So, just how good is Windows 7?

You may be wondering how good Windows 7 actually is in regards to performance... You know, because it has so many new features that it must have dropped performance again like vista did right? I mean, how could a new taskbar, nicer programs (like paint and wordpad), multi-touch, kernel improvements, processing improvements, tweaked Explorer, windows solution center, and homegroups (shall I continue?) really not slow down the machine?
KezNews had the same question, and wanted to compare windows 7 to Vista Sp2 and XP Sp3.
They put each version of windows to the following tests:

1. Install OS - Time it takes to install the OS
2. Boot up - Average boot time to usable desktop
3. Shut down - Average shut down time
4. Move 100MB files - Move 100MB of JPEG files from one hard drive to another
5. Move 2.5GB files - Move 2.5GB of mixed size files (ranging from 1MB to 100MB) from one hard drive to another
6. Network transfer 100MB files - Move 100MB of JPEG files from test machine to NAS device
7. Network transfer 2.5GB files - Move 2.5GB of mixed size files (ranging from 1MB to 100MB) from test machine to NAS device
8. Move 100MB files under load - Move 100MB of JPEG files from one hard drive to another while ripping DVD to .ISO file
9. Move 2.5GB files under load - Move 2.5GB of mixed size files (ranging from 1MB to 100MB) from one hard drive to another while ripping DVD to .ISO file
10. Network transfer 100MB files under load - Move 100MB of JPEG files from test machine to NAS device while ripping DVD to .ISO file
11. Network transfer 2.5GB files under load - Move 2.5GB of mixed size files (ranging from 1MB to 100MB) from test machine to NAS device while ripping DVD to .ISO file
12. Compress 100MB files - Using built-in ZIP compression
13. Compress 1GB files - Using built-in ZIP compression
14. Extract 100MB files - Using built-in ZIP compression
15. Extract 1GB files - Using built-in ZIP compression
16. Install Office 2007 - Ultimate version, from DVD
17. Open 10 page Word doc - Text only
18. Open 100 page Word doc - Text and images only
19. Open simple Excel doc - Basic formatting
20. Open complex Excel doc - Including formula and charts
21. Burn DVD - Win 7 beta 1 .ISO to disc using CDBurnerXP
22. Open 10 page PDF - Text only, using latest Adobe Reader 8
23. Open 100 page PDF - Text and images, using latest Adobe Reader 8

and got the following results:



The lower the number, the better the OS.
Obviously, Windows 7 blew the other OS's away! It has all of the performance gains, and all of the visual improvements that vista and XP had + more.
I have the windows 7 beta leak installed on my vaio and Ill be testing it out and I'll post about it in a few days.

btw... if you wanted to read up on that list of features... THIS PAGE has a nice list put together about half way through.