New Windows 7 install

31 January 2009

Somewhere between getting bored and letting my inner geek manifest, I set up the new Windows 7 beta on my computer. Saying that, it’s not mine, it’s my bro’s. I don’t own a computer of my own. I used to – but I got bored and people kept taking pieces of to build other computers. I often use one in the garage with a 32 inch screen attached. It’s my Dad’s video editing unit. I build websites and things with it. But in the winter months it’s too cold in there. So it hasn’t been touched since around October. Anyway, I’m not that bothered. Honestly, I don’t like computers that much. (You buying this?)

So Windows. Initially I did it as a VM on this XP machine, but I was so impressed, I dug my old 250GB HDD out and cleared some space. Somehow, I managed to free 100GB and move all the backup and media into a folder. I’m amazed this baby still works. And now it’s hosting an OS again without any glitches. (This HDD was one of those pieces of my old computer.)

Windows 7 looks beautiful and it appears to just work. Saying that, the looks are taken straight from Vista. From what I hear the working bit isn’t all that in Vista. It passed the test where I give a piece of software or game ten minutes. After that time, I stop and reflect. If I’m not pissed of or red in the face or getting violent because of the software or game it has passed the test. Microsoft’s new interface handles well. It’s hard to cover how unoriginal it is, and Microsoft have tried. They get a lot of stick for playing feature catch-up, especially with browsers. For the nerds out there that keep putting Microsoft down for it, I want to see what their favorite toy has that’s original. More to the point, I don’t care. If it works then that’s all that matters. (If something is tastelessly ripped off, I would moan. But as long as it’s done subtly, what’s the problem? Especially when it’s done better.) Although Microsoft could play catch-up quicker.

Compatibility wise the new Windows looks problem free. Has it really taken manufactures four years to get up to date with the Vista core? I don’t see why if they’ve had access to the Vista core since years before it’s release. All devices were picked up instantly. On the next start up Windows update had downloaded and worked all drivers that I was getting ready to do manually. That’s handy and saves a lot of time.

I don’t use Vista. Not because of choice, just because I’ve always used what’s there. I demoed an early beta copy (Beta 2 build 5384), so I’m not sure how much of the new Windows is re-hashed Vista. I know Windows 7 isn’t really a new OS, it’s just Vista-point-one. It’s the kind of thing I’d expect to see in Vista SP2. If Microsoft turned around tomorrow and announced we’ve all been had my a marketing campaign, and that Windows 7 is just Vista SP2, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Vista bashing aside, it’s feasible that a lot of tweaking and clearing out has been done under the bonnet for Windows 7. It certainly loads quick. From a RAM perspective, I did have music jump a few times when moving files and browsing the web. I’ll let it pass for now.

The computer is a run of the mill ~2.6GHz (Celron?) with a gig of RAM and a GeForce 6800 (512MB?). The Windows specs say it could run on a CPU with only a gigahert. I wouldn’t like to be the guy testing that out.

Anthony will proceed things by installing hundreds of games and downloading tonnes of programs. I’ve told him not to bother with Firefox just because I don’t like it. He’ll use MSIE 8 and I’ll use Chrome. I had to download it. I don’t think I could function without Chrome. If Google release a desktop OS half as good as their browser, I’d be sold. I’ve yet to install all my software for web design and music production. So I should find out pretty soon if the new Windows has any issues. For now, I’m hooked. I want to say well done to Microsoft, but it’s what they’re supposed to do. Just because they haven’t done anything hideously wrong doesn’t mean they should get credit. I’m sure we’ll see.

So much for me not geeking out on this blog.