Windows 7 RC Discussion

[edesignuk]

So the Release Candidate is officially released to MSDN/TechNet subscribers tomorrow [30th April] and the masses on the 5th May.

Torrent sites are happily hosting links to build 7100 which is apparently the build that has been shipped out to Microsoft partners already for testing, seems a fairly safe bet that 7100 is the RC release.

So, those running the RC, what do you think?

I'm loving the Window management shortcut keys. With multiple monitors they're a god send.

PSR (Problem Steps Recorder - run PSR.exe) is an excellent addition from a support point of view.

I'm really liking the new Task Bar.

Aero is very nice. Transparency when it's wanted works well, again with good keyboard shortcuts is very handy.

Snipping Tool is a nice update to the good old Print Screen button.

Search (like Spotlight) from the Start Menu works perfectly, and is nice and snappy!

I'm running on a dual core 3.0Ghz Core 2, 4GB RAM, ATi 2400 XT. 32-bit Win7 Ultimate.

 

[Sky Blue]

Snipping Tool is a nice update to the good old Print Screen button.

Wasn't that already in Vista?

 

[edesignuk]

Wasn't that already in Vista?

oh, er, possibly. I probably only ever used Vista for about a week

 

[steveza]

I'm only getting the offical RC off TechNet tomorrow so I can't really comment on it just yet. Only been using build 7000 up until now but I've found it excellent.

I'll be running it on my MBP (for business use) and for testing I'm using my i7 920 (12GB RAM, ATI HD 4850) both running 64bit.

 

[rwilliams]

I think that the Release Candidate is the best non-server version of Windows ever released. Seriously. Vista needed a service pack to even become worth the effort, and XP needed 2 service packs to become as solid as it is today. Stable, beautiful, fast, no obvious signs of bloat - just wonderful. And it has definitely learned from both the Vista disaster and Mac OS X. Driver support right "out of the box" is infinitely superior already to Vista and is more reminiscent of OS X's ability to recognize just about anything that connects to it, WiFi has been greatly simplified, install and boot times are much, much faster, and Aero is now less of a gimmick and is being put to much better use than in Vista. And it's truly gorgeous on a MacBook.

 

[edesignuk]

Windows 7 might rock up in 2009, says MS veep.

Might go retail sooner than expected. Might.

 

[steveza]

Windows 7 might rock up in 2009, says MS veep.

Might go retail sooner than expected. Might.

I think September is a good estimate for retail. Enterprise and OEMs before that.

 

[stainlessliquid]

I dont like the snipping program because its not set to a shortcut key, making it pretty much useless.

Id be surprised if it went retail in the fall. Maybe winter 09. OEM's will want to wait until fall to release their Windows 7 computers, forcing MS to wait a couple months before they can release it in the stores. Doesnt matter much to me, once the OEM version comes out it will hit the torrent sites and you can use that as a trial for 120 days until you can buy the retail one (which should come out in less than 120 days).

 

[edesignuk]

I dont like the snipping program because its not set to a shortcut key, making it pretty much useless.

Regular old Print Screen still works.

 

[jav6454]

So the Release Candidate is officially released to MSDN/TechNet subscribers tomorrow [30th April] and the masses on the 5th May.

Torrent sites are happily hosting links to build 7100 which is apparently the build that has been shipped out to Microsoft partners already for testing, seems a fairly safe bet that 7100 is the RC release.

So, those running the RC, what do you think?

I'm loving the Window management shortcut keys. With multiple monitors they're a god send.

PSR (Problem Steps Recorder - run PSR.exe) is an excellent addition from a support point of view.

I'm really liking the new Task Bar.

Aero is very nice. Transparency when it's wanted works well, again with good keyboard shortcuts is very handy.

Snipping Tool is a nice update to the good old Print Screen button.

Search (like Spotlight) from the Start Menu works perfectly, and is nice and snappy!

I'm running on a dual core 3.0Ghz Core 2, 4GB RAM, ATi 2400 XT. 32-bit Win7 Ultimate.

I'm guessing if you have Win 7 Beta build 7000, in order to have this one you have to do a clean install.

 

[edesignuk]

I'm guessing if you have Win 7 Beta build 7000, in order to have this one you have to do a clean install.

I think so. I'm sure I read somewhere there is a way round this. You're probably better off just going the clean install route though.

 

[stainlessliquid]

Regular old Print Screen still works.

I know, its easier to hit print screen and open up Photoshop or whatever than it is to open up the snip program and fiddle with it. Which makes it pretty useless. They should have just made it part of the OS with shortcut keys.

 

[xUKHCx]

Windows 7 might rock up in 2009, says MS veep.

Might go retail sooner than expected. Might.

I think September is a good estimate for retail. Enterprise and OEMs before that.

I've been following windows 7 in the media for quite some time now. Haven't acutally downloaded it as I am on a capped download limit and have better things to spend it on then a beta OS, however it has been pretty clear for some time now that most in the know people expect it to come this year retail.

I have liked what I have seen so far and the reviews, show cases I have read have been quite promising. Having done one Vista upgrade way back when it first came out, total nightmare, and experienced one recently I am looking forward to windows 7.

I think so. I'm sure I read somewhere there is a way round this. You're probably better off just going the clean install route though.

Work around

http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2009/04/07/delivering-a-quality-upgrade-experience.aspx

Although as edesignuk said it is probably best to go for a clean install.

 

[edesignuk]

I know, its easier to hit print screen and open up Photoshop or whatever than it is to open up the snip program and fiddle with it. Which makes it pretty useless. They should have just made it part of the OS with shortcut keys.

How many basic users have Photoshop?

I know what you're saying, but I still think the new screen capture tool is a pretty decent addition to the existing Print Screen.

 

[flopticalcube]

Looking forward to W7. Haven't said that about an MS OS for a long time. Any idea on how it is as a gaming OS as compared to XP? Compatibility problems with older games? Also looking forward to the smaller footprint for VMware.

 

[edesignuk]

Also looking forward to the smaller footprint for VMware.

It's still quite "big". 13GB used on an Ultimate install (only additional things installed on that PC are AVG Free, Whiz FTP, and Firefox).

 

[flopticalcube]

It's still quite "big". 13GB used on an Ultimate install (only additional things installed on that PC are AVG Free, Whiz FTP, and Firefox).

I was thinking more of the RAM footprint. Isn't suppose to be even smaller than XP?

 

[edesignuk]

I was thinking more of the RAM footprint. Isn't suppose to be even smaller than XP?

I wouldn't go that far.



That's just the PC sitting idle.

 

[flopticalcube]

Well, still better than Vista. Thanks for the info. Now let's hope they don't price gouge.

 

[edesignuk]

Something else I just thought to look at. 7100 (that we're assuming is RC) is good until "02/03/2010 00:59".

 

[chewietobbacca]

Looking forward to W7. Haven't said that about an MS OS for a long time. Any idea on how it is as a gaming OS as compared to XP? Compatibility problems with older games? Also looking forward to the smaller footprint for VMware.

Not sure about RC but retail has XP mode on which is a virtualization of XP so anything that worked in XP will work in Win7

 

[twoodcc]

Something else I just thought to look at. 7100 (that we're assuming is RC) is good until "02/03/2010 00:59".

interesting. but retail could still be released before that time.

 

[jaw04005]

Not sure about RC but retail has XP mode on which is a virtualization of XP so anything that worked in XP will work in Win7

Specific versions only, and it's not included on the disc. You have to download it from Microsoft's site.

I'm not sure why Thurrott and others are making a big deal out of this. It's not like they bothered to integrate it with the operating system and dropped pre-Vista compatibility from Windows 7.

It's essentially the old Connectix's Virtual PC with an XP image.

I guess because they're bundled (XP and Virtual PC) and it's free to Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate customers is somewhat nice. Also, maybe they're excited because they believe this is where Microsoft is going with Windows 8? No non-virtualized pre-Vista programs?

Back on topic, 7100 is very stable for me here. I'm loving it. I noticed immediately that they've removed the "send feedback" link. It's locked down and in its final descent to RTM.

It's time to go bug squashing.

 

[twoodcc]

Specific versions only, and it's not included on the disc. You have to download it from Microsoft's site.

I'm not sure why Thurrott and others are making a big deal out of this. It's not like they bothered to integrate it with the operating system and dropped pre-Vista compatibility from Windows 7.

It's essentially the old Connectix's Virtual PC with an XP image.

I guess because they're bundled (XP and Virtual PC) and it's free to Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate customers is somewhat nice. Also, maybe they're excited because they believe this is where Microsoft is going with Windows 8? No non-virtualized pre-Vista programs?

Back on topic, 7100 is very stable for me here. I'm loving it. I noticed immediately that they've removed the "send feedback" link. It's locked down and in its final descent to RTM.

It's time to go bug squashing.

glad to hear it's working nicely for you. i'm still trying out 7000 on my macbook air. it's pretty good

 

[edesignuk]

Another thing I like - which may have been in Vista, I don't know.

Fast user switching is supported on domain member workstations. Very, very nice.

The amount of times I need to do something as an admin on someone's PC and can't because they've forgotten to log off. Being able to log in as admin without having to log them off is extremely useful.