Windows 7 RC for download (5-May)

[felix.reichardt]

MS announced that from 5-May Windows 7 RC1 can be downloaded.

This download link should work on 5-May: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...-download.aspx

[kohr2000]

Thanks

[Tokeloshe]

A typical Micro$haft product: during installing under VirtualBox on my MBP it managed to break something in VirtualBox so that VB now crashes upon startup. Uninstalling and reinstalling VB doesn't make a difference. Thanks again, Bill!

[nyschulte]

playing with win7rc for several days now.
running on vmware fusion from my macbook pro 17" like a charm.
except for firing up ie8 and office2007 suite i did not try anything fancy yet.
speed is fabulous, as much as i did not like vista, i do like win7 ... but not enough to switch back from mac os x

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by felix.reichardt

MS announced that from 5-May Windows 7 RC1 can be downloaded.

This download link should work on 5-May: Windows 7 Release Candidate Customer Preview Program

Yup, been running it since this weekend. Flaweless as far as I can tell. Definitely more stable than the pre-RC versions I've been using.

I'm actually using Win7 now on my main machine. That's how confident I've become with it.

To me the best "feature" is that it finds all of my drivers upon installation. No more hunting around for drivers needed for everything from motherboard inf files to video cards.

Here's my Win7 computer rating:

[felix.reichardt]

I am away from home for a week but downloaded the RC. If it is as stabile and fast as the beta im very happy. Going to install tomorrow. You guys who installed it, is an upgrade from the beta possible or new installation required?

JD how da heck did you get such performace ratings for RAM and hard disks Is the processor one of the new icore's?

[TheRileyFactor]

Originally Posted by felix.reichardt

JD how da heck did you get such performace ratings for RAM and hard disks Is the processor one of the new icore's?

My thoughts exactly! I got the X64 download, now I just need to install it (haven't had a chance with finals and graduation and such) I noticed that that is based on a 1-7.9 scale while Vista (atleast my copy) is based on a 1-5.9 scale, maybe that accounts for the difference? I thought my Hard Disk was about as fast as you can get without going 10000rpm, and it has a 5.9 rating, along with everything else I have... I'll have to install Win7 and see what I can get out of it, especially if its as stable as everyone is saying it is! I loved the beta on my laptop... if only Intel had made drivers for my graphics card...

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by Mogwai

Been running Win7 (64) a few days now and I'm not impressed. Windoze' non-intuitiveness has not improved one iota from where I sit, and to me Win7 is slow as molasses. But then I'm used to screaming fast OSX, of course. However, I hear XP and Vista users are pleased with the speed (I wasn't aware XP and Vista were that bad...).

If you think Windows is not intuitive, why bother with any new Windows release? It won't change that much to make you change your mind.

OSX is screaming fast?

Win7 RC is faster than Vista here. It's faster than XP in many areas:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3236&page=2

http://xtreview.com/addcomment-id-74...indows-xp.html

[TheRileyFactor]

I'm starting an install in VirtualPC right now... I'll let you know how it goes

[felix.reichardt]

Originally Posted by Mogwai

Knowing Micro$haft that is a wild gamble. RC1 is valid through May 2010, whence it will shut down every 2 hours –as a reminder–! Whether that means you will be able to simply upgrade or need to install a new version of Win7 was not announced.

It might be advisable to run Win7 RC1 in a virtual machine (e.g. with FREE VirtualBox). So that if anything goes wrong you can simply chuck the whole virtual machine, complete with errors, irregularities and/or viruses, and create a new one.

Been running Win7 (64) a few days now and I'm not impressed. Windoze' non-intuitiveness has not improved one iota from where I sit, and to me Win7 is slow as molasses. But then I'm used to screaming fast OSX, of course. However, I hear XP and Vista users are pleased with the speed (I wasn't aware XP and Vista were that bad...).

Ah of course that was missing ... typical OSX fanboy blablabla ...

[felix.reichardt]

I have just installed the 64 bit version but as a new installation. Ony trouble I had was the unsigned driver from Spyder Pro but I found a genious little tool that signed the driver .

[SyCo]

Originally Posted by felix.reichardt

Ah of course that was missing ... typical OSX fanboy blablabla ...

I've never used a mac regularly but he's right Windows is blowing pretty hard now, more than ever. Microsoft just want you to keep spending money. I use Vista at work it costs a small fortune, required a new PC to run it and has been a nightmare of compatibility and issues. For all the hassle and cost it hasn't improved my work efficiency at all when compared to XP. How can Windows fan boys defend such a shoddy company?

But then, at home I'm a very happy Linux Ubuntu user.

[cadmium]

Originally Posted by SyCo

But then, at home I'm a very happy Linux Ubuntu user.

Well there's your problem

Seriously Vista isn't that bad and at this point most compatibility issues have been worked out. I remember Windows XP having much the same issues and nobody wanted to move off of Windows 98 (or ME) for quite a while too, there just wasn't as much hatorade going around at the time.

[SyCo]

OK I'm gonna bite

My problem is truly enjoying using my computer again? Dude you gotta move into the light, lol. Ironically I installed Ubuntu as a stop gap when my XP crashed and wouldn't recover. After 2 weeks waiting for new XP disks from HP I thought screw it I don't need XP I'm doing fine. I even have Office 2007 and Photoshop CS2 running from within Linux, not even using a virtual machine. I do still use XP but now only to watch Netflix.

It's amazing how much crap you get using a Windows computer and you take it for granted. End now..... end now....seriously end now.... WTF. Then there's updating the operating system and every piece of software with a single click. How many updates for the software on your Windows system are still waiting for you to install. I'll wager you've never audited all your software to find out and if you have you are a rare Windows user and geek enough to love Linux. I've not even got to not needing anti virus yet. It's like a protection racket. Exactly why hasn't Windows ever shipped with anti virus included? Why don't they at least ship with AVG free or Avast? Microsoft for all it's might isn't able to produce an anti virus software that come with the weak operating system they ship? Nah that's total money grabbing BS. They get kickbacks from Symantec and you foot the bill. Imagine buying a car, then being told the locks are extra. You would never stand for it (and that it's going to crash more than it's competitors and you'll need to go buy a new stereo and steering wheel because the old one don't fit). People have become Microsoft zombies who think they way Microsoft do it it the way it has to be done. Most people don't even know they have an option (and I'm not taking Mac). Why do they still insist on a OS model that is open to attack from the get go. Because, regardless of what the ads say, it's not about providing you with a great computing experience, It's about making oodles of money.

An often still propagated myth is people think using Linux is for geeks. Back in 2000 it definitely was. In 2005 it was still kind of tricky but Ubuntu 8.10 was the easiest install of an operating system I've ever performed. No hassle at all. I didn't need another CD or have to hunt the net for drivers or any of the usual post Windows install crap. It installed and asked me if I wanted to install the extra drivers it needed (it didn't install them for me due to license requirements) I clicked OK and every thing worked. The system them updated itself. I had to install reinstall XP and Vista last week and it's still a PITA!! Don't confuse Windows familiarity with superiority. You might forget the years of solving windows problems and after 1 or 2 hours/days of trying Linux declare it useless. But the bottom line is when you rant at a Windows computer it's because you're sick of the same problems. You're ranting at the familiar, With Linux you're ranting because it's unfamiliar. After a couple of weeks the rants go away and you realize how nice it is to use a computer again.

After a year or so of using Ubuntu I cannot recommend it highly enough. I only wish more software vendors supported it out of the box. Currently there is Wine and Crossover to run non Linux programs. The installs for each were as easy as on Windows could click the .exe and the native installer fires up.

I've used Windows forever and am fully aware what it does well and poorly. What is does well is no better than Ubuntu and what it does poorly is not acceptable for something I spent a lot of money on. I honestly expect more from a corporation that expects me to part with my money. Linux is free and in many way far far superior. I'm not anti windows because I hate big companies or any thing like that but Microsoft uses it's might to stifle innovation, well, any innovation that isn't theirs. Windows was in large part to thank for the rapid development of the desktop. They had Bill Gates to thanks for that. Now he's gone they're just another behemoth company without great leadership. They are already noticeably dropping the ball. The Vista launch was a disaster, just like XP. What do we expect of Window 7? And they actually want us to pay for this hassle? If no one had heard of Windows or Linux today and the two systems were compared side by side, Windows would be laughed out of the room.

I liked Windows well enough, and Vista now works OK, but I love using Ubuntu! Burn a live CD and go play, In two weeks you'll thanks me

[cadmium]

I'm a rare Windows user indeed and a software developer so I know what pain is. It's great that you love using Ubuntu. I've tried Linux over the years and even as a secondary box for a few months, but it's never impressed me as superior to Windows in any special way. It has it's strengths and weaknesses just like anything else. But I won't knock you (i was kidding before btw, if you couldn't tell) for liking it.

As far as Windows goes, I waited until this year to take the Vista (and now Windows 7) plunge. I'm currently running one or the other on my work, home, and wife's computer and they've been by far the least trouble I've ever had dealing with an OS. Installation was only a few clicks and Windows Update pretty much takes care of it's self unless you are in a particular hurry.

As far as including or excluding virus software, Microsoft doesn't include it probably for the same reason that Unbuntu doesn't... it's not really necessary. If you keep your computer up to date and don't click on shady porn links you'll probably never get a virus.

Antivirus software is a placebo at best and false security at worst. I haven't run it in years. I do occasionaly do a quick scan with a free app or online like houecall, but I haven't picked anything up in nearly a decade. Of course, I'm probably more cautious than the average user, but you most people that get viruses get them through their own actions rather than lack of anti-virus.

Anyway, back on topic. Windows 7 is really more like Vista sp2, but it still has made some nice improvements.

[SyCo]

Don't worry mate I knew you were joking.

I've liked Linux as a concept for a number of years too (and full time since Ubuntu 7.04) but it was Ubuntu 8.10 that really made me say wow! I'm sure you've heard all the usual comparisons so I'll not go into it. I think these days it's just the big software manfacturers making deals that stops more people using it. Shame as it's really good these days. I still say use it as a primary box till you get through the teething woes and you'll never look back

I think many viruses are passed through unpatched vulnerabilities too. The Ubuntu update nails this problem. Thing is I can surf dodgy sites (if I chose too *ahem) and open any attachment I like and I wont get a virus. How is it that's still not the case with an out of the box install of the world most popular operating system.

I hear there's a campaign to give everyone who bought Vista a free copy of Windows 7. The idea being Windows 7 is Vista with the promised functionality. What a great idea! heh.

[felix.reichardt]

Originally Posted by SyCo

I've never used a mac regularly but he's right Windows is blowing pretty hard now, more than ever. Microsoft just want you to keep spending money. I use Vista at work it costs a small fortune, required a new PC to run it and has been a nightmare of compatibility and issues. For all the hassle and cost it hasn't improved my work efficiency at all when compared to XP. How can Windows fan boys defend such a shoddy company?

But then, at home I'm a very happy Linux Ubuntu user.

Well, that's because Win 7 is vastly improved compared to XP and Vista. There are some features that I don't want to miss. I can now for example save the costs for Nero burning software sicen Win 7 can also burn ISO. Ever tried the new features to arrange windows on the fly? If you cannot see improvements then I guess you have not spent the time to really try out the new features.

I had no issues with any driver under Vista and don't have it now with Win7 (only the Color Spyder but then its them who created an unsigned driver, and I found a easy solution). So talking about Win 7 being a driver nightmare is just plain BS.

Linux would be great and I tried it but to many drivers missing even for common hardware like my iP6600D or my scanner or my webcam. (I blame the suppliers for that and not Linux). Then no Photoshop, I know there is Gimp but Gimp is not Photoshop after all.

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by SyCo

I've never used a mac regularly but he's right Windows is blowing pretty hard now, more than ever.

I've never understood the fascination with Macs--among the few who use them, that is. I find Macs no more intuitive and no more reliable than Windows boxes. I do find them a lot more expensive, and there's not nearly as much software available for them. The whole "easy" and "it just works" thing is just hype, I think.

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by felix.reichardt

Well, that's because Win 7 is vastly improved compared to XP and Vista. There are some features that I don't want to miss. I can now for example save the costs for Nero burning software sicen Win 7 can also burn ISO. Ever tried the new features to arrange windows on the fly? If you cannot see improvements then I guess you have not spent the time to really try out the new features.

This is true. Win7 will save people a lot of money. In addition to the features you named, there's also a full-fledged backup and imaging program included (no more third-party tool needed), and there's credible, free antivirus on the way.

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by felix.reichardt

So talking about Win 7 being a driver nightmare is just plain BS.

100% correct. In fact, I've installed Win7 on six different boxes now, and I have not once had to dig up a driver for any of those machines. That's downright amazing, given the diversity of hardware out there.