Jan Zdarsa I know, this is an Apple blog, so why am I dragging Microsoft here? The reason is simple. Apple has been installing Intel processors in its computers for a long time, and that is how many users use them dual boot whether it runs the system from Redmond virtually. And since there are also users who cannot avoid it on their Macbook (e.g. the application does not run under MacOS), it is appropriate to talk about the new Windows 7 system to mention.
Steve Ballmer announced the release at CES Windows 7 public betas on Friday, January 9, at approximately 21:00 p.m. our time. But they were already noticeable during the afternoon big problems servers of Microsoft, when there were really big problems to even get to the Windows 7 pages, so the same problems could be expected even on the evening of the release. Mainly because there were supposed to be "only" 2,5 million product keys available.
During the evening they appeared on Technet download links, where you had to login to a Live account and then fill out a simple survey to launch the java download client. But Microsoft's servers clearly did not stop this, and so later also appeared direct download links (but they don't work very well at the moment, downloads are often interrupted). But still waiting for 9pm when the product keys will be available.
Nine gone, the keys nowhere and after about an hour the first announcement appeared, in which Microsoft announced the addition of server capacity and promised that everything would be ready soon. It took about another two hours for the announcement to come further postponement and deleting the January 9th date for the release of the Windows 7 public beta. Another announcement was added before noon on Saturday that adding server capacity is still being worked on, but people don't have to worry about losing their product key - so it's likely assumed increasing the number of keys. As of Saturday at 12:34 p.m., Windows 7 keys are still not there.
But for installation it is not necessary to have a product key, the beta works without it for 30 days and the product key can be inserted later. So there is nothing stopping me from running Boot Camp in Leopard and starting to install Windows 7 64-bit. But what about this one? the new system brings?
After installation, it is primarily waiting for you more Aero. This time, this effect is also used in the bottom bar. In short, the new Windows 7 is overaerated - Microsoft is counting on the fact that the more "glass" surfaces, the more copies sold. What a lot of people say is new in the bar a copy of the Dock from MacOS. This is not the case, it is still a task bar in a way, but the great inspiration from MacOS cannot be denied here.
If you have multiple windows open for one program, it will be displayed after hovering over the program icon in the bar live previews these open windows. After hovering the mouse, they are always displayed on the desktop as active. Windows can also be closed directly from previews, which is certainly a good feature. If you need to see the desktop, you move the mouse to the lower right corner, all windows become transparent and you can see the desktop, or you can directly appear on it after clicking.
The option is also an interesting element compare two pages, when you pin them next to each other and Windows 7 will adjust their width. And it's all very simple - just drag one window to the right, the other to the left, and Windows will handle it by itself. Very good and useful.
A new interesting feature is also the so-called "jump list". It is displayed after right-clicking on the program icon in the bar. For example, with Word, a list of documents with which we have worked recently is displayed, or with Live Messenger, the functions that we use most often are displayed.
This time, the sidebar will not pop up at you immediately after installation. Personally, I always turned it off after installation, I never liked it. But gadgets haven't disappeared, don't worry. On the contrary, they are a bit more powerful because they are not bound to the sidebar, but you can move them freely anywhere on the board.
Programs such as Painting and Wordpad have also been improved. Both programs now support the so-called Ribbon interface known from Office 07. Although people rather immediately replaced these programs with other, more sophisticated programs, with the new interface they become really usable applications and are absolutely sufficient for simple work. From now on, I will not ignore the Painting program.
Other improvements are related to network settings. The so-called HomeGroups were created here, thanks to which you can easily shared within the library family with music, photos, documents or movies. You can work with these libraries as easily as if they were on your disk. What I personally like the most is that I can choose from my laptop, for example, a song that is recorded in the library of another computer and play it on the Xbox that is located on this network. To access this group, Windows generates a so-called passkey, so just anyone can't join this network.
Other improvements are, for example, in the area of UAC (User Account Control), which was rather a nuisance in Vista. There are now 4 levels of setting options, so everyone can choose what suits them best. However, there is still a lack of protection of changes under a password.
Windows 7 too support different sensors. So hopefully Windows will finally start using the light sensor that we have in the Macbook.
Windows 7 also brings new versions of Internet Explorer and the Live package (Messenger, Mail, Writer and Photogallery), but I'm not falling on my ass. I actually saw a demo of iPhoto 09 a few days ago and it's in a different league.
But what interests you the most? Is Windows 7 really faster? Although such statements can only be heard after longer use, I must say that Windows 7 is really faster system than Windows Vista. Whether it's booting, starting windows, applications, shutting down. Everything is subjectively clearly better.
It should also be longer battery life for laptops, but I won't tell you that. My laptop work is so varied that I don't know how to measure it. And playing a DVD movie for a few hours just doesn't appeal to me. On the other hand, why not believe it?
In the next few days, I will write here how it is installing Windows 7 on a unibody Macbook was going on and if everything went smoothly. And most importantly, is it even worth it..
If you want to see the news Windows 7 on video, so I recommend it video from Lupa.cz server. This closed-captioned video introduces the most important new features in Windows 7, Internet Explorer, Windows Mobile, and Live. Of course, Windows 7 brings more news, including support for touch screens, but I'll leave that up to you, I didn't want to do any detailed analysis of Windows 7 here.
Well, great, then rewrite the kernel, get rid of registries, hang around for a few years and we have an OS X competitor.
Interesting... :-)
TO M.art.in: Funny…