Pros
Cons
- for developers and IT
- support for the Windows App Store (download your apps) - so - what happens if you bought an espensive package and you have to reinstall and you didn't burn it to a cd?
- remember the first Pro? that also means a con - you have to buy all new software that supports roaming profiles is my guess!
- Face Recognition biometrics for doing the password thing (I don't consider biometrics a feature - I would prefer to put this under the cons). If your face happens to go off screen, you get logged off I should guess. fun. I suppose that is user-configurable.
- shock: windows 8 optimized for desktop tablets
- no more Quick Launch Toolbar (I liked it) - however, it is said by those who use it that the new taskbar is much better. so this may be an irrelevant con. but wait - you can make one - maybe. but read the comments before you try. Microsoft, I still think this is a mistake.
- no more small icons for the taskbar? (someone check please) wasted space. touchscreen-oriented. All the videos I have seen about windows 7 have large icons on taskbar. I am almost sure the size is configurable like it is in XP. I don't think Microsoft would do that to us. So this may be an invalid con.
- It is still quite possible that the Run menu item is still gone from the Start menu, given that it was disabled by default in Vista. Regardless, you should still be able to run items using [windows-logo-flag-key]-R. The Windows logo key looks like a little flag. Unless you are one of those who used it on a regular basis in XP, you would not know it was gone. But when you need it (usually in a crunch), you really need it. You can get it back by right-clicking on the Start menu|Properties|Customize|Advanced. search for "Run command" and make sure it is checked. You can do the same thing with Vista.
see article about HW and App compatibility and differences between Vista and 7. All else is same code base as Vista, which means it may have the Output Protection Manager for non-certified HW, which downgrades your video, audio, and network communications (by requiring all net comm to be encrypted). also, see this article about "10 reasons why Vista haters will love 7".