Windows 7

[Gherkins]

Did anyone install this Beta already?
I am just giving it a try - without major problems, so far - but haven't found significant improvements over Vista. I have to admit that my test runs just some 20 minutes or so, and that visiting SF is one of my first actions. The new Taskbar seems a bit odd on the first sight, but maybe it will be an improvement on the long run.

In any case XP's Internet Backgammon is back and with it one of my favorite time killers.

 

[unjung]

Apparently this current release cuts three seconds off all of your MP3s... hope you have back-ups.

 

[Gherkins]

I installed it on a blank system, no worries.

 

[BrettChaotix]

I have it running as a virtual machine and I think off the bat it's a nice improvement over Vista.

I actually have the alpha release (build 7000) from a couple of weeks ago. It installed with no errors and seems to do well on limited hardware (my laptop is a 2.8ghz Core 2 Duo and I've only given the VM 1.5 GB of memory)

I think they did this on purpose, the released builds with a lot of the temperamental features stripped out for now and they will try to gradually add them back into future beta builds. Be prepared for it to suck later.

 

[zeni]

 

[SilverFish]

Does 7 allow the use of non signed drivers?

 

[BrettChaotix]

Yes, but (for now) not out of the box - you need to make some changes (google it)

 

[sonick]

RC1 available for public download tomorrow, but has been on MSDN and other developers' network since last week.

Anybody try it out yet? I'm getting my new laptop today or tomorrow, was thinking of whether to downlograde to XP or upgrade straight to Windows 7 RC1.

 

[MetroStyles]

Is Windows 7 as good as XP? Or is it a tweak on the garbage that is Vista?

 

[GQgeek]

It uses Vista's guts but tries to improve usability and performance. I tried installing a build a few weeks ago and the installer crashed on me. I may try RC1. Does RC1 expire when it's released to retail or sooner?

 

[MetroStyles]

So for anyone who is both a power user of Office and has experience with Vista, will any iteration of Office be usable at all in the future? Vista removed all functionality practically. I don't really see how the newest Office (Excel, Word) are usable for business purposes with their crap ****** layout and complete change of short cuts. Do they even support macros anymore? I know the Office for Mac does not.

 

[sonick]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

It uses Vista's guts but tries to improve usability and performance. I tried installing a build a few weeks ago and the installer crashed on me. I may try RC1. Does RC1 expire when it's released to retail or sooner?

I read support for RC1 is until June 2010.

 

[zissou]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

It uses Vista's guts but tries to improve usability and performance. I tried installing a build a few weeks ago and the installer crashed on me.

LOL!

 

[GQgeek]

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

So for anyone who is both a power user of Office and has experience with Vista, will any iteration of Office be usable at all in the future? Vista removed all functionality practically. I don't really see how the newest Office (Excel, Word) are usable for business purposes with their crap ****** layout and complete change of short cuts. Do they even support macros anymore? I know the Office for Mac does not.

What does Office have to do with the OS it runs on? I generally like the ribbon layout. It's not that hard to adapt to the changes, which were made 2 years ago now...

 

[MetroStyles]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

What does Office have to do with the OS it runs on? I generally like the ribbon layout. It's not that hard to adapt to the changes, which were made 2 years ago now...

Apple Word/Excel I think disables VBA and makes you use AppleScript. I doubt that Windows would have this issue.