This is hands down the best version of Windows to date. (AS of this writing Windows 8.1 is available). It keeps to the classic Windows design we all know so that its simple to use without a lot of change. One of the most important things to me with OS choice is familiarity, but I also like security. Windows 7 took everything that XP and Vista did well and put them together, then added more. Everything I hated about Vista was dumped from 7. Performance This OS continues to proliferate the one problem I have had with Windows, and that is every generation becomes increasingly resource hungry, and space consuming, and I don't feel that the additions and improvements always warranty the upgrade. In this case now that Win7 has been out for a few years this problem isn't as big of a deal, because pretty much any machine you can readily buy these days can tackle Win7 without any performance hits Speed On a modern machine this OS is fast at everything it does. Beware on older machines though it will be slower Ease of Use Same old Windows that even the least computer Savvy can learn quickly. Virus Protection This has always been a less than impressive feature of Windows, stock you have no virus protection. You are either left to fend for yourself and buy third party software, or download the Microsoft Security Essentials pack (free at least). The problem is Security Essentials still is not the best Anti-Virus or security suite. Compatibility Pretty much anything that has been released since the days of Windows 95 can be run with a few tweaks to the program shortcut, and most modern hardware has drivers that can be used

DriverJ

USA

Windows 7 is a much more user friendly operating system then any of Microsoft's predecessors. It is unlike it's counterparts in that it isn't bogged down by useless programs that hamper the PC's overall performance. The software design is easy on the eyes. Performance I have been using Window 7 for a couple of years now and I would never go back to the previous versions. I've not quite understood why Microsoft released windows 8 when this one is just fine for various needs. It runs quite well. Windows 8 tends to be quite a departure from previous versions with it's app laden design. This version capitalizes on what has always worked before and get's rid of what hasn't worked. Great performance! Speed The boot up time tends to be very fast in comparison with other versions. Typically windows usually has taken me several minutes to load but this one take on average 1 minute before I'm ready to go at my desktop. It seems they have taken away all of the background services that have hampered the speed in the past. Much appreciated! Ease of Use Everything is right at your fingertips. It is easy to customize, nothing is hard to find and if I did need help the help file is right there. I especially like how I'm able to create shortcuts on the taskbar for even greater speed and productivity. Virus Protection Windows defender seems adequate althought I use third part software. I've never had a system crash related to a virus since using windows seven. Compatibility I haven't tried a ton of older software titles on windows seven but the few I did worked fine when I set them up to run in compatibility mode. It's nice to be able to play over video games that I've loved from the past on this new version.

micahswagg

USA

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate was pretty good. I now have Windows 8, but I actually liked Windows 7 better at first. It was fast, efficient, and so easy to use. Where Windows 8 was very difficult to use at first. It is a big difference. The virus protect is okay but not the best. I would recommend Windows 8 though.

amd2013

USA

Everything in the system was done right, boiling down the security and management of apps , it leads many to get use to the system. It was of course, genuinely easy to use and everything works well. Performance With Windows, every driver is available on tuning your power management supply. Speed For its system requirements, modern laptop run pretty smoothly along with it and RAM is standard for handling causal tasks. Ease of Use Simply and organized, everything was there. Virus Protection It offered WIndows Defender built-in and have continuous virus definition updates. Compatibility Windows is compatible with any software and run smoothly.

AlexMane

USA

I like to mention first of all that this is my favorite operating system. Less then a year ago, microsoft released Windows 8, which can be extremely confusing, if you do not know how to navigate through windows. Windows 7 has the start menu of course on the bottom where the task bar is. Also Windows 7 is great for beginner window users that just want to get familiarized with navigating through windows to save files or access the internet. Windows 7 is fast, and is very compatible with software applications and other internet browsers like Firefox or the Chrome. Windows 7 is also capable of running a anti-virus program to keep your computer protected from viruses and hackers. In conclusion Windows 7 is a great product, and would recommend for any computer user to install and have. Also Windows 7 is a lot less confusing and easier to understand then Windows 8.

va1258677

USA

We upgraded our computer and it came with the new windows. My biggest complaint is shutting down or rebooting is not easy. I like the look of the interface and I like some of the included extras as well as the ability to download my kids favorite aps. I still am not comfortable navigating about and finding things.

CarolynSchofield

USA

Having felt so sorry for switching to vista from xp, I actually am satisfied with windows 7. It has the user interface of vista, with a little more tweaks, but it operates a lot better and faster than vista. To be frank, windows 7 will load between me switching on my desktop and coming back from bathroom. It also takes up less RAM and resources than vista, which allows computers with less memory to operate better. Compared to the Professional, the Ultimate offers a few more features, which not all users will actually make use of. I personally use the 64-bit system due to the amount of RAM I have installed on my desktop. I was told that 64-bit was less supported in terms of software and drivers, but that is not quite so true for me anymore. I also like about the upgrading option from vista to 7, so instead of erasing data from the previous windows operating system, I can actually keep my data while throwing away vista. Great job windows 7.

AndrewChan

Ithaca, NY

Windows 7 Ultimate brings a lot of things to the table that Windows XP and Vista were lacking, not least of which is visual appeal.  The operating system, overall, seems to be much faster and more resource-friendly than past editions of Windows.  It's quick to load, visually appealing, and as of this writing, I've never had it crash, whereas I experienced several crashes with Vista when I was trying to run very processor intensive applications.  The operating system was extremely easy to install and start working with.  Unlike Vista, it has given very few unnecessary prompts and seems to have its default settings set in a reasonable way for most users.  I've installed Windows 7 on my home computer after experiencing it at work, and I am very happy with the change.  The only negative I have found is that it seems to occasionally experience a graphical glitch on my work machine, but I believe that issue is more related to the applications being run than the operating system itself.

DrDevice

Shawnee, OK

It's an understatement to say that I hated Microsoft Vista. Hate isn't a strong enough word for the feelings that overtook me as I tried to navigate that frustratingly bloated operating system. I even went back to Windows XP to escape Vista. So imagine my surprise to find that Windows 7 is light years ahead of its former self. Performance Probably the best thing I've noticed about Windows 7 is that all of my programs load much more quickly and I have had considerably fewer errors and shut-downs than before the upgrade.  For example, I have a Scrabble game that suffered from frequent screen freezes or sudden shut-downs.  However, since I've been using the Windows 7 environment, I haven't had any problems with playing this or other computer games.  In addition, memory-intensive programs like Paint Shop Pro run flawlessly and without any hiccups. Speed I love how quickly Windows 7 opened and loaded files. With previous editions, I could practically get a manicure while waiting for XP or Vista to launch and load all of my programs.  Now, Windows 7 gets me up and going in less than a minute.  It's a stunning improvement over the old operating program. Ease of Use Since using Windows 7, this is the first time I've worked at my PC without major frustration.  All of the windows and menus are familiar enough so that you don't feel lost, but the elements have a cool, transparent vibe that feels more high-tech than what I'm used to seeing. The graphics seem crisper and more vibrant and navigating through the program is a more fleet and fun experience. . Virus Protection We use Norton Security for antivirus software, and it has been perfectly compatible with Windows 7. Compatibility I think that Microsoft really understood the problems that Vista caused and did a terrific job in fixing them. When I first installed Windows 7, there were a few compatibility problems with some of my programs. But very quickly, I've gotten to the point where I don't see that any longer.

LoveisJoy

Chicagoland, IL

Windows 7 Ultimate is the ultimate Microsoft OS that I'll ever need. It has both the sturdy and secure system that I need to work on my business needs as well as have the entertainment that I love in Media Center. I just love this product.

nathangabriel999

USA