89

Conclusion: We like it

Windows 7 is what Vista should have been. It's not perfect, but it's stable, reliable, and incorporates all of Vista's key UI enhancements (most of which can be disabled if you've got an older PC that can't handle them — of if you hate eye candy). If you've been waiting for a reason to ditch XP, your time has come.

Buy It:

90-Day Price History

now
high
$149
low
$75

Critic reviews

8.4
6 reviews
  • Ease of use
    8.0
  • Speed
    8.0
  • Configurability
    8.0
  • Ecosystem (apps, drivers, etc.)
    9.0
  • Openness
    5.5

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User reviews

8.3
667 reviews
8.0
Engadget Aug 12, 2009

Where Vista felt like a sprawling mess, Windows 7 has patched up the holes and feels like a tight, unified mechanism. It's hardly full of surprises, but that's usually a good thing when it comes to operating systems.

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9.0
CNET Jul 31, 2009

The bottom line: Windows 7 is more than what Vista should have been, it's where Microsoft needed to go. How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP are questions that nobody has the answers to right now.

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8.0
PC World Sep 28, 2009

Microsoft took far too long to come up with a satisfactory replacement for Windows XP. But whether you choose to install Windows 7 on your current systems or get it on the next new PC you buy, you'll find that it's the unassuming, thoroughly practical upgrade you've been waiting for--flaws and all.

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8.0
Gizmodo Aug 5, 2009

Windows XP was a great OS in its day. Windows Vista, once it found its feet several months in, was a good OS. With Windows 7, the OS is great again. It's what people said they wanted out of Windows: Solid, more nimble and the easiest, prettiest Windows yet. There's always a chance this won't be a...

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9.0
Pocket-Lint Oct 23, 2009

So, firstly then - is it any good? Unequivocably yes. Windows 7 is the best OS Microsoft have ever made, and they've learnt all they necessary lessons from Vista. While it doesn't have some of the slickness of OS X, or the speed of Linux, it offers a fantastic compromise between the two...

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8.0
MobilityMinded Sep 7, 2009

"You hear some people describe Windows 7 as: “The stability of Windows XP combined with the Interface of Windows Vista”, but honestly Microsoft has takes Windows 7 even some steps further. A lot of attention is spend on productivity- and efficiency improvements. Therefore I’m really curious to...

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