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I quite enjoy using Windows 7, I had some driver problems at the beginning because it comes with it's own drivers, which were outdated and had to be uninstalled manually before I could install the new ones, mainly graphics and network drivers, in my case though, they have been updated. I really like the idea of libraries too, used it a lot so far, too bad Audiosurf doesn't work together with the music library and I actually have to locate the files :p
Installed Windows 7 Home Premium x64, since I got it for $30. So far loving it. Everything runs much better, and ARMA II actually runs SMOOTH now.
On a side note, I saw one of the I'm a Mac/I'm a PC ad that they must have made a while back for the release of 7. Honestly, I don't care one way or the other, I have both a dedicated gaming PC and a Macbook Pro I use for school and music. Elitism sucks.
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Miaghstir: It wasn't Mac-like enough, it needed the dock as well. Microsoft added that, and presto! Windows 7.
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snarfbucket: Oh god there's a dock in win7? I HATE HATE HATE the dock in OSX. Can you disable it in 7?

They don't call it the dock though, they call it the taskbar just like before to fool the Mac haters, but it acts like the dock - in that it's both quicklaunch and taskbar in one. You can pin programs to it, as the quick launch, and like the earlier taskbar it also shows the icons of running programs (with or without text labels, your choice, I prefer without).
Unlike the dock however, you cannot pin documents or folders (anything that actually runs another program - like java .jar files) to it, instead you can pin those to the respective program, and the program will get one icon on the dock/taskbar, right-click or click-and-drag-up (or opposite the side where you've docked the dock - it's on the left? drag right, it's on the top? drag down) and you'll get a menu with the pinned documents, recent documents, and any "tasks" the program has made available - see the attached image for two examples, you can only have one such menu open at a time though, it's a 'shop (yes, I took two screenshots and merged them nicely together).
Follow these instructions to make it act and look like the legacy taskbar, if you prefer it that way.
Attachments:
win7dock.jpg (239 Kb)
Post edited October 23, 2009 by Miaghstir
I wouldn't touch that "dock" with a 20 foot pole.
Thing takes up way too much screen real estate, and it's not useful at all. Because I _love_ having similar apps stacked. Not.
I used to use the stardock dock and tried a couple of others I've forgotten before I moved to a wide-screen monitor. And I'm not too convinced by the W7 dock/taskbar yet.
While my current setup has long been possible, I dislike large icons across the base and prefer small icons and the previous window buttons/selectors.
Attached image as I favour it working now. I've seen some W7 examples that can do this thankfully.
Attachments:
vvtaskbar.jpg (134 Kb)
OK, so I've finally got Windows 7 running the way I like it. I'm using XP on my laptop, but I'm not sure as to whether it would run well on that too, so I'd like some info on laptops (specifially netbooks) running on 7.
Anyway, the taskbar is hard to get used to (this is my first 7 experience, I've never used the beta or RCs), and I don't suppose there's a way to change is there?
I'm installing my games again, after doing a clean install and a messy iTunes library thing (my music was all over the place before) and I've tried games that were sluggish on my Vista system and they run a lot better, mostly because of less background services/apps and because I don't even have antivirus software running.
Installed windows 7 64bit tonight. So glad to actually be using all 4 gigs of memory I have installed. Going to install another 2 gigs I have laying around the house gathering dust because I was on 32-bit. It's nice not be limited to 3.something gigs. (Although there probably was a way around it. I'm lazy.)
Love Aero peek. Handy when you have youngsters around and you need every window to dissapear and then reappear when they leave. :)
Love Aero Shake. Shake the window you want and all others minimize. Handy.
Dragging windows to the side is awesome on widescreen monitors when you want to compare two windows. Much faster than pre-7.
Right now I'm downloading/installing/restoring WOW, Steam collection, and Impulse collection. All and all about 15 games at once. Will test tomorrow after work to see if it finishes.
Majestic Chess installs in 7 with compatibility troubleshooting. Why is this significant you may ask? Because the installer checks for XP and won't install in Vista. Windows 7 bypasses this check (Right-click and run Compatibility Troubleshooting on the Installer executable). Anything that wouldn't run in Vista, or even XP, because of an OS-check, is now installable!!!
Got hooked on Gadgets on Vista. Now they are off by default, which is probably better for a lot of people. But they are easy to get to.
Have to download an E-mail client seperately. I just downloaded Windows Live essentials mail through the getting started menu.
Didn't have to download any MB drivers. They were included with 7. All I had to install was Video card, X-fi drivers, BluRay software, Openoffice, Lotus Word Pro 2000. Then copy over favorites and my documents and I was done.
As for other OS's, well, got nothing against them.
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michaelleung: OK, so I've finally got Windows 7 running the way I like it. I'm using XP on my laptop, but I'm not sure as to whether it would run well on that too, so I'd like some info on laptops (specifially netbooks) running on 7.
Anyway, the taskbar is hard to get used to (this is my first 7 experience, I've never used the beta or RCs), and I don't suppose there's a way to change is there?
I'm installing my games again, after doing a clean install and a messy iTunes library thing (my music was all over the place before) and I've tried games that were sluggish on my Vista system and they run a lot better, mostly because of less background services/apps and because I don't even have antivirus software running.

I've never used Win7 either, but I've heard there is a way to make the taskbar less atrocious. I think it's in the taskbar properties if you right click it, but I've never done it.
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Sadnasser: Dragging windows to the side is awesome on widescreen monitors when you want to compare two windows. Much faster than pre-7.

Having two screens is way better for this, so pre-7 has always been faster with the right hardware. ;)
But speaking of dual screen, how would that feature even work since there are no "edges" where the screens meet?
Post edited October 23, 2009 by Kingoftherings
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Kingoftherings: But speaking of dual screen, how would that feature even work since there are no "edges" where the screens meet?

It doesn't work on the edge bordering the other screen. It is a bit annoying.
Edit: Even if the other screen has a lower resolution so that part of the edge does not border that screen.
Post edited October 24, 2009 by Miaghstir
I have been running 7 pro RTM now for a little over a month, I guess.
I love it! it is very responsive, fast boot times and they have done some nice things with the file system (libraries) and the aero snap. I highly suggest it.
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Cor: I have been running 7 pro RTM now for a little over a month, I guess.
I love it! it is very responsive, fast boot times and they have done some nice things with the file system (libraries) and the aero snap. I highly suggest it.

That is very encouraging to hear! Thanks
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soulgrindr: I'm with the other crazy guys. I think it's excellent.
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Miaghstir: "Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes, the ones who see things differently."

^adds himself to the list. ^
I won't be upgrading to 7 for a while seeing as how Vista will get DirectX11 too.
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Aliasalpha: Forget gravity, there is no greater force in the universe that human stupidity. The more open and easy to change something is, the more people will fuck it up and blame microsoft.

Actually, the strongest force in magnitude is the strong nuclear force, at least according to google. :P
Post edited October 24, 2009 by Tserge
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soulgrindr: "Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes, the ones who see things differently."
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Miaghstir: ^adds himself to the list. ^
I won't be upgrading to 7 for a while seeing as how Vista will get DirectX11 too.

I was going to do the same thing, having turned Vista into something less chunky with vLite. However, I just happen to be going to school at the moment and was able to get Windows 7 64-bit for free through school from the MSDNAA, so I couldn't refuse.
So far, it's been working pretty good. I haven't even had any problems with drivers, since I can use Vista drivers for the more obscure stuff. My only beef is that I can't get the classic start menu anymore (I'm really old skool!).
But yeah, as shiny as it looks, I still don't trust the compatibility promises of M$ since I've been burnt enough times in the past. So, I'm currently triple-booting between XP 32-bit, Vista 32-bit, and 7 64-bit, lol!
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ethanpd: My only beef is that I can't get the classic start menu anymore (I'm really old skool!).

Same here! I've gutted it and reorganised the All Programs list. But I still haven't found a way to make that list the default. Meaning I have to click on it before anything at all is displayed. Still, that might become available with TweakUI or similar.
I can confirm to some degree the reports of Windows 7 being what Vista should have been. You almost don't notice the difference (apart from some cosmetics, most of which I disable anyway). That is until you install it on an older machine. I have a rather weak 4-year old notebook that was running Vista until recently, and was dead slow. After upgrading to Windows 7, I can actually do something more than just boot up and immediately shut down before the battery is empty! Free harddisk space went up, idle state RAM usage and CPU load went down, boot-up and shut-down are faster. That's what Windows 7 is all about.
In my experience, however, they also took some steps backwards in other areas. Installing Windows Vista respected and preserved my GRUB multiboot environment (almost unheard of from a Microsoft OS). Windows 7 does not and monopolises the computer again (so it's again "unheard of"). Windows Vista came with all the drivers my notebook needed. Windows 7 lacked the WLAN chipset driver and the audio chipset driver. (Intel and Realtek respectively, hardly obscure components). Windows Vista allowed me to install all of my old XP drivers without problem. Windows Vista drivers for the WiFi and audio chipset could not be installed on Windows 7.
It sometimes also makes me wonder how they can keep such a huge piece of software in a more or less working and stable state, but miss such obvious and stupid bugs like Windows Explorer displaying wrong file-sizes or non-intuitively selecting files - mistakes that every beta tester should have encountered and reported after using the system for 30 minutes.