I've been running a 7 beta copy for about two months, and it's easily the best OS I've ever used. That said, my advice: Get Linux.
The only reason I'm not running the penguin is that I'm lazy. Windows is like having a tool, whereas Linux is like having a relationship... and in my experience, I wasn't wearing the pants in the family.
7 may be nearly perfect, but that last percentage point may be a bridge too far. There have been no less that six "unexpected shutdowns" on my build, two BSOD and four - just off. I mean, like 'spooky quick' kind of off. The screen info from the BSODs both pointed to the nVidia display driver - and a couple of weeks of surfing seems to confirm that nVidia and Windows are having some "compatibility issues." If the entire "sudden death syndrome" is merely last minute scramblings for aligning with the actual market product (which, to be fair to MS, doesn't actually exist atm), then - no worries.
Personally, I would wait. Supposedly, in a month and a half, the dark age of vista comes to an end - but when doing all this research over the past couple of weeks, I stumbled across an article where google questions Microsoft if the product will have enough stability to ship on schedule. The issue arises from using a certain configuration to boot 7 from disc causes the installer to flood the system with out-of-control process... I read stuff like "memory leak," and "we're on it" as my eyes started to glaze over - and it's the kind of thing that 99.9% of the population would have neither the motivation nor knowledge to implement. Yet, the tone of the article was that it's the kind of thing that cannot be allowed into production. Of course, it could be just hype, and if I didn't have this "sudden death syndrome" happening; and if I didn't read so much crap... the way I see it, if I'm wrong, it's all sunshine and light for Microsoft. Everybody likes 7, they've already presold the crap out of it, they have had the industry speaking of it in glowing terms for over a year... its going to be no skin off of their noses to keep offering "special deals" and low prices. Remember, they're not so much out to make a profit as to rule the world. They want everybody to use their product, so they're not going to jack the price later to "reward the brand faithful" who pre-order. And if it takes off - and I personally think it just might - they're just going to be more encouraged to keep the deals rolling...
If you wait, you may have to spend a couple of bucks more; but if you don't wait... I'm thinking it's entirely possible that 7 could be non-viable. And I'm cynical enough to believe it's possible that Microsoft would float a "vistasp3" in a 7 box if that should happen. And I wouldn't wish Vista on my worst enemy.
Help
Windows 7 is being released October 22nd, 2009 and as of today, you have ability to pre-order Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional upgrades at about half off the estimated retail prices. This pre-order promotion is available through July 11 while supply lasts.
Link: Windows 7 Pre-order Information
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Posted 11 August 2009 - 09:05 AM
