Nobody needs Windows 7.

[Erickson]

This topic discusses this article of the same name.

[pinellascomputers]

I am the owner of Pinellas Computers & Repair, LLC. I would love to talk with the person who wrote this ignorant summary. Windows 7 is the most advanced operating system ever created. First of all, it is built on Windows XP/NT core structure, with the visual effects of Vista. It has built in problem solving, hardware installation, 3rd party driver detection and installation. It has multi level security features, and one of the best file sharing systems I have ever experienced. It is absolutely worth upgrading to. I don't let a customer walk out without stressing to them how much better Windows 7 is than Vista. If you don't like the price and proprietary nature of it, use Linux, which is great, but don't count on 95% users knowing how to mount drives, and sudo software installations, let alone them not being able to use a large number of Windows/Mac programs that aren't currently supported. To say the Windows 7 has NO advantages is as ignorant as a child saying girls have "cooties". Windows 7 creates automatic and customized backups, it informs you of problems it encountered that you may not have know about, it searches your entire computer from the start menu, it has aero window previews, taskbar jumplists, snap, it detects and identifies every device, and can even figure out what to do with unknown hardware. Lastly, if old software is not compatible with Windows 7, you can run it in compatibility mode for XP or early versions of Windows. These are just a handfull of things that immediately come to my mind when comparing Windows versions. I would love to debate this topic further. Feel free to contact me at admin@pinellascomputers.com

[Erickson]

Every point you make applies to XP and/or Vista, Linux, etc.

There is NOTHING that makes Windows 7 worth the expense and trouble.  If you think there is, name something that is DIFFERENT or BETTER and how exactly it is DIFFERENT or BETTER.

But please don't just come in here and start throwing around insults.

[Erickson]

I just wanted to come back in here and clarify my answers to "pinellascomputers", as I feel my original response was not very comprehensive.  I will address their points one at a time.

Why your arguments for Windows 7 are invalid:

it is built on Windows XP/NT core structure

So is Windows XP, so this is NOT an advantage.

It has built in problem solving

This is extremely vague, and doesn't have any specific meaning that can be addressed.

[it has built in] hardware installation

This has been a feature of every version of Windows (and all other OS'es) since the 1990's, so this is NOT an advantage.

[it has built in] 3rd party driver detection and installation

This has been a feature of every version of Windows (and all other OS'es) since the 1990's, so this is NOT an advantage.

It has multi level security features

Again, very vague, but all Windows versions after Windows 95 have had multiple levels of security control, so this is NOT an advantage.

[it has] one of the best file sharing systems

File sharing is extremely simple on ANY operating system, so this is NOT an advantage.

[it] creates automatic and customized backups

Most users will never use this tool, but if they wanted to, there are excellent free and easy methods to do so that do not rely on one particular format or manufacturer.

it informs you of problems it encountered

Both Windows XP and Linux do this as well, so this is NOT an advantage.

it searches your entire computer from the start menu

Both Windows XP and Linux do this as well, so this is NOT an advantage.

it has aero window previews, taskbar jumplists, snap...

Most users do not know about, care about or use these features, but Windows XP and Linux have very similar features that can be added or turned on should anyone want them, so this is NOT an advantage.

it detects and identifies every device, and can even figure out what to do with unknown hardware

This has been a feature of every version of Windows (and all other OS'es) since the 1990's, so this is NOT an advantage.

you can run it in compatibility mode for XP or early versions of Windows

This is only needed if you use Windows 7, but XP has backwards compatibility as well.  Free alternatives to most popular applications are widely available for XP and Linux, so this is NOT an advantage.

Why your arguments against Linux are invalid:

[re: Linux] don't count on 95% users knowing how to mount drives, and sudo software installations

Most users will never attempt these types of operations on ANY operating system, so this is NOT a disadvantage.

[re: Linux] not being able to use a large number of Windows/Mac programs that aren't currently supported [by Linux]

The vast majority of users rely on programs that have completely free equivalents for Linux, so this is NOT a disadvantage.

I would love to debate this topic further.

I'm happy to debate it with you as well, but we'll do it here, in public where everyone can see.  Feel free to respond here in the thread I have created for this purpose.

Now, I could be wrong, but I strongly suspect that "pinellascomputers" makes good money installing and troubleshooting Windows 7 for his clients.  The facts that all of their arguments are so hollow, and that they have refused to respond here so far, reinforces my belief that their motivations are in their own best interests more than their customers'.

[Erickson]

pinellascomputers,

I thought I'd let you know that your website has 99 errors in the code.  If you would like help rebuilding your site to meet modern web standards and correct the coding errors, please feel free to ask us here.  We have experts that are happy to provide you with assistance, free of charge if you need.

[pinellascomputers]

I just got an email reporting that I should re-reply to my original post, but....
I really have work to do right now, so I'm not going to waste much time on this.

Our website is perfectly fine, and is always being upgraded/modified. Hence, 3 of our pages list "under contruction" as of this moment.
However, We score an 84/100 on SEO breakdown/scoring websites, which is fantastic. Our formatting/structure is better that 95% of other websites.
I think yours might score ~20-ish? But, I really have no time to check.

And just to touch back on a few of my points:
Windows 7's update database contains more than 100X as many driver installation databases/files as Windows XP's. Hence, on a fresh installation of XP SP3 (with all post SP3 updates), you would ALMOST ALWAYS still need to locate, download, and install drivers for: Audio, LAN, WLAN, Video, Chipset, etc...
XP only has "problem reporting" and does not check for solutions to unknown problems, let alone link to newely found drivers, etc.
And lastly, XP does NOT search your computer from the start menu. It has a "search" feature, but it is not integrated. I'd perfer to simply hit start, type dev man, and press enter. Done.  Not start, my computer, right click, properties, hardware tab, device manager....
And why would people want to download 3rd party add-ons and programs when there is already a great built in Windows 7 feature?

In any case, I'm done arguing. I'm sure if others want more info, they can Google for Windows 7's features and see for themselves. And with OEM upgrade pricing starting at $79, who wouldn't?

Take care. I'll let the forum members decide for themselves. XP is a great OS, I just perfer my customers be up to date and have support after the year 2010, when XP discontinues their support of the OS entirely.

[Erickson]

pinellascomputers,

Thanks for the reply.  It is important that our readers see both sides of things.

RE: Our sites

I think yours might score ~20-ish? [SEO]

Actually, our SEO scores right before this week's name change range from 83% to 86%, but I was not referring to your SEO score.  I'm talking about actual errors in your coding like the STYLE tag being outside of the HEAD tag, META tags not being closed, missing img alt attributes, style attributes that do not exist, etc.  I find these errors on your domain root page which is not marked as being under construction.

RE: Win7
I think the specific points you've made are valid by themselves, but they don't justify the expense and trouble of upgrading.

Beyond the difficulties and costs, there are moral and political reasons to avoid Microsoft products like Windows 7.  The best example is DRM (Digital Rights Management), which allows Microsoft to track and control what movies you watch, what songs you listen to and what books you read.  Windows XP and Linux do not violate user's rights in this way, but Windows Vista and Windows 7 have DRM integrated so deeply that it cannot be removed or disabled.

UPDATE:

XP does NOT search your computer from the start menu

I'm quite puzzled why you keep repeating this false claim. Not only is there search in the Start Menu, but it is fully integrated into the system and it will search the entire computer.

I never intended for this to be an argument, but rather, an honest debate.  I am sorry you see it that way.

We value your input greatly.  Please feel free to participate here any time.  With the recent launch of our new name, Pinellas Computer Club needs members like you to help and attract others.  I hope that you can put aside your need to sell your products and services in order to help members who may need you.