I consider myself as an experienced linux user. I am not an expert maybe, but I did use every major distros including Slackware. I know how to build software from source. I know how to configure a system without any graphical user interface.
This post is not a review. I would not do any explanations about new features of Windows 7. I just want to share quickly “how I did find, the new Windows as a person who know Linux.
First of all I must admit that this time Windows has really done something different. Yes, the new task bar look like a MAC dock, but it is still a new thing. And also in Linux Desktop Manager almost everything is brought from Windows or Mac.
For the first time, I can see a good effort from Microsoft to offer a good OS. The fact that Win 7's beta was publicly available at no cost is one the facts showing this effort. Windows 7 is the most widely tested Windows. This testing and improving by feedback procedure, often attributed to Open Source Software, is in my opinion one of the strongest points of Seven.
Is this a Linux Killer?
Many people on the net are talking about Windows 7 as a Linux killer. For a few examples you can take a look to here, here and here. I think that the rise of Linux OS on netbooks can be stopped or at least slowed by Seven but saying that Seven will kill entirely Linux is not realistic. First of all the user bases of the OS is different. It is true that the two OSs share some users and there is some distros aiming to steal user from Windows but generally speaking Linux users are also emotionally tied to their OS. For an average Windows guy Windows is just a tool to use the PC. Many Windows users do not even know about any other OS, some even do not know what an OS is.
But, I think that on netbooks Windows can now take back some market share. It has also the chance to really kill Linux on that area.
Why it is so revolutianary?
I really like Linux because every 3 months or so you have a new release. I also like it because its developers listen to me. Finally customization is the other main strong point of Linux. On Windows there is neither of these. Windows 7 only changes the listening to customer aspect. So why it is said to be so “revolutionary”? Because since Windows 95 Microsoft has made the biggest change in the user interface. With this change some users, like me, found Windows easier and more usable. Because of some standards, and some business software I must use Windows. With XP and especially with Vista this was a complete nightmare for me. Now, with Seven, for the first time in my life, a really appreciated some features of the OS and I did start to like Windows. I think that because of this feeling that it gives to me Seven is revolutionary.
Many people cannot use Linux. For many people it is impossible to live without MS Office. OpenOffice can never be alternative for many. These people were either stayed with Xp or switched to MAC. Now they may switch to Windows 7.
I think that Seven is the best OS that Microsoft ever released. The big advantage of availability of commercial software is now “enhanced” by a really good interface.