I’ve seen the latest Windows 7 builds running on not-very-powerful computers and the speed was still remarkable.
If you happen to like Vista, I think Windows 7 will make for a fantastic upgrade.
If you were waiting for them to fix the bugs in Vista, Windows 7 appears to be that long awaited (and overdue) “service pack.”
If you don’t mind Windows XP, I believe there’s little that will draw you into Windows 7. Microsoft hasn’t addressed (and likely won’t) basic mode UI speed issues, nor have they done much to make classic mode look presentable. If Vista’s veneer doesn’t wow you, neither will Windows 7.
Beta build 7000 will be downloadable from Microsoft in just a week or so (according to sources). Find a secondary machine and try installing it. Honestly, if the computer can’t handle all the bells and whistles, you shouldn’t bother with Windows 7 (or Vista, for that matter) at all.
I’ll be installing the first public Windows 7 beta on my HP Touchsmart PC the day they release it (I hope). It’ll be interesting to see just how well they handle multi-touch. I’ve been spoiled by iPhone fluidity, and I hope usability translates.
Windows 7′s performance in a VMware appliance (virtual machine) isn’t as bad as Vista’s, although it fares better in classic mode (but classic mode in both 7 and Vista is beyond ghastly compared to XP).
