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Loading ...Windows: What do YOU want to see?
edarch
Everyone loves Windows…which is why alot of us have been disappointed with Vista and (to an extent) XP. Next year, Microsoft is planning to release the next incarnation of their mighty OS. But is it going to be any better as a tool or is it going to be more aesthetic then practical? I’ve set up this post so CPC readers and staff can air their views on what they’d like to see in the new OS when it’s released. The suggestions put in here will be submitted to Microsoft in June and their replies will be posted either here or passed on to CPC staff who’ll publish it in the mag (hopefully).
Please keep you suggestions sensible (ie, no “I want Windows 7 to make cappuccino’s and toast”)
No defamitory remarks (ie no ”I think Vista is s**t”)
Please no posts saying “I agree/disagree with blah blah…” the point is just to get ideas on the table and say what YOU’D like from your OS.
Please try to explain your problem and give a solution if you can. We can all gripe but it is far better to offer a solution to a problem then just saying you’ve got a problem.
Add your suggestions in the form of comments, tell other people that this is going on, the more suggestions we have the more we’ll be able to make the new Windows enthusiast-friendly. Remember we’re representing an important and powerful segment of the market. It’s not all about games but if you think there’s something to be improved on because that’s what you use Windows primarily for, then that’s fine.
Let’s make it happen! 
I’d like my Windows OS to:
- Let me choose how I install it. Windows installs loads of drivers, applications and services that I do not and will never use. I will never own a Schlumberger printer or a Fuji camera. When I install windows I would like to see two options
option 1 - basic - this will be for most users and will install most components & servies but it will ask me if I require things like remote desktop, accessability tools, messenger, games to be installed. It will also ask me what other hardware I use (ie, printer, digital camera, USB drive etc), and will give me the option of installing default drivers for my device (ie HP drivers if I intend to use a HP printer) or it will let me connect the hardware at the end of installation and install the appropriate drivers from the Windows driver list or WindowsUpdate website. It will ask if I intend to connect to the internet or a network and install aprropriate drivers/tools for doing this.
option 2 - advanced - this will be for power users, system administrators etc and will let me decide EXACTLY which programs/components/services to install. It will have more in-depth versions of the options on the basic install, like a detailed application list with checkboxes so I can cherry-pick items to install and a list similar to the msconfig ’services’ tab which will ensure I’m only installing services that I want/need - I may not want to have System Restore or Smartcard Services. It will have a detailed driver list and will only install drivers that I select or let me install drivers from the hardware CD’s, WindowsUpdate website or from the manufacturer’s website. If the hardware is necessary - ie graphics card, then like with XP’s installation a ‘default’ drive will be used until the exact driver is installed. If the hardware can be accurately determined by Windows then the correct driver for that component will be used - but this should be done after verification by the administrator who is installing the software (ie “Windows has detected a Samsung HD501LJ in use is this correct?” if not then the option to “pick from a list of appropriate drivers”, “install from Mfr CD” or “install default drivers” options should be there).
This will increase some of the time taken to install Windows but will lead to a much better working environment for end-users because Windows will be tailored to their needs, it will take up less HD space, use less resources and take less time to load up which will give greater user satisfaction from the ground up. Instead of users having to install the whole OS then uninstalling bits they don’t want, they can just have what they want from the start.
- No Pagefile on disk MEANS no Pagefile on disk. Sometime when you choose to not have a pagefile under ‘Control Panel>System>Advanced’ windows will create one anyway. If I have 8GB RAM on my 64-bit OS I don’t need a pagefile on disk for a reason.
- Memory. If Windows decides to continue with 32-bit OS’ then RAM bandwidth needs to be increased, both for 32-bit and 64-bit environments - again I may install large quantities of RAM to do away with on-disk Pagefile and Windows needs to take this into consideration as more RAM is the best way to keep system/application performance at its peak. RAM is at an all-time low in price and applications are getting more powerful all the time. Realistically, 8Gb-16Gb should be the threshold for 32-bit OS’ and anything up to 1-2Tb should be supported in 64-bit environments. Hardware manufacturers are edging closer to this kind of reality so it makes sense for Windows to allow this, both in the short an long term.
- Performance. I do alot of 3D rendering. It would be useful if Windows had a mode that allows the PC to free up as much of its power/resources as possible so that it can concentrate on a specific task I’ve asked it to do. Gamers will find this useful as well. When I’m done doing my rendering or playing my game I can go back to ‘normal’ mode.
- Ultimate MEANS Ultimate. Vista Ultimate should’ve been the OS that had everything, but looking on the comparison list of Vista OS’, it didn’t. Some of the things that were on Home Premium that appealed to me weren’t available on Ultimate and vice-versa. This should not be the case. There should be a release of Windows that has EVERY component, application and feature available.