Windows 7 Beta - One Month In, What Do We Know Now?

It’s been about a month since we loaded version Microsoft Windows 7 Beta version 7000 (official Microsoft Windows 7 Beta) on our test computers here at the office.

I thought it might help people if I shared a list of what seems to work, what has problems and what we did to get things going.  Here is our list and our install notes.

At the end of the article we give our top tips for Microsoft Windows 7 Beta Compatibility for your applications and games.

If you have any additions, things you’d like us to test or problems, please use the comments and we’ll get you an answer on every single item. Continue Reading

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It’s been an interesting day.  I’ve had a job related assignment to review online backup services including the free backup online and online data backup services that you’re starting to see advertised now more and more heavily.

We tested three well known online backup service products on Windows 7 and Windows Vista SP2.  The results were not pretty.  I found I could not recommend any of them.  In fact, they were so new and so unfinished, that I am not allowed to even name them or discuss them here.

I posted as much on a message board (forum) I hang out on and got a response in just a few minutes that I should try Mozy.  Good call. Continue Reading

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AVG, my personal absolute best pick for Antivirus and Anti Spyware for Windows 7 / Vista suffered an attack on their website which as of this writing is still not repaired. I’ve attempted to reach the contacts their and let them know, but nobody is answering the technical contact telephone number.

In addition to modifying the home page, they have disabled all the downloads and insterted a . in front of the clickable links for trial download of AVG 8.

They are a high profile target to be sure and they are certainly not the first anti virus antispyware company to be hacked. Their products are still the best I’ve ever used and on Windows 7, not a single bug, not a single problem and all third party applications report the system as clean as well.

I still highly (yes my mother uses it) reccomend their AVG 8 for Windows Vista and Windows 7 Beta.

See if it’s still hacked and if not, download the NEW AVG 8 FREE TRIAL becuase it’s fantastic! AVG WEBSITE

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Having just installed Windows 7 Beta ,  I wanted to install my favorite applications that included Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Fireworks. I noticed that they have a new version CS4 and downloaded the trial to test them out.

Unfortunately none of the individual trial software packages would install. I tried Dreamweaver CS4 and Fireworks CS4 and they both fail about halfway through the installation.

I really wanted to try it the Adobe CS4 for versions so I downloaded them from a torrent site.  Stripped of their Adobe installation software they ran fine.  Attention Adobe: Get an instant upgrade of 20% or better in your software’s over all performance by outsourcing your install script to torrent freaks.  Oh yeah and the bonus is that your software will install on anything that can spin a fan.

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Attention Microsoft: We Don’t need 6 versions of your product.  We need at most two versions that work very well.

We got 6 versions of Vista and that was a nightmare.  I really just want one version of Windows 7 and that should be the best version.  After all, you don’t want people to experience less than the best when running Microsoft Windows right?  I mean, you really want people to be loyal, love it and potentially respect it the morning after they get their copy from the torrents. Continue Reading

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Microsoft confirmed that there will be no updates to Windows 7 Beta until final release accoring to Steven Sinofsky, Windows Dev Chief, at Microsoft.

Sinofsky emphasized in his new post that Microsoft is not sharing any new ship date targets for Windows 7.  Microsoft will release a private beta to developers and hardware manufacturers a minimum of 10 minutes before they ship it to the general public.   The RC will be”Windows 7 as we intend to ship it,” Sinofsky blogged. More about the RC from his post:

“We will continue to listen to feedback and telemetry with the focus on addressing only the most critical issues that arise. We will be very clear in communicating any changes that have a visible impact on the product. This release allows the whole ecosystem to reach a known state together and make sure that we are all ready together for the Release to Manufacturing. Once we get to RC, the whole ecosystem is in “dress rehearsal” mode for the next steps.”

Microsoft refuses to comment on the release date saying that it will be before 2010.  Most insiders predict a fast track release and the internal pressure is mounting to get the Windows Vista that we all thought we bought out the door as quickly as possible.

The question is:  Will Microsoft’s strategy for fixing the ‘world worst software release’, Vista, be to rush Windows 7 out the door to soon also?

So far I have to say that the answer is, Windows 7 is ready right now.  There is not one thing I do in business or for my entertainment that is not working under Windows 7 Beta right now.  For me, it’s a complete environment and production ready.  Is it perfect?  No.  I’m no Microsoft fan boy.

My guess for a reasonable release date would be August/September.

The currently released beta expires in July right?  So with no further update planned, how big a gap would you leave if you were Microsoft?  I’m thinking that a release in the July time frame would be the final RC and that would take care of the beta expiration problems.

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There are now three Antivirus / Anti-Spyware solutions approved by Microsoft for use with the Microsoft Windows 7 Beta 1 test program:

1. Avg 8 For Windows 7
2. Kaspersky 8 Windows 7 Beta Preview
3. Symantec Norton 360 v3 pre-release (beta)

After Hands on Testing Inlcuding Spyware and Virus Removal Here Are My Short Takes On Each:

AVG v8 for Windows 7 Beta and Windows Vista

This is the only one of the group that’s actually fully released.  I trust this solution because it was able to find and resolve a few things that other products didn’t.  It doesn’t feel like anything is running on your computer at all.  It never bothers you and it does it’s job very well without needing you to manage it.  It’s focused on protecting your PC and it does it very well. Continue Reading

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A while back I posted on testing the Windows 7 Beta 1 release to developers and how incredibly great it is.  Yes, It’s still much better than Microsoft’s Windows Vista SP2 Beta.

I got some good news from AVG on current owners of AVG Version 7. Many Current AVG 7 Anti-Virus and Internet Security customers will be able to upgrade for FREE to AVG 8 Anti-Virus including Microsoft Windows 7 Antivirus Compatibility. Continue Reading

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Sorry, did I say “crap”. Yeah well I needed a stronger word! Even “crap” isn’t enough to express my angst.  There are times when the word “disappointed” just doesn’t say everything you feel.

1) It sounds like low fi AM radio quality sound

2) There is NO EQUALIZER!  What?

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If I worked in corporate IT (wait.. I do!) I’d never allow or support the Vista SP2 update.  I’d wait a couple months, certify Microsoft Windows 7 and be glad I skipped a step along the way.  From what I can see it’s a step worth skipping to create a step worth taking.  Windows 7 will lower your Microsoft Windows support burden significantly due to it’s wide hardware compatibility right out of the box and it’s really easy and advanced self diagnostics. Continue Reading

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