As promised, the aforementioned Customizing Vista article is done.
Customize The Way Vista Looks
I would love to hear comments and feedback. What do you use to Customize Vista? Got a screenshot you want to share (links only please)?
*Updated March 09, 2009 for final version.
Windows
Customizing Vista, Just Having A Little Fun!
I’ve been bored and playing around with customizing the look of Vista. I’ll have an article up on what I did in the next few days.
In the mean time, here’s a screenshot for you:
Full Size (1680×1050), Medium Size (1000×625)

Windows Vista SP2 RC released to general public
Neowin: Exclusive: Windows Vista SP2 RC released to general public
Neowin has the scoop. However, as of this writing and as noted by the user comments the only download that points to the new files is the ISO link.
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TIP:
The service pack cleanup tool has been changed and is now compcln.exe.
WARNING – If you run compcln.exe you will not be able to uninstall the RC and therefore you will be unable to install the final version when released.
I made a backup with TI and will revert to that when the final is released.
Engineering Windows 7 – UAC Feedback and Follow-Up
With this feedback and a lot more we are going to deliver two changes to the Release Candidate that we’ll all see. First, the UAC control panel will run in a high integrity process, which requires elevation. That was already in the works before this discussion and doing this prevents all the mechanics around SendKeys and the like from working. Second, changing the level of the UAC will also prompt for confirmation.
Neowin – Microsoft: Update on Windows 7 UAC issues
Neowin – Microsoft: Update on Windows 7 UAC issues
links to Engineering Windows 7 Blog – Update on UAC
I’ve pretty much stayed away from this topic because we are talking about Windows 7 BETA, not RC1, not RC2, not Final.
At any rate, of note from the blog post:
The first issue to untangle is about the difference between malware making it onto a PC and being run, versus what it can do once it is running. There has been no report of a way for malware to make it onto a PC without consent…
One important thing to know is that UAC is not a security boundary. UAC helps people be more secure, but it is not a cure all. UAC helps most by being the prompt before software is installed.
Ubuntu Product Editions
Bouncing around the web at some point I saw someone mention Ubuntu versions during a Windows 7 versions discussion (sorry, don’t remember where).
The multiple versions thing kinda irritates me, well, it did anyway. But I try to keep an open mind. After reading all the news and the comments about the Windows 7 versions I’ve changed my mind. Reading the list below I think could give Ubuntu fans a reason to think about it too. Multiple versions can allow you to get what you want out of an OS and eliminate the unneeded or unwanted parts of the OS.
Anywho, my only point in this is that multiple versions of an OS isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Ubuntu Product Editions
Desktop:
1 – Ubuntu Desktop
2 – Gobuntu
3 – Kubuntu
4 – Edubuntu
5 – Ubuntu Netbook Remix
6 – Xubuntu
7 – Ubuntu Studio
Non-Desktop:
8 – Ubuntu Server Edition
9 – Ubuntu MID Edition
Sources: Wikipedia & Ubuntu.com
Windows 7 Product Editions
Paul Thurrott – Windows 7 Product Editions
5 editions (+ Windows 7 Home for “emerging markets”).
Looks like Home Premium is the way to go for most folks, again.
Windows 7 Defrag
3rd party defraggers have been on my mind lately. During my research this weekend I came across the article listed below. It discusses the Windows 7 Built-In Defragmenter. It is a bit geeky but a must read for anyone interested in the topic:
Disk Defragmentation – Background and Engineering the Windows 7 Improvements
If you are using Win 7. What to you think of the Win 7 Defragger? With its changes and improvements do you find a 3rd party defragger necessary? If so, why specifically?
Windows 7 Tidbits From Around The Web
Gizmodo – Microsoft: Windows 7 Open Beta Download Limit Lifted Until January 24
Ghacks – Windows Vista Shrink Volume Problems
Neowin – Windows 7: Easy Connect overview (has links to several feature overviews)
Paul Thurrott – Windows 7 Beta Review
Ed Bott – Six Vista annoyances fixed in Windows 7
IEBlog – IE8 in Windows 7 Beta
Windows 7 Home Page
Microsoft Windows 7 Downloads (updates, papers, etc.)
Windows 7 Beta – My Initial Impressions
Please understand these are my thoughts after only 2 days of using Windows 7 Beta. I fully understand that your experience may differ significantly than mine.
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