Comments on: Windows 7: networking

By: Gil Bates

Gil Bates — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:40:51 +0000

Windows 7 networking works fine IF the only thing you ever want to network and share is on other Windows 7 machines. My stand alone NAS drive, my FreeNAS machine, my Macs, and my Windows XP machines can all communicate with each other using SAMBA (SMB/CIFS) but NOT with Windows 7.

By: Nick

Nick — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:13:30 +0000

Yes, it appears that once again Microsoft have completely broken something that was on the verge of working well.

Using Windows 7 is like having a fight with a very aggressive Alligator. Simple things in Xp, such as assigning IP addresses and sharing files are now a horrific misery that eventually doesn’t work at all across to other platforms.

Well done Microsoft, you’ve made life difficult.

By: larry

larry — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:01:34 +0000

sorry but this feature is not as good as xp. I can’t see the other systems as well as before.

By: technogeist

technogeist — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:31:37 +0000

I wouldn’t base my purchase of *any* OS with the sole reason for supporting a feature threatened not be made available on an earlier version, for example DX10 was a pointless arm-twist that didn’t pay off. USB3 could be supported on XP with a 3rd party PCI card and thus having wider driver support for older OSes. Don’t let MSFT fool you into thinking
‘It’s our way or the highway.’

By: nicksimws

nicksimws — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:22:06 +0000

Automatically detecting your location. Genius. Problem is, my printers wired. Any solutions? No? Oh well.

Oh, and Yeti – are you saying this is a complete work? I think I’m reserving judgement until it’s finished. Try it on someone’s computer. Maybe you should laugh a bit more. Seriously. I’m never using that.

By: Chuz

Chuz — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:40:25 +0000

@ RichyS

Yeah, and it can play all commercial games just like Macs do…..n’t.

And I can run Maya and other 3D design programmes on it – obviously a feature stolen from Apple…..

And you can install it on absolutely any machine you buy, just like OS X lets….you…. not.

Give it a break – do you criticise Apple for ’stealing’ Microsoft’s idea of letting games work on Macs now? I seriously bet not. Well done for showing yourself up as an elitist moron – “Oh, my platfor of choice does this, so if a competitor’s platform does anything similar, it’s like…so passe.” Sneering condescension is always a vote winner.

It’s like being a Mercedes C-Class fanboy and jeering at Ford for ’stealing’ the idea of 3-point safety belts as standard. Except you’re even turning a blind eye to when *your* favourite company steals ideas in return. Grow up and get a clue.

On-topic:

MS certainly messed up with the networking in Vista compared to XP – so much more difficult to find things like network device MAC addresses. Glad they’re fixing it, but they should never really have broken it in the first place!

By: Stuart Halliday

Stuart Halliday — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:21:34 +0000

All you Luddites with XP will have to upgrade to Windows 7 if you want to run USB3….
Or do you honestly think Microsoft will bring out USB 3 drivers for XP?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:12:28 +0000

I think it’s awesome that Microsoft is putting out an operating system as innovative as this. To have the multi-touch from their R&D department finally integrated into their OS is a giant leap toward seamless user interfaces. Hopefully, Microsoft will be able to fully integrate PCs running this with their Microsoft Surface product and continue to develop the technology into a wider full solution for a family’s home of PCs, not just one or two.

By: Stu Capon

Stu Capon — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:26:44 +0000

Touched a nerve with the L word then
From the home user point of view simplifying networking or sharing music may have some significance but for business the last thing needed is a more networking protocols (with compatibility issues) games or ways to share music.
I will have to use this or Vista due to software compatibility but that does not mean I have to call steps sideways/backward “progress”.
The few Vista machines we do have are slower and offer no obvious improvements over XP (from a business point of view) I’m sorry that offends some so much.
The next Windows is massive in my world as I will have to use it, all day every day, what I’d like to see is some benefits aimed at businesses not just bedrooms.
Linux is getting there, I said “almost” as I can’t switch totally due to software in use but if it that gets sorted and all MS can offer is games, music and pretty pictures then it would make business sense to compare the options.

By: stam

stam — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:26:40 +0000

In case you want to link all your PCs together but haven’t migrate them to Windows 7 yet, you can try Gbridge ( http://gbridge.com ). With the help of a google account, it automatically creates a virtual private network among all your computers and let you share/sync/streaming files freely. In addition, you can use the built-in vnc to remote control your computers. You can even extend the virtual network to your friends computer after both parties agree. Better than windows 7, the Gbridge virtual network can cross WAN without any configuration.