The new taskbar isn't much different from the OS X Dock, but it is very different from Vista, in looks and features...

Windows 7 is a good evolution of Vista. Vista was a huge leap forward over XP, but was killed by the press. I use it every day in preference to XP, as it is so much better, but most people have been put off it by its poor reputation. XP had the same poor reputation at launch, but given its longevity, it eventually won out, Vista went through the same cycle, but XP was too entrenched to achieve the same comeback.