Microsoft is getting serious about Windows 7.
Here is an update from PC Pro.
Visually, Windows 7 looks better than Vista. I see that Microsoft is trying to think about how people use the computer, as opposed to how Microsoft thinks people use computers. That approach may work., but the key issue remains whether the next version of Windows is fast or not.
More than design, I think speed is important. While I enjoy using Windows Vista, and prefer it over Windows XP, I confess that Windows Vista is a turd in a speedboat race.
Yesterday I was restarting a Windows Vista computer after a software update. It took about 3 minutes before I had full control over the computer. The wait was frustrating. Just when it looked like Windows had started (and I use the SideBar as my clue), I couldn’t do anything. The Start menu was only half there, and my program wouldn’t open. That really ticked me off.
Fortunately I had a phone call, so I could do something while I waited for Windows Vista to give me control. Eventually it did, but that wait waxed me. It’s my hope that Windows 7 addresses the speed issue. Otherwise all the fancy dressing means nothing.
The other issue for me is whether I’ll get to write a Windows Vista book or not. Odds are slim that I will get a chance. I have a book on Windows Vista, Finding Gold in Windows Vista, which has had good feedback, but it’s not selling worth squat. The reason probably has more to do with the reluctance of the public to embrace Vista more than it has to do with whether the book sucks. Regardless, I’d like to write a book on Windows 7. But — tell me — are Windows books really necessary any more? Maybe I should write an advanced book? Let me know.
I actually would like a good Windows book that shows how to really do advanced stuff – I find Vista better than any of its predecessors in this regard (ability to choose the services at startup etc – atleast I never found it in earlier releases…). But I’m pretty sure there are lots of tricks in Windows (as in any OS) that could be used to really modify and tweak the system – albeit some that might really screw up if done wrong…
Comment by sriksrid — October 29, 2008 @ 8:57 am
I’d love to write an advanced Windows book. That would be fun. But I also still get requests from people who enjoyed my beginner book, Dan Gookin Teaches Windows 98. They wanted the XP version of that book really bad, but no publisher wanted it. I think there’s still a need for people who want to learn the OS and aren’t getting enough instruction. We’ll see what comes of it. But, yes, a highly technical book would be really fun to write.
Comment by admin — October 29, 2008 @ 9:36 am
I was watching some video from the Professional Developers Conference (or something like that: PDC) and there are definitely some interesting points to Windows 7.
http://wm.istreamplanet.com/customers/ms/750_ms_pdc_081028.asx
What you should write is sort of a streamlined TweakGuide for Windows 7.
http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html
Some of that guide is hard to follow, and I don’t agree with some of his extreme measures.
Comment by jamh51 — October 29, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
Thanks, I’ll check that out.
Comment by admin — October 29, 2008 @ 2:49 pm