Windows 7 Review Part 2

I am so sorry for the extreme delay in getting this second review post up, but I have been trying to throw everything I can at cracking Windows 7 and to absolutely no avail. This operating system is built tough enough to handle everything I can hurl at it, and yet, it continues on with no scars to show for all my work, and keep in mind this is on a notebook.

The operating system as we know it has been reinvented, overhauled even. The interface as I said before has taken on a new look and is quite beautiful. The aesthetics while being pleasing are also comfortable, which has been a big grip of mine about Vista since the beginning.

The biggest interfact change thus far is the new uberbar. Uberbar? What's an uberbar, I am sure you are asking. Well, the uberbar is the brainchild of what Apple's dockbar and the original Windows taskbar has become. It is beautiful, but it is also perfectly usable.

First and foremost, when you load into 7 for the first time you will see 3 buttons next to the "Vista" button(now shall be dubbed the "7" button), an Internet Explorer 8 button, a Windows Media Player button, and a Libraries button(more on all three in future posts). The 7 button is almost identical to the original Vista button/Start button. It's virtually organized identically, and still retains the super-useful search feature. The real interface difference is in those other buttons I mentioned.

When you double-click them they open a new window of the respective program. If you right-click, however, they open their own little pop-out menus with some great options for getting stuff done. On top of that, if you single click a button and already have multiple windows open, it will show you with a small preview(yes, a REAL preview) of each window in respect to the button. This feature alone is worth the price of admission. But Microsoft didn't stop there.

When you open up a program that isn't one of the three buttons, you get the EXACT same functionality. For instance, if you open up an instant messenger, you will be able to see not only the messenger list by single clicking the messenger icon, but you will be able to see all open IM windows. Simply click the one you want and it appears for your usefulness.

It is sweet, I tell you. Best integration into an operating system in a long LONG time.

Review part three coming soon.

--Slick Geek

Windows 7...Part One

Windows 7...

I said in my last post that I was going to give it a whirl and check out what it had to offer. Well, so far I am impressed. It isn't innovative, but it is new. It has changed a lot, but in some ways it's still a bit Vista-like. I do like it, and I am getting used to it.

When I setup the dual-boot it actually hosed my Vista install(sort of). I setup EASE-US Partition Manager to set new partitions, and when it did it crashed my Vista partition(I think it messed with the FAT tables). Oh well. No love lost, for sure. So Windows 7 is now my primary Operating System, and I am not at all taken aback by this. I have found the move from Vista to Windows 7 a little bumpy, with a few aesthetic and interface changes that at first took some serious getting used to and toying with, but overall a pleasant experience.

Enough chatter, now for the unique updates to the Operating System.

First, when you first install Windows 7 and get into the setup process you will find it similar to Vista's in many regards, except one. One big honking one. Windows 7 offers the opportunity to setup a wireless network connection during installation for downloading updates both to the installer and the installation, and I have to tell you this is a HUGE improvement over Vista, XP, and the rest. It is clear from this one change in the setup process that Windows 7 has re-written the book on wireless connections. No longer do they play second fiddle to always-on wired networks. They have taken the forefront, and it's about time.

And once you boot into Windows you will find the seamless integration of wireless networking into the operating system. It is a standard now, and not a luxury piece. It is beautiful, really.

I'll continue with the Windows 7 review tomorrow.

For now, I encourage you to install that download of Windows 7 you have from when I recommended it, and make sure to run the upgrade feature from Vista(not before downloading DriveImage XML and making a drive image onto an external HD for preservation's sake) for totally awesome upgradeness.

--Slick Geek

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--Slick Geek

Giz Explains: The Windows 7 Beta Fine Print

Giz Explains: The Windows 7 Beta Fine Print

The Giz guys take the time to breakdown in simple non-tech terms the legalistics of the User Agreement for the Windows 7 Beta. No surprise for me about anything they've pointed out. Heck, for Microsoft this is pretty laid back legalistics compared to normal, but I suppose having 2.5 million + Beta testers resulted in a dumbed-down version to start with.

Simply put, set-up the dual-boot system like outlined in a previous article link, and you should be fine.

Enjoy!

--Slick Geek

P.S. - I'll be posting my own impressions of it on Saturday!

Slow couple of days

I wanted to apologize to everyone for the lack of posts the past couple of days. We've been working on the house a lot more lately, and Monday nights I play volleyball with a bunch of friends. Expect for more normal activity over the next few days, but realize that Mondays will tend to be a slower day.

Thanks for reading!

--Slick Geek

Windows 7: Microsoft Extends Windows 7 Beta Availability Until January 24th

Windows 7: Microsoft Extends Windows 7 Beta Availability Until January 24th

Well, well Mr. Microsoft. We meet again.

It would seem that Microsoft realized how badly they erred in their severe underestimating of the quantity of users wanting to download the Windows 7 Beta, and are actually doing something that shows they aren't all idiots.

We have clearly heard that many of you want to check out the Windows 7 Beta and, as a result, we have decided remove the initial 2.5 million limit on the public beta for the next two weeks (thru January 24th). During that time you will have access to the beta even if the download number exceeds the 2.5 million unit limit.

So they heard the outcry and are extending the beta for 2 extra weeks. Smart move, Microsoft, smart move.

Grab your license key while you still can, and my recommendation for downloading the Beta is find a torrent release of it, then use your license key to unlock it.

Yes, I'm condoning P2P and Torrents for a change. Purely because this is a totally legal and MUCH faster means of getting the download.

--Slick Geek

Windows 7: How to Dual Boot Windows 7 with XP or Vista

Windows 7: How to Dual Boot Windows 7 with XP or Vista

And while we have time to read up on things while that beta ISO downloads at an ungodly slow rate of speed, check out the linked article above. Sweet instructions on dual-booting(giving yourself the option to boot to Windows 7 or XP/Vista). SWEET!

--Slick Geek