

Importantly, it won't require the hardware upgrades that Vista demanded, partially because the hardware has caught up, and partially because Microsoft has gone to great lengths to make Windows 7 accessible to as many people as possible. It's stable, smooth, and highly polished, introducing new graphical features, a new taskbar that can compete handily with the Mac OS X dock, and device management and security enhancements that make it both easier to use and safer. Luckily for Microsoft, Windows 7 is more than just spin. This review is based on an official copy of the Windows 7 RTM that Microsoft provided to CNET on July 30, 2009. Bombarded by complaints and negative press even after the first service pack was released, the bar had been set high for Vista's successor: Windows 7. Users demanding that Redmond extend the life of Windows XP wasn't exactly something they could be proud of, either. At the ripe age of seven, Windows XP still performs better in some categories.ĭeserved or not, Microsoft had dug itself a cool, deep, dark hole with Windows Vista. The bad: Performance is still hit-or-miss in Windows 7. Users might take a while to get used to the new taskbar and Aero Peek, but they're a pleasure to use. The good: Strong design and Microsoft don't always go together, but they do in Windows 7. Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, and Home Premium will recognize only one physical processor.Windows 7 is the seventh major release of Microsoft's flagship desktop operating system, released in October 2009 as the next step beyond Windows Vista. Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate allow for two physical processors, providing the best performance on these computers. All 32-bit versions of Windows 7 can support up to 32 processor cores, while 64-bit versions can support up to 256 processor cores. Windows 7 was designed to work with today's multi-core processors. Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM and an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space.DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive.HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7.Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware.For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required.Some games and programs might require a graphics card compatible with DirectX 10 or higher for optimal performance.Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware.DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driverĪdditional requirements to use certain features:.16 GB available hard disk space (64-bit).1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 64-bit (圆4).Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits with SP1 English (USA), ISO bootable image.
