Andre Yoskowitz
11 Oct 2009 20:25
According to PC-tuning company iolo Technologies, Windows 7 boots up slower than predecessor Vista, a strong contradiction to Microsoft's claims of improved start-up times.
Iolo's testing showed that Windows 7 loads up 42 percent slower than Vista, while using a "brand new machine." 7 loaded in 1:34 compared to 1 minute flat for Vista.
This point is where the numbers get confusing, however. Iolo measures startup as the "point where the computer is 'fully usable,' with a low load on the processor." From power button to desktop, Windows 7 loads faster then Vista, but in "full startup" it does not.
Perhaps more notably is the fact that just like Vista, startup times depend on how many applications have already been installed on the computer. After a few "commonly-used" applications are installed, boot time increases 64 percent to 2 minutes, says iolo.
The full report on boot-time benchmarks is set for release on Monday.