Windows 7 - Vista with a new hat

I wasn't looking forward to trying out Windows 7. My computer is set up exactly the way I like it and, as the saying goes: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

It was with some trepidation, therefore, that I backed up my data and loaded the Windows 7 DVD.

Interestingly, I was offered an upgrade option. I hadn't even considered this and was quickly convinced that formatting and reinstalling was too much hassle for a sunny Saturday afternoon so I clicked upgrade and sat back to watch.

Thirty seconds later, a dialogue informed me I would have to install SP1 for Vista to be able to upgrade. No problem; with that done, the Windows 7 upgrade went flawlessly and a few hours later, I was having my first look at Microsoft's new flagship.

I am not one to upgrade for an upgrade's sake. I was happy with Windows 2000 and only reluctantly upgraded to XP. When Vista came along, there was so much contention about it I had to see for myself.

Once personalised, Vista is an exceptional system and I was therefore reluctant to upgrade to Windows 7. Still, my job is knowing all about it and I need to be prepared for when machines with 7 installed start turning up at the workshop.

All I had heard about Windows 7 was that it looked pretty and it was what Vista should have been, whatever that means.

My version of 7 is Ultimate and first impressions are that it looks and feels very similar to Vista - like when upgrading to the latest model of your car, the major buttons and controls are in almost the same place.

Vista users will have no problems acclimatising to Windows 7, though XP and previous-version users who are "waiting for Windows 7 before upgrading" will find things significantly different from their current operating system.

The prevailing theme is "clean and green". The splash screen has tree, dove, butterfly and nature motifs, no doubt to assure us that carbon emissions are low in this version.

There are minor changes in the way user files are stored: documents, pictures and movies now live in Libraries, which can have multiple source folders. HomeGroups, which link other Windows 7 machines and compatible devices on the home network, make sharing files and printers stress-free.

Explorer has some visual upgrades, with links down the left side and an informative status bar, all of which can be configured to taste.

Linux and MacOS users will note similarities with certain elements of those operating systems and are certain to be crying foul.

As for performance, 7 feels lighter and quicker in use, with faster boot and shutdown times adding to the perception.

My system rating score is identical to that in Vista, though 7 feels faster all round.

My sole complaint at this point is that the mouse utility software I have used for almost 10 years does not work properly with 7. I use this software for its click-saving functionality, which reduces wrist damage. Since the software has been discontinued, I can only throw it away; my OOS/RSI is already a PIA.

Visually, 7 looks fantastic. There are many groovy themes and hi-def desktop images, though I dumbed- down to the classic look with no candy-graphics to improve performance on my older hardware. Therefore, the start menu is an ugly, blank grey box until the programs pop up.

The classic start menu is gone, replaced with one that many will find terrible (and some will love), while Microsoft's unfathomable and continued obsession with searching means an immovable Search dialogue sits where Run used to be, frustrating those of us who often use command lines.

Mr Gates, I know where my files are; why we need such resource and real estate-hogging search functionality is beyond me.

7 comes in three flavours; Home, Pro and Ultimate. The only differences are that Pro and Ultimate will have XP mode for program compatibility and Ultimate has Bitlocker, a drive encryption tool that is sure to give techs and forensics guys migraines.

Windows 7 is Vista with a new hat and no doubt everyone will love it.

- © Fairfax NZ News