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10 Issues Microsoft Still Hasn't Addressed in Windows 7
by Don Reisinger
Security Effectiveness
Although Windows 7 has several new security features that have improved its effectiveness in battling malware, the operating system still has a long way to go to be reliable. Microsoft needs to come up with even more ideas that address Windows security and make the OS more secure without making it annoying to the user.
Online Integration
There is very little online integration in Windows 7. As Windows users become more sophisticated and use the Web more often, having easy access to Web services is a must. The sooner Microsoft addresses that omission, the better.
Starter Edition
Windows 7 Starter Edition needs to go. It lacks most of the features users want in Windows 7. It also fails to provide a vast improvement over any other operating system currently running on a netbook. If Microsoft wants Windows 7 to be successful, Starter must be thrown out.
Search Needs Improvement
Searching for files in Windows 7 has been improved somewhat. But many users are still having trouble finding the files and folders they're looking for. Microsoft needs to address Windows 7 search. Whether by integrating some of its Bing technology into the operating system's search field or finding some other way to improve search, the company should get on it.
Enterprise Concerns
Although most companies realize now that Windows 7 is superior to Vista, there is still a lot of doubt over whether or not they should deploy the operating system in their operations. Microsoft has yet to effectively address that major issue. If Windows 7 is successful, it will be because the corporate world sees value in it.
The Jump from XP
When Microsoft announced that Windows XP users would not have a direct upgrade path to Windows 7 available to them, it was a mistake on Microsoft's part. Although the majority of users will likely buy a new PC to run Windows 7, those who want to stick with what they have and go from XP to Windows 7 will have a rough time at it. That's unfortunate.
Native Apps
When users first boot up Windows 7, they'll find that some native applications like Windows Mail and Windows Media Center need to be downloaded in order to be used. Once they do so, they'll unfortunately find barely updated versions of the same software that was running on Vista. Mac OS X users will be especially disappointed, since they're accustomed to Apple's superior counterparts on that company's operating system. Get to work on the native applications, Microsoft.
Bloatware
Microsoft has been criticized for years for not sufficiently removing bloatware from its operating system. Unfortunately, it didn't do a good enough job in Windows 7 either. Microsoft's latest operating system features outdated code and some simple, native applications that are generally useless, which contribute to its larger-than-necessary footprint. Worst of all, that bloat causes the operating system to slow down over extended use and allows malicious hackers to find more entry points for data exploitation. Cut the fat, Microsoft. It's about time.
The Upgrade
More and more users are experiencing problems upgrading from a previous installation of Vista to Windows 7. A recent study by iYogi found that more than 30 percent of users have experienced problems with Windows 7 after installing an upgrade. Granted, that's a small percentage of all Windows users, but it's a significant portion of the worldwide market. It needs to be addressed.
The Learning Curve
Since so many Windows users opted against Vista and stuck with Windows XP, those who decide to deploy Windows 7 will be forced to deal with a steep learning curve. That's not necessarily Microsoft's fault, but it does need to be acknowledged. Microsoft's tutorials aren't all that helpful to those who used XP for years. The company needs to find a way to make it easier to jump from that outdated operating system to Windows 7.
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See All Slideshows
Windows 7 is a vast improvement over Windows Vista. Some might even say Windows 7 is what Vista should have been from the beginning. It has an improved task bar. It features a host of new security features that have helped reduce exploits. And Windows XP Mode has helped address some of the compatibility issues that arose when Vista first hit store shelves.
But that doesn't mean that it's not without some issues. When Microsoft released Windows 7, it promised bigger and better things. It certainly delivered in many areas. But it fell flat in others. Today, Windows 7 lacks some elements that would otherwise make it an almost perfect operating system. This eWEEK slide show looks at 10 issues that Microsoft needs to address in Windows 7. Some are major problems, others are small. But if the company is diligent in addressing them, Windows 7 could be a far better operating system than it already is.