iOS is designed fro the ground up to be a touch-based OS. It sits on top of a specialized OSX platform. Android is similar, but is made by Google and sits on top of Linux. The reason why Blackberry touch smartphones have sucked is that the retro-fitted their old apps, and aren't all optimized for touch. Windows mobile seems to suffer from similar problems. You need to think of it from the user paradigm rather than making it "A pc on a phone, or a PC on a tablet." Apple and Google have done a much better job at that
Windows Phone is nothing like that, though. Windows Phone's whole design philosophy is stated, repeatedly that "a phone is not a PC", and is pretty much a ground up device sitting on a windows core (just like iOS is sitting on an OS X core, and Android is sitting on an Linux core). So MS is getting there, even if it's a bit late to the party. And they're doing so with a log of interesting innovation.
I own a Zune (I bought the Zune80 when it came out).
The Zune software was fantastic (on the PC). The Zune UI ran rings around the iPod (on the Device). The sound quality was better.
Zune deserved better. It was superior to the iPod Classic line in every way. I've seen (but do not own) the Zune HD, and it's good as well, though it pales in comparison to the iPod Touch because of the ecosystem and apps available.
I'm actively looking forward to being able to ditch my iPhone for a Windows Phone in a year or two. I hope Microsoft doesn't manage to screw it all up.
Why isn't it 6.x? Does this mean in 6 weeks they'll give us 8.0? Whatever happened to using the numbers AFTER the decimal point, especially for releases that concentrate mostly on bug-fixes?
This is why WP7 looks interesting to me (as both user and developer)... best of both worlds. A variety of hardware and carriers, but no glaring incompatibilies and dozens of OS versions to test on. iOS is too narrow and rigid, and Android is too chaotic and all over the place. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.
Your bizarre obsession that I'm some sort of astroturfer or paid poster or in any way employed by Microsoft is ridiculous. Just because you don't like what I post, doesn't make me a paid shill. Grow up. Seriously.
I can't being to communicate how much I disagree with you here. Let's see...
Comparing Apple's iOS two WP7 is perfectly useful and legitimate. MS dictates some baseline things, but not everything. MS controls the app store (like Apple). But MS doesn't make the hardware, and there are multiple maufacturers and formfactors (physical vs. on-screen keyboards, extras) like Android. I think my statement stands that the WP7 is aiming for something in between Apple's too-rigid one-size-fits all control, and the 'anything goes' nature of Android. And that appeals to many people, myself included.
Also, Verizon hasn't said "no". They're just not a launch partner. They'll be coming out with phones next year. They're still a bit miffed/burned by the KIN thing. But they haven't said "No" as you assert.
And you don't need a Zune to use or benefit from ZunePass. ZunePass is a service. It works with any music player. It's just realyl integrated into the WP7 device and software. You want ZunePass? Download the Zune software (free) and sign up. As long as you can play MP3s, you get to keep 10 MP3s a month for 15 bucks, and you can stream any other track in the Zune library of millions of tracks any time you want. Of course, without a Zune device or WP7 device or XBox360, you'll be limited to doing it on your laptop or desktop, so it's not as useful... but if you DO have any of those devices, you'll have tons of music with you wherever you go.
And lots of people have XBoxes. But you're right, if you don't have an XBox, you don't really care. But if you do, this is definitely a draw.
And I know lots of CONSUMERS who use Office and office apps. Heck, even my parents use Word. Students use Word and Powerpoint. Some people use Excel for budgeting and other things. Having tight integration with Office Webapps (free, online) and syncing to the cloud (skydrive) makes this stuff easily available, syncable, and accessible. That's bound to be a draw to some people. Not everyone, but some.
Time will tell of course, whether this appeals to more consumers than just me. MS could still completely botch this. But if they play their cards (and marketing) right, I think they have a winner. Of course, we all know the biggest weak spot for MS is consumer marketing. Oy.
I buy at least 12 CDs a year. Add to that the ability to listen to any song I like at any time, and it's a total deal, IMHO. Also, the Zune Social is pretty interesting and useful (unlike "ping"), and allows you to easily share music with friends who are also on ZunePass.
If you're not that into music, then of course it's not a good deal for you. But it's totally optional, so you don't HAVE to pay for ZunePass if you don't want it.
Basically you can listen to any of millions of tracks at any time.
And every month, you get to download and KEEP ten MP3 tracks. Which you OWN.
So for the price of about a CD a month, you can listen to anything, sample anything, and then pick ten tracks to OWN. If you want to OWN more, you can buy them as you wish, AFTER you've listened to them and know that you really want them.
How is that simple reply "kool-aid" (or even a 'troll'?? Excuse me? What idiot moderated that simple factual list a 'troll'??)
You ask what it offered. I listed what it offered. If it means nothing to you, then it's not a phone for you. If it does, then it might be, and you can check it out.
Either way, not sure why the snarky comment or the troll-mod.
I could give just as good a list for both iOS (which I use) and Android (which a friend uses)... would those be trolls or kool-aid too??
WP7 will be somewhat less rigid and controlled than iPhone (starting with the fact that there are multiple form-factors for hardware, and multiple carriers). It's in between iOS and Android. iOS is too controlled, and Android is too out-of-control.
And what do I get in WP7 that I don't in Android?
ZunePass. XBox Live Integration. Office integration. A better UI and UI concept (imho).
What will I give up in WP7 with respect to Android? Well, right now a lot of things. LOTS of apps. Multi-tasking. cut-n-paste.
But I'm not going to be buying "right now". When I am, in a year-to-18-months, I'll re-assess. But I like what I see in WP7 right now. A lot. I hope it lives up to the promise. We'll see. But chances are my next phone will be a WP7 phone, and if not, it'll be an Android phone. I've likely bought my last iPhone.
what do they have to draw people away from Apple, Android, or Blackberry?
XBox Live integration
Windows Live integration
Office integration
Free "sync to cloud" and "find my phone"
ZunePass
Zune software is much better on Windows than iTunes
Works better with Windows (which is what most people use... iPhone works better with OS X, so I don't think those people are the target)
I use iPhone on Windows, and I'm very much looking forward to being able to uninstall iTunes and never have to fire up that piece of crap again. And the ZunePass rocks (it's a great deal), and that too is enticing for me.
For business types (not me), the Office integration might be a draw. I can see that.
Um, so? Obviously that model isn't for you. It's for people who want to listen to music and watch TV and Movies and videos on their phone.
That's the beauty of it though... multiple models of hardware that target different audiences, and so brands can differentiate, but with enough consistency that if you know how to use one, you know how to use them all, and OS upgrades will be more or less in sync across manufacturers and models. Much better than the "One Size Fits All" of the iPhone, or the unregulated wild-west of the Andriod world (though of the two, I'd definitely prefer Android to iOS... which makes me wonder why the hell I have an iPhone right now. Oh yeah. Infamous Apple "lock-in", combined with AT&T contract. Going to have to bust out of this rat-trap eventually...)
Sorry to disappoint you, but it's just me (not in any way associated with Microsoft except through using Win7 at work and at home) being honest about my feelings.
I loved the iPhone for a while. But iTunes has got to be one of the worst, most bloated, most annoying applications I've ever loaded on my PC (and that's saying something). I can't stand it. It sucks. Hard. And the iPhone seems to have gotten a little long in the tooth, falling behind Android in many areas, feeling very rigid and "controlled", with few choices.
I hope WP7 is successful, and that MS isn't brain-dead about it, and updates it agressively and listens to feedback and gets the apps it needs.
If WP7 flops, I'll go android for my next phone. But right now, my first choice would be WP7. I like what it has to offer... not as "wild west" as Android (with its mess of models and versions), and not as fascist and controlled as iOS (One True Way, One True Phone, Apple's Way Or The Highway). It seems to be a nice middle-ground, with an innovative UI and concept, very cloud-centric, and integration with things I actually use (like Mac OS X users will almost always prefer the iPhone due to the integration with what THEY use).
iPhone survived 3 years without cut and paste. It's coming to WP7 just a few months after shipping (in early 2011). And it currently multi-tasks much like iOS does right now (mostly "fast app switching"). And a Verzion version is coming early next year. And it'll be available on Sprint too.
MS has their work cut out for them. But the product is compelling already. It'll be interesting to see if they can catch up, and how much this pushes the others in the space to innovate and improve.
I'm under contract now, but in 18 months or so, I'm hoping to be able to switch.
ANYTHING to get rid of that piece of crap known as the iTunes software. Ugh.
Besides, I loved the Zune and the ZunePass is a fantastic deal. Add that to XBox live integration, integration with Windows live services, and all the rest, and WP7 really seems targeted right at me. And hopefully in the next 18 months, they'll have a chance to catch up, feature-wise and apps-wise, so I won't have to give up much (other than the frustrating iTunes experience).
Honeslty have to say I disgree with virtually everything in your post.
XP Nags me constantly, mostly in baloon pop-ups from the system tray, but also like crap about "you have unused icons on your desk" (usually asking me about it twice in a row), and a dozen other things. Multitasking IS smoother in Win7 (rewritten kernal and window manager). Everything I said is true, and I can't agree with most of the things you stated at all. Win7 IS more stable. What you said isn't factually true. XP DOES suffer from "windows rot". My XP machine is slow as molassas. Installed Win7 and it perked right up. Meanwhile, I have had a Win7 box for a year, and not a hint of slow-down even though I'm doing the same things on it that I did on XP, which DID experience the slowdown. And backspace works just fine in explorer.... I have no idea what you're talking about there. PnP works better in Win7 than in XP. And great laptop specific features such as one-key to share the desktop to a projector, as well as the improved wireless handling, more reliable sleep and hybernate. And XP 64-bit support was a JOKE. Few drives, lots of software flat out didn't work, and it was only half-supported. Win7 64-bit "just works" in ways that XP 64-bit edition never, ever did. It's a first class option, not a second-class hack for "experienced" users who really really need it and are willing to go through the pain.
So I think you're just plain wrong here, and haven't spent enough time learning or using Windows 7 to really know what you're talking about here. I've used both extensively, and I stand by my statement that Windows 7 is a VAST improvement, totally worth the upgrade (one of the most painless windows upgrades I've ever done), and that once you actually learn and use it, going back to XP is seriously painful.
Defending using XP strikes me much like those who defend using IE6. It's not secure, it's really old technology, it's not as stable, and there are other far more modern and usable alternatives out there. Win7 is a no-brainer upgrade as long as you're not running absolutely ancient hardware with less than a gig of memory. And really, that doesn't describe a lot of people any more.
I won't defend the translucent thing (though you can turn it off if it bothers you that much). It was a little strange at first, but it's fine once you get used to it.
And "big ugly icons"? You're aware you can specify the icon size to use, right? Want smaller ones? Just say so. Want text with the icons on your task bar? Just say so. It's pretty configurable.
And the new start menu IS vastly better. You can control what is on it (pinned), and most things (with jump lists) will have the most recently used documents fly out to the right. I rarely need to dig deeper than just clicking "start". Ever. But when I do, ti's there. And you can configure the behavior of the start menu as well (number of items to keep on it, what extra things -- like control panel, network places, adminstrative tools -- to have up front on the main start menu, how they behave (open a window, or a fly out menu), etc. Yes, it's better. It's not this utterly messy series of fly-out menus like in XP, that require lots of manual trimming and organizing to be useful. Win7 requires a lot less micro-managing.
You're aware that Windows is configurable, aren't you?
You want text on your task bar icons? Just configure it to add the text. I do. No big deal.
And installing a printer on Win7 was about a dozen times easier than on XP for me. I got a new laptop. It was like, two clicks, and I had a printer. Seriously, I have no idea why you think it's more difficult.
Honestly, if you don't see any real improvement, it's simply because you haven't looked, haven't tried, and made up your mind before you actually got any experience.
I get nags in XP all the time (those stupid baloon pop-ups in the system tray, for starters)... yes, I was comparing with XP not with Vista. XP is PAINFUL to use after you learn and get used to Win7. Almost everything in Win7 takes less effort... from every day use, to installing anything (networks, printers, devices), etc. There are only a very, very small number of things that are "worse" (as in, more hidden, or take more clicks).
Start-menu search, means I don't have to go hunting through the "All Programs" menu when it gets big, or remember in which little folder that little applet was, or hunt through the control panel. If I know what I want, I just type a few letters, and boom, there it is. Same with most recently used documents.
In Windows Explorer, there's a new "favorites" section on the left nav. I can add any folder I use regularly to that, and not only can I now instantly get to very buried folder hierarchies, I now have an always-available drop-target for dragging files to them.
Windows 7 also nags me less. I'm not constantly dismissing or being interrupted by "notifications" that I don't care about.
The new task bar, and in particular "jump lists" are amazing productivity enhancers (I was skeptical at first), and there are a ton of new hot-keys and short-cuts for doing just about everything you'd want to do, from moving windows around to launching apps to switching from laptop screen to projector.
The UI just seems snapper and smoother on the same hardware too. It "feels" more reponsive.
Even things like errors... when you try to copy a file but it's locked by an application, it now tells you which application is locking the file. When you're running tons of things, that can be a major time-saver right there. I'm a developer, and I used to spend a lot of time trying to figure out what the heck was holding on to that file... now I don't spend ANY time doing that.
I could go on, but I think you get the idea. It's just more refined and polished.
3) Doesn't seem to suffer from 'windows rot' like XP (where it gets slower and slower over time)
4) Better UI with more hot-keys and short-cuts, makes for more efficient usage
5) Up to date technology support
6) PnP just works, better drivers, smoother hardward support (device stage)
7) Easier/better network management, especially wireless
8) Some great time-saving laptop-specific features turn things that were a pain in XP into a breeze
9) Can run the latest versions of Windows Live Essentials and the soon-to-be-released IE9, and the list of software that relies on Win7 features will keep growing
10) Smoother multi-tasking and UI due to refinements in the kernel and GUI subsystems
11) Real 64-bit support, vastly improved Media Center, vastly improved Media Player, "Play to" feature, easier sharing, etc.
12) Far less "naggy"... doesn't interrupt you, nag you, and bother you all the time.
That's just for starters.
It's only a hundred bucks to upgrade, and you get a lot of value for that money. I've upgraded every XP system I have. I no longer have XP in my life, and having to back to it on any PC that still has it is actually painful... like going back to Windows 95 from XP, or to Win3.1 from Win95.
Search works fine. Works great. Of course, you have to know how to use it...
I'm an advance user, and a software devleoper. I live in Windows every day. Windows 7 is so vastly superior to XP that I don't even know where to start. Everything I do is faster and easer in Windows 7. There are more "power-user" short-cuts and keystrokes and features in Windows 7 than XP ever even dreamed of.
It's actually painful for me to go back to XP. I can't find anything. It's annoying as hell.
For advanced users, Windows 7 just plain WORKS BETTER than XP, on pretty much every level. I'm not sure how you can possibly say otherwise.
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iOS is designed fro the ground up to be a touch-based OS. It sits on top of a specialized OSX platform. Android is similar, but is made by Google and sits on top of Linux. The reason why Blackberry touch smartphones have sucked is that the retro-fitted their old apps, and aren't all optimized for touch. Windows mobile seems to suffer from similar problems. You need to think of it from the user paradigm rather than making it "A pc on a phone, or a PC on a tablet." Apple and Google have done a much better job at that
Windows Phone is nothing like that, though. Windows Phone's whole design philosophy is stated, repeatedly that "a phone is not a PC", and is pretty much a ground up device sitting on a windows core (just like iOS is sitting on an OS X core, and Android is sitting on an Linux core). So MS is getting there, even if it's a bit late to the party. And they're doing so with a log of interesting innovation.
I own a Zune (I bought the Zune80 when it came out).
The Zune software was fantastic (on the PC). The Zune UI ran rings around the iPod (on the Device). The sound quality was better.
Zune deserved better. It was superior to the iPod Classic line in every way. I've seen (but do not own) the Zune HD, and it's good as well, though it pales in comparison to the iPod Touch because of the ecosystem and apps available.
I'm actively looking forward to being able to ditch my iPhone for a Windows Phone in a year or two. I hope Microsoft doesn't manage to screw it all up.
Why isn't it 6.x? Does this mean in 6 weeks they'll give us 8.0? Whatever happened to using the numbers AFTER the decimal point, especially for releases that concentrate mostly on bug-fixes?
This is why WP7 looks interesting to me (as both user and developer)... best of both worlds. A variety of hardware and carriers, but no glaring incompatibilies and dozens of OS versions to test on. iOS is too narrow and rigid, and Android is too chaotic and all over the place. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.
Hey! He said "Maths is fun", not grammar!
Your bizarre obsession that I'm some sort of astroturfer or paid poster or in any way employed by Microsoft is ridiculous. Just because you don't like what I post, doesn't make me a paid shill. Grow up. Seriously.
I did NOT post that. I'm not a Glenn-Beck-tard like that anonymous coward. I'm a proud progressive :-)
I did almost reply to the same guy you did, but decided it wasn't worth my time to react to an anonymous troll post.
But don't assume that was me. Please.
I can't being to communicate how much I disagree with you here. Let's see...
Comparing Apple's iOS two WP7 is perfectly useful and legitimate. MS dictates some baseline things, but not everything. MS controls the app store (like Apple). But MS doesn't make the hardware, and there are multiple maufacturers and formfactors (physical vs. on-screen keyboards, extras) like Android. I think my statement stands that the WP7 is aiming for something in between Apple's too-rigid one-size-fits all control, and the 'anything goes' nature of Android. And that appeals to many people, myself included.
Also, Verizon hasn't said "no". They're just not a launch partner. They'll be coming out with phones next year. They're still a bit miffed/burned by the KIN thing. But they haven't said "No" as you assert.
And you don't need a Zune to use or benefit from ZunePass. ZunePass is a service. It works with any music player. It's just realyl integrated into the WP7 device and software. You want ZunePass? Download the Zune software (free) and sign up. As long as you can play MP3s, you get to keep 10 MP3s a month for 15 bucks, and you can stream any other track in the Zune library of millions of tracks any time you want. Of course, without a Zune device or WP7 device or XBox360, you'll be limited to doing it on your laptop or desktop, so it's not as useful... but if you DO have any of those devices, you'll have tons of music with you wherever you go.
And lots of people have XBoxes. But you're right, if you don't have an XBox, you don't really care. But if you do, this is definitely a draw.
And I know lots of CONSUMERS who use Office and office apps. Heck, even my parents use Word. Students use Word and Powerpoint. Some people use Excel for budgeting and other things. Having tight integration with Office Webapps (free, online) and syncing to the cloud (skydrive) makes this stuff easily available, syncable, and accessible. That's bound to be a draw to some people. Not everyone, but some.
Time will tell of course, whether this appeals to more consumers than just me. MS could still completely botch this. But if they play their cards (and marketing) right, I think they have a winner. Of course, we all know the biggest weak spot for MS is consumer marketing. Oy.
I buy at least 12 CDs a year. Add to that the ability to listen to any song I like at any time, and it's a total deal, IMHO. Also, the Zune Social is pretty interesting and useful (unlike "ping"), and allows you to easily share music with friends who are also on ZunePass.
If you're not that into music, then of course it's not a good deal for you. But it's totally optional, so you don't HAVE to pay for ZunePass if you don't want it.
Well, ZunePass isn't "just" renting music.
Basically you can listen to any of millions of tracks at any time.
And every month, you get to download and KEEP ten MP3 tracks. Which you OWN.
So for the price of about a CD a month, you can listen to anything, sample anything, and then pick ten tracks to OWN. If you want to OWN more, you can buy them as you wish, AFTER you've listened to them and know that you really want them.
So... I guess I'm not seeing the down-side much.
They're way better at incorporating other 3rd parties into their ecosystem than Apple, and it's "all Apple Lock-in"...
Again, MS is sort of a happy medium between iOS and Android.
How is that simple reply "kool-aid" (or even a 'troll'?? Excuse me? What idiot moderated that simple factual list a 'troll'??)
You ask what it offered. I listed what it offered. If it means nothing to you, then it's not a phone for you. If it does, then it might be, and you can check it out.
Either way, not sure why the snarky comment or the troll-mod.
I could give just as good a list for both iOS (which I use) and Android (which a friend uses)... would those be trolls or kool-aid too??
Wrong (as in, not even close)... but if it comforts you or makes you feel better to believe that, I certainly can't stop you.
WP7 will be somewhat less rigid and controlled than iPhone (starting with the fact that there are multiple form-factors for hardware, and multiple carriers). It's in between iOS and Android. iOS is too controlled, and Android is too out-of-control.
And what do I get in WP7 that I don't in Android?
ZunePass. XBox Live Integration. Office integration. A better UI and UI concept (imho).
What will I give up in WP7 with respect to Android? Well, right now a lot of things. LOTS of apps. Multi-tasking. cut-n-paste.
But I'm not going to be buying "right now". When I am, in a year-to-18-months, I'll re-assess. But I like what I see in WP7 right now. A lot. I hope it lives up to the promise. We'll see. But chances are my next phone will be a WP7 phone, and if not, it'll be an Android phone. I've likely bought my last iPhone.
what do they have to draw people away from Apple, Android, or Blackberry?
XBox Live integration
Windows Live integration
Office integration
Free "sync to cloud" and "find my phone"
ZunePass
Zune software is much better on Windows than iTunes
Works better with Windows (which is what most people use ... iPhone works better with OS X, so I don't think those people are the target)
I use iPhone on Windows, and I'm very much looking forward to being able to uninstall iTunes and never have to fire up that piece of crap again. And the ZunePass rocks (it's a great deal), and that too is enticing for me.
For business types (not me), the Office integration might be a draw. I can see that.
Um, so? Obviously that model isn't for you. It's for people who want to listen to music and watch TV and Movies and videos on their phone.
That's the beauty of it though... multiple models of hardware that target different audiences, and so brands can differentiate, but with enough consistency that if you know how to use one, you know how to use them all, and OS upgrades will be more or less in sync across manufacturers and models. Much better than the "One Size Fits All" of the iPhone, or the unregulated wild-west of the Andriod world (though of the two, I'd definitely prefer Android to iOS... which makes me wonder why the hell I have an iPhone right now. Oh yeah. Infamous Apple "lock-in", combined with AT&T contract. Going to have to bust out of this rat-trap eventually...)
Sorry to disappoint you, but it's just me (not in any way associated with Microsoft except through using Win7 at work and at home) being honest about my feelings.
I loved the iPhone for a while. But iTunes has got to be one of the worst, most bloated, most annoying applications I've ever loaded on my PC (and that's saying something). I can't stand it. It sucks. Hard. And the iPhone seems to have gotten a little long in the tooth, falling behind Android in many areas, feeling very rigid and "controlled", with few choices.
I hope WP7 is successful, and that MS isn't brain-dead about it, and updates it agressively and listens to feedback and gets the apps it needs.
If WP7 flops, I'll go android for my next phone. But right now, my first choice would be WP7. I like what it has to offer... not as "wild west" as Android (with its mess of models and versions), and not as fascist and controlled as iOS (One True Way, One True Phone, Apple's Way Or The Highway). It seems to be a nice middle-ground, with an innovative UI and concept, very cloud-centric, and integration with things I actually use (like Mac OS X users will almost always prefer the iPhone due to the integration with what THEY use).
iPhone survived 3 years without cut and paste. It's coming to WP7 just a few months after shipping (in early 2011). And it currently multi-tasks much like iOS does right now (mostly "fast app switching"). And a Verzion version is coming early next year. And it'll be available on Sprint too.
MS has their work cut out for them. But the product is compelling already. It'll be interesting to see if they can catch up, and how much this pushes the others in the space to innovate and improve.
I'm under contract now, but in 18 months or so, I'm hoping to be able to switch.
ANYTHING to get rid of that piece of crap known as the iTunes software. Ugh.
Besides, I loved the Zune and the ZunePass is a fantastic deal. Add that to XBox live integration, integration with Windows live services, and all the rest, and WP7 really seems targeted right at me. And hopefully in the next 18 months, they'll have a chance to catch up, feature-wise and apps-wise, so I won't have to give up much (other than the frustrating iTunes experience).
I can't wait until my Win7 PC is Apple-free!
Honeslty have to say I disgree with virtually everything in your post.
XP Nags me constantly, mostly in baloon pop-ups from the system tray, but also like crap about "you have unused icons on your desk" (usually asking me about it twice in a row), and a dozen other things. Multitasking IS smoother in Win7 (rewritten kernal and window manager). Everything I said is true, and I can't agree with most of the things you stated at all. Win7 IS more stable. What you said isn't factually true. XP DOES suffer from "windows rot". My XP machine is slow as molassas. Installed Win7 and it perked right up. Meanwhile, I have had a Win7 box for a year, and not a hint of slow-down even though I'm doing the same things on it that I did on XP, which DID experience the slowdown. And backspace works just fine in explorer.... I have no idea what you're talking about there. PnP works better in Win7 than in XP. And great laptop specific features such as one-key to share the desktop to a projector, as well as the improved wireless handling, more reliable sleep and hybernate. And XP 64-bit support was a JOKE. Few drives, lots of software flat out didn't work, and it was only half-supported. Win7 64-bit "just works" in ways that XP 64-bit edition never, ever did. It's a first class option, not a second-class hack for "experienced" users who really really need it and are willing to go through the pain.
So I think you're just plain wrong here, and haven't spent enough time learning or using Windows 7 to really know what you're talking about here. I've used both extensively, and I stand by my statement that Windows 7 is a VAST improvement, totally worth the upgrade (one of the most painless windows upgrades I've ever done), and that once you actually learn and use it, going back to XP is seriously painful.
Defending using XP strikes me much like those who defend using IE6. It's not secure, it's really old technology, it's not as stable, and there are other far more modern and usable alternatives out there. Win7 is a no-brainer upgrade as long as you're not running absolutely ancient hardware with less than a gig of memory. And really, that doesn't describe a lot of people any more.
I won't defend the translucent thing (though you can turn it off if it bothers you that much). It was a little strange at first, but it's fine once you get used to it.
And "big ugly icons"? You're aware you can specify the icon size to use, right? Want smaller ones? Just say so. Want text with the icons on your task bar? Just say so. It's pretty configurable.
And the new start menu IS vastly better. You can control what is on it (pinned), and most things (with jump lists) will have the most recently used documents fly out to the right. I rarely need to dig deeper than just clicking "start". Ever. But when I do, ti's there. And you can configure the behavior of the start menu as well (number of items to keep on it, what extra things -- like control panel, network places, adminstrative tools -- to have up front on the main start menu, how they behave (open a window, or a fly out menu), etc. Yes, it's better. It's not this utterly messy series of fly-out menus like in XP, that require lots of manual trimming and organizing to be useful. Win7 requires a lot less micro-managing.
I don't think you're giving Win7's UI a chance.
You're aware that Windows is configurable, aren't you?
You want text on your task bar icons? Just configure it to add the text. I do. No big deal.
And installing a printer on Win7 was about a dozen times easier than on XP for me. I got a new laptop. It was like, two clicks, and I had a printer. Seriously, I have no idea why you think it's more difficult.
Honestly, if you don't see any real improvement, it's simply because you haven't looked, haven't tried, and made up your mind before you actually got any experience.
I get nags in XP all the time (those stupid baloon pop-ups in the system tray, for starters)... yes, I was comparing with XP not with Vista. XP is PAINFUL to use after you learn and get used to Win7. Almost everything in Win7 takes less effort... from every day use, to installing anything (networks, printers, devices), etc. There are only a very, very small number of things that are "worse" (as in, more hidden, or take more clicks).
I don't think you're giving it a chance.
Lots of little things that add up.
Start-menu search, means I don't have to go hunting through the "All Programs" menu when it gets big, or remember in which little folder that little applet was, or hunt through the control panel. If I know what I want, I just type a few letters, and boom, there it is. Same with most recently used documents.
In Windows Explorer, there's a new "favorites" section on the left nav. I can add any folder I use regularly to that, and not only can I now instantly get to very buried folder hierarchies, I now have an always-available drop-target for dragging files to them.
Windows 7 also nags me less. I'm not constantly dismissing or being interrupted by "notifications" that I don't care about.
The new task bar, and in particular "jump lists" are amazing productivity enhancers (I was skeptical at first), and there are a ton of new hot-keys and short-cuts for doing just about everything you'd want to do, from moving windows around to launching apps to switching from laptop screen to projector.
The UI just seems snapper and smoother on the same hardware too. It "feels" more reponsive.
Even things like errors... when you try to copy a file but it's locked by an application, it now tells you which application is locking the file. When you're running tons of things, that can be a major time-saver right there. I'm a developer, and I used to spend a lot of time trying to figure out what the heck was holding on to that file... now I don't spend ANY time doing that.
I could go on, but I think you get the idea. It's just more refined and polished.
Well, there are lots of reasons to upgrade, imho:
1) Far more secure
2) Far more stable
3) Doesn't seem to suffer from 'windows rot' like XP (where it gets slower and slower over time)
4) Better UI with more hot-keys and short-cuts, makes for more efficient usage
5) Up to date technology support
6) PnP just works, better drivers, smoother hardward support (device stage)
7) Easier/better network management, especially wireless
8) Some great time-saving laptop-specific features turn things that were a pain in XP into a breeze
9) Can run the latest versions of Windows Live Essentials and the soon-to-be-released IE9, and the list of software that relies on Win7 features will keep growing
10) Smoother multi-tasking and UI due to refinements in the kernel and GUI subsystems
11) Real 64-bit support, vastly improved Media Center, vastly improved Media Player, "Play to" feature, easier sharing, etc.
12) Far less "naggy"... doesn't interrupt you, nag you, and bother you all the time.
That's just for starters.
It's only a hundred bucks to upgrade, and you get a lot of value for that money. I've upgraded every XP system I have. I no longer have XP in my life, and having to back to it on any PC that still has it is actually painful... like going back to Windows 95 from XP, or to Win3.1 from Win95.
No way I'd go back.
Couldn't disagree with you more.
Search works fine. Works great. Of course, you have to know how to use it...
I'm an advance user, and a software devleoper. I live in Windows every day. Windows 7 is so vastly superior to XP that I don't even know where to start. Everything I do is faster and easer in Windows 7. There are more "power-user" short-cuts and keystrokes and features in Windows 7 than XP ever even dreamed of.
It's actually painful for me to go back to XP. I can't find anything. It's annoying as hell.
For advanced users, Windows 7 just plain WORKS BETTER than XP, on pretty much every level. I'm not sure how you can possibly say otherwise.