Windows 7 Beta

[GWguy]

Microsoft to unveil beta version of Windows 7 - CNN.com

Under the hood, Microsoft said it improved the speed of the system and cut the amount of memory it needs to run. Sinofsky held up a netbook -- a low-cost, low-power laptop that would have a hard time running Vista -- and said it's working with Windows 7.

Great, now that everyone spent tons of money updating hardware...

Windows 7, the forthcoming operating system, will let users choose to see fewer alerts and warnings from their computers. Rampant notifications and pop-up windows alerting people to potential security risks has irked many users of Windows Vista.

"We had all the best intentions of helping to secure the PC platform even more, particularly for novice PC users who needed to be protected," said Steven Sinofsky, a senior vice president in Microsoft's Windows group.

Sinofsky didn't back down from the major changes in Vista responsible for the rise in alerts, but he did acknowledge that Microsoft needed to work earlier and more closely with outside companies to avoid a similar mess in Windows 7.

 

[G1G4]

I know people that have Alpha tested it all the way to milestone 3, which is the current. Using Vista's default requirements, Windows 7 can and will boot up in about 30 seconds. Alot of unnecessary services have been removed. The way 7 searches for files has also been improved using a streamlined search module.
From what they've told me, the UI is about the same as Vista, and everything else is similar to XP.

 

[clevalley]

I know people that have Alpha tested it all the way to milestone 3, which is the current. Using Vista's default requirements, Windows 7 can and will boot up in about 30 seconds. Alot of unnecessary services have been removed. The way 7 searches for files has also been improved using a streamlined search module.
From what they've told me, the UI is about the same as Vista, and everything else is similar to XP.

Sounds like they are cutting the bloat which killed VISTA on the release. Vista SP1 is really good, but is still to big IMO.

We are staying away from the Alpha until the Beta software comes out, then we will kick it around. I am trying to get my paws on a new XPS and take my old XPS 1710 and use it as my Beta machine for 7... but I need to find a program with some $$$ to buy it for me.

 

[Mousebaby]

Sounds like they are cutting the bloat which killed VISTA on the release. Vista SP1 is really good, but is still to big IMO.

We are staying away from the Alpha until the Beta software comes out, then we will kick it around. I am trying to get my paws on a new XPS and take my old XPS 1710 and use it as my Beta machine for 7... but I need to find a program with some $$$ to buy it for me.

If you do that can you uh you know, slide a copy this way?

 

[G1G4]

I don't touch Microsoft betas. Way to risky. Either way, Microsoft drafts and finals usually change alot. I do hope, though, that 7 will be customizable more than Vista is/was.

 

[clevalley]

If you do that can you uh you know, slide a copy this way?

As long as the law allows, sure.

I don't touch Microsoft betas. Way to risky. Either way, Microsoft drafts and finals usually change alot. I do hope, though, that 7 will be customizable more than Vista is/was.

We usually setup a laptop or two in a non-domain configuration and beat them up and test compatability with other packages we have on site. It gives us an idea of what is around the corner.

Most of the Beta's in years past have seem to be spot on with User Interfaces (UI's) but the kernels do go through rehabs. The final product we get about 4 copies and re-load and test again... we DO NOT roll out until about a year down the road, after the first service pack.

 

[G1G4]

Yep, UI usually stays the same, but it should be interesting to see if any major functionality changes will happen.

 

[Gwydion]

Windows 7 can and will boot up in about 30 seconds.

I'm confused, Vista takes longer than that to boot up? From the time I choose my vista partition to the time I am fully booted is about 15 seconds.

 

[G1G4]

So, your splitting paritions then? I'm talking about it as a full, only operating system on the system. Services have been cut out that lets it boot up that quickly.
The Vista I've used on my desktop takes just as long or longer than my XP. It usually boots up closer to a minute.