There has been quite a bit of hype about Windows 7 ever since it was launched last month and we’ve been hearing over and over again how it will run equally well on Netbooks.
According to Microsoft if you install Windows 7 on your Netbook it will even improve the battery life. That’s a big advantage as anyone who has ever had their machine die on them when out and about will know only too well.
Now tests have been run by Laptop Magazine and others that casts doubt on whether Microsoft’s claims are totally true.
It would seem that yes Windows 7 will improve battery life on a Netbook, but only when compared with Windows Vista, not Windows XP.
The latest is that if you have Windows XP on your Netbook, you might be better off sticking with that instead of upgrading to Windows 7.
So how much battery life are we talking about here?
Laptop Magazine tested Windows 7 and Windows XP on a Toshiba mini NB205 and Asus Eee PC 1008HA and the HP Mini 311.
They browsed the internet on each of these machines using both operating systems and the results were pretty conclusive.
The Toshiba Mini’s battery life was reduced by over half an hour and in the case of the Asus Eee PC and the HP Mini, a full hour of battery life was lost when running Windows 7.
Laptop Magazine are not alone in their findings either. Liliputing and jkOnTheRun also tested Windows 7 on netbooks and said that they also got a longer battery life with Windows XP than with Microsoft’s latest operating system.
Although the exact times on each machine can vary, the consensus is that Windows 7 uses up more battery juice than Windows XP.
So what does this mean for Netbook users?
Well considering that these ultraportable highly convenient mini computers are designed for easy access to the web when on the move, the last thing anyone needs is to be stranded without a socket to recharge them.
The whole idea behind Netbooks is that they can be taken anywhere and everywhere so anything that shortens battery life is a serious issue worthy of much consideration.
These latest tests will no doubt irritate Microsoft who has been openly bragging about Windows 7 and how it will improve performance. It would seem that where Netbooks and Windows 7 are concerned, they may have some back tracking to do.
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These findings are not that surprising, XP is a much more streamlined system than windows 7 will ever be, and leaves a much smaller footprint both in terms of power useage and file size.
That said there are advantages other than battery life that Windows 7 bring to the party.
If you are interested in or already have Windows 7 then it is worth reading this very comprehensive post for just about everything to do with installation/customization/information/tips & more:
http://ninjarabbits.blogspot.com/2009/11/hopefully-very-comprehensive-guide-to.html
Could you please repeat the tests running Ubuntu Linux?
I’d be really curious to see how Linux compares to Windows 7 and XP.