User Reviews

1. Review Date: 2009-11-23

   Windows 7 another hype! Gimmick! Don't even get it! This OS program from
   Microsoft is total junk. Got the Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate full version. Installed it on a Dell Dimension 4300 desktop computer with 1 gig of memory, 500 hard gig hard drive, Nvidia Geforce 6800 AGP graphic card. After finishing doing a total new installation of Windows 7. The screen boots up with a nice colorful Windows logo. Wow! I'm amazed! Next thing you know. You don't hear anything. I am saying what the hell is going on? There is no sound coming from my creative sound blaster card. This was working fine under Windows XP Media Center. I went and check under the devices and notice that my Creative Lab sound card, eternet card, and PCI card dosen't support Windows 7. Now I am pretty mad. Because I would have to go out through ever freaking websites and find these drivers whether they exist or not. Microsoft should have put these drivers into the OS instead of leaving them
   out. Now I've got to wait for another version of this crap Windows 7 OS to come out to fix all the drives that are missing. This program looks nice and cool with all new interfaces. Sad to say a bit hard to navigate. I am currently using Windows XP Media Center which is stable and the best OS that I've got for my money. I wish they would upgrade the XP OS program or work around XP to make a better interface OS than this piece of junk which is not XP compatible. The only one example I can
   give you is Scarface The World Is Yours. I installed the program. Would not installed or play. Not workable under Windows 7. Windows 7 is a piece of junk
   until another version comes out to fix the drivers issue. By the way. I can not
   wait and see to get my hands on Google's Android Operating System for the PC. Hope Google's Android Operating System destory Windows 7. Because I am getting sick and tired of Microsoft gimmick of saying you have to upgrade this or that. Waste time
   and money for a product you don't even need to upgrade. Hope this is the last
   Windows OS you'll see from these crooks!
   
   User: Kong Wei Chow
   Rating:
   Summary: Windows 7 is another hype and gimmick don't even get it!
   Helpful Votes: 0
   Total Votes: 1
   

2. Review Date: 2009-11-19

   If you're looking at the full version of Windows 7 Ultimate, chances are it's for one of these reasons:
   
   1) You are migrating your settings and/or programs from a Vista Ultimate machine to a new machine and don't want to lose them
   2) You want BitLocker hardware-level encryption (and you'll need to have hardware that supports it)
   3) You speak multiple languages and need to easily switch from one to the other
   4) You have a new machine and are planning on installing the OS from scratch: this is the most common reason to buy the full version.
   
   If you are planning on upgrading an existing machine, you no longer have to purchase the full version of a Windows OS to have the ability to format and install clean: Windows 7 (and Vista, actually) will allow you to use the Upgrade edition to cleanly install the new OS.
   
   Unlike Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Ultimate doesn't offer DreamScenes or any other eye candy different from its cousins Home and Pro. In fact, if you were a fan of the Windows Vista DreamScenes, you should know that you will be losing them when you step up to Windows 7.
   
   What you gain in Windows 7 Ultimate over Pro is BitLocker drive encryption and support for multiple languages (beyond the previous functionality of the Language Bar in Vista and XP).
   
   Compared to Windows 7 Home, you also gain DomainJoin (which makes connecting to corporate networks easier), an automated system backup tool, and "Windows XP Mode", which is a step beyond the "XP Compatibility Mode" seen in Vista. These three features are also available in Windows 7 Professional.
   
   You should know before purchasing Windows 7 Ultimate that if you are wanting to use "XP Mode" your hardware will need to support "Virtualization Technology". Similarly, if you are looking at the Ultimate-exclusive "BitLocker" Drive Encryption feature, this will only work if your hardware contains a Trusted Platform Module (TPM)--a specific piece of hardware that is required for BitLocker to be enabled. The Microsoft website explains this in further detail.
   
   PLANNING
   If you really want to be thorough about your install of Windows 7 Ultimate, you should stop by the Microsoft site and look for the "Windows 7 Compatibility Center." This web site will let you look up programs and hardware and confirm that they are compatible with Windows 7 Ultimate (or if not, whether there is a workaround). I strongly recommend you take the time to do this. The Compatibility Center also indicates whether it is telling you about 32-bit compatibility versus 64-bit compatibility: keep an eye on the page to be sure you're looking at the right thing. Windows 7 ships with discs for both 32 and 64-bit editions in each package, so choosing which version to install is no longer a difficult buying decision: it's as simple as pulling out the disc you want.
   
   You may also find that some devices are "kind of" not compatible: for example, my Creative Sound Blaster Audigy sound card is "kind of" not compatible: the software to manage the sound card is not compatible because it is no longer needed...and support for the sound card itself is native to Windows 7. What that means is, I didn't need to reinstall any Creative software; the sound card came up automatically when I installed Windows 7 because Windows 7 had its own software to support it. When in doubt, stop by the manufacturer's website to confirm your suspicions.
   
   You may also see devices that are absolutely not compatible with Windows 7. If you need this hardware, make sure (via the manufacturer's website and/or support forums) if it's supported natively by 7 (like my sound card) or if there are any workarounds to get it to work.
   
   INSTALLING
   If you are taking programs and settings from an old machine and wish to carry them over to a new machine that you are purchasing the full version of Windows 7 for, there are some very useful tools to help you:
   
   Do you just want to carry over your user accounts and settings? Microsoft makes a program called Windows Easy Transfer that's already in Vista (and XP users can download it from Microsoft) that will export your accounts and settings and let you import them back again on the new machine. It's very easy to use and does a good job of putting your accounts back together again, even when going from XP to 7.
   
   Do you have programs that you want to bring to the new machine, but don't want to reinstall? Laplink has an offer both here at Amazon (as a boxed product or digital download) and through their website. The product is called "Laplink PC Mover Windows 7 Upgrade Assistant", and it will let you use a special version of their program "PC Mover" to migrate one machine one time. Read the documentation in detail. I have used it successfully on the 32-bit platform, but I cannot verify that this will work for anyone migrating from 32-bit to 64-bit.
   
   If you are migrating from 32-bit to 64-bit with the full version of Windows 7, I highly recommend you take the time to manually re-install your programs. You can still use Easy Transfer to carry over user accounts and settings, but 64-bit operating systems make decisions about how to run 32-bit applications, and this is easier done when the application is installed directly on the 64-bit OS instead of migrated from a 32-bit installation. I realize this is the harder path, but it will probably save you compatibility headaches down the road.
   
   ABOUT WINDOWS 7
   So what are some of the things Microsoft doesn't tell you in the description above?
   
   Windows 7 isn't just "fixed Vista": it's a full overhaul of Windows based on a ton of feedback collected directly from Beta and RC 1 users (of which I was one--I let them have an earful and I think they actually listened)
   
   Windows 7 does things drastically different from XP in that, like Vista, it does a lot of the eye candy in a smoother way. XP and earlier used to send graphics work through your processor before it would get to your video card...now, it bypasses the processor and goes straight to the video, clearing up what was a pretty substantial bottleneck. This system was imperfect (to say the least!) in Vista, but it's been improved here, particularly in the area of being compatible with older games.
   
   Windows 7 is trying to slowly "trim the fat" we normally have to put up with by making itself more compatible with other devices. Where you typically have to install a new device by running the manufacturer's setup disc, installing a bunch of junk and tray icons, and etc., Microsoft is making native support more common. My sound card is a good example of this: where I used to need about 5 or 6 "helper" programs that would drain my performance and occasionally annoy me, now it's just using the drivers that came with the installation of 7.
   
   New Operating Systems are always a bumpy road: your journey might not be as easy as others. However, compared to previous Windows releases, Windows 7 is a substantial improvement, and I'm pleased to say that I haven't been burned by 7 like I was with Vista (and Windows Me--agh, the horror, the horror). If you just want to get yourself onto the 7 platform and don't need a lot of customization, Windows 7 Home will be enough for you. If you need more for your work environment (or you are building a workplace environment), then 7 Pro is the way to go. If you regularly work in multiple languages and/or want to have BitLocker drive encryption (and your hardware supports it!), then Ultimate is for you. Otherwise, it really isn't 100% necessary to install the full version of Windows Ultimate: you might consider either Professional or Home Premium.
   
   User: Pyanfar Chanur
   Rating:
   Summary: 7 is Good, Ultimate is Not Always Necessary
   Helpful Votes: 0
   Total Votes: 1
   

3. Review Date: 2009-11-17

   Hardly if at all an improvement on Vista, November 16, 2009
   By Daniel J. Knight "Hate evil, love good, maint... (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
   
   1) Can't make the taskbar show behind windows
   
   2) Quicklaunch wasn't an option, but found a trick from a non-microsoft website to make it appear, and it looks ugly as there is no dividing line
   
   3) The taskbar is an ugly glassy powder blue, gives me a headache
   
   4) MSPaint has been mangled. Instead of simply putting zoom out on one toolbar, instead, some idiot put a zoom in and out toolbar or tab whatever separate from the main toolbar, and the main toolbar only has zoom in, so then you have to switch back and forth between tabs, what a moron designer. On top of that the color picker is off-center, so that when you pick a color it's picking the one above the pixel you have it over, really annoying if you don't have the time or aren't in the mood to learn to use something like adobe photoshop. But hopefully I can get the vista version of mspaint online (ahem: thank God for btjunkie and pbay).
   
   5) If you use Windows 7 on a net book prepare to be extremely annoyed since the built in dialog boxes and menus (ones that have a lot of options) don't resize to fit the screen, so that you either have to set the taskbar to auto popup mode or move it to the left or right, if you don't you can't click the bottom buttons like yes, no, ok, enter, skip etc. The same is true for firefox dialog boxes beyond the basic "yes" or "no" type.
   
   6) The network manager is WORSE then in Vista and XP, unlike those two the network manager is stuck in the right corner of the screen, and you can't switch on the fly when you're in the process of trying to connect, instead you're forced to wait till it's done or press cancel, and it's sluggish, at least on my netbook.
   
   PROS:
   
   1) Very fast SDHC scanning speed in comparison to vista and xp; big headache relief.
   
   2) Seems to be much more stable than xp and vista, seems that way. I haven't experienced any crashes yet.
   
   3) Seems to be more resistant to browser-hijacking trojans. I got the same ones on vista as I did on windows 7, but it seems the trojans are more aggressive on firefox in vista then in windows 7, but that might be because for Windows 7 msoft gave me soft downloads that scanned for trojans and found some. It might do that on vista (I recall getting anti-trojan downloads for it) but I got the trojans recently and haven't been using vista as much since it's on a slow HP mini netbook that gets sickenly hot to the touch.
   
   Conclusion:
   
   I get the impression that there are programmers at microsoft that deliberately do stupid things thinking that they will be asked to stay on the job longer by getting their managers to keep them in order to make improvements in the next version of Windows. Ff that's the case, and they are not fired, then they and their managers sbould be kicked in the balls extremely hard, in fact all of microsoft should be kicked in the balls extremely hard for incompetence and tried for treason against humanity, for being complicit in trying to drive world insane.
   
   I can't even say this is an improvement on Windows XP or Vista since XP and Vista scale the dialog boxes correctly on netbooks, why is Windows 7 dumber? But then again on XP certain dialog boxes didn't show in the taskbar and you had to minimize and maximize folders to make them show, but that's not as annoying as having to move the task bar to the side to be able to click the buttons on dialog boxes. If you take a lot of photos using SDHC cards and don't mind keeping the taskbar to the side or on autohide when using a netbook, then I'd say get Windows 7. Hopefully, WindowBlinds can get rid of the ugly taskbar coloration. The end.
   
   User: Daniel J. Knight
   Rating:
   Summary: Hardly if at all an improvement on Vista
   Helpful Votes: 0
   Total Votes: 0
   

4. Review Date: 2009-11-13

   Definitely has all the fixes from Vista headaches and not to mention speeds up/shut down faster than Vista.
   
   
   
   User: O. Medeiros
   Rating:
   Summary: Better than Vista
   Helpful Votes: 1
   Total Votes: 2
   

5. Review Date: 2009-11-13

   I upgraded from xp pro 64 bit. I did a clean install (32 bit) on an empty HD. I followed the directions and it installed without a hitch. It was surprisingly fast compared with older versions. No problems finding drivers. The only problem I am having is finding a compatable remote control for Media Center. It appears that some hardware vendors are still gearing up. If I had to do it over I definitly would.
   
   User: Wyatt Earp
   Rating:
   Summary: Best Yet
   Helpful Votes: 1
   Total Votes: 2
   

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Editorial Reviews

Windows 7 Ultimate is the most versatile and powerful edition of Windows 7. It combines remarkable ease-of-use with the entertainment features of Home Premium and the business capabilities of Professional, including the ability to run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode. For added security, you can encrypt your data with BitLocker and BitLocker To Go. And for extra flexibility, you can work in any of 35 languages. Get it all with Windows 7 Ultimate.

More work, more play, and more of everything in between. Click to enlarge.

Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows. Click to enlarge.

With Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen. Click to enlarge.

Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar.

Designed for people who want it all

Easiest Windows to use ever

• Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap.
• Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs.
• Easy to network (with or without a server).
• Back up your complete system over a network.
• Help protect data on your PC or portable storage device against loss or theft with BitLocker.

Faster and more flexible

• Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
• Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory.
• Windows XP Mode gives you the business flexibility you need.
• Switch between any of 35 languages.

Best PC entertainment experience

• Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center.
• Blu-ray read/write support for data files.
• Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

Simplifies Everyday Tasks

Simple to use

Preview
Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.

Pin
Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.

Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop. Click to enlarge.

Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC right from the Start menu with Windows Search. Click to enlarge.

Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center, and enjoy your favorite videos and music with Windows Media Player. Click to enlarge.

Jump Lists
Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar.

Snap
Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.

Peek and Shake
Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.

Windows Search
Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.

Easy to connect

Setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks. Click to enlarge.

Enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming. Click to enlarge.

Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use. Click to enlarge.

Manage Backup and Restore and other features through Action Center. Click to enlarge.

Search, organize, and edit files across a network in the same way you would a single folder.Click to enlarge.

Wireless setup
With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.

HomeGroup
Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.

Easy to browse the web

Internet Explorer 8
Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.

Internet Explorer 8
Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.

Easy to communicate and share

Windows Live Photo Gallery
Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.

Windows Live Mail
Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.

Windows Live Family Safety
Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.

Note: Windows Live components need to be downloaded separately.

Works The Way You Want

Faster and More Reliable

Resume from sleep
We designed Windows 7 to help PCs sleep and resume from sleep more quickly by improving the way Windows 7 manages drivers, programs, and power.

Faster and more reliable
We reduced the amount of memory your PC needs for open windows and to execute commands to help it be more responsive to commands.

Fewer clicks and less interruptions

Makes New Things Possible

Media on your terms

Windows Media Center
Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.

Windows Media Center
Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.

DirectX 11
DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.

New ways to engage

Windows Touch
Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.

Media on your terms

Windows Media Player
More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.

You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.

Work anywhere

Location Aware Printing
Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.

Work anywhere with less effort.

• Get connected in three clicks wherever there's a wireless network connection.
• Keep documents on your PC and on network servers in sync automatically.
• Your PC will automatically use the printer you prefer for whatever network you're on.
• Simplify making presentations special settings that keep your PC from sleeping and turn off messages, notifications, and screen savers.
• Instantly locate virtually any file, email, or document on your PC just by typing a word or two.
• Get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar.
• Open programs you use regularly in one click and files you use regularly in just two.
• Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
• Manage multiple email accounts, including Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo! Mail Plus, all in one place with one simple program.
• Get to the files, photos, and music on any PC with Windows 7 in the house from any other.
• Print to any printer in the house from any PC with Windows 7 in the house.

Safeguard your hard work.

• Advanced Backup and Restore makes it easier to keep your work safely backed up to external or network drives and accessible if you need it.
• File encryption helps keep proprietary and confidential information on a PC secure if it is lost or stolen.
• Preserve your investment in programs designed for Windows XP with Windows XP Mode.
• Windows Internet Explorer 8 helps keep your PC safer from malware and you safer from fraudulent websites designed to fool you into divulging private information.
• Easily add your PC to a secured, managed, network with domain join capabilities.
• Group policy controls help administrators more easily and effectively manage the security and configuration of multiple PCs.

Choose the Windows 7 Edition That Is Best For You

Features	Windows 7 Home Premium	Windows 7 Professional	Windows 7 Ultimate
Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation.
Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often.
Make your web experience faster, easier and safer than ever with Internet Explorer 8.
Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC.
Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup.
Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode.
Connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join.
In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network.
Help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker.
Work in the language of your choice and switch between any of 35 languages.

Product Details

1. (Includes 32 & 64-bit versions) Combines remarkable ease-of-use with the entertainment features of Home Premium and the business capabilities of Professional--get it all with with Windows 7 Ultimate
2. Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation; start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often
3. Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode; watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC
4. Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup; connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join
5. Recover your data easily with automatic backup to your home and business network; help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker