I feel the need to preface this review with the fact that I am using an amazing computer (quad core / 8 gb ram / fat ass video card), this is a review of Windows 7 beta versus Windows Vista on this machine.

Good

• Suspiciously fast. Really, its weird.
• The only driver I had to install was for the Video card. Network, HD audio, everything else was running on first boot, some even during install (My tv and receiver started working during the install).
• Absolutely everything I have tried has worked exactly as expected (Steam (and games), XBMC, µTorrent).
• File copying is waaaay faster. I was transferring at over 100mb a second over the network, its was like 10 times faster than my average with Vista, even locally.
• Transparencies remain when windows are maximized (including the task bar)
• Window preview and grouping is sweet.
• Being able to peek through to a specific grouped window with just a few quick hovers is very nice.
• Animations are very smooth, and not too flashy, just visual cues
• You can reorganize entries in the task bar in groups.
• The system tray notification area is vastly improved. You can hide an icon, its notifications, or both. No more icons giving you shit.
• It’s gorgeous. Its pretty much just Aero, there are minor variances, each one of them a subtle improvement.
• Many little shorter paths, I don’t have to click as much to do something.
• I want to say again that its fast. I am not waiting at all for common tasks that I have had to in the past.

Bad

• Explorer does not start at the Computer view, it starts at the library view. Explorer goes to the Computer view, thats the rule, they shouldn’t be allowed to change that.
• The side by side window thing doesn’t work so well with multiple displays.

Conclusion

Its great. Seems like MS is really getting their shit together lately (with exceptions of course), I will definitely be using Windows 7 for any Windows needs I have from here on out.