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Windows 7 Users a Happy Lot

A recent report from Forrester Research shows that early Windows 7 users are pretty happy with their decision. While the company only interviewed 40 customers (this is far more anecdotal than scientific), it found they like the new features that replace third-party products such as VPNs and encryption.

On the downside, Forrester believes that two-thirds of XP apps don't work with Windows 7. I'm not sure where they're getting this; I only had a problem with a driver for an old LaserJet 1000 printer (which Redmond Report reader Mike G. helped me fix).

I like Windows 7 a lot, but it still crashes when it goes to sleep. I hate waking up to a bunch of auto-saved docs I have to sort through. What about you? Any problems with Windows 7? Report glitches and glories at dbarney@redmondmag.com.

Posted by Doug Barney on 02/17/2010 at 10:15 AM


Reader Comments:

Fri, Feb 19, 2010 Jim

Here's another idea - don't go to Sleep! That's what I did when my Vista machine had issues. Now that I'm running Win 7 on the same machine, Sleep works fine. You're really not saving that much money anyway - just keep your system running! Easy solution.

Fri, Feb 19, 2010

64 Bit version has more problems than the beta 32 bit that I ran. Office 2007, in particular Excel, is nothing but headaches with screen garbage every time I paste something. Most problems I can work around, but it is a time waster.

Fri, Feb 19, 2010

I find that most of my periphials don't work in windows 7 home flavor that came with my computer: My Cannon 5000 scanner, which is still very popular, and Western Digital hard drive are not recognized. The hard drive worked after about three hours of fiddling with Device Manager, but then after re-booting, Windows won't recognize the device now. The scanner is completely unrecognizable. I frankly resent having to pay extra for the upgraded (read "more expensive") flavor of Win7 with it's x386 mode that will probably support my periphals. Ubuntu anyone?

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 MG

There's an interesting article on computerworld from yesterday about Win7 PCs maxing out on memory: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9158258/Most_Windows_7_PCs_max_out_memory

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 Jim

No problems for me - in fact, it's the first version that comes out of sleep mode without issues. I run Windows 7 Professional at home and on my workstation at work. Everything I've installed so far,m except for one application at work, runs without a hitch. The one app that doesn't I run in XP Mode.

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 Mark O'Brien Washington, DC

I had the same problem with Windows 7 crashing after going to sleep. Updating the video drivers fixed it and now all is well. Give that a try.

Thu, Feb 18, 2010 Ed

My neighbor bought a new W7 laptop and none of the printer drivers where were supposed to work did. These were for fairly expensive Epson and Hp printers. W7 requires a pHD to set up and get working with your existing equipment. Not worth it to me.

Thu, Feb 18, 2010

It's pretty good. When turning off system restore and hibernation the install is only slightly larger than XP! Amazed at how Vista was so big. I think it's Microsoft's best bet to get user's off XP. Still some features in the UI that need to be given more control over though. i.e. The task pane replacement on the left of explorer is still a bit of a mess. Other than that it's great running on my 4 year old core2 acer laptop. Mark

Wed, Feb 17, 2010 Bob Calif

I like W7 and have used it on laptops and desktops. I think people will be happy. But. I have the same printer issue you had Doug. I realize it's a 9 year old printer, but it's still pretty good. Any chance you can share the fix? Other than that, so far, so good.

Wed, Feb 17, 2010 Richard Hall Oregon

I really like W7, BUT I'm holding off installing it at my client's sites because of ongoing security problems with file and directory access. Even as administrator I find I am denied access to files and folders. The last time was attempting to install adobe reader - the adobe install program created a directory in the common files area that it could not access, nor could I access or delete. After hours of trying to solve the problem, my only solution was to use a raw disk editor and manually modify the signature of the directory so it could be deleted. I can't subject my clients to the possibility of this sort of occurrence.

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