In my previous blog I wrote about why I am now seriously considering switching back to windows after almost two years of quite satisfying and productive experience with Apple’s OS X (both Tiger and Leopard). The dilemma was primarily a consequence of my amazing experience with the beta version of Windows 7.
Ever since I downloaded the beta version, I have already installed W7 in 3 computers:
- HP 2710P Tablet PC. 1.2 ghz Core two Duo with 2 gig RAM.
- Netbook. Asus EEE 1000H with 1.6 intel Atom proc and 2 gig RAM.
- Desktop. The most recent addition to THQ, a $500 powerhouse sporting a Quad Core 2.4 ghz proc (Q6600) with 4 gig RAM.
Here are the Windows Experience Indexes for each:
HP 2710P
Asus EEE 1000H
Quad Core 2.4 4 Gig RAM
I have already said that Windows 7 turned the the 2 year old HP 2710P into a productivity gem. I can now also say that the same is true with the Netbook which used to run OS X (hackintosh). The only issue I encountered when installing W7 in the netbook was with the wifi. I had to to actually look for the original installer from Asus and installed from the CD the Ralink WLAN driver.
As happy as I may be with my two laptops running W7, I am blown away by the speed I am currently experiencing with my new $500 desktop. You add to that an absolutely flawless install of W7 (all drivers and applications working) and I was thinking why I ever even left Windows in the first place (Answer- a five letter word that starts with a V). This desktop easily beats in every department my sub-$2000 Dream Desktop (circa 2005).
Having all these extremely impressive experiences with this new product from Redmond, these had me thinking as to what I am really looking for in a computer. When you remove the eye candies, form factors and Veblenesque, I am actually looking for only 3 things:
1. It must work like a slave. It sits when I tell it to sit, it works when I tell it to work.
2. It must work with all of my must have applications. Right now, I mean Office 2007, Mindmanager 8.0, TextAloud, Photoshop CS (?), and Firefox.
3. It must provide me with a reasonable degree of immunity to the prevailing threats out of the box.
Let me leave you with this question, how does your present OS measure up in these 3 departments? Please share with me your thoughts.
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