Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Windows 7 VS CentOS

Compare Windows 7 VS CentOS and see what are their differences

Windows 7 logo Windows 7

Windows 7 is another operating system developed by Microsoft, designed to provide users with a full suite of options according to their needs.

CentOS logo CentOS

CentOS is a community-supported, free and open source operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise...
  • Windows 7 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19
  • CentOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-12

Windows 7 features and specs

  • User Interface
    Windows 7 offers a user-friendly interface with a taskbar that supports pinning applications and an Aero feature for window transparency and animations.
  • Stability and Performance
    Known for its stability over its predecessors, Windows 7 generally provides better performance and reliability.
  • Compatibility
    Windows 7 is compatible with a wide range of software applications and hardware devices, which makes it suitable for various use cases.
  • Security Features
    Enhanced security features like BitLocker for drive encryption and improved User Account Control (UAC) help protect against malicious software.
  • Customization Options
    Windows 7 allows extensive customization options for both the appearance and functionality, including widgets and theme settings.

Possible disadvantages of Windows 7

  • End of Life
    As of January 14, 2020, Windows 7 has reached its end of life, meaning it no longer receives updates or support from Microsoft, posing security and compatibility risks.
  • Outdated Software
    Some newer software applications and hardware drivers may have limited or no support for Windows 7, forcing users to upgrade to a more current OS.
  • Security Vulnerabilities
    Without ongoing security updates, Windows 7 systems are more vulnerable to emerging security threats and exploits.
  • Modern Feature Limitations
    Windows 7 lacks many modern features and enhancements found in newer versions of Windows, such as improved virtual desktops and integration with modern cloud services.
  • Resource Intensive
    While more efficient than Vista, Windows 7 can still be resource-intensive on older hardware, affecting system performance.

CentOS features and specs

  • Stability
    CentOS is known for its stability and reliability since it's derived from the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) sources.
  • Security
    Due to its enterprise-focused nature, CentOS benefits from robust security updates and patches that ensure a secure operating environment.
  • Cost
    CentOS is free to use and provides enterprise-grade features without the cost of a commercial license.
  • Community Support
    There is a large and active community that provides support, contributes to documentation, and shares knowledge through forums and other resources.
  • Compatibility
    CentOS offers excellent compatibility with various software and hardware due to its close alignment with RHEL.
  • Long-term support
    CentOS versions typically receive long-term support, making it suitable for servers and critical applications that require stability over time.

Possible disadvantages of CentOS

  • Delayed Updates
    Updates and new features in CentOS can be delayed since it is downstream from RHEL, which might be a drawback for users needing the latest features.
  • Enterprise Focus
    Its focus on enterprise environments means it may not have the latest or most diverse desktop environment options compared to other distributions.
  • Limited Commercial Support
    While community support is robust, professional or commercial support is limited compared to its upstream counterpart, RHEL.
  • Learning Curve
    CentOS can have a steeper learning curve for newcomers, especially those unfamiliar with RHEL-like systems.
  • Changes in Development Model
    Recent changes in the CentOS project, such as the shift to CentOS Stream, have caused concern and uncertainty in the community about its future direction and stability.

Analysis of Windows 7

Overall verdict

  • As of now, Windows 7 is not recommended for most users due to the end of official support from Microsoft. This means it no longer receives security updates, leaving systems vulnerable to malware and cyber attacks. While it was a solid OS at its peak, it is outdated compared to modern operating systems like Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Why this product is good

  • Windows 7 was a popular operating system known for its user-friendly interface and performance improvements over its predecessor, Windows Vista. It introduced features like the taskbar with jump lists, improved search functionality, and better support for touch and handwriting recognition. It was well-received for its stability and ease of use.

Recommended for

    Windows 7 might still be suitable for users running legacy software or systems that cannot be upgraded. It could also be used in isolated environments where internet access is restricted, minimizing security risks. However, for general use, a more current operating system is recommended.

Windows 7 videos

Windows 7 Review

More videos:

  • Review - Windows 7 Review
  • Review - Should you use Windows 7 in 2020?

CentOS videos

CentOS 8 | Distro Review 23

More videos:

  • Review - CentOS 8 Review, Preview, & Walkthrough | 2019 | (Linux Beginners Guide)
  • Review - CentOS 8 Review | Distro Delves S2:Ep33

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Windows 7 and CentOS)
Operating Systems
44 44%
56% 56
Linux
44 44%
56% 56
Linux Distribution
44 44%
56% 56
Mobile OS
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Windows 7 and CentOS. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Windows 7 and CentOS

Windows 7 Reviews

We have no reviews of Windows 7 yet.
Be the first one to post

CentOS Reviews

Explore Top VestaCP Alternative: Find the Perfect Control Panel for Your Hosting Needs
Frequently shortened to CWP, CentOS Web Panel stands as an innovative web-based control panel meticulously crafted to elevate the management of web hosting environments and servers. What sets CWP apart is its exclusive dedication to servers fueled by the CentOS operating system. This strategic alignment with the robust CentOS OS enables CWP to adeptly target a specific niche...
Source: cyberpanel.net
Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
With CentOS 6 and 8 already EOL, CentOS 7 will still be community-supported through June 30, 2024. OpenLogic will support it well past that point, extending long-term support post EOL until 2029. For many businesses, this will be the lowest-risk option for the moment, giving them plenty of time to consider their go-forward Linux distro strategies. Migration and decommission...
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
CentOS Linux works very well for high availability clustering. It contains native packages for DRBD which enables high availability.
11 Best Linux Distros For Programming And Developers [2020 Edition]
The installation and setup process of this Linux distro for programmers is almost similar to Fedora. To address your different software needs, it has a vast Red Hat Software Collection and CentOS repository. You can use its powerful YUM package manager to install and uninstall the application needed for your development.
Source: fossbytes.com

Social recommendations and mentions

CentOS might be a bit more popular than Windows 7. We know about 8 links to it since March 2021 and only 7 links to Windows 7. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Windows 7 mentions (7)

  • VMware & Windows 7 | "Install VMware Tools" Greyed Out
    As of Nov. 2024, this archive.org link is available. Considering the purpose of my installation is for testing, so I accept the potential risk of it. It's not Microsoft official link, use with your own risk. Microsoft official link is not available. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Hockey Arena BSOD
    Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-7. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Meshnet only supported in Windows 10
    After Windows 7 End of Life I decided it was too risky to use Windows 7 on any machine connected to the internet. Same reason I don't use Windows-XP anymore. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Bitwarden 2022.8 crashes on Windows 7
    Please note that Windows 7 is no longer actively supported by Microsoft (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-7) and we can no longer guarantee backwards compatibility in cases like this. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • "We back up all of our data every night..."
    I'd tie it to Microsoft's support lifecycle. Even Windows 7 is out of extended support now. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

CentOS mentions (8)

  • SUSE working on a RHEL fork
    First, it is important to state that Stream is not a rolling release, at least not in the sense that you are thinking. It is "rolling" within a major release, but so are plenty of Linux Distributions. This is also why the centos.org website stopped using "rolling", and started using "continuos" instead at December 2020 (commit). So anyone that keeps using this wording is intentionally being misleading or... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Keeping Open Source Open: Rocky Linux
    I get that Red Hat has shown themselves to be less than trust worthy given the sunset of CentOS 8, the removal of the centos.org repo updates and the characterization of anyone who uses their software via a clone distro as being a "freeloader" or "parasite". Source: almost 2 years ago
  • what is the typical size of Linux updates?
    This might be a good use case for RHEL family distribution (such as CentOS Stream or AlmaLinux) or Debian. These are much longer lived distributions, and provide fewer update churn over time than other distributions. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How to learn Linux , what to learn in Linux , how to prove them i know linux?
    The easiest approach to this is to download CentOS 7 from centos.org. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Wallpaper from CentOS
    I looked out for days now but didn’t find anything. I’m looking for the stock wallpaper from CentOS Stream. Like the background on their official website: Https://centos.org Does anybody have more luck or better sources than me? Thank you in advance. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Windows 7 and CentOS, you can also consider the following products

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Windows 10 - Windows 10 unveils new innovations & is better than ever. Shop for Windows 10 laptops, PCs, tablets, apps & more. Learn about new upcoming features.

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

Android - Android is an open source mobile operating system initially released by Google in 2008 and has since become of the most widely used operating systems on any platform.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux - Red Hat Enterprise Linux is an open source operating system that is certified on hundreds of clouds & with thousands of hardware & software vendors.