I installed the Windows 7 Beta recently and I’m quite pleased so far, keeping in mind that it is a Beta release.
Three things are noticeably absent per Microsoft strategy which include a built-in Email client, Windows Photo Gallery, and Windows Movie Maker. The Microsoft plan is to make the OS leaner and to allow the user to use their own programs.
By going to the Windows Live Essentials site, you can download replacements plus other goodies.
The installation went quite smoothly with Windows 7 recognizing all hardware without any driver installation required. My HP & Epson have basic printing functionality but I haven’t tried installing the full drivers yet. Consequently, there is no TWAIN functionality but I can still scan. If you open the “Printers” folder and right-click the printer and select “Start scan” you can scan. It’s basic but works for now. Update – I just installed the full HP Vista driver for my HP 6310 AIO printer and it works perfectly with Windows 7.
Windows 7 also complains mildly about my Nvidia video card but it performs just fine. Update – I just installed the Nvidia 9600 GT Vista video drivers and everything went smoothly.
Here are some initial observations – more details will be added periodically:
- There is no default Quick Launch toolbar although it can be added. Microsoft changed the philosophy of the Quick Launch/Taskbar performance but you can revert to the Quick Launch toolbar if desired. To do this, right-click the Taskbar and select Toolbars, New Toolbar and enter the following as one line into the Folder Name box at the bottom:%userprofile%AppDataRoamingMicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick Launch
- There is more control over the Notification Icons. Right-click the Taskbar and select Properties. Next, look for the Customize button in the Notification area.
- You can customize the icon size on the Taskbar plus customize other features – just go to the Taskbar Properties.
- Jump Lists have been added – for example – right-clicking on the IE icon on the Taskbar opens a list of “Last Visited” sites. This list is also available by left-dragging upwards with the mouse (great for touch screens). This feature doesn’t appear to work with Firefox.
- You can “Pin” an item to the Taskbar as well as to the Start menu.
- Gone are the usual “Close”, “Restore”, etc. items when you right-click an icon on the Taskbar. To see these options you have to Shift-Right-click.
- Don’t forget to open the Control Panel, select the System icon and Activate Windows 7 Beta. According to Microsoft, you lose some functionality after 30 days if you do not activate.
- Here’s a shocker – my bank would not let me go online with the Windows 7 Beta browser which is IE 8. A 30-second installation of the latest Firefox fixed that.
- If you have either a DVD or CD .iso file that needs burning just double click on the file and a small burning applet will appear.
- To create a Repair Disk, click Start and enter the following into the Search box: “Create a System Repair Disk”. Even better, for more options, open Control Panel and select Backup and Restore. Next, select Create a system image and you will have options to use a DVD or internal or external hard drive. See the figure below.
- You can do without the Show Desktop icon now since you just have to hover your mouse on the little vertical bar at the far right of the Taskbar for a temporary view of the Desktop. Click it for a permanent view.
- This is an Internet Explorer 8 thing but since it’s included with Windows 7, I thought I’d mention it. When you close IE 8, it remembers which pages, Tabs, etc. were open and reopens to the same exact conditions next time. Of course you can change this option to reopen with just your Home page open.
Another new feature in Windows 7 is Libraries. Since there is such a good explanation here, I thought I’d just reference it. I will mention something that’s not obvious – how to add additional folders to a Library. A shortcut to open your Library is to press the Windows key + E. You will find more information about using Libraries with HomeGroups here. If you forget your HomeGroup password, go the the Network and Sharing center and look for the “Joined” link. Select it and a new window will open. Next, select the link titled View or print the HomeGroup password.
- To add a folder to the default Library, right-click a Library item such as Documents and select Properties. Click the Include Folder button to add an additional folder.
- To add a folder to a Library that you created, right-click the Library item, click Properties and use the Include Folder button.
There are several links on my web site with more Windows 7 information.
So far, Windows 7 seems more responsive than Vista and has a smaller footprint both in Ram and disk space.
By the way – I’m editing all of my Blogger Posts with Windows Live Writer. This programs claims it will work with other blogging sites also. It’s much easier to edit this way. There are still some things that you must do at the Blogger site.
See the What’s New site at MIcrosoft