Coffee Break — Netbooking With Windows 7
I have been netbooking all day today, at a few different places, and I am really liking Windows 7. It’s running just as fast as Windows XP but it looks prettier. After just a few hours I have to admit I don’t see what else it adds besides the pretty, but that’s what I like. Other improvements I will surely notice later. Before anyone asks, here’s the desktop close-up:
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James, how do you like that Arc mouse? I was trying to decide between that or a logitech nano for my hp mini. I like the nano since you just leave the receiver in the laptop but the Arc seems more of a full sized mouse in the hand when you’re using it.
I absolutely love it and it is the mouse I always grab when I’m heading out. I have several Bluetooth mice but the Arc is the one I choose as it’s more responsive and just as portable. It is very comfortable to use, too.
James you should post the specs of your HP Mini so folks know what you are running the OS on. I have used Win7 and love it. It has good features which you will discover shortly.
The full specs are in the video review post:
http://jkontherun.com/2009/08/04/hp-mini-5101-netbook-stalked-on-video/
Now you know why I was bashing XP in an earlier column James. It’s more than just a pretty interface in favor of Win 7 on netbooks – SSD support, relaxed system requirements, newer chipset support. XP has more security holes in it than any other OS and has been the target of hackers for years. MS won’t be releasing an SP4 for XP either.
It just makes more sense to move up to a modern OS, especially if Vista has been avoided. I still think, however, that a Pineview unit will be the one to mate with Win 7.
Incidentally, I just got my greedy little mits on a Toshiba NB205. Nice to type on, great browser, but the darn GMA950 won’t handle DX9 right. I’ll be doing a full review at my blog soon so keep an eye out!
I’m off now, off to get my big Linux-shaped coat.
I’m unsubscribing from your feeds. “Windows 7 is prettier than XP”. Is that it? Is that all you can come up with? I give up.
Thanks James for the RTM screenshot. It is prettier than Xp and I have been using RC1 for awhile and can say that Microsoft has been listening to us lowly users. I find it far less bloated than Vista.
I also have the Toshiba NB205 and have Windows 7 loaded on it and it runs great. A nice feature of Win 7 that I like is you can burn ISO files without a problem.
The vista battery gadget that you have up in the right corner – what is that called and where can I download it ? Looks cool….
Just select go online for more gadgets in the gadget library window. Search for battery, it’s right there.
My boss an I have Windows 7 RC on our Acer Netbooks, and both of us have gotten the BSOD a couple of times. I hope the full version is more reliable.
James, do you think the standard resolution is good enough for the HP Mini 5101 or would you recommend the HD version?
That is totally dependent on the individual. Some people have a problem with the high-res displays on 10-inch screens, others do not. I believe I would fall in the latter camp and would love to try one out.
Pretty? And still with Vista underpinnings? And at a full OS price to replace XP on my netbook?
I’m still not seeing a lot to encourage me to make the move…
>I don’t see what else it adds besides the pretty,
Seriously? That is amazing to me. It blows XP out of the water in terms of usability. You must not be up to too much. I have to use (on problem free but admittedly beefy machine) vista and os x for work and I generally find myself missing multitasking ease of win 7 every day. XP is a non-starter.
There is a definate performance and uability boost with using windows 7.
I Have it installed on a Three year old Sony Ultraportable, with ULV 1.2 Ghz Core Solo and 1 Gb of Ram, and the Performance difference from Vista is Huge.
While the Performance difference from XP is not that good, the Improvement in security and Usability is so good that I’ev got copies of Win7 on order for all my machines.
The interface is, of course, totally overhauled, and not just for eye candy purposes.
On Aero-capable machines, you now have Aero Peek, which lets you turn every windows but one transparent so that you can more readily make sure that you’re switching to the right window, or just peek at another window’s content without having to actually switch to it.
The notification area has also been overhauled to actually be usable and not nearly as annoying. Best of all is how Wi-Fi is handled-it’s unobtrusive, and connecting to a network is only a click or two (and maybe some security credentials) away.
But the biggest improvements are ones that would be readily apparent if you still used a Tablet PC.
The Tablet Input Panel has undergone a total overhaul for the better-it’s a cinch to edit recognized text for mistakes, assuming that it even makes a mistake given how much better the recognition is now.
(My only complaint is that the old TC1100 doesn’t have many native Windows 7 drivers-many of them are XP drivers installed in compatibility mode, including the graphics driver, so no Aero. However, I would happily run my TC1100 in Windows 7 full-time nonetheless if not for that issue with Wacom + Vista/Win7 + Tablet PC + SketchBook Pro and pressure sensitivity; that’s literally the only thing keeping me on XP Tablet.)
I completely agree with the look/feel/speed of W7 (I have ultimate version 7100 on my Aspire One ZG5 A0A150-Ab and it all worked straight from install – I put it on over the top of Linux.
The ease of use that W7 brings has made me a convert – I could afford to pre-buy but hope to be able to afford a copy when this trial version expires next year.
[I use Aerofoil to turn off Aeroglass when on battery.]
Have you seen the article here http://www.mediabistro.com/MobileContentToday/ re students choosing Netbooks over Macbooks?
One throw-away cup per day, per person
equals:
tons of garbage
tons of energy to make cups
tons of gas to transport cups
tons of bleach to make cups pretty white
It’s the 21st century, get with the times
Real mugs help the planet
Yep true bring your own flask in and they refill it with a bit of a discount.
any chance of a review of windows 7 tablet PC changes?
thanks
does HP have power management utility just like Toshiba Power Saver?
how long can a battery endure for an entire day of surfing.