[gui-talk] Windows XP to Windows 7?

[David Andrews]

Steve and Mike, I am probably to late, because I am behind.  Steve, I 
have a 64 bit machine at work, and haven't had problems.  For some 
tasks it is really fast, and I think because of extra memory etc., it 
is able to break things off in threads and do a couple things at a 
time better.  Things that would have bogged down my old XP machine, 
go without a hick up.

Mike, Steve and Curtis have given you good advice.  The thing I miss 
most about Windows 7 is no My Computer.  I have never really liked 
Windows Explorer -- but now that is all there is.  I am trying to get 
into the habit of searching for programs, instead of menus, and it 
does work well, when I remember to do it.

I feel one more level away from stuff in Windows 7, which I don't 
like -- and I know Curtis doesn't either, but that is the trend and 
probably nothing I can do.

Dave

At 01:14 PM 10/31/2010, you wrote:
>Mike,
>
>I have been using Windows 7 on my new netbook for six weeks or so 
>and have pretty much had the same experiences that Curtis has 
>described.  I think,
>though, that I could get used to just searching for programs from 
>the Start Menu search box.  Also, I probably will use the desktop 
>more than I did under XP
>and there are ways of attaching programs to the Task Bar that I have 
>not used.  These are all things that may change your mode of 
>operating but are more
>a change in habbit rather than steep learning curves.  The control 
>panel is a good deal different, and you will find more cases where 
>you have to explore
>with the arrow keys because the arrow keys will find buttons that 
>are not in the TAB order.
>
>Regarding 64-bit machines, I have to replace another computer within 
>the next few days and am trying to decide what to do.  Like you, I 
>tend to use a
>computer for a long time, so I am leaning toward biting the bullet 
>and going with a 64-bit machine rather than regretting that I bought 
>a 32-bit machine for the
>next five years or more.  I am finding it very hard to find anything 
>but 64-bit computers except in the Netbook class.  I suspect the 
>negative aspects of a 64-
>bit machine will go away fairly soon unless, of course, you have an 
>old piece of hardware that you can't live without but is no longer 
>supported.  This would
>then have to be a consideration.  If you need to, you can use 
>Microsoft's Security Essentials for virus protection which is free 
>until you decide what you will
>do in the long run.  Anyway, good luck.
>
>Best regards,
>
>Steve Jacobson
>
>On Sun, 31 Oct 2010 11:18:45 -0700, Mike Freeman wrote:
>
> >Thanks.  Appreciate it.
>
> >Mike
>
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Curtis Chong" <curtischong at earthlink.net>
> >To: "'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
> >Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2010 10:32 AM
> >Subject: [gui-talk] Windows XP to Windows 7?
>
>
> >> Mike:
> >>
> >> Here are some radnom thoughts that I can share with you regarding my
> >> transition to Windows 7 from Windows XP.  I hope they will provide you
> >> with
> >> some helpful information.
> >>
> >> 1. In Windows 7, you will notice some differences in the behavior of
> >> Windows Explorer.  For one thing, the title bar will not, by default, show
> >> you the full file path.  If you want to find out which folder you are in,
> >> the best way to do this is to press ALT+D to move your focus to the
> >> address
> >> box.  Then, you'll have to hit Shift Tab Twice to get back to the list of
> >> files and folders.  In Windows Explorer, you will notice some things like
> >> the "name split" button.  Don't press it unless you intend to have your
> >> files sorted in a difference sequence<smile>.  There is an advantage to
> >> using the new Windows Explorer.  If you are looking at a list of files,
> >> you
> >> can press the right arrow key to move between columns.  This way, you can
> >> quickly jump to a column showing when the file was created, when it was
> >> modified, and how big it is.  In my opinion, this different and better
> >> than
> >> the Windows Explorer that runs under Windows XP.
> >>
> >> 2. The Start Menu is vastly different.  When you press the Windows Key,
> >> you are put into a search box.  Many people seem to like the Search box,
> >> because from there, you can type what you are looking for, and Windows
> >> will
> >> quickly try to find it.  For example, if you are trying to start Word,
> >> just
> >> type Word, and entries in the Start menu containing Word will show up
> >> fairly
> >> quickly.  I myself don't like this as much because I have this crazy
> >> notion
> >> that I like to know where in the menu structures programs and files are
> >> located before I actually start to use them<smile>.
> >>
> >> 3. Avoid 64-bit processors.  I find that the transition to Windows 7 is
> >> made much simpler if you can avoid buying a computer with a 64-bit
> >> processor.  Alas, the default in most big box stores is the 64-bit
> >> computer.
> >> So, you'll have to go to some lengths to get a 32-bit machine.  What, you
> >> say, is the problem?  Mostly, not much if you are tech savvy.  You have to
> >> be sure to use the right version of JAWS, you have to get the correct
> >> drivers for scanners, Braille displays, and the like, and you have to be
> >> sure that your security software (i.e., antivirus and anti-spyware
> >> programs)
> >> support 64-bit processors.  If you can do all of that, then perhaps the
> >> 64-bit processor will not be that much of a problem for you.  The cool
> >> thing
> >> from a technical perspective is that with a 64-bit processor, Windows will
> >> be able to take advantage of all 4 gigabytes and more of available memory.
> >>
> >> 4. At work, I am running Office 2010 and Windows 7.  I noticed right
> >> away that the "My Documents" folder has gone away.  Windows 7 now likes to
> >> use libraries which are essentially collections of pointers to files and
> >> folders.  Beware of the library if you like to know where things are
> >> located
> >> on your hard drive or on a network drive.  I find myself doing more
> >> copying
> >> and pasting of paths in Windows 7 than in previous versions because of the
> >> absence of the My Documents shortcut.
> >>
> >> 5. In Windows 7, Outlook Express no longer exists.  If you are already
> >> using Microsoft Outlook or some other non-Microsoft email client, then
> >> this
> >> should not be a problem for you.  If, however, you have been using Outlook
> >> Express, you will have to decide whether you want to switch to Outlook,
> >> use
> >> Windows Live Mail, or get another email program.  Since I was already
> >> using
> >> Outlook both at work and at home, this was not an issue for me, but I can
> >> understand why it would be an issue for those people who have been using
> >> Outlook Express.  Alas, I do not have much personal acquaintance with the
> >> replacement to Outlook Express.
> >>
> >> 6. Shutting down Windows in Windows 7 is a snap.  Just press the
> >> Windows key, press Right Arrow once, and then press Enter.  It's reqlly
> >> quite simple<smile>.
> >>
> >> Well, that's pretty much all I can share at this point.  Bear in 
> mind that
> >> I
> >> have had only three weeks of experience with Windows 7 and Office 2010.  I
> >> am sure that over time, I will learn a lot more.
> >>
> >> Cordially,
> >>
> >> Curtis Chong

                         David Andrews:  dandrews at visi.com
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