I will not buy Windows 7 unless it has ... *Feature*

[Evolution]

I just hope MinWin is actually applied to Windows 7... and they try and improve upon search. And of course I'll be really dissapointed if x64 isn't prioritized... we need to shift over to it sometime.

[Linkinfamous]

It would allow Microsoft to draw a line and gut the Win32 API until it's lean.

Wasn't NT designed to support multiple API sets? In total theory (This would likely never happen) couldn't they just plug in another 'newer' subsystem to replace win32, and keep win32 there to be loaded on demand for legacy stuff, sort of how the POSIX and OS/2 APIs work?

[Stunna]

Vista already does this apparently: http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/4455

Correct, Windows Vista appears to defragment in real-time. Anyone runnning windows can open up the task manager and see the process running for the windos defragmenter.

Can I disable the real time defragmenter?

That should help boost speed and responsiveness, right?

[electronixtar]

We all know that Microsoft keeps tabs on Neowin, perhaps some of the Redmondians / Microsoftians even take some of our feedback to heart.

So in that spirit, what feature must be present in Windows 7 or you will refuse to buy it?

For me it's:

Without a capable and well implemented 'Virtual Desktop' feature in Windows 7, I refuse to buy it.

If Windows 7 implements, Virtual Desktop over RPC I will BUY it.

e.g. I cound *SEND* my Microsoft Word window to a workmate on LAN. So does my CoD4 window.

[cbosdell]

I know this may cause a flame war, but I think start again. Build a new OS from the ground up and have an emulator if required to run legacy apps. This way Windows can be solid, secure and reliable with having to support old products. Maybe even jump to 64bit. It can be done, Mac OS did it with the jump to OS X.

Seconded. Windows has just become too bloated and is filled with tons of legacy files that aren't even used anymore.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Have a customize option on the windows install to let people untick some things they don't want -- at the very least drivers, games, non-english languages, media center, movie maker, windows mail, photo gallery and other programs that aren't really part of the windows operating systems but bundled apps. Have the ability to readd things later by popping in the DVD. With everything deselected Windows should be a bare minimum OS with none of the addon programs but still have basic networking, etc.

2. Also fix the folder view settings so the user can set a global setting and have it stick. It is very annoying to see Windows change out of Detail view or remove columns for no reason at all just to make me redo them the way I want to see the data.

Set up a folder how you want it.

then goto:

Tools -> folder options -> View -> Apply to all folders

I've done that more times than I can count and it doesn't work.

3. Get rid of the 11 editions of Windows and reduce it to a reasonable level -- 1 edition. Make Windows 7 64-bit only -- if you don't have a 64-bit processor by 2009 when they've been out for 5 years at that point you won't be interested in upgrading to Win 7 and your pc probably couldn't run it. This and the customize install feature would go nicely together.

4. Lower the cost of Windows to a reasonable level. This will cut down piracy far more than WGA and Activation which only alienate paying customers like myself. I can't see the full retail 'Ultimate' version of an operating system being worth more than $200 and an OEM of it $100.

5. Make it patched to alllow custom themes right out of the box. To go with this idea include more than one theme out of the box not counting classic. Maybe have 6 bundled (good - each different than the other) themes plus classic to go with the whole windows 7 idea. But once again have an option in the installer to choose which to install.

6. Remove WGA - it only serves to alienate existing customers. At the very least turn off the thing where it monitors for hardware changes on retail versions. I've already had to reactivate once because of flashing a bio's update along with overclocking my CPU. Apparently DVD Burner firmware upgrades can cause the same thing.

7. Restore the defragmenter to be a usable utility like the XP one was.

8. Get rid of the last traces of older operating systems such as the old add font dialog. Also make the control panel more consistant. Get rid of the old dialog popups for things such as screensavers, mouse settings, etc.

9. Make UAC more intuative so less people feel compelled to turn it off.

10. Remove the signed driver restriction that Vista x64 suffers from now.

Edited February 3, 2008 by cbosdell

[simsie]

If Windows 7 implements, Virtual Desktop over RPC I will BUY it.

e.g. I cound *SEND* my Microsoft Word window to a workmate on LAN. So does my CoD4 window.

That is a pretty good idea. It should also work over the internet through WLM and such. That way when people want me to fix a problem with their programs we don't have to try and install logmein or whatever...

[omganinja]

Needs to have an easily customisable UI or one that isnt repulsive, Luna and Aero are both horrible.

[panicswitched]

k i got one that would help with some space issues

make it easy to disable windows file protection OR "previous versions"

i like keeping system restore enabled its saved my ass a few times with vista not booting (cd boot > system restore)

but why do i have to keep previous versions of my files? i back them up on my own i don't need 15 versions of my resume because i happen to change it 15 times

i know i can always go in and disable the service but i really shouldnt have to, it should be a easy click and its disabled

[stockwiz]

drop support for a 32 bit version entirely.. the line should be drawn with vista for 32 bit. by the time windows 7 comes out, everybody should have the hardware to run 64 bit, and if they don't, they shouldn't be running windows 7 at all.

[RAID 0]

drop support for a 32 bit version entirely.. the line should be drawn with vista for 32 bit. by the time windows 7 comes out, everybody should have the hardware to run 64 bit, and if they don't, they shouldn't be running windows 7 at all.

I couldn't agree more. Screw 32 bit. If you think about it, the 386 was out for a LONG time before there was a "true" 32 bit OS on the market... and the 386 couldn't run Windows 2000 or XP.

[KC]

Unless they name it after a ski lodge in my state!

[Imran Hussain]

please, no ultimate edition or ultimate extras ( a scam imho ) for windows 7!

[Izlude]

If you add all these fun features, people will complain "they stole that from OS X or Linux etc..." I don't really care when people say that... They can kiss my dooky booty xD

FEATURES:

We need a built in registry cleaner! I hate using RegDr and then rebooting only to find my bios was wiped out. Do you know how hard it is to find a floppy disk around here???

Explorer should be like Astonshell which lets you make all kinds of fun things on your desktop to maximize customization and personalization!

I also want to see a new movie maker! With new SSE support! (what is it sse4.1? .2? what'ever it is)

I don't know if they'll still do that Ultimate Extras thing, but if they do, give us a vector based editor kinda like flash's interface (not fireworks, it's too complex)

How about a Microsoft based MMO as an Ultimate Extra? I guess it could be based off a Virtual World within Windows and you have to stop the dreaded blue screen of death minions or something... Or just compete with each other in the arena. Kinda like that show Reboot. OH IT WOULD KICK ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brandon Live Veteran]

3. Get rid of the 11 editions of Windows and reduce it to a reasonable level -- 1 edition. Make Windows 7 64-bit only -- if you don't have a 64-bit processor by 2009 when they've been out for 5 years at that point you won't be interested in upgrading to Win 7 and your pc probably couldn't run it. This and the customize install feature would go nicely together.

There aren't 11 editions. There are 4.

Home Basic (the "budget" version, saves money if you want Vista but have an old PC or light needs).

Home Premium - this is what home users buy (includes Media Center, movie maker, etc)

Business - this is what business users buy (includes domain support, RDP)

Ultimate - includes everything in Home Premium + Business. This is what people who want RDP and Media Center buy.

Average users have two choices, really. Home Premium or Business. I think most people can figure out whether they are a home or business user, and I always thought the boxes made it pretty clear - but maybe you disagree.

Of course there's also the Enterprise edition, which is not available at retail and the people who need it know they need it and why.

Starter Edition is for developing markets, and you won't see that at the store.

The N editions are obviously pointless, but don't blame MS for those.

5. Make it patched to alllow custom themes right out of the box. To go with this idea include more than one theme out of the box not counting classic. Maybe have 6 bundled (good - each different than the other) themes plus classic to go with the whole windows 7 idea. But once again have an option in the installer to choose which to install.

Not likely to happen. It's a support nightmare, and if you really want a custom visual style then chances are you're already running one.

6. Remove WGA - it only serves to alienate existing customers. At the very least turn off the thing where it monitors for hardware changes on retail versions. I've already had to reactivate once because of flashing a bio's update along with overclocking my CPU. Apparently DVD Burner firmware upgrades can cause the same thing.

I agree here. Although I've never actually encountered a single problem with WGA across many machines, or met anyone with a valid license who has.

7. Restore the defragmenter to be a usable utility like the XP one was.

Huh?

10. Remove the signed driver restriction that Vista x64 suffers from now.

Dear god no. That's one of the best features of the x64 editions. I can't imagine why anyone would argue against that.

[Gangsta]

10. Remove the signed driver restriction that Vista x64 suffers from now.

NO, please no. That, along with hardware DEP support, is probably the reason I went x64.

[mad_onion]

NO, please no. That, along with hardware DEP support, is probably the reason I went x64.

um 32bit vista has hardware DEP support. in fact xp 32bit does.....

[abcdefg]

I will not buy Windows 7 unless... Windows' marketshare declines significantly. If that happens they'll start putting in all those features we want.

I guess I'll have to steal Windows 7.

[Argi]

um 32bit vista has hardware DEP support. in fact xp 32bit does.....

According to Paul Thurrott, Vista/XP 32 has a software DEP. Only 64-bit has hardware DEP.

[Intersect]

drop support for a 32 bit version entirely.. the line should be drawn with vista for 32 bit. by the time windows 7 comes out, everybody should have the hardware to run 64 bit, and if they don't, they shouldn't be running windows 7 at all.

i couldnt agree more, its time for change people. if you want to run the last Os from Ms then upgrade your system/hardware

[Linkinfamous]

i couldnt agree more, its time for change people. if you want to run the last Os from Ms then upgrade your system/hardware

Uh. No. It's not yet time for full 64-bit. This will likely be the end of the road for 32-bit, but there's a very good reason to keep 32 around for this one last OS:

All Mobile Core Duos are 32-bit. So when 7 comes out, you'll still have 'ok' machines (2006-2007) that are only 32-bit capable.

[Argi]

Uh. No. It's not yet time for full 64-bit. This will likely be the end of the road for 32-bit, but there's a very good reason to keep 32 around for this one last OS:

All Mobile Core Duos are 32-bit. So when 7 comes out, you'll still have 'ok' machines (2006-2007) that are only 32-bit capable.

2006-2007 machines wouldn't be expected to run an OS in late 2009, and if Microsoft would just cut off the 32-bit support and announced it OEMs would happily follow on and include 64-bit processors, but if you keep giving the option to stick with what they're using atm then there's no push for change.

[Linkinfamous]

2006-2007 machines wouldn't be expected to run an OS in late 2009, and if Microsoft would just cut off the 32-bit support and announced it OEMs would happily follow on and include 64-bit processors, but if you keep giving the option to stick with what they're using atm then there's no push for change.

A 2 or 3 year old machine shouldn't be able to run the newest OS? That's nonsense.

[Rob2687]

Cup holders.

[ProChefChad]

The thing I want most is the ability to nearly completely customize the shell such as:

-Changing the text of ALL of the start menu links (e.g. log off, shut down, programs....everything!) w/o registry tweaks

-Low resource cost desktop widgets that can be easily hidden/shown (Vista is close to this)

-Lots of built in themes that work 100% of the time with no glitches.

-Built in FTP that can have drop downs in the explorer address down down bar

-Built in, low resource, dock with optional docklets for things like the recycle bin, etc...

-Ability to easily add custom buttons to toolbars w/o registry tweaks

-For instance, I have a custom HTML page that I can launch using a button in the IE toolbar

-If a 'program' crashes, only close the offending window not the entire program

-I hate when IE crashes due to 1 window, but then Windows closes all the IE windows

And of course so much more.

[Argi]

A 2 or 3 year old machine shouldn't be able to run the newest OS? That's nonsense.

A 4-year old machine I wouldn't think so no. 2 years definately but seems we're looking at different extremes.