Last Updated: 04/28/2009 8:05PM
So I’ve written about Windows 7 hereat Blogging Idol, and so it seems is almost everyone now. So I decidedI just had to try this for myself – and thought the ultimate test wouldbe to test it out on my LG NetBook. Windows 7 Windows 7 Windows 7 Windows 7 Windows 7 Windows 7 Windows 7 Windows 7
Windows 7 On My LG NetBook – Should It Stay Or Should It Go?
In fact, for MSDN subscribers, you will be able to download the RC version next week – that’s right, before the end of April. But I couldn’t wait, so I installed the Windows 7, Build 7100version on my LG X110, the second NetBook I am test driving, aftertrying out the Dell Mini 9 for 30 days and being disappointed withperformance of the Solid State drive and its awkward keyboard Layout. The LG X110 has a fabulous keyboard and blistering fast hard drive incomparison, but unfortunately cannot be upgraded as easily as the Mini9. This means I am stuck with its 1GB of soldered, on-board memory. :-(
Installing Windows 7 – Important Teachable Moments
1. The first thing you will need to do is get yourself a valid installation key. You can still get beta keys here,but Windows 7 works just like Vista. You can install it in trial modewithout a key, and use it for 30 days. Remember, it will stop workingon August 1st 2009 — but after all, this is a beta, and you will wantto download/purchase the RC version. Piracy is inexcusable, as I amsure we all agree. A sidebar comment – Microsoft is working on a pay-as-you-go model that hopefully will help to reduce the amount of Windows piracy that has history occurred.
2. Should you upgrade or perform a fresh install? Going back to the time Windows 95hit the streets, the right decision has always been install in a dualboot scenario, on a separate clean partition. The game doesn’t changehere folks, so be sure to do the same – if you are new at this, knowthis means you should select a custom install, not the upgrade. Besides, this is a beta remember – you’ll want to throw on the RC version once you get your hands on it.
3. The driver subsystem and model in Windows 7 is the same as that in our (beloved – not) Vista. This means Windows 7 comes with lots of drivers and if you are still missing one, your Vista drivers should work fine.
4. Though obvious to most, worth mentioning thatthe beta download is an ISO image file, that you will need to burn to aCD in order to perform the install.
Windows 7 On The LG X110 – Stay Or Go?
Windows 7 Performance “Great” On LG X110
From an installation perspective, it went on without a hitch. Ihooked up a USB external CD-Rom on my beauty of an LG, and just over anhour later, I was presented with my dual boot option screen, and I wason my way to experiencing Windows 7 on my NetBook.
Performance was GREAT. For those who heard Microsoft very public comments a couple of months ago, this should not be a great surprise for you. Microsoft has committedto ensuring every Windows 7 “version” will work with the fast-growingNetbook segment. From a Netbook perspective specifically, I would saythat performance has increased compared to running XP. I haven’t hadtime to really dig into the Windows 7 configuration screens, so rightnow we’re pretty ’stock” on the OS here in the Cardoso household.
Going back to performance, I would say that my battery life islonger by approximately 10-20%, and steady state performance is muchsnappier – even over time, when compared with Windows Vista. A bigchange Microsoft did, which I noticed almost immediately, is changethe way memory is allocated when it comes to new applications/threadsbeing spawned. I was able to get over 40 copies of explorer up on thescreen. This never worked on Windows XP or Vista – without causing a‘core breach” in the windows “reactor core”.
Another thing I noticed is that many services are not loaded untilthey are actually needed – something you need to go in and configure,but when I did that, my next boot up time reduced significantly. (DownTo Under 146 seconds!). Just over two minutes…
So is Windows 7 staying on the NetBook? Absolutely.Irecommend you be sure to download windows 7 as soon as you can, andbelieve me, you will not be disappointed. If you are running Vista,this “upgrade” is a no brainer. If you are running XP, in particularif you are running some “older hardware”, you may find overallperformance (including load time).
So, Windows 7 Stays. And I will be buying Windows 7 as soon as I can. What about you?
Last Updated: 04/28/2009 8:06PM EDT – HP ProBook 4510s Released, Windows 7 With Really Fly On This
Release Candidate Download Info:
http://www.dailytech.com/Windows+7+RC+71…
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