Windows 7 beta 1 dominates productivity benchmarks

Robert Hallock (Thrax)

January 5, 2009 11:10 AM ET in News, , ,

windows-logoThe boys in the lab over at ZDNet gave Windows 7 Beta 1 (build 7000) a spin in 23 productivity tests and it walked away an easy winner.

The bottom line is that the more I use Windows 7 the more I like it. Sure, we’re looking at a beta build here and not the final code, so things could change between now and release (although realistically final code ends up being faster than beta code). Also I still have some nagging issues relating to the interface, and some concerns that the UAC changes will break applications and other code, especially installers, but overall Windows 7 beta 1 is a robust, solid bit of code.

18 Comments:

  1. MiracleManS
    5 Jan '09, 5:28 pm

    I'm honestly considering holding off on buying Windows for my upcoming build until they release 7. I'll likely run a free OS until then (here's lookin' at you Ubuntu).

  2. Tim
    6 Jan '09, 2:24 pm

    What does "faster" mean? 0.1% faster or 50% faster? They don't go into many details in that review.

  3. Thrax
    6 Jan '09, 2:25 pm

    While I agree that hard numbers are usually better, they're irrelevant in this case. Windows 7 is faster than XP on the desktop... In beta.

    That should be music to everyone's ears.

  4. MiracleManS
    6 Jan '09, 2:40 pm

    Tim, the reason for that is the EULA that says "no benchmarking". Technically, those aren't benchmarks, but to someone who reads the article in detail, its pretty apparent that 7 is doing better than both XP and Vista.

    Like Thrax said, it should be music to everyone's ears.

  5. QCH
    6 Jan '09, 4:28 pm

    Beta's work on stability, features, and last is speed. Usually they tweak the build as the final release candidate nears. To have a Beta already be faster bodes well to having at least the same final performance and possibly better performance. This is really, really good news.

  6. DrLiam
    6 Jan '09, 7:57 pm

    I'm assuming a faster O/S means we'll be seeing a hike in minimum requirements...

  7. Thrax
    6 Jan '09, 8:01 pm

    No.

  8. jared
    6 Jan '09, 8:51 pm

    It runs on a netbook. Good luck putting Vista on a netbook lol.

  9. DrLiam
    6 Jan '09, 9:01 pm
    Quoting Thrax

    No.

    Good to hear.

  10. QCH
    6 Jan '09, 11:36 pm

    Yep, they lowered the minimum specs.

  11. Leonardo
    7 Jan '09, 2:01 am

    It got my attention. I hope that in future retail releases, MS will consider multi-machine licenses. I really don't mind paying for an OS (especially after experimenting with Linux!), but for several copies? XP may run well beyond its official end date on some of my systems. (please, no comments on 'free' Windows or using Linux enough to become proficient with it. the later, perhaps, but that will be later rather than sooner)

    I'd like to echo what Q wrote: If the W7 beta release is already perceived as fast at this early development stage, that is a very good indicator.

  12. QCH
    7 Jan '09, 2:09 am

    As an enterprise administrator and senior desktop support technician.... I am a Vista Hater but I may end becoming a "7" supported.

  13. kryyst
    8 Jan '09, 1:35 pm

    The torrent sites may have gotten the jump with the beta release but Microsoft is releasing the Beta for free on January 9th.

    From the bit I've used 7 so far I'd say that it feels like it has more in common with Windows server 2008 then Vista in terms of general GUI and that's a good thing. The GUI enhancements with it are also a step up from vista. Going from XP to 7 is far less a culture shock then going from XP to Vista. The general GUI enhancements in 7 also feel like an improvement and less of a fireworks show.

    I still prefer my mac. But 7 is looking to be my OS of choice when it comes to windows. The test will be on some work machines that use oddball software and have some special hardware requirements.

  14. RADA
    8 Jan '09, 5:13 pm

    What I want to know is how much of a discount do I get if I have machines running crapstastic Vista, when I upgrade them to Win 7...

  15. kryyst
    8 Jan '09, 9:11 pm

    There is a rumor that certain vista machines will be eligible for a significant discount to windows 7 depending on when they were initially bought.

  16. airbornflght
    9 Jan '09, 12:13 am

    I'll get it for free. Thank you MSDNA

  17. DrLiam
    9 Jan '09, 7:31 am
    Quoting airbornflght

    I'll get it for free. Thank you MSDNA

    I need one of those. :/
    Which version you think you will get? (Assuming you don't mean beta.)

  18. Cyclonite
    9 Jan '09, 1:53 pm

    Grabbed the beta last night and installed it. It's actually running much better than I expected with all my standard apps.

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