http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
Just a few notes to anyone thinking about Windows 7. The first thing I have to say is that the “Dock” or task bar, or whatever they call it, is almost useless. It’s useless because it’s just there and really performs no apparent functional task (maybe that will come later on). The Peek feature is just a rip-off of Expose in OS X, but it's okay, I guess. Apple's implementation is much more smooth I think.

File copy speed for me is very slow. I don't know how 7 scored faster than XP and Vista in this area, but this is a beta, so it will probably get better. There is also an issue while playing MP3 files using Windows Media Player 12. Approximately 2-3 seconds data will get cut-off from the beginning of MP3s as Windows Media Player 12 tries to retrieve meta-information from the internet and write it to any MP3 file with a Meta data header larger than 16KB. So if you have a large library of MP3 files, watch out for this. Don't assume that you can just transfer over and leave your own OS behind without problems.

The only positive things I can say is that the cosmetic layout of menus is quite different from XP (I downgraded back to XP after several problems with Vista), the organization of tasks/groups seems to be well thought out. It also appears that Microsoft has taken an initial interest in the customers dissatisfaction with many aspects of Vista. Many have either been eliminated or refined for Windows 7. The UAC has not been annoying as as it was with Vista. The UAC only popped up in when something was affecting the kernel. Installation of my own software has not been a problem. There were some audio driver issues on one machine but they were resolved using released Vista drivers. None of this is really stuff that Microsoft should be praised for, however, seeing that this is really the way Vista should have been from the beginning.

Based on the availability of the beta, I'm hoping that Microsoft will do away with the activations, DRM, WGA or the myriad versions that made Vista such a confusing buy. I'm not holding my breath however and there doesn't seem to be anything that's going to persuade me to pay money for this update, seeing that it's more like Vista SP2, but it's positive that at least they're more or less fixing Vista this time around. I don't expect to hear much more about Vista once this version comes out or I should say, IF it comes out this year.



]]>Jan 9th 2009 1:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
You know that "beta" means "not final version", right? As in, this is a version just to show you the basics, and there will no doubt be -- gasp -- bugs? Not only that, but good lord are you nitpicky. Shut up, man. Seriously. ]]>Jan 9th 2009 1:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
Paul chapel knows not what he talks (oldyworldy). He's here to publicly bash Microsoft so make you mind up yourself. ]]>Jan 9th 2009 1:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/

]]>Jan 9th 2009 2:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 2:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
I really don't care too much about music on Windows 7 at this point, because I've just been using it primarily for games and my MacBook Pro and OS X for everything else, but by all means post a link for the fix if you have it. I was just pointing the problem out, since it has affected a few people out there.


]]>Jan 9th 2009 2:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 2:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
Battlefield 2142
Unreal Tournament 3
Farcry 2
GTR 2
Nascar2003
Crysis warhead
Tomb Raider Underworld
BF2
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
Splinter Cell - Pandora Tomorrow
Call of Duty 1 & 2 & 4 (single player okay, not sure about net play).


GTA 4 has had problems with users with Radeon Catalyst drivers. Set the compatibility mode to Vista and it should work.]]>Jan 9th 2009 2:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
Nice to see you are still a plagiarist, apparently Apple fanboys still do not have an original idea, not only do they need to copy others but just repeat themselves ad-infinitum, repeating the same tired arguments over, and over and over, and...

I am still waiting for your response to this comment of mine, Paul: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/07/windows-7-beta-64-bit-version-leaked-just-in-time-for-steve-ball/comments/16451653/

I take it your refusal to respond and acceptance that you are not having these problems yourself with Windows 7, indicates that you are just another pathetic Apple fanboy liar.]]>Jan 9th 2009 3:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
http://www.overclock.net/windows/439839-official-windows-7-beta-links.html

X86 and X64 links, working for me! They will be ENG GB though :D]]>Jan 9th 2009 3:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 11th 2009 2:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 4:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Appears to be the 7000 build that got leaked. File downloading from Connect is 7000-0-081212-1400 which would appear to mean build 7000 dated 12/12/2008 2:00PM. Thats just an educated guess though.]]>Jan 9th 2009 5:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/

RedHat FTW]]>Jan 9th 2009 7:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
I'm downloading the 32, but I thought it was the operating system that determines 32 or 64.

Anyone? Thanks.]]>Jan 9th 2009 10:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 11:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 10th 2009 9:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 10th 2009 1:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 15th 2009 3:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
Down with Micro$oft!!!111!1!1111]]>Jan 9th 2009 1:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3204]]>Jan 9th 2009 1:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
Did you get tickets?]]>Jan 9th 2009 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
It was on purpose. If you notice, the letters and logo cross on top of the black lines. It's a single screen.]]>Jan 9th 2009 4:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
Damn there must be a lot of people trying to download this thing. I've been trying all morning.]]>Jan 9th 2009 1:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
Oh, well.. ]]>Jan 9th 2009 1:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
/goes to BitTorrent]]>Jan 9th 2009 2:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
There is still no download link appearing on the official page, which all the MS blogs refer to as the place to go for said download link.

The farthest I have gotten is a page that asks for my info ie email address name etc, and it specifically asks if I am a programmer, engineer, student etc, but nowhere is there just a consumer option.

I've been to three sites now, and the only people who seem to have downloaded it did so via bitorrent, or through the MSDN page.

What I want to know is where did Giz and Engadget get this download link, as I have been through several layers of Windows and Microsoft pages, and haven't found it published anywhere. A google search points to several tech blogs as well, but no official MS pages other then the download page itself. After an hour of hitting refresh for possibly no good reason, yeah I'm a bit cranky. ]]>Jan 9th 2009 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/
But even after getting through that, verifying my email etc, I hit a brick wall at the Key page, with the "Please check back on the next business day" error others have reported.

I'm seriously thinking some sites posted this link before MS was ready, and the servers are getting trampled like that Walmart employee on Black Friday. ]]>Jan 9th 2009 2:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://win7mag.com/?p=107]]>Jan 9th 2009 3:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 5:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/windows-7-beta-goes-public/Jan 9th 2009 1:08PM