Windows "7"

[DonnyEMU]

You are assuming to much. They didn't bump the revision # up because of the following reason:  Version 7.0 breaks many applications install programs.  They decided not to revise up to 7.0 because so many poorly coded .net applications don't like the # 7.. I have all of this on video and can link to official comments about it (found on channel 9.msdn.com) should anyone doubt it..

Let's talk about the difference between Vista and Windows 7..

from the UK publication the Register:

http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2009/11/18/windows_7_heart/

as well as support for 256 cores and a bunch of other add ons..


How about virtual wifi add-ons to drivers.. making your wifi adapter now a router..

See:

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090516/windows-7-native-virtual-wifi-technology-microsoft-research/

and

http://connectify.me/

How about directly using your GPU as a second co-processor built-in not requiring an API for the system to take advantage of it (like openCL on the Mac)..

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-directx-compute-gpgpu-windows,8349.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvDJzpBOieU

http://www.nvidia.com/object/directcompute.html

(VERY AMIGA ESQUE)

By the way I have a new droid phone (samsung moment) and love it..

[DonnyEMU]

Pan1k: There is no difference in drivers between Vista and Windows 7.. The installer program these drivers get installed with (from your printer maker not Microsoft) is probably the thing at issue. If you right click on all the executable install files in the installer package and select properties and select properties and then hit the compatibility tab and select windows XP or Vista (check out which the lowest common denominator that the driver selects) you should be able to get it working...  I had this problem with HP myself until I ran the installer in "Vista" mode..  

The problem  you are no doubt having here is some files expecting certain version numbers. If you still have issues you can send me an email here and I'd be glad to help you get this all installed and working..

swift240: I think I can tell you what the problem is with your TV card driver right now.. You bought the wrong version Windows 7 for your upgrade.

XP Pro for instance was like Vista Business and Windows 7 pro..

XP Media Center/XPHome = Vista Home Premium with Media Center  = Windows 7 Home Premium

The reason your TV card is not working is that while Vista Business and Win 7 pro are the "business" versions they don't contain Media Center editions which have the right CODECs installed to support your TV Card (Specifically MPEG-2).. Nor does the "business" editions include media center for obvious reasons either..

There are several ways around this.. 1) Your TV card manufacturer pays the fee to the org that controls MPEG (it's not a public standard) or you buy Vista Ultimate which contains the codec (because that edition they paid the fee for) 2) You downgrade (LOL) to Windows 7 Home Premium or any edition with Media Center that gives you that CODEC..

A driver isn't the same as a codec.. You could also download the free open source Shark007 codecs for windows 7 and see if that works for you..

XP Pro didn't include DVD or MPEG support.. Only XP media center edition did..

So why is there a Windows 7 Pro version anyway? The difference between home and pro is you can connect to a "Microsoft server network" and be part of that network as a client (not just through FTP).. Home users normally don't need this capability. It's mostly people who "telecommute" or VPN..

I would also just comment to the Mac folks here (yes I have a mac mini x86 and love the Mac. I have some exceptions with Snow Leopard though and consider it their "Vista Release"..

Something to know too if you buy retail Windows 7 or with a machine, all major printer makers are supporting the OS on day one unlike the Vista release where it took some manufacturers over a year..

If you are curious about support for all the devices windows seven has drivers for directly in the box (and online via windows update)..

Check out this website.. It will let you search for a driver..

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Default.aspx?type=Hardware

They now list everything Windows 7 is compatible with both hardware and software (tested) and what drivers attained certification etc.

So you never have to wonder if your 3rd party is providing or going to provide support anymore you just look on the list..

[DonnyEMU]

Drivers are now a non-issue with Windows 7 thanks to Windows 7's online compatiblity center. It provides a search engine and every driver ever made for Vista and Windows 7. If your hardware is supported it now shows up on the list. If the manufacturer of the driver (NOT Microsoft, but the 3rd party who made it!) also got the driver certified with Microsoft it's listed. There are literally thousands of devices listed.

Microsoft and the 3rd party hardware makers will have every driver for every device listed there from now on and where to get it. So you don't have to go looking around for it. It will also point out the 3rd party companies who you bought from who didn't get their drivers tested and certified (which costs them virtually nothing through Microsoft to do)

if you are curious about support for all the devices windows seven has drivers for directly in the box (and online via windows update) just go there and give it a search). It will also help you get support if your hardware company isn't supporting Vista/Win7..

It's great to see this and it gets updated everytime a new driver is tested and put out on Windows Update..

Check out this website.. It will let you search for a driver..

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Default.aspx?type=Hardware

They now list everything Windows 7 is compatible with both hardware and software (tested) and what drivers attained certification etc.

So you never have to wonder if your 3rd party is providing or going to provide support anymore you just look on the list..

If you search for a driver that isn't there it both a) gets you help to find the driver b) notifies Microsoft that a customer is looking for something they can't find so Microsoft can bug the hardware maker about it (if they are in business, if there were enough sold to warrant driver support from them or someone else)

If you are still missing a driver you can go here and suggest a driver too..

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Feedback/Default.aspx?feedbacktype=suggest

Same if you are having a compatibility issue..

As for someone's comments about 200 meg for a driver being insane.. I agree, companies are using it as a marketing opportunity (like HP to sell printers and ink and supplies). Most drivers alone can be downloaded off of Windows update and are just the drivers alone.. If you buy a printer today there is usually a scanner driver and a fax driver and all sorts of marketing. Mac 3rd party hardware seems to be doing this more these days as well due to lack of advertising by Apple that their third party prouducts work on Mac..

On Windows, most drivers that are Windows "certified" are either in the win7 box (with no big download), provided on a DVD when you buy it new, and available just the driver on windows/microsoft update and are a QUICK download.