XP vs Vista vs 7

[VirusType2]

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/reviews/windows_7_review

Good for anyone thinking of upgrading to windows 7. The article also includes more than 80 benchmarks.

Drag a file onto a shortcut in the [Windows 7] Taskbar, and Windows will open the file using that app. Hover your mouse over a running application’s icon, and it expands to show live thumbnail previews of all of that app’s windows, floating just above the Taskbar. Mouse over a thumbnail, and Windows will bring that particular window to the foreground. You can even close individual windows from the thumbnail previews.

For anyone who regularly finds himself with more than 10 windows open, the new Taskbar is a dream come true.

Along with the redesigned UI elements comes a whole new world of user-interface shortcuts. There are really too many to get into here, but the best of the new shortcuts allow you to maximize a window by dragging it to the top of the screen, minimize it by dragging it to the bottom, maximize to half your screen by dragging it to either edge, or (our favorite) minimizing all other windows by shaking the one you want to focus on.

The Verdict:

Whether you’re coming from XP or Vista, Windows 7 offers a massive leap forward in usability, security, and support for new hardware and technology, especially for enthusiasts and power users. For anyone who regularly keeps many windows open at once time, the new Taskbar is worth the price of admission alone. For XP users, the security improvements are equally worthy of praise, while Vista users will be thrilled with the much improved, much less annoying UAC. Add in support for new hardware technologies, more new features, and the kernel improvements that should allow you to get more from your multi-core CPU, and Windows 7 becomes a tidy, compelling package to all Windows users.

Best of all, the new OS simply feels faster than Vista or even XP. As one editor said after a session testing the OS, it’s the best of both worlds—the user interface speed of XP and the features and security of Vista and more. That’s something to be lauded.

Anyone know more about the part in bold?

 

[Adabiviak]

Drag a file onto a shortcut in the [Windows 7] Taskbar, and Windows will open the file using that app.

Convenient if you need to open a file with a non-default program, and only if you can do it faster than three, maybe four key strokes (shortcut key, H, first letter of program, Enter)

Hover your mouse over a running application’s icon, and it expands to show live thumbnail previews of all of that app’s windows, floating just above the Taskbar.

Useful if the program is doing something that you can decipher from a thumbnail (none of mine do, your mileage may vary) You should be able to identify it by name at a glance?

Mouse over a thumbnail, and Windows will bring that particular window to the foreground.

Handy indeed if you have a lot (>10 as stated) windows open where you need to keep track of them. Less than 10 and Alt+Tab should be faster.

You can even close individual windows from the thumbnail previews.

New to 7? Right click, close program? They added a close button at the top right of the thumbnail.

For anyone who regularly finds himself with more than 10 windows open, the new Taskbar is a dream come true.

Maybe. I need a better sales pitch, but I could be sold.

Along with the redesigned UI elements comes a whole new world of user-interface shortcuts. There are really too many to get into here, but the best of the new shortcuts allow you to maximize a window by dragging it to the top of the screen, minimize it by dragging it to the bottom, maximize to half your screen by dragging it to either edge, or (our favorite) minimizing all other windows by shaking the one you want to focus on.

These are indeed very nice.

Best of all, the new OS simply feels faster than Vista or even XP. As one editor said after a session testing the OS, it’s the best of both worlds—the user interface speed of XP and the features and security of Vista and more. That’s something to be lauded.

Results may vary - regarding the UI, XP seems faster to me, but both of them are zippy to the point where I don't notice.

Anyone know more about the part in bold?

kernel improvements that should allow you to get more from your multi-core CPU

I haven't noticed anything specifically related to 'getting more from my multi-core CPU', but I'm not sure where to look? I'll try some benchmarks if you got 'em.

 

[VirusType2]

I don't know, I'm loving the taskbar preview and splitting two windows side by side. Initially I don't like the start menu (default setup) and the search seems crap. Doesn't add new items right away. (when will it add them?) But anyway, I've only used it for a couple of hours so I'm sure you can change lots of things. Of course, I can always not use the search, or pin Everything.exe (search indexer) to the bar instead (what I was using in XP).

I'm going to use it whether I like it or not, so I'm not bothered. Its all just unfamiliar at this point. XP was a nightmare to learn everything, I haven't forgotten.