Well I just tried it and the one thing that astounded me was its the first windows OS I've ever used that doesnt have to reboot to install the video driver. It just installs it and blinks and returns to the desktop with the new driver loaded.
Windows 7 success might be decided in courtOpinion Anti-trust regulators sharpen their knivesBy Nick FarrellFriday, 30 January 2009, 11:09MICROSOFT'S WINDOWS 7 operating system might be sunk by court actions as anti-trust regulators gear up to what might be a big fight.In the US, Vole has to answer to a technical committee which watches to see if it is complying with antitrust sanctions imposed in 2002.windows7Microsoft is still under the thumb of the technical committee until 2009, and apparently some of its members are licking their lips with anticipation of Windows 7's release.The key to keeping them happy will be to provide rivals with enough documentation. How much is enough is a bit like answering how long is a piece of string. Many of Vole's rivals will almost certainly call foul if Microsoft does not give them every cough and spit of code.To be fair to the rivals, Microsoft has proven that it is not likely to let go of documentation without a court order, a crowbar and a handgun. Deadlines have flown by with a rushing sound, which is now unfortunate because if it had obeyed in the first place chances are the technical committee would have been dispanded a long time ago.Now it is starting to look like Microsoft will have a lot of compliance work on its hands before it can release Windows 7 without angering the committee.In the EU, where Vole has been taken to the cleaners several times, Commissioners are watching Windows 7 very closely.The European Commission's Directorate-General for Competition is subscribed to all Microsoft RSS feeds, press releases, and even its beta testing program so that it can spot problems early.What is more crucial for the EU is how Windows 7 deals with Internet Exploder and Media Player software in the new operating system. Judging by the Beta it will set IE as the default browser, something that the EU would take a dim view of. However the Beta is not the final version and it will be interesting if Vole will suddenly realises that it is better that it has a little wizard that installs Firebadger, Opera or IE in the install process. Media Player could get the same treatment.If you offered a version of Real, or some open sauce player software at the install and gave people the choice of using it, then rivals would not have a leg to stand on. Of course Vole would have to work with them to make sure that the players worked in Windows 7 but it would be no skin off Microsoft's nose if they used them instead.After all, punters would have paid for the operating system already. It's not as if Microsoft will lose any sales.If Microsoft does not pull out its corporate finger, then any leverage that Windows 7 will claw back for Vole after the Vista fiasco will be wasted in anti-trust court cases. µ
Windows 7 release candidate comingNibble That was quickBy Nick FarrellMonday, 2 February 2009, 12:19A VOLISH executive has been hinting to hacks that Windows 7 beta may be ahead of schedule and there might be plans to get a new release candidate out soon.Steven Sinfosky, senior vice president for Windows and Windows Live Engineering, said in a post on the Engineering Windows 7 blog that Vole was were already looking beyond the main testing phase to what's called the Release Candidate.This means that there will be no second beta test release of Windows 7 Windows 7 Beta code is scheduled to die on August 1
Microsoft plans multiple Windows 7 versionsHasn't learned from VistaBy Egan OrionWednesday, 4 February 2009, 13:49MANY SOURCES are reporting that Microsoft will release at least six different versions of Windows 7, whenever it finally hits the streets.w7After the customer confusion that ensued following Microsoft's release of multiple versions of Windows Vista, including a consumer class-action lawsuit about low-end PCs that were confusingly labeled as 'Vista Capable' but actually were unable to run the full version, some observers are perplexed that Microsoft seems to be repeating that same marketing mistake as it rolls out Windows 7.It certainly appears that it risks alienating more of its customers by sowing confusion and creating the impression that it's mostly interested in extracting the most money possible out of everyone for this next release, while desperately trying to maintain market share.The six versions of Windows 7 that the Vole has said it plans to release are as follows.StarterThe Starter edition will be available worldwide. As the name suggests, it will be aimed mostly at netbooks and other low-end machines. Users will be limited to running only three applications at a time, not counting background processes. The Starter version will include the new Apple OSX lookalike Windows 7 taskbar, but without the live preview feature, and networking capabilities will be relatively primitive.Home BasicThe Home Basic version will only be available in emerging markets, and will also target netbooks and lower powered desktop and laptop systems. It will be an analogue of Vista's Media Center edition, having limited GUI features to include the Windows 7 taskbar, with live preview, but without the full Aero Glass interface or windows navigation and touchscreen features. It will also have Internet connection sharing and wireless networking capabilities, plus laptop power management.Home PremiumThe Home Premium edition will be the version aimed at most consumers. It will include the Aero Glass interface with all its eye-candy, windows navigation and touchscreen features, as well as full media format support including streaming. However, it will lack many of the features of the Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate versions.ProfessionalThe Professional version will target most small business users. It will have all the features of the Home Premium edition and will also include an encrypted filesystem capability, a network backup feature, and additional Microsoft networking and printing functions.EnterpriseThe Enterprise edition will only be available to corporate accounts. In addition to all of the Professional version features, it will also include Microsoft's own data and application security, plus corporate networking capabilities to connect to Windows Server 2008 R2.UltimateThe Ultimate version will only be available as an upgrade, and will include most of the features available in the Enterprise edition, probably without the corporate networking.It seems easy to foresee that many netbook and low-end PC buyers will end up with the Starter or, in emerging countries, Home Basic versions of Windows 7, and that many of them will become disappointed once they figure out that what they have doesn't include all of the fancy Windows 7 features in the Home Premium and Professional editions. Easy to foresee, that is, unless you're Microsoft, apparently.Thus the Vista Incapable consumer lawsuit might conceivably be replayed for Windows 7.The Vole has indicated it expects that most consumers will opt to buy the Home Premium edition, while most business users will either choose the Professional version or, in large corporations, the Enterprise version. Rather strangely, it seems to regard the potential market for the Ultimate edition as a limited niche constituency of technical power users.Maybe that's because it plans on charging an arm and a leg for the Ultimate version, or perhaps it reckons that most technically-adept power users have already moved to Linux.Windows XP and Vista users who want to upgrade to Windows 7 will have to back up all their data and run full installs, then reload their data. That might prove problematic for many users, unless the Vole provides a click-and-drool type software tool to help users to get through those tasks, supporting the learned helplessness it has fostered in them over the years. It's likely that some people will lose all their saved data in the upgrade process.The Windows 7 beta released last month reportedly includes all of the features that will be included in all final versions. That can't help but aggravate some users who are testing the beta release, once they finally realise that they'll have to shell out for the most expensive Ultimate edition to get all the features they will have been learning about and playing with for months. Some might keep the beta release, only to be locked out of security updates.There will be more than six versions of Windows 7, as well. Since all editions except the Starter version will be offered in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavours, there will be at least 11 distinct versions. That'll be fun for the PC OEMs and consumers to cope with, certainly.In the EU, which has already required Microsoft to offer its Windows OS without Media Player (MP) bundled, there will be 22 versions. And if the EU further requires Microsoft to unbundle Internet Exploder (IE), as is beginning to look likely, the number of EU versions will jump to 44 - 11 versions with both MP and IE, 11 versions without MP but with IE, 11 versions with MP but without IE, and 11 versions without either MP or IE. That'll be even more fun.Microsoft hasn't yet released projected prices for its many planned versions of Windows 7, but it's already starting to look a lot like the Vole can bungle this OS release much like it did with Vista. µL'Inqs
So a new build leaked over the weekend. The new build dubbed 7022 appears to have been compiled around the middle of l There's no 64bit version...yet...else I would have updated my desktop too.
Windows 7 upgrade plans leakedNo path for cheapskatesBy Stewart MeagherThursday, 12 February 2009, 13:06MICROSOFT INTENDS to minimise the number of potential new customers delaying their computer purchasing decisions because of the impending launch of Windows 7, by offering what some commentators are assuming will be free upgrades from Vista.A leaked draft document which was distributed to OEMs, and sneakily acquired by Techarp, gives details of what is currently being called the 'Windows 7 Upgrade Program'.The programme is firmly aimed at consumers and includes no support for multiple upgrades for enterprise. Companies will be asked to use the volume licensing programme, details of which will be released at a later date.The biggest kick in the teeth, however, will be for anyone who decided not to stump up the extra cash for one of Microsft's top-tier operating systems.Anyone cheap enough to go for Vista Home Basic, Vista Starter Edition or XP will be left out in the cold when Windows 7 rolls into town.The only viable upgrade paths are:Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home PremiumVista Business to Windows 7 Professional andVista Ultimate to Windows 7 UltimateThere are no details of costings, either to OEMs or end users, and Microsoft is leaving it up to individual partners to decide how to provide qualifying customers with details of possible upgrades. µ
Windows 7 in homes by ChristmasVolish elves working overtimeBy Stewart MeagherFriday, 13 February 2009, 09:29MICROSOFT TECHIE Mark Russinovich has dropped the biggest hint yet that Windows 7 will be available at retail by Christmas this year.As part of a webcast which answered user queries about the technical aspects of the operating system, which many hope will wash the bad taste of Vista out of their mouths forever, Russinovich confirmed that W7 will be sent for manufacture three years after Vista did the same, which was in October 2006.One Microsoft insider also admitted that the current Microsoft operating system left a lot to be desired. Mark Manesse from MS Research said, "Performance was a huge problem with Vista. But I am pleased, and quite surprised to say, that I was pleasantly surprised at performance. I’ve run it [Windows 7] on bespoke and virtual systems and am very impressed by the way it runs."Looks like even voles have low expectaions of the company's work. µ
