[GuB-42]

I put the peak at Windows 7.

Windows 7 UI is like Windows XP but prettier thanks to GPU acceleration. Compared to the XP generation, it had better security, 64 bit support out of the box, it was an "internet age" version of Windows, but it could still run offline and wasn't too obnoxious with ads, telemetry, etc...

It definitely got downhill after that.

[Zecc]

I mostly agree. But Windows 10 added virtual desktops[0]. Took them long enough!

Its dialog when copying files in nicer as well IMO.

[0] Windows 7 supported up to 4 virtual desktops, but not out-of-the-box: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/des...

[timeon]

> Windows 7 UI is like Windows XP but prettier

Isn't 7 UI basically Vista?

[Aeolun]

Sorta, but Vista was slow and stuttery, so they don’t feel the same.

[p_l]

Windows 7 effectively cleaned up some details, and by the time of windows 7 the vendors shipping broken drivers already had to correct for NT6 changes or deal with their hardware not working.

[pxc]

Is Windows 7 fast on Vista-era hardware?