Pointless to buy Vista?

[Waylay00]

I plan on building my next rig in a few days or so. I'm still wondering about the OS. A lot of people are just saying that I should download the Windows 7 Release Candidate and use it until Windows 7 is officially released. The only thing I worry about is stability. Would it be stable enough for me? This is pretty much what I do:

Browse the web...
Listen to music and import CDs with iTunes...
Play BF2 with Project Reality mod...
Play Empire: Total War
Play ArmA and ArmA2...
Light audio work with Mackie Tracktion 3...

That's really about it. As far as I know, people run these programs fine on Windows 7. So if it were you, would you skip spending money on Vista and just go with Windows 7 RC until October?

Thanks

 

[Balt]

Originally posted by: Waylay00
I plan on building my next rig in a few days or so. I'm still wondering about the OS. A lot of people are just saying that I should download the Windows 7 Release Candidate and use it until Windows 7 is officially released. The only thing I worry about is stability. Would it be stable enough for me? This is pretty much what I do:

Browse the web...
Listen to music and import CDs with iTunes...
Play BF2 with Project Reality mod...
Play Empire: Total War
Play ArmA and ArmA2...
Light audio work with Mackie Tracktion 3...

That's really about it. As far as I know, people run these programs fine on Windows 7. So if it were you, would you skip spending money on Vista and just go with Windows 7 RC until October?

Thanks

Well, I believe the word is that after June 26 you may be able to purchase Vista and be eligible for a free/cheap upgrade to Windows 7 once it is released. I don't think that has been confirmed by anything other than an internal Best Buy memo someone posted on the internet, however.

I definitely wouldn't buy a new copy of Vista at this particular moment, though.

 

[wpshooter]

Have you thought about giving Ubuntu/Linux a shot at it, until you decide. Wouldn't cost you anything but some time, since its "free".

My understanding is that it might be problematic at most gaming. But I am not authority on that one way or the other, since I am not a gamer.

http://www.ubuntu.com/GetUbuntu/download

 

[Waylay00]

Thanks for that info!

Do you think that it would still apply to just buying Vista OEM? A lot of the info makes it sound like it's only applicable for PCs preinstalled with Vista.

 

[Aluvus]

Originally posted by: wpshooter
Have you thought about giving Ubuntu/Linux a shot at it, until you decide. Wouldn't cost you anything but some time, since its "free".

My understanding is that it might be problematic at most gaming. But I am not authority on that one way or the other, since I am not a gamer.

Nearly no games will run under any form of Linux unless you also use Cedega, which is a fork of WINE specialized for games. It provides a (reduced performance) Windows-like environment for games.


The Windows 7 release candidate is essentially as stable as a final release. If I were faced with your situation, I would probably run the RC until the release to manufacturing in October.

 

[Eureka]

Like Aluvus said, run the Win7 RC. Even the beta was relatively stable.

 

[JackMDS]

In general Win7 works just as well (and for many better) as Vista.

Some specific applications might be troubled, cause the application was Not programmed correctly to work with Win7

No big philosophical debates are needed, it is free, so download and try.

If it does Not work for you, then you can think about an alternative.

http://www.microsoft.com/windo...indows-7/download.aspx

 

[mmntech]

I'm using Windows 7 RC on my primary rig until the full version comes out. Seems to work pretty well. Just be aware that you will have to do a clean install once you get your hands on the retail/OEM version come October.

 

[SunSamurai]

Do not buy Vista. If you want to compair names, Vista = Windows 7 alpha!

 

[Moonbeam]

I thought Win 7 was amazing. I built a new computer with a new raptor drive and turned it on with the Win 7 disk in the dvd drive. In very little time and without a single hitch of any kind I was up and running. Just had to throw the power switch and fill in the user names etc and provide the key you get when you download the program. Downloaded WOW and I'm off to the races. Boots fast too.

 

[SunSamurai]

Indeed. Vista was just a public testrun for developing Windows 7 beta.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: Aluvus

Originally posted by: wpshooter
Have you thought about giving Ubuntu/Linux a shot at it, until you decide. Wouldn't cost you anything but some time, since its "free".

My understanding is that it might be problematic at most gaming. But I am not authority on that one way or the other, since I am not a gamer.

Nearly no games will run under any form of Linux unless you also use Cedega, which is a fork of WINE specialized for games. It provides a (reduced performance) Windows-like environment for games.


The Windows 7 release candidate is essentially as stable as a final release. If I were faced with your situation, I would probably run the RC until the release to manufacturing in October.

Wine in many ways has surpassed Cedega for games, and is completely free.
That said, if the game is < 3 years old, don't expect it to run well (or maybe even at all) under wine/cedega.

 

[0roo0roo]

he's building a "rig" aka gaming. no way linux gaming works for that.

 

[JessicaD]

Waylay00,

I think many users (who are now using Windows 7) have asked themself the same question and do the same amount of work on the computer as yourself. Windows 7 RC is extremely stable and many have begun to use it as their main OS. To learn more and to better assist you in your decision, Microsoft does have a site with whitepapers, tutorials, walkthroughs and screen casts on all the ?under the hood? features in Win 7. Check out the Springboard site for Windows 7 on TechNet here http://tinyurl.com/832nco

Also, another great resource is Talking About Windows. www.talkingaboutwindows.com

Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: Waylay00
Do you think that it would still apply to just buying Vista OEM? A lot of the info makes it sound like it's only applicable for PCs preinstalled with Vista.

The Best Buy memo also included a reference to an "upgrade" promotion.

I have a Windows 7 test build but I wouldn't recommend using it as a production system. Contrary to what others say, the RTM usually has some notable improvements over the RC.

 

[Jray]

I am in the same boat as the OP. IMO, go with the Windows 7 RC until it is officially released. It doesn't make any sense to spend $100 on Vista now unless you know for certain that you qualify for a free upgrade. Why have to spend another $100 in a few months?

I installed the 7 RC on my new PC a couple weeks ago. I'm doing most of the same stuff as you and so far, no problems (other than getting it installed initially)... knock on wood.

 

[Denithor]

Waiting for i5/cheap+fast ssd/win7...

Maybe it will take a major alignment of the planets or something but I'm hoping to do a complete upgrade to innards toward the end of the year - hopefully everything hits at the same time.

/crosses fingers

 

[brblx]

Originally posted by: Athena

Originally posted by: Waylay00
Do you think that it would still apply to just buying Vista OEM? A lot of the info makes it sound like it's only applicable for PCs preinstalled with Vista.

The Best Buy memo also included a reference to an "upgrade" promotion.

I have a Windows 7 test build but I wouldn't recommend using it as a production system. Contrary to what others say, the RTM usually has some notable improvements over the RC.

those upgrades are usually for retail PC's they did the same thing with vista in late 06/early 07. i don't think they're going to offer upgrades for individual copies of vista...

 

[StinkyPinky]

Yeah, just run Win 7 RC and then when the OS is released go buy it and use that. Of course it does mean a fresh install but it's worth it.

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: brblx
[those upgrades are usually for retail PC's they did the same thing with vista in late 06/early 07. i don't think they're going to offer upgrades for individual copies of vista...

No, this is separate from the "Technology Guarantee" program for new PCs purchased after June 26 -- that's a free upgrade.

I was referencing a rumored 2 week offer of actual upgrades for existing Vista license holders: Home Premium = $49, Professional = $99