Yesterday was one of those days where I got a little 'gloomy' - and so with EVERY gloomy day I've got, it usually ends with something that would cheer me up. Some people go the food method, some chocolates, some ice-cream, some binge shopping - you get the idea. Me? Gadgets and toys...
Since I didn't feel like spending any cash, I went ahead and downloaded Windows 7! Yes, Microsoft recently released a beta version of the touted latest and greatest version of the Windows Operating system.
To be honest, I've always been a Windows fan... then Apple came and decided to make all things nice and sweet - cuddly and just 'nice'. To make matters worse, Microsoft worked on an operating system called Longhorn and took literally the longest time... and finally got it released as Windows Vista - amidst all the hype - it was a product which didn't exactly live up to the expectations of the tech gerbils of the world. Some people say it was too slow, incompatible with older software, was cluttered up - my reasoning it was simple - Microsoft simply promised too much, couldn't meet up with expectations and as scholars around the world would tell you - people simply don't like too much change.
With Windows being the core software of Microsoft - coz without Windows, there'd be no operating system for Microsoft applications to run on - the largest and greatest software company on the face of this earth would be as good as dead.
So Microsoft went back to the drawing board and created Windows 7 - why 7? Apparently there's a whole explanation for it and Vista was 6 so Windows is 7 or something like that. If you REALLY want to know why, checkout this link.
I must say, Microsoft might have just out done themselves this time around. It's not just Vista with a new skin. It's Vista that was MEANT to be.
When requirements are A LOT less...
I don't want to delve too much into technical details (other sites or blogs would have spoken about it) - but Windows Vista if you recall - required quite a bit of souped up hardware - specific graphic cards, 2GB RAM etc for the ultimate Windows Vista performance... and guess what?
Tada! Windows 7 runs easily on my NETBOOK - and it's not Windows 7 with the bare-minimum experience - it's the whole glassy-aero effect, the bomb-diggidy - as Fabes would say.
You're talking about a 1GB Memory Machine, Intel Atom 1.6Ghz processor, 120GB drive and other basic items like built-in WiFi, Camera etc. Vista will NEVER run at full performance with such specs.
A pretty much plug and play experience
From the many blogs I read, Windows 7 seems to excel in areas of Plug and Play - plug-in something and it works. Since my Netbook didn't come with bluetooth, I bought a bluetooth dongle which required the cumbersome driver installation on XP and Vista - but on 7, it was PLUG - 15 seconds later - "Hardware is ready for use!".
Streamlined taskbar
The start menu and taskbar are now LOADS more intuitive - almost mac-ish looking. Running applications no longer show as icons and names, just icons. Multiple windows of the same application are stacked together instead of occupying space on the task bar the length of the Great Wall. Hover on one of the icons and out comes miniature windows showing what's currently showing on that application...
A mini conclusion...
It's just my first day of using Windows 7 Beta - and I must say, what other people have said about this Beta version; that it's as close as it gets to the release - I can most definitely agree. This is the bomb-diggidy... faster, more streamlined, much much easier to use, much much lower requirements, ZERO hiccups during installation... and that's just what I can see within this first 24 hours - can't wait for more discoveries... Try it out yourself today and download Windows 7 beta... - congratulations Microsoft!
A mini ending...
What is an ending to a blog entry without a strange picture. Here's one - caught in the studio this morning. Fabes experiencing what he calls the 'head baby massage' - performed by the GREAT Amrita - our producer :P
Drop me a comment if you've got something to say! :)
1 comments:
I agree with you Ben, it was what vista was meant to be in the first place! Im a windows vista user(ori ok! :P) anyway..i think 7 will get microsoft back on the map..I personally think they shot themselves in the foot with Vista and ppl started looking at open source as alternatives..
I hope its gets released sooner rather than later before the ex microsoft users get too comfy with the ubuntu's ;)
Cheers
abi
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