Jul 26
The latest topic of discussion among Microsoft lovers (and haters) is an Australian site’s article proposing 20 new features to be introduced when Windows 7 replaces Vista.While the value of these ideas is pretty much down to personal taste, the real question is whether they’ll actually be adopted by Microsoft. Here’s my take on the gadgetzone list:
Likely
- A simplified UAC. This should be easy to pitch as a usability tweak rather than as correcting a blunder.
- A barebones kernel option to allow older machines to run the system. Microsoft has already talked about this, and it could capture the sector of the market which isn’t prepared to buy a new machine just for a new edition of Windows.
Possible
- A specific gaming mode. This shouldn’t be that difficult to build-in, and rebranding Windows 7 as a gaming-friendly system could be a good PR trick.
- Fewer different editions. This would fit with Microsoft’s ongoing process of reducing the range of licensing options for its products.
- Home licenses to cover multiple computers. This could be a good way to squeeze some extra cash out of people who’d otherwise be tempted to break copyright laws. However, the suggestion of a licence for five machines seems a little excessive.
- Getting manufacturers to develop drivers before Windows 7’s release. This might take some work, but would be worth it: device compatibility is probably going to come under intense security upon the system’s launch.
- A toolbox feature listing all drivers and patches in one location. Assuming Microsoft considers this idea, there seems no reason to reject it unless it proves unworkable.
- Restoration of the Windows system from an image. A good idea in theory, though if your computer is too wrecked for System Restore, Microsoft might not want to deter you from simply buying a new machine.
- Faster boot and shutdown. If it’s technically possible, this would be another obvious goal for overcoming Vista’s reputation legacy.
- Simpler control of start-up items. It should be fairly simple to produce a more user-friendly version of MSConfig (plenty of third-party software already does it), and it would definitely fit the Windows 7 ethos of tweaks rather than fundamental changes.
Unlikely
- An XP virtual machine to ensure backwards compatibility. It would make for a better product, but would Microsoft really risk ‘proving right’ the Vista detractors?
- A more productive GUI. With Windows 7 already pegged as a revamp rather than an entirely new product, this seems too much of a change.
- An improved file system such as the rumoured WINFS. Again, this seems too much of a major change for a system which will come in-between major relaunches.
- Making Internet Explorer 8 compliant with web standards. With IE still dominant, Microsoft likely still believes it calls the shots on the web.
- A notification when Windows caches software into RAM. For the majority of users this would simply cause confusion.
- Ditching plans for 32bit compatibility. Making Windows 7 a 64bit-only system might make technical sense, but Microsoft has already said that’s not on the cards.
- Improved disc-burning. It would be nice, but it won’t be a priority: with so many commercial software options available, Microsoft likely believes it won’t make any real difference to Windows 7 sales.
- Diagnostic tools. This is more of an option for computer experts, who are hardly Microsoft’s priority audience.
Uh-uh
- A modularised operating system. Microsoft doing anything to make its product more like Linux is likely a no-go.
- Customised installation. This doesn’t sound like the Microsoft way at all – Windows is pretty much an ‘as is’ product.
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July 29th, 2008 at 9:14 am
actually, MS already confirmed web standard compliance for IE8 - it’s finally going to render webpages just like all the other browsers. maybe we get some more unexpected surprises from them?
July 29th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Yes, it would be good to see some suprises. Hopefully…
July 31st, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Thats what we need. Well in my opinion, W7 is not going to be easy as previous os from ms but will carry bertter performances.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Please make Windows 7:
-extremely modular (small components and features)
-reload components on error without crashing the whole system
-fast boot speed (only essential components should be loaded at boot, the rest on demand only)
-allow the user to customize the installation as he/she wishes (needed components installed when/if needed)
-flashy UI should be customizable and should be a custom feature at installation
-swapping (swap file) should be customizable, eventually turned off totally. Maybe i want to rely on my RAM only.
- No hanging. The thing i hate the most is to wait for the computer to recover. This really should be solved somehow. It’s ok , the task needs 5 minutes to complete but don’t utilize all my resources, because i might want to browse the net in the meantime.
Ultimately the OS should allow me to access in record time the basic (preconfigured at installation) features that i chose.
Have a nice day!
August 20th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Oh and i forget one more thing:
- i want to be able (as admin) to fully and easily configure, tweek everything i want and if possible from one single place. Settings should be categorized.
October 5th, 2008 at 1:04 am
The simply UCA is coming
October 5th, 2008 at 1:04 am
sorry I wanted to say UAC
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:19 am
Zoli-You have hit the nail on the head. Make it all so easy I like all of your ideas-or did you somehow read my list? I just wish that MS would drop so much of the backwards compatability. I have a buddy who still insists on using 2 DOS programs and MS needs to ‘force’ change
My biggest thing for a new iteration of Windows is to have all settings and tweeks in one spot and have previews of changes (icon size, font size, etc)
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:25 am
Also-just have 64-bit version
October 24th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
what about the next things:
1.allow customizing the explorer . there are plenty of nice plugins out there (like qttab,findexer,…) and it’s ashame that explorer stays exactly the same thing for everyone . MS should try to mimic those great features.
2.allow customizing the taskbar like on ubuntu.
3.allow to be installed on a diskonkey , to increase performance and allow portability.
4.leave the idea of the registry. all conifigurations should be in the relavant program folder. for programs that use registry, emulate a registry file inside their folder.also, put all files and folders that program use inside their folder, and not on random places of the OS . many programs keep forgetting to remove them, so installing+uninstalling use more and more space for nothing.
5.allow copying and moving of files in the right order, to increase performance by not letting the HD move from place to another.
6.remove the connection between internet explorer and the explorer itself.
7.make the built in firewall ask for confirmation of new programs that want to use the internet, just like any other firewall . MS, to make things easier, you can buy Zone Labs (the creators of zone alarm firewall) …
8.allow updating of known products (and drivers) on the fly , especially freeware. also allow auto-update of them. this is a very cool feature on ubuntu.
9.add profiles of installations in the installation process of the OS , for example : “a one user computer” , “a parent to children” , “a novice user” ,… this way, the OS will be able to run only the needed services and programs .for expert, allow customized installation just like we had in the old windows OS’s.
10.the start menu of vista is quite a good idea. please make it easier to select how,when and what to index .
11.to imporve WMP , make it work for all popular codecs without us having to download them manually .
12.to improve the installer, if an installer of a program wants to make changes to the configuration of something it shouldn’t (like adding toolbars to IE , change home page etc.) , notify the user and ask for confirmation. the idea is that all installed programs should be isolated and portable , for easier uninstall and for easier security handling.
13.allow multiple users to have different languages of the way the OS work (menus,alignment , …) . why having more and more versions just for different languages ? they can all be on the same disc . we all use DVD now, no? surely all of the languages styles can be in it,right?
December 26th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Hi folks,
eVERY YEAR mICROSOFT UPGRADES A NEW PRODUCTSBY SOME NAMES AND TRY TO SELL IT .If MICROSOFT HAS TO STOP THE PIRATES AND OTHER EVIL THINGS MICROSOFT MUST HAVE TO PROVIDE AUTO UPGRADE TO THEIR OTHER VERSIONS FOR EXAMPLE FREE TRANSFER FROM VISTA TO 7.
mICROSOFT SHOULD NOT FORCE ITS CUSTOMERS TO WAIT FOR SERVICE PACKS.If there was any performance issue it has to be fixed then and there
This sugesstions would make microsoft a king for ever in the history.otherwise in a period of time it may be tux or mac leopard or some other will attack and overcome microsoft market
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:38 am
I will appreciate if you provide more details on this. Thanks.