Internet Speed

 

 

Comparing Windows: XP vs. Vista vs. 7
	Windows XP	Windows Vista	Windows 7
Minimum hardware	–Processor: 300MHz –RAM: 128MB –Super VGA graphics device –HD: 4.2GB (for SP3)	–Processor: 1GHz –RAM: 1GB (32-bit), 2GB (64-bit) –Support for DirectX 9 graphics device with 128MB of memory –HD: 20GB (32-bit), 40GB (64-bit)	–Processor: 1 GHz –RAM: 1GB (32-bit), 2GB (64-bit) –Support for DirectX 9 graphics device with 128MB of memory –HD: 16GB (32-bit), 20GB (64-bit)
Interface	–Luna theme –Introduces task-based windows options –Skinning possible but difficult –Desktop Cleanup Wizard automates removing old icons	–Aero theme –Introduces transparent panes, window animations, live thumbnails of running programs –New desktop sidebar supports gadgets –Supports touch screens	–Aero theme –Supports slideshow backgrounds, RSS and theme packs –Introduces Aero Shake and Aero Snap –Desktop gadgets can be placed anywhere –Supports multitouch on touch screens
Explorer	–Replaces tree navigation by default with task pane –Improves image handling –Offers thumbnail previews and group views –Supports some metadata	–Task pane integrated into toolbar –New breadcrumb navigation –New metadata display –Improved icon resolution –Some documents can be edited from the preview pane	–Support for federated searches and libraries –Virtual folders aggregate content from local and networked drives
Start menu	–New layout –Devices and some Control Panel options appear in menu	–Added search box –All Programs folder changed to a nested format –Configurable power button –User profile picture	–Taskbar jumps appear in the Start menu and replace the right column when viewed –Documents, Pictures, Music buttons now link to their libraries –Control Panel options have been integrated into search results
Taskbar	–New look –Hideable icons in System Tray	–Refreshed look –Alt-Tab hot key now shows preview thumbnail of program	–Interactive mouse-over preview panes –Replacement of the Quick Launch bar with pinned programs –Program-specific jump lists based on pinned programs –Aero Peek for mouse-over desktop viewing –Revamped System Tray
Devices	–Introduces Universal Plug-n-Play –New driver library allows for downgrading drivers when necessary	–Debuts portable device API, designed to communicate with cell phones, PDAs, and portable media players –Introduces Sync Center for managing data synchronizations	–New Device Stage provides a centralized, unified window for managing all aspects of printers and portable devices
Misc.	–Introduces context-menu CD and DVD burning from Windows Explorer –Supports multiple versions of a single DLL to prevent programs from overwriting each other –Introduces Hibernate and Sleep modes –Remote Desktop for accessing a computer from another location –Fast user account switching	–Built-in drive partitioning –More powerful screen-capturing tool –Hybrid Sleep and better configuration options for more nuanced power management –User-based file-type associations –Previous Version automatically backs up changes to individual files	–Expands Windows Explorer disc burning to include ISOs –Introduces XP Mode –Expanded options for disabling components –Can search text in scanned TIFF –Additional power-saving features for laptops

Performance
Windows 7 feels faster than Windows XP and Vista, but it turns out that’s not always the case–sometimes, it’s the slowest out of the three operating systems. CNET Labs tested four 32-bit Windows operating systems: Windows 7 RTM build 7600, Windows 7 Release Candidate build 7100, Windows Vista with Service Pack 2, and Windows XP SP3, all on an Inspiron Desktop 530 Mini Tower running an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E4500 at 2.20 GHz, with a 128MB NVIDIA 8300 GS graphics card, 4GB of RAM, and two 320GB SATA 7,200rpm hard drives.

Microsoft Office Performance (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Windows Vista SP2 (64 bit)

571 

Windows 7 RTM Build 7600 (64 bit)

600 

Windows 7 RTM Build 7600 (32 bit)

684 

Windows 7 RC Build 7100(32 bit)

752 

Windows Vista SP2 (32 bit)

673 

Windows XP SP3 (32 bit)

483 

iTunes encoding (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Windows Vista SP2 (64 bit)

199 

Windows 7 RTM Build 7600 (64 bit)

199 

Windows 7 RTM Build 7600 (32 bit)

187 

Windows 7 RC Build 7100(32 bit)

188 

Windows Vista SP2 (32 bit)

189 

Windows XP SP3 (32 bit)

187 

Boot time (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Windows Vista SP2 (64 bit)

60 

Windows 7 RTM Build 7600 (64 bit)

50.3 

Windows 7 RTM Build 7600 (32 bit)

41.25 

Windows 7 RC Build 7100(32 bit)

44.81 

Windows Vista SP2 (32 bit)

40.16 

Windows XP SP3 (32 bit)

40.03 

Shutdown time (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Windows Vista SP2 (64 bit)

5.68 

Windows 7 RTM Build 7600 (64 bit)

5.32 

Windows 7 RTM Build 7600 (32 bit)

5.1 

Windows 7 RC Build 7100(32 bit)

6.2 

Windows Vista SP2 (32 bit)

5.69 

Windows XP SP3 (32 bit)

29.9 

Cinebench
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Windows Vista SP2 (64 bit)

4,813 

Windows 7 RTM Build 7600 (64 bit)

4,822 

Windows 7 RTM Build 7600 (32 bit)

4,213 

Windows 7 RC Build 7100(32 bit)

4,184 

Windows Vista SP2 (32 bit)

4,174 

Windows XP SP3 (32 bit)

4,217 

 

 As you can see in the chart, we found that Windows 7 RTM was the fastest to shutdown, and was tied with XP for iTunes encoding. However, it was slower than XP and Vista for both booting up cold by a bit more than 1 second, and slower than either of its predecessors in its Microsoft Office performance. After having used Windows 7 beta, RC, and now the RTM for more than six months combined, it still feels faster for us when launching programs, opening the control panel, and dragging icons, files, and folders around than XP. That’s not to denigrate the value of the benchmarks, but keep in mind that the perception and reality might differ based on hardware and usage.

Support
When you try to use a file already in use, Windows 7 goes beyond Vista and XP by telling you not just that it’s being used, but where it’s being used so you can manage the situation faster. Other than that, Windows 7 offers on-board operating system support nearly identical to Windows Vista. Screen darkening, one-click action hand-holding, and a useful question mark icon on all Explorer windows maintain Vista’s improved help features, when compared with Windows XP.

In sum
Windows 7 looks like the operating system that both Microsoft and its consumers have been waiting for. By fixing most of the perceived and real problems in Vista, Microsoft has laid the groundwork for the future of where Windows will go. Windows 7 presents a stable platform that can compete comfortably with OS X, while reassuring the world that Microsoft can still turn out a strong, useful operating system.