The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Should I run Windows 7 as Primary?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by hax0rJimDuggan, May 13, 2009.

  1. hax0rJimDuggan

    hax0rJimDuggan Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    88
    Messages:
    808
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'm sure this question has been asked a billion times but I just want to throw out my needs and get some feedback. I just watched a video of some of the new features and workflow-wise they look fantastic. Here's what I do on a daily basis:

    1.) Develop software

    I use Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server 2008, etc. These tools NEED to work properly. Since they're Microsoft I'm assuming I'm in good hands here.

    2.) Some gaming

    Not necessarily a deal breaker, but I would like to be able to play TF2 and L4D.

    Can anyone comment on these two areas? Possibly give some insight to the stability of the RC? Thank you!
     
    hax0rJimDuggan, May 13, 2009
    #1
  2. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,972
    Messages:
    7,788
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    i'd suggest vista instead. workflow wise i don't really see much gains from win7 (and much losses), and i can, anyways, never suggest anyone to use a beta os as it's primary os.

    but you can do so if you want.
     
    davepermen, May 13, 2009
    #2
  3. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

    Reputations:
    21,580
    Messages:
    35,370
    Likes Received:
    9,877
    Trophy Points:
    931
    If you have critical apps that need to function without issue, don't bother with Windows 7 as your primary. It is beta software, regardless of how stable it seems. It still has glitches.

    And you'll have to reinstall all your stuff once the RTM is out since from what I'm reading is that you can't "upgrade" from a release candidate to a salable version.
     
    HTWingNut, May 13, 2009
    #3
  4. makaveli72

    makaveli72 Eat.My.Shorts

    Reputations:
    1,235
    Messages:
    2,108
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I really love Windows 7...I am even using it as my primary OS at work and it runs all the neccessary programs that I need fine...but for those applications you mention you should be safe and use a stable OS; either Windows XP or Server 2003/2008. What's .Vista? :D
     
    makaveli72, May 13, 2009
    #4
  5. Snowm0bile

    Snowm0bile Starcraftologist

    Reputations:
    265
    Messages:
    1,142
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I am currently running Win7 as primary on my mac for gaming until my other laptop gets here ;x
     
    Snowm0bile, May 13, 2009
    #5
  6. Axionkt

    Axionkt Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I can confirm Visual studio and SQL server works great.
    I didn't try TF2 but L4D works fine too.

    I can't really tell if you should run it as a primary OS, all I can say is that I'm running it as my primary windows OS for the exact same usage and I'm entirely satisfied and didn't experience any bugs. I must say that I spend a lot of time in remote sessions on other OS though apart from when I use the software you mentionned
     
    Axionkt, May 13, 2009
    #5
  7. hax0rJimDuggan

    hax0rJimDuggan Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    88
    Messages:
    808
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Great feedback guys.

    Although Windows 7 sounds really good, it is still beta. I'll hold off for now as I have critical applications that I need to run.

    Thanks!
     
    hax0rJimDuggan, May 13, 2009
    #5
  8. Deathwinger

    Deathwinger Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    385
    Messages:
    2,423
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    56
    No. Do not use it as your primary OS! You do not know when that one critical program you need doesn't function like its supposed to or not at all because of incompatibilities and then you're in a world of pain having to reinstall vista and all those tools again.

    Just wait til the OS comes out, give it a year for them to sort out any problems (a la SP1) and then you can get it, just in time and anticipation for Windows 8 :p
     
    Deathwinger, May 13, 2009
    #6
  9. chrixx

    chrixx Product Specialist NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    641
    Messages:
    1,859
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I can confirm that Visual Studio 2008 w SP1 and SQL Server 2008 w SP1 both works fine on Windows 7 for production level software development. I've been working with them ever since build 7000 and they have been fine.
     
    chrixx, May 13, 2009
    #7