Category: Geeks r Us
hey all,
After all i've heard about windows 7 i've been intrested in trying it but don't think it's possible anymore, unless there's a way to get the beta build.
Even if i got that, i'd want to dual boot my computer so i don't lose what i have, and i'm not even sure if my alltel aircard would work with 7 yet as microsoft says it'd doesn't
anyone have any ideas?.
If you have Windows Vista, I would stick with that until they get your air card working with Windows 7. However, if you have XP, I would upgrade to 7 because they say that XP won't be supported come 2010.
Shit, is that really true michael that XP won't be supported in 2010?
And I believe the RC (release candidate) version of windows 7 is no longer available. But windows 7 is due to be released on October 22nd 2009 (in around 3 weeks) so i'd wait until then and buy an official copy. If you really want windows 7, and i'd strongly advise you not to do this, i'm sure their are various illegal copies that you can get over the internet. Again, I do not recommend the last method!!!!!
thing is, not even sure if i'd want it, and it's a lot of money to get an OS if i won't like it. guess i'm stuck unless i get a computer with 7 on it.
What exactly does that mean, xp won't be supported? For those os us with laptops with xp, or for those folks that have bought netbooks with xp, how will this effect us?
it just means that there will be no updates for xp after 2010 and any new programmes that come out won't be xp compatible.
Wow, I thought XP was going to be supported until like 2014 or or something like that. I'm going to check up on that
yeah i thought i heard 2012 for xp support, anyways, if there are vista drivers for your card then it should work in windows 7 i haven't come ac across any vista drivers yet that doesn't work in windows 7.
ooh and for those of you that are in college or university and or have access to a .edu email address you can order windows 7 for $30 in the us and UK ibelieve
I doubt XP will go out of support cycle soon, not if it is true that Windows 7 uses up batteries at 30% higher rate compared to Vista, which is, I guess, 50 or 60% compared to XP. The Netbooks would never run 7 in that case, not unless they tweak it significantly and we have better battery technology.
I've never wanted to be a pioneer, much better to wait 6 to 8 months, until Service Pack 1 is out and the bugs have been ironned out by the screen reader manufacturers. Of course someone's got to find those bugs so if I can get cheap Windows 7 to set up on a partition to play with, that wouldn't be a bad idea, but if you have a system that is stable and works for you, do not ruin it by playing with OS upgrades yet. For one thing, dirver support for Windows 7 is apparently, really bad and you have to use its simulation environment to run most software. I have heard you can simulate everything from Windows 95 on so it does give you a solution to run old programs on a Windows 7 machine.
Cheers
-B
Wow, would you guys advise one wait until Spring time before buying a desktop with windows7 on it? I'm assuming by the end of the month, definitely by Thanksgiving, windows7 will be standard on desktops in the shops?
Personally I'd buy a system with Windows 7 or I'd get one with Vista with the option to upgrade it to 7, so then you can get the upgrade but load it when your ready, so buying a machine now will get you that service. Windows 7 is said to be vary stable, and if you have XP or vista the upgrade is only 119 at any store. A pack up CD is $14, or you can make you one. People have been using 7 for months now. Also 7 if you by the next one up from premium has what is called an XP mode, meaning all your XP stuff will work for sure, and the OS works just like XP. Your net books should run 7 easy, due to it actually being less power hungry then XP I understand, so there should be no issue with any computer. If you have your back up CD for XP you can always go back.
Wait, wait, wait, I've got an .edu account, what's this aboutbeing able to get seven for 30$. I'd really like to know.
I hve heard that Windows 7 runs easily on a netbook, that was from a Microsoft employee blog. I have also heard Windows 7 requires 30%more batterylife than a computer running Vista, that from the podcast of System Access, talking with some guy who has been testing it for months. He does not recommend switching to 7 yet due to the driver issues though, as I mentioned, 7 has the ability to simulate older O.S.s and, therefore, allow your pgorams to run.
Buying a new machine with Windows 7 on it is probably all right, although keep in mind you will hve to have the latest version of your compatible screen reader to even have any level of accessibility (Ihave heard System Access and NVDA do all right on Windows 7, but I am not sure, my most recent experiments with Jaws 10 mae me decide to stick with 9, and 9 will gve me no access to Windows 7).
So just keep in mind your screen reader upgrade or SMA may cost you $200 extra for support that is still in its first stages. If you are an average user you may want to wait till there is more stability and the inevitable service pack is out. If you do buy a Windows 7 system I would keep anotyher computer around with your current stable system on it until you feel confident Windows 7 is up to par for your needs.
I just got a brand new, top of the line Linovo laptop, and the best thing about it is that Windows XP Pro came standard on it. Vista is the worst Operating System from Microsoft, and that includes Windows ME, it is slow, unresponsivle, the security precautions are ridiculous. If you are happy with Vista or used to it, 7 is an improvement, if you are XPuser 7 will feel like a huge step back (again, according to the podcast from System Access).
I am just saying, be careful, just because it's latest does not mean it's the greatest.
cheers
-B
I recently talked with Freedom Scientific who makes jfw and they've been testing it with win7 for months, but you need jfw 10 or the best is the new jfw 11 that is just being released. Damn! I have winXP. I'm going to have to check out this support thing and see if I can upgrade to win7 or what. I was just looking at a netbook with winXP on it cause it was on a payment plan from Del, but now I don't know if it's worth it.
Win XP network is totally worth it. Microsoft might stop supporting XP in 2012, which only means they will not ship further updates to it, it does not mean you have to stop using it. You should not reasonably expect a netbook or any laptop to last you much more than 3 years, it is just the nature of the things, they tend to break and better tings come along, so having Windows XP on your laptop for the next 3 to 4 years is not an issue. Given that a netbook should not cost you over $350 it comes out to be around $9 per month, given a 3 year life span, and that is totally worth it for the ease of use and portability of a netbook.
If you happen to get Windows 7 with a new machine in a year or two you can be adventurous and install iton the netbook and see what happens. I do not even kow if Windows 7 netbooks will ship right away, it depends on battery life expectations and drivers and such, if they ship they will probably be considerably more expensive.
I kow I sound anti Windows 7 folks, I am not, I am just saying don't just see there is something new and automatically assume it is something you have to get right away and you can now use your current computers as frisbees or shovels because they do nothave Windows 7 and are subsequently useless. An operating system takes months to get hold, to appear on all systems, because every manufacturer has to write and test drivers for 32 and 64 bit versions, there will be problems reported back to Ms who will issue services updates and service packs, there will be improvements in screen reader access as they start using Microsoft User Interface Automation technology (the new MSAA), which MS themselves are using for some software now for testing and, hence, is actually implemented, at least in their products. New technologies are being implemented such as WPF, which may completely change the way screen readers act with the aplication, since it is a new concept really in terms of the way Microsoft works.
Feel free to jum pon the band vagon if you can safely explore or if you have the necessary upgrades and vmware or other way to set up Windows 7 and test, but I strongly advise against the upgrade. Lol, this is my final warning, I am beginning to sound almost like certain people who recommend Dos, I will not go that far, but XP is the best O.S. from Microsoft, Vista is not good, and I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who recommends Vista over XP, and Vista has been around for 3 or 4 years and is supported by screen readers.
Cheers
-B
Yes, Jaws 11 will work with Windows 7, but I wouldn't count on that. This is just the beginning. Vista and XP are pretty much ruling right now, and until XP isn't supported anymore, I would just stick with that or Vista if you already have it. And a quick question, what is WPF?
I'd have to agree with the poster caustion is good if you are not easy with new things. I'll have to eat my words about the net books. Dell is not pushing them much anymore, and discontinuing some of them in the lineup. A rep says they do not work well with 7 and will not be supported, so that is from the horse. Smile. XP is best, has been tested, and plain works, so it's good, and the user that said your net book probably won't last 3 years is right, so all is good, but due to the good features of Win 7 I'll be upgrading. Yes, Yes I know. Lol
Peace.
WPF stands for Windows Presentation Foundation. It is a programming interface that controls how user finterfaces are created in .net 3.0 and higher. Basically the idea behind it is that there will just be one technology to create user interfaces and web pages alike using the undrlying xaml language. Now if you want to write a Windows application and a web page with the same information you have to use c#.net and then asp.net to write the web page, but with WPF you just write the page once and then it displays on the web or on your computer.
That is very simplified but that is the ideal.
As far as screen readers are concerned it is a new wayof writing things and access to controls and information is done differently, hence there will be initial problems, and already ahve been. Programs like the new Windows Live Messenger are written with this technology and it will become ever mroe widespread on near future Windows Apps.
I am hoping this will make for better accessibility, once the kinks ahve been worked out with AT software and WPF, one is tohope so, but we're definitely not there yet.
Cheers
-B
Actually, drivers for Windows 7 are pretty stable - granted that you use Windows update.
Netbook support is also awesome - I had a test netbook a few weeks back, put 7 on it, ran like a raft on the sea.
I wouldn't recommend people who are not used to the search box in the start menu etc to upgrade to 7. The transitional curve is going to be huge especially if you are used to the classic XP start menu.
I'm running build 7600 here and it runs fine, no real bugs though startup time can be slow. Nevertheless 7 is a lightweight OS, since it uses MinWin kernels Microsoft made. Jaws 11 isn't the best though, and for now I don't have any video intercepting working on 7 - every time I reinstall the mirror drivers and reboot, they are gone. Issues like that can be frustrating - since I can't use notepad to edit files but have to use wordpad..
I agree with tomi, and when windows seven comes out, I'm definitly buying a copy. I'm also running build 7600.
Wow y'all! Thanks for all the input and words of wisdom.
We certainly are not desparate for a new desktop, but it is a possibility in the next year.
From what I have read, window-eyes 7.1 will work with windows7.
I believe this is the website for that $29.95 deal, for students and windows7. Googling it, kept bringing me back to this site.
http://www.win741.com/
I don't know. Windows vista was a real pain and a nightmare for blind and sighted users alike. I think it would b best to upgrade to windwos 7 prior to the JAWS beta if you're a JAWS user. Wait till Januar of next year at the earliest. Windwos XP is solid and stable, and works great, so I'd say if you've got XP, use it until you can't. If you've got vista, get windows 7, because XP is no longer supported as a downgrade anymore in the US.
what does the "save" window look like in 7? is it more like xp and other past OS, or does it look like vista? Recently having been forced to a new laptop and vista, I am finding it difficult to save things precisely where I want them because of the new style and layout. I am greatful for the ability to still select the classic start menu view but have heard that is no more in 7. *sigh* With the purchase of this laptop I received a free upgrade offer for 7 so I guess that is one plus. :)
That is correct, no more classic start menu, yay. I never used that thing, and found it majorly annoying. Yes, the save dialogue is the exact as vistas. I actualy find it easier. You select the folder where you want to save in the treview, tab twice or three times, and select the subfolders, or you can save it right from the treview. Its kind of hard to explain it, but once you do it a few times, its easy.
i have been using windows 7 for a few months now as my only os on my only computer and i can't go back to xp .. there is just so many cool features once you learn to re navigate through the OS there is just too much stuff in there that makes it worth it. It works fine with Jaws 10 and even fucking sweeter with the 11 beta of jaws. The look and feel is that of vista inclluding the save dialog box. and to save stuff with it you can just arrow to the location using the down and right arrows in the save i feiled and then press enter on it then tab over to save button and press enter again. Driver support is great and all vista drivers i have tried works fine with 7. Windows 7 runs great on netbooks as i know of a few people doing so with out complaints of faster battery drain. So not sure but maybe system access is trying to down sell the windows 7 upgrade since their software isn't quite ready for it yet, or they just had a bad experience , but so far thats the only bad experiences i have heard of really in the tech industry .
I currently use vista and like the way it acts, which is why i want to use 7. the vista lookbut it acts like xp? sounds like something I'd want. guess it'll be a all or nothing thing for me though.
if you like vista then 7 will be an improvement go for it man but plan on upgrading jaws or whatever screen reader you use .
I already have a valid lisence for jaws 11, my main concern is my aircard as microsoft says it doesn't work. If i can conferm it does, or find a DSL provider then i'd happily upgrade.
find the vista driver for the card and trying installingit under windows 7 .. you may have to use compatiblility mode, i got all my vista drivers worked so far
Here's what it shows when i check compatibility. it says its' not supported, anything related to it modem, software, virtual port, the works. otherwise, it looks all good to me.
if there are vista drivers for it it may still work .. if you have the ability to instal windows 7 as a dual boot you can try this out for sure.