Windows 7

[Barrie Yates]

Does anyone know when Windows 7 is due for release? I am about to buy a new laptop and don't like the idea of Vista - i use XP Pro at the moment. I just don't like the idea of buying an LT and then finding that Windows 7 is released shortly afterwards.
I want to buy my Grandson (11 yrs old) a laptop during a short visit to UK and as I will be in Accrington for at least one day, are there any shops around that sell decent second hand machines?

[Mick]

The latest version of windows will be available to buy off the shelf and on new computers from 22 October .
Microsoft announced the launch date at the Computex trade fair.
An evaluation version of the operating system is available so home PC users can decide whether they want to upgrade.
It is a fully functional test version that will last until June 2010.
This is taken from an article in computer active magazine.
www.computeractive.co.uk

[accyman]

runs a lot smoother than vista and to be honest i think they realised what a disater vista is and rather than kep trying to fix it quickly launched a new operating system with a lot of mistakes fixed from scratch

probably just like every other OS microsoft release will need a service pack once they start getting feed back but it is an improvement on vista

[shillelagh]

IE isnt going to be part of windows 7 in europe ....

BBC NEWS | Technology | No IE onboard Windows 7 in Europe

[Barrie Yates]

I understand that they are releasing a prview version - but, it will have automatic reporting procedures direct to MS, therefore they have the possibility to see anything at all on your computer

[accyman]

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates

I understand that they are releasing a prview version - but, it will have automatic reporting procedures direct to MS, therefore they have the possibility to see anything at all on your computer

plenty of people are using windows 7 already and have reported no such thing infact my guess is that the claim they can see everything on your computer is paranoid bullcrap spread by idiots

xp and vista have an error reporting service which is probably all that windows 7 has and that can be turned off if you choose

from microsoft

Information collected, processed, or transmitted

During activation, product key information is sent to Microsoft along with a non-unique number generated from the computer's hardware configuration. The number does not represent any personal information or information about the software. It cannot be used to determine the make or model of the computer and it cannot be calculated to determine any additional information about your computer. Along with standard computer information, some additional language settings are collected.

[Restless]

Well guess you would have to buy a really good laptop to run vista or windows7 My laptop came with vista on it and it really really sucked (and i love vista, if you have a **** hot x64 pc it runs great) I would stick with XP on most laptops unless it was a really great machine

[Neil]

Originally Posted by shillelagh

IE isnt going to be part of windows 7 in europe ....

BBC NEWS | Technology | No IE onboard Windows 7 in Europe

It wont matter, all the dodgy copies will come from the US anyway so many people will be stuck with IE anyway

[Restless]

hehehe yeah.

They should start intergrating Firefox into the dodgy copies instead

[Tin Monkey]

For people looking to get Windows 7 when it's released in October, Microsoft are offering preorders at a reduced price until the 9th August. At Amazon it's just under £45 for the Home version, which is a cracking deal and removes the need for pirate copies in my opinion.

Amazon.co.uk

[Tin Monkey]

Apparently Microsoft are limiting the number of copies available at this pre-order price. Amazon and other online retailers keep showing out of stock, as pre-orders pile in! Apparently Japan sold out of these low price pre-orders in less than 48 hours, so I'd be quick if you want one.

[Tin Monkey]

Amazon now saying that all pre-orders have been filled and the same goes for nearly all online retailers. I hope a few people managed to get in on the deal.

[Neil]

I would not buy Windows 7 until it has been out for a while anyway. Look at the state of Vista, anyone who has a copy of Vista should be given their money back.

Its a bit like buying a car without a test drive in my opinion.

[spex357]

I agree on the post refund for vista buyers, i bought the Vista64 first and was too early so installed the 32vista as well, for months 64 had Photoshop on and nothing else, nothing else was happy on there. Win7 has been installed 64Bit version and has run everything bar my beloved BF2 which is Punkbusters fault not EA's. The system sends back info like every version of windows that preceeds it, no personal blah blah will be sent with this blah blah blah but the 7 version seems to be working better, any problems i have had have been sorted very quickly with the backpass of information, and hope it will be an upgrade for vista owners as this seems like the finished article we missed out on. Shame it wont come with IE as i find it the best browser for my needs and to include Firefox would annoy all the people who have moaned about software being forced on people. The unit id number uses an algorithm obtained from your motherboard, chipset etc, if you change your motherboard or try installing on another machine it will complain and you will have to phone Bombay or Mumbai as i think it is now called, its the same in Vista.

[entwisi]

As I understand it Firefox isn't being bundled with Windows 7, only that IE is not being included. The interesting bit is how you get a browser without one installed or a package management system such as Linux provides.

if they aren't careful it will end up with some weird welcome wizard asking you which one you want and having to go and get it for you .