Since Windows Vusta had (apprently) failed to bring users what they wanted Microsoft Decided to create Windows 7 which was set to solve all of the problems Vista has broufght upon it's users.
Install time: Dpending on wether your doing a clean install or a standard upgrade the installation time can take up to 2 hours. Which for Windows 7 is a pretty standard install time. How ever I feel that the install time could be quicker.
Usability: I found Windows 7 fairly easy to use out of the box, anyone used to Windows XP and Vista may however find the new "superbar" a little hard to get used to at first. Once you manage to see past it Windows 7 is really easy to use.
Features: The biggest reason for people to upgrade. Windows 7 brings new features to the table. Aero snap allows the user to snap windows to either side of the screen so you can run 2 windows at the same time without having to minimise, again a good feature but can be useless for those on a dual monitor setup. Aero shake lets you shake all the Windows so they all minimise, but it keeps the current window open. Personally I feel that in the home some of these new features might not even be used. I think the only feature people might make use of is the Superbar and aero shake. I don't see how having 2 smaller Windows at either side can aid in productivity, as you have to keep using sliders to navigate your way around the page. In the workplace this can be a problem. Another feature I like is the desktop background switcher, which autmatically switches desktop backgrounds every so often. While this is a cool feature to have, when your running more heavier tasks (such as video encoding) the desktop backgound changing might cause some crashes.
Speed: The speed difference between Vista and 7 is barely noticeable. If you have Windows XP and want a change Windows 7 is much faster than XP
Design: It was nice to see Microsoft use a different design this time around. The new Superbar is a clean and fresh design. It's defintily a leap foward for microsoft. Having said that, some people might argue the case that the Superbar is trying to rip off the Mac OSX dock. Also the start menu got a little redesign with a new shutdown button, and it also takes up less of the screen. Apart from those few changes not much has actually changed since the Vista start menu. Also keeping the transparency when windows are maximised makes the interface look messy and unclean, having a big gap at the top of the Window(s) can be a major distraction.
Stability: In my personal experience I found the Windows 7 to be quite stable, but since it's bulit off Vista there might be some stability issues for lower end machines. Also I have been hearing a lot of reports (about the same amount that Vista had) about BSOD's in Windows 7.
Secuity: It's nice to see a revised User account control, but it would be a lot better off without having this feature in the first place, other wise the log in and lock functions would be a waste of time. I had another secuirty issue. After installing Windows 7 the power at my home cut off for a while. Once I got back into Windows 7 I find my self locked out of everything. I couldn't even access the start menu.
Overall: It's nice to see Microsoft make a new OS. But however I feel that the lack of use of the new features and the poor secuity and stability issues make me want to stick with Vista and also some of the better features don't really make me want to upgrade. Windows XP users could make use of the better interface. My advice though, if your machine and OS serve you well and they work. I would save your money./
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