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

[Gerowen]

I haven't read every single post here, but I'm going to post my thoughts on the next version of Windows.

I like Windows Vista, on my laptop it runs fast, is secure, and just generally looks a lot nicer than XP. It comes with Windows Defender built in, even though I use the McAfee Security Center(turns of Defender) so I can manage my wife's laptop and my server all from my own laptop, the fact that it's there is awesome. Also the "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security" MMC is a nice touch. It makes the Windows firewall just as powerful and customizable as commercial firewall applications. Unless Windows 7 has some very huge advantages over previous versions other than the minimized kernel, I don't think I will upgrade. My laptop shipped with Vista and runs quite nice, so I think I'll stick with it. It seems more like this version will be aimed primarily at people who run servers with a very specific purpose and don't want to have to worry about this service depending on this other service even though they never interact or need one another.

[PricklyPoo]

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

It has to happen eventually.

[TruAmbitionz]

windows 7 should not order folder contents according to what it thinks its best.

If i decide that i like viewing avi's in a list, each time i visit a folder with avi's they should be in a list. They should not appear as thumbnails or anything else. All ms os's to date including vista lay out folder contents the way they want, not the way i - the user want. Its so annoying to have to go in each time and set the view accordingly.

Ridiculous.

For me Windows 7 needs to be modular...

Install the basics, as mentioned here start menu, task bar...etc.. just the small bits and pieces to make teh PC run. Have ability to add/remove anything else...

I only use windows at home for gaming, so less system resources for the OS and more performance to games :p

Oh and reduce the footprint..and OS should not take 15Gb (even XP takes 1.5Gb) and OS should be small.....

there needs to be only 2 versions of windows ! a client and a server ... do away with all this ultimate and home premium ****

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.

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 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.

[Linkinfamous]

It has to happen eventually.

Yes, but not with this version.

[carmatic]

dunnoe if any of what im typing here has been posted before, i just clicked on the 9th page and replied straight away

right here goes, i wish that the cursor has motion blur, when you move it, you see it refresh across the screen, but everything else in the UI smoothly fades in and out

also give windows the ability to unload itself when your playing a game so that you get higher fps, its something like hibernate vs standby , as in when you quit the game you take longer to get back to windows but it will be worth it

[TruAmbitionz]

dunnoe if any of what im typing here has been posted before, i just clicked on the 9th page and replied straight away

right here goes, i wish that the cursor has motion blur, when you move it, you see it refresh across the screen, but everything else in the UI smoothly fades in and out

also give windows the ability to unload itself when your playing a game so that you get higher fps, its something like hibernate vs standby , as in when you quit the game you take longer to get back to windows but it will be worth it

Hmm game mode. :)

[soldner_47]

I will not buy Windows 7 until it has a COMPLETE new desktop, with something COMPLETELY new. XP -> Vista was just a redesign, nothing new. Still got the taskbar..

[dewaaz]

as said in earlier posts, for me, a completely modular design concept would be a must.

If I get a laptop for uni and only want to type, use the net, and watch/listen to music/movies, there should only be parts of the OS that are RELEVANT to those functions installed. I guess I want software like nLite to become redundant for Win7.

I want the option to have an OS like 98lite, a tiny footprint that can still get things done, when bells and whistles aren't needed - except built on newer code to be more stable and with newer features (e.g. removable drive support)... but u get what i mean

Also, again as said, virtualisation is essential. Win7 should be targeted towards newer hardware and thus virtualisation would be a great feature to have to make it easy to use windows and install/uninstall/reinstall without worrying about registry issues and general slowdowns. Like having Thinstall built-in would be fantastic (Y).

And a better way of displaying information - the sidebar doesn't cut it when you need to check something while a program is open and you don't want to minimise everything to get to the desktop. The system tray and taskbar should be completely overhauled to maximise usability and to truly be an aid to the end user.

But unlike some people I LIKE the taskbar. I like to be able to visualise all the programs I have open - but just like Win95 was a revolution and came about from a complete rethink of what it means to be able to maximise use of your computer, so too should Win7 be grounded with the same approach and the same type of goal worked towards.

[)-(orus]

It would be nice to get a pack of miscelanious objects to throw at hardware vendors that drag there heals in releasing drivers, even for relatively new hardware.

[markwolfe Veteran]

I will not buy Windows 7 until it has a COMPLETE new desktop, with something COMPLETELY new. XP -> Vista was just a redesign, nothing new. Still got the taskbar..

With the "taskbar" as your seemingly only criterion you have when you evaluate.

That would put Win95 on par with XP. Funny, that. ;)

[Frankenb34nS]

1. A script type service for Windows First Time setup. Have a way for windows to ask for all you install information at the begin of the install. Vista is almost there but it still asks for some user input towards the end. I want windows to ask one time and one time only.

2. Installation of software. Why do windows need to have apps install itself all over you drive and registry. Come on, this is windows nt version 6 for love of mike. Isn't a better way of tracking where programs installed themselves on the drive and registry. Maybe have windows have a registry and file tracker for installs so when you want to uninstall the software it completely removes itself. I know there is restore points but who uses it for just removing one stupid program.

3. UAC. Fix it. Nuff said.

[Linkinfamous]

I will not buy Windows 7 until it has a COMPLETE new desktop, with something COMPLETELY new. XP -> Vista was just a redesign, nothing new. Still got the taskbar..

So you want something new just for the sake of having something new?

Is there anything wrong with the current UI scheme that NEEDS a total overhaul? There's a pretty good reason we've had it for so long: It works.

[Starbuck84]

windows 7 should not order folder contents according to what it thinks its best.

If i decide that i like viewing avi's in a list, each time i visit a folder with avi's they should be in a list. They should not appear as thumbnails or anything else. All ms os's to date including vista lay out folder contents the way they want, not the way i - the user want. Its so annoying to have to go in each time and set the view accordingly.

Ridiculous.

+1

For me the feature is winFS. If gmail is using labels for things instead of folders, then why can't operating systems?

Same here, imho that concept rocks, and although I like Vista, I was really hoping for WinFS.

[y_notm]

1. A script type service for Windows First Time setup. Have a way for windows to ask for all you install information at the begin of the install. Vista is almost there but it still asks for some user input towards the end. I want windows to ask one time and one time only.

I actually agree with this, and I don't know why MS backed away from it (the plan was to provide everything, including user names, at the beginning of install). I'd even be happy if they just switched setting up users and rating your computer. Why should I sit and wait another 5 minutes to do something that could have been done immediately after set up? I should be able to type in my user name and boom! get going.

[Gerowen]

2. Installation of software. Why do windows need to have apps install itself all over you drive and registry. Come on, this is windows nt version 6 for love of mike. Isn't a better way of tracking where programs installed themselves on the drive and registry. Maybe have windows have a registry and file tracker for installs so when you want to uninstall the software it completely removes itself. I know there is restore points but who uses it for just removing one stupid program.

I agree in regards to the registry, but last I checked, 9 out of 10 programs make a folder named after themselves in C:\Program Files, and they prompt you for an installation path when you install them anyway so you know exactly where it's going, if you want to make sure something is really really gone, just go to C:\Program Files and delete its folder.

[Windam]

*CAIRO

*Better file system

*Robust Core

[cbosdell]

*CAIRO

There is no way Microsoft is going to start including multiple shells with their operating system. The average user doesn't even know what a shell is and it would just confuse most people causing unneeded tech support calls. And if they did it would definately be designed in-house.

Not meaning to flame but that request just seemed a bit silly. It would be akin to Microsoft including unlocker or 7zip or something with their operating system.

Edited February 7, 2008 by cbosdell

[EnzoFX]

The taskbar as it's remained for so long has to go. Of course it works, but it needs to evolve, the desktop as a whole more precisely. It's Fugly.

[coth]

I'd really like to see:

• Wallpaper changer (I currently use Wallpaper Master, but I'd like to see something similar built-in)
  
• Stop rearranging folders by what it thinks is best. This is annoying, especially in My Music, where it keeps rearranging most of the album folders into regular music folders.
  
• An OS is meant to be secure, right? So how about bundling Windows Defender and Windows Live OneCare in Windows 7? That would increase the sales!
  
• Bundle Office into Windows 7 (or at least a minimal version)
  
• Include better games. You can only enjoy Minesweeper for so long. :D
  
• Keep all the Vista features, but give it performance like XP, or better.
  
• Automatic defragmentation tool.
  
• The ability to use custom themes right out of the box, without having to download a modified uxtheme.dll.
  

Some of those things would be great, like Office Mini and unlocked uxtheme, but don't you think stupid EU officials will simply forbid Office Mini from Windows.

[DJ_Kael_Royal]

To be more costumizable to be abbly to change everything(thinking of gui) like in linux,afcorse Virtual Desktops,more 3d Improvement without hard hardware usage like vistas,and to think of samoething original not to copy fromother OS`s thats for now

[McoreD]

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

... complete support in Windows Installation Setup to customize where Program Files folder partition and Users folder is created.

++ If there is a Users folder already in the destination, it is a bonus to have the support to re-use it -- just like in Linux if you mount /home then Linux is smart to re-use it.

++ If it also lets us specify the folder names, that would be a plus too. So instead of "Program Files" I can have "Applications".

So basically I can then have

C:\WINDOWS

D:\Program Files

E:\Users

[ViperAFK]

I actually wish they would drop 32 bit for windows 7, it would spur more 64 bit drivers, games, and programs.

[cbosdell]

I actually wish they would drop 32 bit for windows 7, it would spur more 64 bit drivers, games, and programs.

Definately. I personally don't think Vista should have been or needed to be 32bit either.

[Linkinfamous]

Definately. I personally don't think Vista should have been or needed to be 32bit either.

The mobile Core Duo (Yonah) was Intel's last big 32-bit processor. It is by no means slow, and there were still laptops being sold with those last year.

[Preppy Veteran]

I agree in regards to the registry, but last I checked, 9 out of 10 programs make a folder named after themselves in C:\Program Files, and they prompt you for an installation path when you install them anyway so you know exactly where it's going, if you want to make sure something is really really gone, just go to C:\Program Files and delete its folder.

No - you skip over the registry effects of a program that way and would leave registry/COM garbage.

... complete support in Windows Installation Setup to customize where Program Files folder partition and Users folder is created.

If at some point there is a Win7 beta and someone is on it, file bugs against "\program files" references in the registry, since ideally those should be %programfiles% or %programfiles(x86)% so that the system can properly sort it out. The system is definitely getting more portable, but there's a lot of registry entries that aren't as flexible as they need to be. If you compare XP vs Vista's registries, you'll see how much better it is, but you'll see there's still a long way to go. (I did a huge Vista registry scan for a fun side project and noticed all this.)