I have been using Windows 7 x64 beta and found it to be far better than Windows Vista. Faster load times, better and cleaner interface (having all the applications on the status bar moved to a box that pops from the status bar is a revalation).

For the x64 version, some devices require some work, since Windows 7 x64 require digitally signed driver signititure. However since most newer desktop computers ship with 4gb or more memory, the only way to use it is with Vista or Windows 7 x64.

If you play games, Windows 7 works well. In fact with the games I have been playing (Coty of Heroes and Warhammer, Age of Reckoning) I have had no issues.

Networking can still be a mess, but only if you have mixed interfaces (ethernet and wifi). Most of the time networking will be plug and play.

Naming. Windows 7 is not the 7th flavour of windows, nor is it Version 7 of the code (version number is 6.1). Vista left a bad taste in people's mouth. Windows 7 (like Longhorn before it) was the working name of the release, and the name seemed to develope a life of its own, and Microsoft chose to keep it.

Branding is something Microsoft misshandles time and again .XboX is possably the best brand that MS has, and even XboX was a development name that was kept as it too developed its own cred during development of the origional unit. Changing the name will only cause confusion at the late stage of the release, and to be truthfull, there is a posative reaction to Windows 7 that MS would be insane to change, especially after the Longhorn name to Windows Vista debarcle.

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