Any advantage to windows 7 over XP?

[dguy6789]

XP is significantly easier for the user to mess up than Windows 7 is. Windows 7 is far better at maintaining itself than XP.

 

[Thump553]

I think you are overly concerned about the differences between Win7 and XP. They are different, but to me at least the learning curve from XP to Win7 isn't that big.

Odds are your parents only use a couple of programs-like email, browser, etc. Make sure their browser is set up identically to how it was under XP, point out how to load the programs under the new OS and point out a couple of neat features like the sleep mode that actually works.

I wouldn't go overboard maxing out the memory, CPU, etc. either. Go for stability first and foremost.

 

[JackMDS]

I think that some posts here reflect more a tendency of some members to approach everything with either fan boy, or Anti Something attitude instead of using their Good Intellectual capacity in a positive way.

If rich in features OS is a problem to a person who suppose to know how to deal with computers, then there is really No point to participate in this discussion.

Going back to the Original Post.

My parents will be buying a new PC and they know XP better so I'll probably put that on it, but I'm wondering if there is any big reason I should go to 7.

I used to write software, and configured computers for people with of cognitive difficulties due to variety of Brain Neurological impairments. I could Not just "Diss" issues that came up, I had to find real solutions.

From that perspective, Win 7 is by far the best software to configure and prepare for such use.

As an example, I use an application called Free Launcher.
With it, I can create locked Launch Bar that looks like this (The lower last line of icons).

Firefox, Outlook, Screen Saver, and Word, are icons directly connect to the applications that were mostly used in the computer with this example. The Last Icon (Tools) when clicked upon Pops Up a secondary Menu with few more applications.

Everything can be easily locked and put always On Top so it is always available No matter what else is on top of the Desktop.

This system with the Big icons and the capacity to write clearly (when needed) the description of the apps. This simple arrangement covers over 90% of what the intended person would use.

It works like a charm even people with very early signs of Alzheimer might be able to use it.


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[NesuD]

don't do it. Microsoft somehow managed to rip off the most annoying features of mac os and break half of the features in xp and vista. Instead of having a quick bar (shortcuts), a task bar (running programs), and a system tray (background programs), it now has the dock menu. Shortcuts and running programs look the same. You'll minimize something, forget that it's minimized, and wonder why the computer is using 3gb of ram to do nothing. Oh it's because i have 10 firefox windows open and didn't know it.

Here's your familiar windows xp/vista desktop. Nice, clean, organized.
http://img15.imageshack.us/i/vistadesktop.jpg/

here's windows 7 running the same number of programs. It looks like shit. Notice how msn messenger no longer sits in the system tray; it takes up 2 spots on the dock menu. shortcuts (the ones not highlighted) don't stay on the left side anymore, they just go wherever the hell they want. It makes the system harder to use because the shortcuts are never in the same position twice.
http://img14.imageshack.us/i/windows7t.jpg/

driver support is horrible. My hp laserjet 1012 printer works great in windows xp, good enough in vista, and it flat out doesn't work in windows 7. My printer/scanner (hp 1500?) works great in xp with proper drivers, works as a plug n play device in vista, but is not detected by windows 7 as a scanner.

I also put a video on youtube to vent my frustration with windows 7's complete inability to work with network locations. Unless you know the exact folder path and can type it in the address bar, you're fucked. It can connect to network locations, but only if they are typed in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odqcpiwmugk

this is windows me all over again.

LOL!! are you an idiot? use auto arrange for the desktop icons just like in XP. What a moron.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I think that some posts here reflect more a tendency of some members to approach everything with either fan boy, or Anti Something attitude instead of using their Good Intellectual capacity in a positive way.

If rich in features OS is a problem to a person who suppose to know how to deal with computers, then there is really No point to participate in this discussion.

Going back to the Original Post.



I used to write software, and configured computers for people with of cognitive difficulties due to variety of Brain Neurological impairments. I could Not just "Diss" issues that came up, I had to find real solutions.

From that perspective, Win 7 is by far the best software to configure and prepare for such use.

As an example, I use an application called Free Launcher.
With it, I can create locked Launch Bar that looks like this (The lower last line of icons).

Firefox, Outlook, Screen Saver, and Word, are icons directly connect to the applications that were mostly used in the computer with this example. The Last Icon (Tools) when clicked upon Pops Up a secondary Menu with few more applications.

Everything can be easily locked and put always On Top so it is always available No matter what else is on top of the Desktop.

This system with the Big icons and the capacity to write clearly (when needed) the description of the apps. This simple arrangement covers over 90% of what the intended person would use.

It works like a charm even people with very early signs of Alzheimer might be able to use it.


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Cool so kinda like custom tool bars in previous versions, but nicer looking. Well since it's been confirmed what shawnd1 posted about the task bar is not how it is then I might give 7 a 2nd look. I'm just scared their printer and scanner may not work in it. They were bought before vista/7 came out so the only way it will work is if MS supports it out of the box, or if there is a 3rd party driver available online. I'll have to get the model info and do some research.

 

[JackMDS]

They were bought before vista/7 came out so the only way it will work is if MS supports it out of the box

If it is the regualr stuff from a Canon, Epson, HP, Brother, Lexmark, etc. it is in most cases Not a problem.

 

[Raduque]

My mom used Windows XP for forever. When she bough her laptop a couple years ago, first thing she asks me is "can you load XP?" I told her to use Vista and try it first so she did. Today she just asks me "what's up with these people who hate vista? I have no problems with it at all". My mother's 48. She also figured out how the new taskbar features of Windows 7 worked within minutes when she picked up my laptop a while back.

Shortcuts (the ones not highlighted) don't stay on the left side anymore, they just go wherever the hell they want. It makes the system harder to use because the shortcuts are never in the same position twice.

You're kidding right? Pinned applications DO NOT move unless you grab the icon and move it around.

Protip: Group windows, disable long buttons. Your W7 taskbar will look 500 times better.

The Quicklaunch (those "shortcuts that stay on the left side") can be moved around. You can leave it where it is, double-size the taskbar and put it above/below running programs, or jam it all the way to the right.

 

[Nothinman]

Protip: Group windows, disable long buttons. Your W7 taskbar will look 500 times better.

Exactly, I can't understand the people who actually want their taskbars cluttered up with 30 icons for the same app.

 

[lxskllr]

Exactly, I can't understand the people who actually want their taskbars cluttered up with 30 icons for the same app.

I like the old way because I don't have a lot of taskbar items. I clean up after myself as I go, and using the icons just adds another step in restoring a window.

 

[HeXen]

How do i do this?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I like the old way because I don't have a lot of taskbar items. I clean up after myself as I go, and using the icons just adds another step in restoring a window.

Same if I happen to have two explorer windows open I want to actually see both of them I don't want to have to click twice just to get to them. Or if I need to drag an item from one to the other, good luck if they're grouped under the same item! I think it's doable but it's like trying to play "Operation". I usually just hit cut/paste anyway but still.

Is there a place I can download a demo of win7 so I can play around with it? From there I can make my final decision on if they'll be able to use it ok.

Also any issues with 32bit vs 64bit? I want to go 64bit.

 

[lxskllr]

I don't think there's any official downloads left, barring tech subscriptions. You could find a torrent, install, but don't activate it. That'll let you run for 30 days+ to see how it is. You can run it in a VM, but you won't be able to use the Aero effects that way. A real install is best for a good idea of what it's about.

32bit and 64bit are pretty much the same. Older peripherals may not have 64bit drivers, but do for 32bit(my scanner is like that). Anything made for Vista should have 64bit drivers though.

Edit:
If you know someone with an install disc, you can use that too. Just don't enter a key when given the chance, and you can trial it that way.

 

[Nothinman]

I like the old way because I don't have a lot of taskbar items. I clean up after myself as I go, and using the icons just adds another step in restoring a window.

I guess that's the difference, I generally leave everything open. I almost always have dozens of explorer windows, browsing tabs, etc in addition to the single windowed apps that I run for work.

In Linux it's not an issue because I keep things grouped on their own desktops so I almost never have a window get hidden behind another or minimized but all of the multiple desktop tools for Windows suck in one way or another.

 

[JackMDS]

How do i do this?

Page says Vista Compatible.

As you see it works with Win 7 too.

http://www.freelaunchbar.com/


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[nemesismk2]

dx10 is worthless. dx11 is too considering there is only like 1 game out that uses it and the visual differences of both compared to dx9 is not really all that.
pluse most dx10 games suck. Crysis, FC2? omg those are terrible.

Some would love to argue my comments but seriously, there are hardly any games that really use them considering how many games are released each year and the price to enter dx10/11 is definitly not worth it. Maybe in a couple years or when a new console releases so developers will at least port games that use more hardware features.

So those are very poor reasons to upgrade to W7. The best reason is better security but really there is not 1 single thing you can do in W7 that you cannot do in XP with 3rd party software aside from Direct x.

I wouldn't argue with your comments because they are valid esp about better Security. I am going to keep using Windows 7 for as long as I did with Windows XP which was right from launch so having DX11 support will be important for me.