Windows 7

Hit up Neowin for download links.

New poll is up. —–>>>
Just curious how many of you are using Windows 7. What do you think of it? Any major issues?
Here are a few screenshots of my 7 desktop if you’re interested:
screenshot #1 screenshot #2

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.

Engineering Windows 7 – UAC Feedback and Follow-Up

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.

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

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.

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?

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.)

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.
[Read more…] about Windows 7 Beta – My Initial Impressions

Neowin – Windows 7 Beta: Quick Review

Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, announced that Windows 7 beta is available from today to MSDN and Technet subscribers. A public preview version will be available on Friday January 9th 2009.

Neowin goes through a quick install. Most of the reports on Windows 7 have been very positive. I know there have been versions floating around the torrent sites but I decided to wait for the public beta, so I’ll be downloading it this weekend.