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January 13th, 2009

YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 5:18 am

Categories: Windows 7

Tags: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Beta, Windows 7 Beta, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Windows 7 beta has been available to pretty much anyone who wants a chance to take a look at it for a few days, I’m guessing that quite a number of you have downloaded the beta to have a play with it. With that in mind I though it would be interesting to get feedback from you, Constant Reader, about the beta.

I’ve tested Windows 7 on a number of systems, and the install process was quick, easy and painless on all the machines. The end result was an OS that’s both fast and stable, and quite a lot of fun to use.

But those are my data points, and I’m interested in a few more. So I’d like to know how the beta was for YOU. Some things that I’m interested in getting feedback on include:

  • The install process
  • Initial thoughts on the UI
  • Thoughts on performance
  • Thoughts on compatibility
  • Any other thoughts

How I rate my overall Windows 7 beta 1 experience (5 is excellent, 1 is poor):

View Results

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I’ll be scoping out the TalkBack section for this post throughout the day and I’ll try to respond/reply to any comments or questions ASAP.

Adrian Kingsley-HughesAdrian is a technology journalist and author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations

Want to get in touch? Got a tip? Feel free to drop me a note! I ALWAYS respect anonymity. I'm also on Twitter (@the_pc_doc)

Right to Reply: Should any industry representatives wish to comment on any posts on Hardware 2.0, I will be happy to publish their reply verbatim on this blog.

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 99 Talkback(s)
Thumbs Up, but
I installed Win7 over the top of Vista about 2 weeks ago.
My experience so far has been very positive. I think its appears both faster and more stable than Vista, is cleaner than Vista. So as a gen... (Read the rest)
Posted by: KiwiHawk Posted on: 02/22/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Windows 7 too cool!  exglade | 01/13/09
My experience  Azathothh | 01/14/09
that a issue  Randalllind | 01/14/09
seriously?  ariesghost | 01/14/09
My Experience  mckenzl | 01/14/09
Overall Excellent Experience  steeldestroyer | 01/13/09
The option to format drives ....  ShadeTree | 01/13/09
Windows 7 is better.....  daMan25 | 01/13/09
@ steeldestroyer  M.R. Kennedy | 01/13/09
Lucky 7?  martin23 | 01/13/09
Isn't that the purpose?  steeldestroyer | 01/13/09
Change a good thing?  martin23 | 01/13/09
but  Azathothh | 01/14/09
So far ... so good  Oknarf | 01/13/09
Great so far  NStalnecker | 01/13/09
My Gripes  itguy08 | 01/13/09
Less QQ  ariesghost | 01/13/09
Hello? Did you read?  itguy08 | 01/13/09
There are  NStalnecker | 01/13/09
Bonjour is an Apple established system.  ShadeTree | 01/13/09
Shadey...  M.R. Kennedy | 01/13/09
Regarding indications of whether an app is running or not  marksashton | 01/14/09
... its like everyone  ariesghost | 01/14/09
He's crying that there's any setup at all  daengbo | 01/14/09
The printers don't use CUPS...  logicearth@... | 01/15/09
How are the network printer setup?  logicearth@... | 01/13/09
Taskbar  ross.cornell | 01/15/09
Fantastic!  Papa_papa | 01/13/09
Two important problems, a few not so much...  RodrigoKenobi | 01/13/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  buzzd | 01/13/09
The webcam driver is probably casing a BSOD, check logs (NT)  logicearth@... | 01/13/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  jfbetel@... | 01/13/09
It installed...  storm14k | 01/13/09
Mixed reaction  Stuka | 01/13/09
more QQ  ariesghost | 01/13/09
Perfect!  BR999 | 01/13/09
it's fast, and it works  coffeeshark | 01/13/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  Loverock Davidson | 01/13/09
And now the Sales Report  martin23 | 01/13/09
...  ariesghost | 01/13/09
Not sure what you are talking about (NT)  Loverock Davidson | 01/13/09
You Lie Through Your Fat  itanalyst2@... | 01/14/09
iTunes gagged (of course)  zinger1 | 01/13/09
Very Impressed since Build 6956  Gnutella | 01/13/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  KineticArtist | 01/13/09
1 star, because 0 stars was not a choice -  chrome_slinky@... | 01/13/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  KineticArtist | 01/13/09
3-Day Impression of Windows 7  n0lxx-mark@... | 01/13/09
AVG is 1 of 3 firms that have Win7 previews out**  Gnutella | 01/13/09
Device Manager  NStalnecker | 01/13/09
Excellent installation, performance, and interface  jshanleynyc@... | 01/13/09
running well under parallels  lostarchitect | 01/13/09
Okay, here's my take on it.  genefitz1976 | 01/13/09
1st Day: Tracing an issue that hung my machine on installing applications  Bozzer | 01/13/09
Three words  shellcodes_coder | 01/13/09
Joe Biden? That you?  Gnutella | 01/13/09
?  shellcodes_coder | 01/13/09
My FIRST impressions  TrackStar1682 | 01/13/09
Reordering the programs menu frustration  Romberry | 01/13/09
The option moved to "All Programs" right click it (NT)  logicearth@... | 01/14/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  MaxZamorsky | 01/13/09
If you have XP its time to jump  groovepoint@... | 01/13/09
Everything works well ....  ShadeTree | 01/13/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  g_keramidas@... | 01/13/09
I am quite surprised...  dcoaster | 01/13/09
The Best of the Best of the Best, Sir!  fredsmithCool | 01/13/09
Microsoft finally got it right  borimar | 01/13/09
Best OS ever but for the UI  nospam@... | 01/13/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  shully | 01/13/09
Works great on a T41 with Pentium M 1.83 ghz  tech_walker | 01/13/09
Super Excellent Maximum Beautifull Gorgeus !!!  cyberale | 01/13/09
I would love to try it, but...  sgtgary@... | 01/13/09
You cannot make get...  logicearth@... | 01/13/09
Partition  shully | 01/14/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  M.R. Kennedy | 01/13/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  Clinst | 01/14/09
Follow up...  Romberry | 01/14/09
It runs great on my Asus EeePC 1000H  timiteh | 01/14/09
Now I'm satisfied by Windows  ginoyann | 01/14/09
A significant improvement, but......  linux for me | 01/14/09
Windows 7 is a better vista nothing more  Randalllind | 01/14/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  marksashton | 01/14/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  Day24 | 01/14/09
I am only using it on a HTPC....  JoeMama_z | 01/14/09
my first thought - FIXTA  pupkin_z | 01/14/09
You are not looking beyond the UI, many improvements in the core (NT)  logicearth@... | 01/14/09
Except...  SAZMD | 01/14/09
What Did You Guys Expect? At Least They're Trying...  dennyc5@... | 01/14/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  ariesghost | 01/14/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  SaintChristopher | 01/14/09
Where is the Reliability monitor gone -hmmm?  groovepoint@... | 01/15/09
The monitor..  TedKraan | 01/15/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  rbslack@... | 01/15/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  EddieStarr | 01/17/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  TimeChaser3222 | 01/17/09
A Good Experience  anthonya@... | 01/18/09
RE: YOUR first thoughts on Windows 7 Beta 1  mikeybthepilot | 01/19/09
Dual-boot XP/7 and connected-USB drive install failures  davidcorley@... | 01/20/09
Thumbs Up, but  KiwiHawk | 02/22/09

What do you think?

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