How would you make Windows 7 better?

[crazlunatic]

Hi. I want to know how you guys would improve on Windows 7 / change / make better? I also might be using a few of your suggestions in a blog post, so I hope you guys don't mind me using some of your ideas (Credit will be given. If you don't want me to use it, I won't =)

Here are mine.

1) Upgrade Wizard / Utility:

For those upgrading to XP, they can insert the Windows 7 installation disk and run a utility which will scan and recognize the XP drivers. It will then list out any incompatible drivers, and also explain whether these drivers can be updated and become usable on Windows 7. From XP to Windows 7 is a huge leap, so I am pretty sure that a couple of XP users will experience driver problems that they won't expect. This shouldn't be too hard to do, and can be somewhat incorporated with the Driver Protection feature that is already in Windows 7.

2) Taskbar needs fixing:

First of all, I don't see anybody using the jumplist if the only way to open them is to drag them up. I don't know how to describe it but it doesn't feel comfortable at all accessing this way.

Another problem I have is opening a program twice. If you've already opened Firefox, clicking it again will only open the Firefox window and not open the program. This does not completely defeat the purpose of pinning items, but it certainly takes away from it.

What are some suggestions or improvements you guys have?

[svnO.o]

I believe you can right click or double click on items to access the jump lists in the newer builds that aren't out yet.

If I were MS one thing I'd add is better clipboard managing software. Instead of just being able to copy and store one snippet of text or whatever it'd be nice to have something that would store multiple copied items of text so you can switch between them and paste it (eg. ClipMate). Integrating something like that into the OS would be a great feature.

Elaborate. Your last handful of posts in this section were nothing but "MS is too stupid to do anything right."

Agreed. I hate people who talk crap but don't give any real solutions to the issue.

[Ghostdraconi]

Hi. I want to know how you guys would improve on Windows 7 / change / make better? I also might be using a few of your suggestions in a blog post, so I hope you guys don't mind me using some of your ideas (Credit will be given. If you don't want me to use it, I won't =)

Here are mine.

1) Upgrade Wizard / Utility:

For those upgrading to XP, they can insert the Windows 7 installation disk and run a utility which will scan and recognize the XP drivers. It will then list out any incompatible drivers, and also explain whether these drivers can be updated and become usable on Windows 7. From XP to Windows 7 is a huge leap, so I am pretty sure that a couple of XP users will experience driver problems that they won't expect. This shouldn't be too hard to do, and can be somewhat incorporated with the Driver Protection feature that is already in Windows 7.

2) Taskbar needs fixing:

First of all, I don't see anybody using the jumplist if the only way to open them is to drag them up. I don't know how to describe it but it doesn't feel comfortable at all accessing this way.

Another problem I have is opening a program twice. If you've already opened Firefox, clicking it again will only open the Firefox window and not open the program. This does not completely defeat the purpose of pinning items, but it certainly takes away from it.

What are some suggestions or improvements you guys have?

1) They already have an upgrade adviser for Vista and I'm sure there will be one for Windows 7.

2) In the PDC build if you click on the arrow beside the icon you will see the app name click on that to open a new instance.

[JOHW]

Another problem I have is opening a program twice. If you've already opened Firefox, clicking it again will only open the Firefox window and not open the program. This does not completely defeat the purpose of pinning items, but it certainly takes away from it.

What are some suggestions or improvements you guys have?

Middle clicking on it will open a new instance in the PDC build. However, things would change in the more updated builds (same for the jumplist, where u right click the taskbar button to get to the jumplist)

[Brandon Live Veteran]

At present:

Right-click opens the jump list (drag up is more for Touch users, though it works with the mouse too).

Middle-click or shift-click will open a new instance of the app. You can also right-click and then click on the application shortcut that appears in the jump list.

Also, ctrl+shift+click will launch elevated :)

[:: Lyon ::]

So you would rather wait 10 years for a new OS?

Better than spending hundreds of dollars only to find that a better version is coming up next year :)

[gollux]

Strip out all the DRM, betcha it'd run a lot faster!

[kl33per]

Strip out all the DRM, betcha it'd run a lot faster!

Betcha it wouldn't.

Begin rant.

At the moment, my pet peeve is glass on maximized applications. The whole point of making an application's title bar and the task bar turn black when an application is maximized is to pull focus to that application, which I think it does very well. However, Microsoft have bent to the will of the small number of very loud people who don't seem to understand this and have changed the behavior in Windows 7 so that maximized applications retain their glass title bar, which looks absolutely stupid. Why can't they just implement a check box: "I like things that look flashy and I don't understand interaction design principles".

End rant.

Other things I'd change:

• Develop a clear media strategy. Ship it with either WMP or Zune. Whilst I prefer Zune, I would prefer a singular media strategy even more
  
• Fix the clock in Media Center, in the PDC build in appears seemingly randomly
  
• Fix the included MP4 and AVI splitters, they don't correctly handle multiple audio tracks (they play both tracks simultaneously)
  
• Ship with a reading application, something that can read most major document and image formats
  
• Fix IE8 performance problems. Here's a hint, the biggest performance issue is when opening a new tab, which takes ages
  
• Support ID3 v2.4. It allows Unicode, and is among other nice improvements
  
• This will get me crucified but anyway, undo the changes to UAC, or at least make the highest security level the default. They've swung the security pendulum too far back in the other direction
  

I'm sure there are others, but that will have to do for the moment.

[John S. Veteran]

thread cleaned

[qubeular]

i always thought the sidebar should have been used to store clippings.

highlighting some text and drag and drop to and from the sidebar would have been cool four years ago.

[Roger H. Veteran]

Betcha it wouldn't.

Begin rant.

At the moment, my pet peeve is glass on maximized applications. The whole point of making an application's title bar and the task bar turn black when an application is maximized is to pull focus to that application, which I think it does very well. However, Microsoft have bent to the will of the small number of very loud people who don't seem to understand this and have changed the behavior in Windows 7 so that maximized applications retain their glass title bar, which looks absolutely stupid. Why can't they just implement a check box: "I like things that look flashy and I don't understand interaction design principles".

End rant.

While i sorta agree, i like it the "new" way also. I guess it depends on your wallpaper. Mine is blueish and therefore the white on Neowin or in Word stands out more than the blue down below. The black was sometimes overpowering.

Other things I'd change:

• This will get me crucified but anyway, undo the changes to UAC, or at least make the highest security level the default. They've swung the security pendulum too far back in the other direction

I think it's fine there where it is. User launched stuff (mouse clicks) doesn't get the extra prompt but items say malware launching a app it downloaded would be blocked. Even some apps though still get the normal "Run/Cancel" dialog though.

[phot0nic]

At the moment, my pet peeve is glass on maximized applications. The whole point of making an application's title bar and the task bar turn black when an application is maximized is to pull focus to that application, which I think it does very well. However, Microsoft have bent to the will of the small number of very loud people who don't seem to understand this and have changed the behavior in Windows 7 so that maximized applications retain their glass title bar, which looks absolutely stupid. Why can't they just implement a check box: "I like things that look flashy and I don't understand interaction design principles".

End rant.

I completely agree with you. I hope that there's at least a way to hack it back into the msstyle.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Strip out all the DRM, betcha it'd run a lot faster!

Uhh... what DRM?

[Denholm]

Have another deep think about the taskbar. It's too confusing with the stacked button view when multiple windows of the same application are open. Looks 'over thought'.

Gadgets should also be able to be run in the taskbar.

Virtual folders appear to have returned. But are just as confusing to work with as before.

Other than that, is a secure delete for Recycle Bin coming?

Those are my initial thoughts.

[morphen]

Crap thread, let's just wait and see what happens in the the betas/RC's.

Build 6801 only hints what the final version will look and feel like.

Consider the Whistler/XP betas, or even longhorn/Vista betas, they looked and felt nothing like the final product.

So, let's just wait and see.

When it hit's RC0/1, then let the ranting begin.

[NEVER85]

Uhh... what DRM?

The DRM that Vista is evidently crammed full of and reports that you have illegal music/videos back to Microsoft so they can contact the proper authorities to have you thrown in jail or fined, because Microsoft obviously has nothing better to do.

[Ci7]

The DRM that Vista is evidently crammed full of and reports that you have illegal music/videos back to Microsoft so they can contact the proper authorities to have you thrown in jail or fined, because Microsoft obviously has nothing better to do.

i lol'ed

fact check :

1- Vista DRM doesn't slow windows down .

2- vista DRM doesn't insert drm in non-drm multimedia .

3-it allow playback for hd video if your H/W are compliment that is .

4- all drm talks is BS

[morphen]

i lol'ed

fact check :

1- Vista DRM doesn't slow windows down .

2- vista DRM doesn't insert drm in non-drm multimedia .

3-it allow playback for hd video if your H/W are compliment that is .

4- all drm talks is BS

+1 :D

[.tony]

It wouldn't fit with the new taskbar, but bring back the Longhorn Sidebar. :p

[Kristian]

Have another deep think about the taskbar. It's too confusing with the stacked button view when multiple windows of the same application are open. Looks 'over thought'.

Gadgets should also be able to be run in the taskbar.

Virtual folders appear to have returned. But are just as confusing to work with as before.

Other than that, is a secure delete for Recycle Bin coming?

Those are my initial thoughts.

Wow, I love the new taskbar and the way it handles multiple instances, and the virtual folders is the thing I love most about 7 finally allowing me to use custom folders and still have them included in Documents/Music etc.

So I have to respectfully disagree :rolleyes:

[jjrambo]

A little button on right side of taskbar can be found in some builds of Longhorn. I believe it had same purpose.

I don't think we need Windows 7, but only SP2 for Vista. I think MS should start working on OS from scratch and get rid of NTFS file system and concept of OS as we know by using Windows.

New File System, New File/Folder Organization, New GUI etc...new smart ideas.

[afusion]

Strip out all the DRM, betcha it'd run a lot faster!

oh gollux you're such a horrible liar.

DRM doesn't exist in Windows

And btw Windows 7 hasn't even RTM'd, how can you make an engadget like topic if the product isn't finished?

[Eric Veteran]

Uhh... what DRM?

I can only assume he's talking about HDCP that only is used when you're playing media.

A little button on right side of taskbar can be found in some builds of Longhorn. I believe it had same purpose.

I don't think we need Windows 7, but only SP2 for Vista. I think MS should start working on OS from scratch and get rid of NTFS file system and concept of OS as we know by using Windows.

New File System, New File/Folder Organization, New GUI etc...new smart ideas.

Why do they need to start over from scratch? And why get rid of NTFS? It's one of the best filesystems ever designed. Let me guess: you want them to start over from scratch like OSX, which wasn't started over from scratch.

[deactivated01032015]

Hi. I want to know how YOU guys would improve on Windows 7 / change / make better?

I would wait for the final release. Debating things now is just pointless.

[Eric Veteran]

The DRM that Vista is evidently crammed full of and reports that you have illegal music/videos back to Microsoft so they can contact the proper authorities to have you thrown in jail or fined, because Microsoft obviously has nothing better to do.

Um, yeah... That's in there... somewhere... :rolleyes: