Windows 7, the XPerience.

[jsbowden]

Since we have MSDN subs here, we have the Windows 7 Beta (which you can DL from MS if you like, but it's almost a 3GB ISO, so don't try this on a modem, kids!).

I did a quick install in a VM for a quick peek. So far it is to Vista what XP was to Windows 2000, it's an interface update with some minor tweaks.

The beta is the full on Ultimate version, and I suspect that the final release will have the same break down as Vista for available versions (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate), but I think MS would be doing themselves a favor by just going with three: the equivalents of Home Premium, Enterprise, and Ultimate.

I need to install it on some real hardware so I can play with some of the advanced desktop features that the VM install won't run since it's only emulating a ten year graphics chip with a meager eight megs of VRAM.

I get to spend this afternoon doing drudge work in classified areas. Yay.

Comments

[dilickjm.livejournal.com]

I've emulated the 32-bit in both VPC and VirtualBox (no real advantage either way, maybe a slightly better performance in VPC), and the 64-bit natively on another HDD in this laptop. It's effectively Vista++, though I think it goes well beyond just an interface upgrade.

It looks like they totally redesigned the File I/O component, I'm not getting *any* of the thrashing that I experience in Vista. A test move of a 3GB file (the ISO itself) took about 15% less time under VPC as opposed to Vista, and about 25% less time under native install than Vista. The interface tweaks are nice as well, we'll see how well this holds up, but I expect to be replacing Vista with Win 7 shortly after release (and I actually like Vista more than most people) due to the File I/O, the redesigned UAC, redesigned Aero, and the fact than nVidia FINALLY released updated drivers for this 8700M due to Win 7. Fuckers.

[jsbowden.livejournal.com]

I haven't really had much of a chance to screw with it yet, so hey, that's cool. I like Vista myself and IO improvements would definitely be welcome, but I don't know how much I like the Win7 interface. I really liked the Vista interface pretty much from the start, but the changes so far are 'meh' from here. I do hate Sidebar (even though I use it), so seeing the widgets move directly to the desktop is an improvement I may well forgive all else over.