Yesterday I downloaded and installed Microsoft Windows 7 RC1 on my Acer
Aspire 7220 laptop. I ditched my very well working Ubuntu 9.04 for it!
Microsoft Fans "testified" for months, how fast and fantastic Windows 7
was (in comparison to Vista), so this was my chance to check out if they
where right, or just lying (as usual).
Well first of all, it didn't detect any of the hardware right. The GPU
is a nVIDIA Geoforce 7000M (a very common GPU in laptops). Windows 7
however installed a general VGA adapter driver. The screen was detected
as a common 1024 x 768 CRT.
Ehrm... a laptop with a CRT as its default screen?
Next the Ethernet adapter (nVIDIA nFore, also common) was not detected,
nor the Atheros 802.11b/g WLAN.
Meaning there was no way, to download the right drivers, to solve these
problems. Average Joe Six pack (who Windows is all about, according to
the Vole and its shills) would get stuck here.
So on my good old Dell Optiplex GX240 (2002), running Kubuntu 9.04, I
downloaded the required Vista drivers from the Acer support site and
copied them to a USB thumbdrive.
Unfortunately after 12 (yes *twelve*) hours of trying to connect to my
(wireless) access-point I finally gave up. Shoved the fresh received
Ubuntu 9.04 CD-ROM (from the ShipIT service) in my external USB DVD RW
drive, which took me out of the misery.
My conclusion is, that Windows 7 is nothing but a very bad and outdated
paint-job of Vista.
To those who still use Windows XP (because you disliked Vista), my only
advice is: stick to XP as long as the Vole lets you, because Windows 7
is absolutely not worth the effort.
If you don't believe me, you always have the option to download Windows
7 RC1 and obtain a free (time limited) production key.
However in the end, you will probably agree with me that you've waisted
over 2 GiB of bandwidth and yet another DVD recordable.
I should have known better...
With kind regards,
Marti van Lin
Linux Steunpunt Maastricht
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