Category: Geeks r Us
Part 1- Introduction and background: The change of Attitude
It was in October of 2008 that I began testing Windows 7, delving into every crevice of the operating system I could find. I have heard of Windows 7 the previous summer, and testing it just as Vista gave me new hope and excitement. At the time, I only knew the backgrounds of Windows 7 - everyone was speculating what this "new wonder" would become.
Months rolled by, and even when I first began testing build 6801 of the Operating System, it became something I ran full-time. Sure, there were times when I lost my Spanish test due to JAWS and other screen readers crashing, and occasions when Windows got a blue screen out of nowhere - but it seemed solid and stable enough from the start. Unlike with the first Windows Longhorn preview I tested (build 5048) in may 2005, build 6801 of 7 had a lot of the planned functionality already carved out, although it be unfinished work. We saw the Windows Health center be renamed to action center, for example.
The beta testing for 7 was a lot smoother than for any previous Windows version. I think we can finally say that Microsoft has learned an important lesson in software development.
Today, I hold 12 DVDs in my hand: Each representing a fabric of time. Windows 7 builds 6801, 6956, 7000, 7048, 7057, 7068, 7077, 7100, 7127, 7137, 7201, and now the final 7600. One build which I tested but did not burn to disk was 7260.
Most of these have reviews associated with them. But to be quite honest, 70% of these builds only included bug fixes and no major UI changes. Yes, Windows 7 was that carved out from the start. Or was it?
Let's go back in time to that July 2008 article where I tried sketching 7 out myself: What's in there really at a glance? Did it end up the way most thought it would?
"1. Multi-touch/sense capabilities:
Everything today is going touch-screen. You see the iPhone, and various other smartphone models, which use hand gestures and tapping sequences to give commands. In deed, this is more flexible for many, and I understand that. With windows 7, everyone will receive better handwriting and probably, more motion-sensing capabilities."
This one is absolutely true! Windows 7 includes touch capabilities. All of these simply enhance the experience of using your computer, since you can interact using your fingers!
"2. Take your data anywhere with Windows live!
Let's just face it. The Internet is everywhere now a days. In shops, in the airport, and in some cases on the airplane. You can always get online. And with Windows live integrated totally into Windows 7, you will be able to take your own personalized settings on the go. This simply means signing into your account and your homepage, desktop schemes, and other settings would be the same on any computers on which you can access your live account.
This is a very nice feature, as any consumer can virtually have the same familiar home experience and feel anywhere."
This one isn't intirely true. If anything, Windows Live is offered as downloadable products in Windows 7, rather than built into the interface. There are advantages and disadvantages to that. At least space isn't being taken up on a DVD or a person's computer by Live products which someone might not need. Yet users, like myself who have dial-up, can have difficulties obtaining live products.
Windows Movie Maker, Mail, and Photo Gallery are no longer included in Windows. (hint: If you have enabled hidden files and folders in Folder options, you can find winmail.exe in program files/windows mail). Generally, though, you would want to grab Windows Live Essentials after install.
"Under the hood, paint and other applications are being remade. Calculator, for example, includes a statistics mode. Paint has also been re-designed, including more 3d graphics."
This one is ABSOLUTELY true! Calculator has been remade, though I suppose nobody thought ribbons for Windows would come in there as a new evolution to menus. Paint and wordpad both use seenic ribbons to enhance your experience.
"My main concern with windows 7 comes in with the new desktop / start menu and the accessibility which we, as blind people, will be given to this environment. The truth be told, the desktop now has various 3d visualizations, and also the ability for a person to display both recently opened items as well as the desktop. A user can hover over the desktop and see the items which are in each folder."
Not much concern here - The start menu works fine, although the classic menu has been removed. Perhaps that's the biggest criticism point I find in 7, since I was a fan of the classic styles.
"Microsoft is building a new kernel system design, called Min Win, which is a shrunk and basic version of the current windows kernel and system. Min win only takes up around 100 MB of space, rather than consuming gigs of storage. Windows Vista server is supposed to utilize this new technology as well. Various sources tell me, however, that the idea of WinMin will not be implemented into Windows 7: We will continue on with the same old kernel with the same old size, which will dramatically increase after all these nice visual effects are designed..."
This is an interesting one. Min Win is and has been part of Windows since Vista, although it be smaller chunks of it. Seeing the speed and lightweight stability, Min Win is probably still under development, and has progressed well in Windows 7. (yes, the final DVD is around 2.33 GB, a .5 GB decrease from the DVD size of Vista. Thank god my predictions of a slow OS didn't come true!)
On to part 2: Discover Windows 7 features in depth: What has changed in Control panel? What about the layout of Windows? Any new keyboard shortcuts? New ways of getting to places?
part 2 - Changes within Windows
part 3 - Application changes /improvements: The Evolution is here!
part 4 - My Final Windows 7 accessibility Testing (FWAT)
part 5 - The Competition Market
part 6 - Windows 7 Frequently Asked Questions, for both the sighted and visually impaired
part 7 - Final thoughts and Conclusions
Odd, I've got 7100. Do I have to go to the MS page again, and download the .iso, of it, put it on my jump drive, and install over my 7100 copy?
hello,
7600 has been released to manufacturers only. Although I do not encourage piracy to readers, you can always download it online by any method you choose (It is not released on Microsoft's Windows 7 site). 6.1.7600.16385 is the final copy and when Windows 7 goes out to general availability on October 22, you will probably see this build in stores.
For now, there are no ways to activate the RTM. You can run it for 30 days (un-activated) for free and re-arm your activation by typing slmgr.vbs -rearm in a command prompt when it expires. You can re-arm 3 times, so up to 90 days of usage. After the retail release, you will be able to buy a product key for the edition of Windows 7 you are running and have a genuine copy.
-Tomi
Ah nice. thanks very much as always.
This is excelent. Any chance parts 2-7 were ever written? RTM 7600.16385 looks promising for sure.
hmm cool thank for information but where i can go to listen audio potcast about windows 7 final?
or can you do a audio potcast for this once? i wanna hurt about that
thanks
ok... part 2 is being written as we speak. As for an audio podcast... good idea. Perhaps I'll make one this weekend. :)