----------------------------------- SS1389 Tue Nov 30, 2010 4:42 pm Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Hey guys, I'm wondering if I should upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 and the benefits and drawbacks of each. Thanks in advance! ----------------------------------- Zren Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:21 pm RE:Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- What is your current PC's specs? ----------------------------------- SS1389 Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:44 pm Re: Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Microsoft Windows XP - Service Pack 3 Intel Core 2 Duo 6420RPM @ 2.13 GHz 2GB DDR2 RAM ----------------------------------- rdrake Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:54 pm RE:Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Benefits include a modern operating system that's not 9 years old. I tend to use the new taskbar a lot. That and the omni search start menu for opening programs I haven't pinned. Libraries are also quite nice, as are jump lists. The new ways to instantly resize and move windows are also very nice. UAC is still there and annoying, but less so than in Vista. Really you must decide if it's worth the upgrade cost or if you should just wait it out and get Win 7 with the next computer you purchase. Of course if you're a university student you can probably get Win 7 for dirt cheap or even free. ----------------------------------- unoho Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:08 pm Re: RE:Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- The new ways to instantly resize and move windows are also very nice. VERY VERY NICE!! actually that's the only thing that found REALLY amazing..how windows snap together..i use that a lot when im working w/ more than two windows..just drag and it snaps...taskbar is also nice since u cud c the live preview and it seems much cleaner than vista or xp. ----------------------------------- Amailer Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:10 pm RE:Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Windows 7 if you have the money to upgrade. ----------------------------------- ProgrammingFun Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:23 pm Re: RE:Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Windows 7 if you have the money to upgrade. Yes definately, in the early days, Microsoft was offering XP to 7 upgrade deals of ~$50 (not sure if those are still in effect though I don't think so) You could see this for comparison: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/compare/versions.aspx Windows 7 features a lot of eye-candy and easy-to-use interfaces for the user and therefore, is way more visually appealing... However, I would recommend upgrading your RAM for a better experience.... ----------------------------------- SS1389 Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:32 pm Re: Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- [url=http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/disable-user-account-control-uac-the-easy-way-on-windows-vista/] This shows you how to turn off UAC. Thanks for the suggestions guys, I will definitely look into it. ----------------------------------- Dan Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:52 pm Re: Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Turining off UAC is a rather bad idea if you like seucirty. ----------------------------------- SS1389 Tue Nov 30, 2010 7:41 pm Re: Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Security? ----------------------------------- Tony Tue Nov 30, 2010 7:53 pm RE:Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Hey, all the right letters were there ;) ----------------------------------- ProgrammingFun Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:07 pm Re: Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Security? You should see: ----------------------------------- TheGuardian001 Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:10 pm Re: Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- You can choose the second to lowest setting (The one in the last screenshot that link has,) which enables UAC without the "Stop everything while I dim your screen" mode, which seems to be a nice compromise. The main reason I never upgraded from XP was that Vista had a lot of irritating little bugs/features. Win7 removes or fixes most of those. I see no reason not to upgrade. ----------------------------------- SS1389 Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:30 pm Re: Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Not quite amusing at all... Yeah. I think I'll probably get the upgrade. ----------------------------------- Dan Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:44 pm Re: Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- You can choose the second to lowest setting (The one in the last screenshot that link has,) which enables UAC without the "Stop everything while I dim your screen" mode, which seems to be a nice compromise. The "dim screen" is aucataly the Secure Desktop. It is imporntant as it pervents programs from controlling the mouse, keyboard or maniplating the desktop in such a say that an automated program could be used to click the "OK" button with out the users consent. The pop-ups them self asking for permsions are imporant as in many cases they give that program administration rights. It is a rought equilivent of "sudo" on linux. It seems part of the problem is that Windows users are not used to having to elavate a program's security privileges and are used to basicly runing as root. On most *nix distrobutions I have come across, the idea of having to install new software as a user with higher privileges is common place, tho just as easly disabled and ill-advised as in Windows. ----------------------------------- ProgrammingFun Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:49 pm RE:Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- wow, I never realized that the dim-screen was so important...I always thought that it was only to get the user's attention ----------------------------------- Dan Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:38 pm Re: RE:Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- wow, I never realized that the dim-screen was so important...I always thought that it was only to get the user's attention This artical explains the secure desktop mode rather well if you want more information: http://cybernetnews.com/vista-uac-secure-desktop-explained/ ----------------------------------- ProgrammingFun Tue Nov 30, 2010 10:34 pm RE:Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Thanks for the article...it just increased my respect for the UAC (never had any before :mrgreen:) ----------------------------------- Insectoid Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:34 pm RE:Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- If you're big on gaming, it might be worthwhile to keep an XP partition. Some older (though not bad) games run better in XP than vista/7, though you'll still want 7 for DX-11 games. ----------------------------------- SS1389 Wed Dec 01, 2010 4:52 pm Re: Windows XP or Windows 7? ----------------------------------- Nope, I'm not a fan of gaming at all.