Windows 7

[Asit]

Hi guys,

I really don't know what you guys are really upto with this HTPC and Windows 7 thing, but I took a peek into this forum and loved the OS talk.

I am currently using Windows (upto XP sp3, no vista for me), a few flavors of linux, a few favors of unix, and Mac OS (upto Tiger) (HaHa, you may think I am a systems admin or something, no I am not). BTW, the Mac OS is based completely on Berkeley Unix. You can have a terminal/Xwindow and from the commandline can use all the beautiful unix commands also.

I know the Mac hardware is expensive, but the Mac OS is the best of them all, from a user point of view. I know you people have a lot of experience in multimedia applications, but I did not quite like the linux distributions for even playing a CD or a DVD (because you have to search around for drivers for everything, and it's a difficult task to integrate everything),

Mac is very well integrated. You never have to worry about anything. Plus there are no viruses, no malicious activities.

 

[spirovious]

To me XP is still leader in masses.Easy, fast & never crashes.
I used both Vista & win7 which looks colourful & made for specialist as still certain drivers are not available.

 

[thevortex]

Hi guys,

I really don't know what you guys are really upto with this HTPC and Windows 7 thing, but I took a peek into this forum and loved the OS talk.

I am currently using Windows (upto XP sp3, no vista for me), a few flavors of linux, a few favors of unix, and Mac OS (upto Tiger) (HaHa, you may think I am a systems admin or something, no I am not). BTW, the Mac OS is based completely on Berkeley Unix. You can have a terminal/Xwindow and from the commandline can use all the beautiful unix commands also.

I know the Mac hardware is expensive, but the Mac OS is the best of them all, from a user point of view. I know you people have a lot of experience in multimedia applications, but I did not quite like the linux distributions for even playing a CD or a DVD (because you have to search around for drivers for everything, and it's a difficult task to integrate everything),

Mac is very well integrated. You never have to worry about anything. Plus there are no viruses, no malicious activities.

Asit - was it long back when you tried working with Linux? The more recent versions - read in the last couple of years, there has been a swathe of user friendly Linux distributions.

There was a time when you had to compile a package of code to get a multimedia player. But thankfully no longer.

 

[Asit]

Asit - was it long back when you tried working with Linux? The more recent versions - read in the last couple of years, there has been a swathe of user friendly Linux distributions.

There was a time when you had to compile a package of code to get a multimedia player. But thankfully no longer.

At office in each of my two desktops (one old, one new) I have dual OS: Windows XP and some linux. The older PC has SUSE 9.2 and the new one I have the Ubuntu loaded, and still loading other s/w modules. At home the PC also has dual OS: Windows XP and SLED 10 (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10).

And my laptop is a Macbook Pro with Mac OS Tiger 10.4.

Now it is true that other than the Ubuntu which has been installed not too long ago, the others are not very new, but not that old either, especially the SLED 10 (couple of years at best?).

 

[thevortex]

At office in each of my two desktops (one old, one new) I have dual OS: Windows XP and some linux. The older PC has SUSE 9.2 and the new one I have the Ubuntu loaded, and still loading other s/w modules. At home the PC also has dual OS: Windows XP and SLED 10 (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10).

And my laptop is a Macbook Pro with Mac OS Tiger 10.4.

Now it is true that other than the Ubuntu which has been installed not too long ago, the others are not very new, but not that old either, especially the SLED 10 (couple of years at best?).

Those are nice setups, Asit.

It may sound cliched but the last couple of years have seen a rapid rise in Linux's usability and general friendliness. The problems come in only when you want to interface Linux with Windows because you want to take some file across or some such thing. Increasingly distributions are even addressing such aspects. Most problems come in because there is not a way that Windows can accept something from Linux and you need Windows to do one thing or the other.

 

[spirovious]

Some software list-

Chip.in • View topic - SOFTWARES FOR WINDOWS 7

 

[venkatcr]

Spiro, Windows 7 will run any software that runs on XP/Vista. I am more interested in what additional codecs and other goodies has MS provided with special reference to the storage and playing of audio and video files.

Cheers

 

[spirovious]

I just was worried as Vista dont support most of XP softwares.

 

[007india]

Hi,

Good to see about the windows 7 features. but does this OS support

1) CD/DVD burning without using any 3rd party software's like nero?
2) is the memory boost feature applied here?
3) do you have the command prompt

 

[frnd08]

i hope windows 7 adds the windows media player 12 and it has divx and mkv support. windows media player has become most unpopular because of the unavailability of inbuilt codecs!

 

[spirovious]

Window8 is on & will be 3D?
New Windows 8 user interface codenamed ‘Wind’? | WinRumors

 

[sridhar-v]

Sid:

I have a question:

1. Some time ago I took a look at Vista and decided to stick to XP. I have had no issue with XP, and it seems to update itself regularly for security.

Sometime ago I purchased the highest of Asus mother boards that can handle dual core processors. But as part of setting up an advanced HTPC/media center, I have also been toying whether to stick to MS OS or switch to Mac OS.

Do you think Windows 7 will make that decision easier? If I install Windows 7 on my new MOBO/Core2Duo processor with 4 GB RAM, will it run without issues? I can of course, stick to XP as most of my use for the media center will be to rip CDs into FLAC and store and play them from the PC. I am not yet convinced of the compressed formats of movies, and will not be touching them for some time.

Cheers

I have been using an IMAC for 4 years now. Of these the first 3 years it was without antivirus & firewall! No crashes or reinstalls in this time - period. It handles media very efficiently. The only drawback is that there is no support for BD players and looks like it will not come for some time. The MAC Mini is an ideal HTPC unit. though a bit costly(around 44K). Use VLC player and you can play all types of movies. There is an add on for playing WM-HD also. Gaming support is bad though.

If you want peace of mind operation (& remember no BD disc support) go for it.