconds for me to decide on another OS, which happened to be Windows 2000. I've used this OS in many computers with, shall we say, unimpressive specifications, and it's always done well. It's much faster and more stable than Windows 98se, and actually has a couple advantages over Windows XP, mostly it's system requirements. It can be installed on anything newer than a first generation Pentium, and just might work on one of those.
Suffice it to say that this Inspiron was built somewhere in the year 2000, so by now it's 9 years old. Also, keep in mind this was not Dell's top-o-the-line Flagship model, but a middle-o-the-road system for those who weren't scraping pennies, but weren't rolling in dough. So basically, we're going to see how Windows 7 performs on an obsolete computer, by today's standards.
Why? While some folks like to spend every last cent on the newest, fastest, mega-system to play the latest games and score benchmark bragging rights, most normal people see their computers as a means to an end, not the end itself. They want to send Email, write sermons for Sunday school, play Solitaire, surf the web, and download pictures from their camera. This review is for YOU. If Windows 7 performs even almost well on this laptop, it should really fly on most newer machines.
First off was preparing the DVD. After downloading the Beta from Microsoft, I burned the DVD using DVD Decrypter. I didn't even know it could do that, nor did I know that Vista was either incapable of burning from an ISO image, or was capable, and I couldn't figure out how to do it, and I gave up trying. DVD Decrypter did a good job of it. Roxio should download that program and learn a thing or two.
I tried several times to install Windows 7 over Windows 2000 on the laptop. I kept getting errors, so I used the Format Option under the Advanced tab in the installation options. It worked like a charm.
I really liked the installation process. You put in the disk, boot the computer, answer three or so questions, then walk away. The files are copied, the system reboots once or twice, then, after about 20 minutes, you answer a few more questions. That's it. Unlike previous versions of Windows, you are not required to sit there for an hour, alert and ready for random quizzes at random times throughout the entire installation. Really, it was like they were afraid you'd go to sleep during class or something!
Once Windows 7 is installed and boots up to the main screen, you have, the main screen. They seemed to have left off the whole Introduction To Windows splash screen that has shown up in every previous Windows version from 95 on. I don't know if it's due to the Beta version, or if Microsoft wants to, you know, actually let you use the damn thing right away. These days most folks are familiar with computers and Windows, so perhaps they'll leave it off.
What it DID do was start nagging me. Right away. "Your computer is not protected! Install anti-virus software NOW! What were you thinking?!?" I paraphrased, but that's what it felt like. They should really make you click an OK button that says "I just installed you dammit! Quit your bitching and get me a beer!" This is a new 'feature' that came in Windows XP, Vista, and now 7. Look, ok, we should install anti-virus software, I get it. But will you give me a chance to, like, look at the screen for five seconds before getting on my case? Really? Oh, and after you install anti-virus, it'll bitch AGAIN. "This software is OLD, you damn fool! Get your lazy ass off the couch this minute and update it, then mow the lawn, ya lazy good for nothin'!" Hey, guys at Microsoft, guess what? The anti-virus software is ALREADY telling me to do that! I don't need you harping on me too!
Windows is still not happy. Now I have to configure Automatic Updates. Fair enough. It's probably a good idea to connect to the internet first, though.
In the past, Microsoft has made it somewhat easy to install device drivers, starting with Windows 98. Yes, 95 did it too, but half the time it didn't, uh, work as planned. In the past, you plug in whatever device you want to use, wait for Windows to think about it, and if it doesn't know what you've got, it'll tell you, then ask you where the drivers are, or should it look on the internet for them. If you have the drivers, you put in a disk or download them, try to find where they went, tell it where they are, then Windows says "Hey, I just found the drivers! Damn I'm good!", and installs the drivers.
They've decided to change this for Windows 7. I have an Airlink101 wireless PCMCIA card. I shoved it in, drivers at the ready, and Windows says "Hey, I don't know what that is! Should I look on the internet for a driver?" Again, a paraphrase. Well, that's a fine idea there Windows, but it's going to be tough without an internet connection, which is why you need the Airlink card. So I click NO, and guess what, Windows gives up! That's it!
Turns out, to install your own drivers, you have to go to Device Manager and do it from there. It's not the end of the world, but those inexperienced with this sort of thing, and there's a lot of these folks, are going to have a fit. This, too, may be due to it's Beta status, and I truly hope it is. Otherwise, if your the 'computer guy' everybody likes to call up whenever their 'hard disk doesn't play CD's anymore', and somebody says they're going to get Windows 7, tell them your going on vacation to Istanbul for a year.
Once it got going, the built in wireless networking client in Windows immediately took over. Just one click on the little icon, and it showed the available networks and gave me a choice on which to connect with. A few seconds later I was connected. Good Job Microsoft!
While I was in Device Manager I noticed a few things didn't get installed:
ESS Maestro 3i - Not Installed
ATI Rage Mobility 3 - Not Installed
3Com Wired Network Card - Not Installed
There doesn't seem to be a drivers for the sound card at all. I'll be fooling around with this in the future.
To be fair, while the video card wasn't specifically installed, the video did appear to work well. Whether all the features were used to their full potential or not is up for debate, as there isn't a whole lot of features, or potential, so I'll be looking into this a little further.
Also, the 3Com network card has always been a little funky. This is no reflection on Dell, except maybe they're cheap penny-pinching in the past. This notebook didn't come with a wired network card. The installed card was bought on Ebay, the drivers were found after a grueling day of Googling, and so far nothing has recognized that card without my forcing the drivers down the throat of the OS in question. As with the other issues, I'll look into this, but it's not a priority.
As for the rest, Windows 7 did a fine job of installing drivers. The modem, PCMCIA slots, touchpad/touchstick thingy, USB, and all the other little doodads work just dandy!
Keep in mind this laptop is an oldie, so the fact that it's actually running, much less supporting most of the hardware, is impressive.
As for speed, it's running just slightly slower than Windows 2000. This is a good sign, really. I half expected it to cough and sputter as soon as it got a good look at my system during installation. If it did run, I fully expected it to drag so slowly as to be unusable. I wouldn't call it peppy, in fact, it's dog slow, but it does run, and it is usable. On a modern system, it should really boogey. If future tests go well, I'll try it on my newest system. Stay tuned...
Microsoft doesn't want all this going to your head. And easy installation, not too terrible device support, and modest system requirements could easily lead you to feel your finally getting the hang of things. We can't have that!
So they've decided to move everything around. Again. Like they did with Vista. And XP. And Windows 95.
I'm not going to tell you where everything is, either. At least not yet. Because I don't know. Hell, I still haven't figured out Vista enough where I can change the screen resolution without a long, creative, filthy string of insults to the Microsoft team who put it together.
NOTE TO MICROSOFT: You are on top. We get it. You da man! You don't have to turn every version of Windows into a frustrating learning experience just to prove it! How would you feel if you bought a new car, and they switched the gas pedal with the brake pedal? Well, that's how WE feel when you move everything around. Really, were you getting a bunch of complaints because changing the screen saver was too easy?
People who have no clue about computers aren't going to be helped by moving menus around. They don't get menus in the first place. The first thing they'll do is ask the local 'computer guy', and HE won't know either, because, well, You've Moved Everything Around! Again! So STOP IT!
I feel better now.
Tests planned for the next day:
Drag Races. I'll pit this system against my late model Vista setup on booting, programs, and shutdown.
Usability. I'll try various Office and other programs to see if they work well enough to be practical.
Device Drivers. I want sound, and if I have 8mb sitting unused on the video chip, I want it used!
Pictures!
Possibly installing Windows 7 on a slightly newer desktop.
Anything else I come up with.
Next Page
Lots of pictures, so beware if on Dialup!