Information courtesy of www.winsupersite.com
(This article originally appeared in Connected Home Express on February 22, 2006.)
It's not often that I can easily point to the question I'm most often asked, but these days it's simple: Readers are thinking of buying a new PC and want to ensure that it's powerful enough to run Windows Vista, Microsoft's upcoming OS. Because Microsoft hasn't yet revealed Vista's exact system requirements, customers are afraid that they're going to be somehow locked out of the upgrade if they get the wrong system. A related question, of course, is whether these customers should wait for Vista before upgrading.
That last question is the easiest one to answer. If you need a new PC now, you shouldn't wait. On the flip side, remember that any PC purchase is out of date almost the minute you get it home, because PCs are updated so frequently these days. For example, suppose you just purchased an expensive new Pentium M-based laptop. I've got bad news for you: Intel is now shipping the Core Duo processor, which will replace the Pentium M in the marketplace. Or perhaps you're the proud owner of a new Intel Pentium D-based desktop PC. More bad news: AMD's dual-core chips are more powerful. You know the drill.
As for Vista, here's what we know. Microsoft says, vaguely, that Vista will run on any system that includes a dedicated, DirectX 9-compatible 3D graphics card. Beyond that, Microsoft isn't saying much. However, thanks to my insider contacts and some Microsoft internal documentation, I can tell you exactly what you need to get the best Vista experience. The good news is that you don't have to wait. It's all available right now.
Microprocessor
If you're buying a desktop computer, Vista will work just fine with a 3GHz Pentium 4 processor with HyperThreading, but these days you can't even find such a system. Intel's successor to the Pentium 4, the dual-core Pentium D, is even more powerful, and AMD's dual-core designs are the best yet. Any mainstream microprocessor will form the basis for a great Vista system, so you have no worries there.
Another thing to consider on the desktop side is the x64 processor extensions, which add 64-bit capabilities to the chip and let you run one of Vista's 64-bit versions. I do recommend x64-compatible chips, but those who upgrade to Vista in the next year or so will likely want to stick with the 32-bit Vista versions for the short term. However, going x64 today will ensure that you have the ability to upgrade to an x64 Vista version in the future. All of AMD's mainstream desktop microprocessors are x64-compatible today, as is the Intel Pentium D and certain Pentium 4 versions.
On the notebook side, Microsoft recommends a 1.86GHz Pentium M processor 750 or higher, or an AMD Turion 64 Mobile Technology, Mobile Sempron, or Mobile Athlon 64 processor. Intel has recently switched over to the Core line of processors, so I'd recommend that. The Core Duo features dual-processor cores and will give you the best performance. That said, only AMD offers an x64-compatible mobile processor right now.
RAM
Microsoft says that Vista will run acceptably with 512MB of RAM, but that's a low-ball figure. My personal recommendation is to go with 1GB of RAM or more. Understand that Vista, like all Windows versions, is a RAM hog: It will utilize whatever you throw at it, to the physical limits of the system. Those limits are 4GB for 32-bit systems and 128GB for x64.
Graphics
As noted above, Microsoft says a DirectX 9-compatible 3D video card is necessary to use Vista's gorgeous Aero UI. (Otherwise, you'll see a bland Windows XP-like interface.) However, it's not that simple.
First, most integrated graphics chips (common on notebooks) aren't capable of displaying Aero, although Microsoft is working on making Intel's very latest integrated graphics chipset (available on some Core Duo systems) work with Aero.
The amount of dedicated graphics memory is also important. Although a 64MB graphics card is adequate for a 1024 x 768 display, you'll need 128MB or more for higher resolutions. My recommendation is to get a graphics card—whether it's for a desktop or notebook—that includes at least 256MB of RAM.
Display
Early in Vista's development, Microsoft was touting widescreen displays and noted that Vista would run best on such a system. Although I do believe that widescreen displays offer huge advantages over standard 4:3 aspect-ratio displays, Vista is no longer being architected to work best on such a display. So, virtually any monitor should work, as long as it's capable of 1024 x 768 or better resolution. That said, you'll still be more productive with a widescreen display, and certain Vista features, such as the new Sidebar, actually do work best on a wide screen.
Hard Disk and Storage
Today's PCs—both desktops and notebooks—typically utilized Serial ATA (SATA) hard disks and IDE-type optical drives, and this scenario won't likely change for the foreseeable future, although optical drives should slowly move to SATA as well. As with most system components, faster is always better. Therefore, you should shoot for a 10,000rpm drive on a desktop or a 5400rpm or 7200rpm hard disk on a notebook. With an optical drive, less is more: Get a single rewriteable DVD drive that can read and write to every available optical disk format.
Why Upgrade?
Even when Vista ships later this year, you probably won't want to upgrade. First, Vista will run more slowly than XP does, and it will be less compatible with your hardware and software. Also, you might find some of the changes in Vista jarring. My advice is to hold off on Vista until at least mid-2007. By that time, most of the initial bugs and incompatibilities will have been worked out, and software and hardware makers will finally be directly supporting the new system in droves. That said, I know this advice won't be particularly well heeded: You guys want to upgrade, and you want to do so as soon as possible. Hopefully, this guide gives you all the information you need.
Conor
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Last game of April
The last game this month that I am personally interested in is Black And White II: Battle Of The Gods Expansion Pack.
I enjoyed Black and White II myself and since finding out about this expansion pack, I have been looking forward to it. Lionhead also have an expansion pack for The Movies in the pipeline called The Movies: Stunts and Effects - The Movies was highly underrated last year - but it is one of the most original game of last year!
Conor
I enjoyed Black and White II myself and since finding out about this expansion pack, I have been looking forward to it. Lionhead also have an expansion pack for The Movies in the pipeline called The Movies: Stunts and Effects - The Movies was highly underrated last year - but it is one of the most original game of last year!
Conor
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Internet Explorer Beta 2
Information courtesy of www.winsupersite.com
In January, Microsoft released the Public Preview version of Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0 Beta 2 (see my review), a pre-release version of its next Web browser. The Public Preview was described as feature complete from an end user standpoint, Microsoft says. In March, that product was updated with a refresh build that was described as feature complete for Web developers; the idea was that developers and Web site operators should use that build to test their sites in anticipation of the final IE 7 release, due in late 2006.
Flash forward to this week and Microsoft has shipped IE 7.0 Beta 2. This version isn't hugely different from the previous two pre-release versions, but the product has been fine-tuned quite a bit and is now quite close to the final version we'll see later. In fact, Microsoft is so sure of IE 7.0 Beta 2 that they're actually going to provide free phone support for this version: They want people to use this beta broadly and make sure everything is working properly before the final release. With that in mind, let's quickly examine what features you can expect in IE 7.0, note the changes in Beta 2, and discuss some of the other unique things that are going on around this release.
IE 7.0: The mile-high view
In my review of the IE 7.0 Beta 2 Public Preview, I stepped through most of the major functional changes in this release, so I don't want to simply rewrite that now. If you haven't already, please do read that review before continuing. Everything there still applies, though a very few small UI changes have also occurred.
The short version, however, is that IE 7.0 is a major software release. Unlike both IE 5.x and IE 6.0, IE 7.0 includes both major functional changes as well as major changes under the hood that impact both the security and stability of IE as well as how the product renders Web sites. This can only be viewed as a Good Thing: As I've written, again and again, IE 6.0 pales in comparison to modern browsers such as Mozilla Firefox from a functional standpoint and is, of course, one of the most insecure software products ever created. With IE 7.0, Microsoft seeks to address both of these issues. From my testing of the product this year, it's clear they've done a decent job. IE 7.0 isn't perfect, but it's pretty darn good, and will likely be enough to keep most IE users firmly in the Microsoft camp.
As for major new features, there are many. Some highlights include:
A major UI refresh. The old stacked toolbar approach has been completely overhauled for better or worse. IE 7.0 now features a Vista-style UI with the Back and Forward buttons, the Address Bar, and the search bar aligned along the top of the application, while the tabs and new Command Bar take up most of the second row of UI controls (Figure). Microsoft says that this layout takes up less space than the IE 6 toolbars, which may technically be true. But I think the new layout is less intuitive and point to Firefox's simpler UI as the way things should be done. For example, the navigational buttons in IE 7 are all over the place: Back and Forward are on the top row in the upper left, but Refresh and Stop are in the upper right. And Home is in the second row as part of the Command Bar. In Firefox (and previous IE releases), these buttons are all right next to each other. I find myself constantly mousing around trying to find certain controls in IE 7, and I think a lot of people will face some serious retraining before they get used to the new UI.
Some users might also be put off by the fact that IE 7 hides its application menu by default, but I think this reduces clutter and is ultimately a good idea. To view the menu, press ALT. Additionally, you can also configure IE 7 to display the application menu at all times if you'd like.
Tabbed browsing. Microsoft has finally implemented tabbed browsing in IE 7, and they've done a great job. All the expected functionality is there: CTRL+T opens a new tab, CTRL+W closes the current tab, and IE throws up a warning dialog if you try to close a browser window with multiple open tabs (Figure). IE 7 also adds a few unique features. There's a New Tab button for mouse users. The Close Window button for each tab is located right on the tab, right where God intended (A feature Firefox does not, but should use, and will reportedly be moving to.) And of course, there is Quick Tabs, which is technically a unique feature, but is related, so I'll mention it here (Figure). Quick Tabs let's you visually switch between open Web documents and it's a peach. Expect Firefox to copy it soon.
Integrated search. Like Firefox, IE 7 now features a prominent toolbar-based search box (Figure). Big deal, right? Well, how about this one: Microsoft even lets you easily change the default search engine to your favorite, including Google. And there's none of the stupidity you might suspect Microsoft of engaging in here at all. The company is even maintaining a Web site full of search engine providers so you can pick your favorite search engine easily and get on with life.
Printing advances. How's this for impressive? IE 6 is, perhaps, the poorest application in the world when it comes to printing, as anyone who's printed a Web page can tell you: The rightmost third is often cut off completely, rendering the printout useless. Well, IE 7 turns this equation completely on its head: IE 7 now features one of the very best document printing features I've ever seen, and it's easy to ensure that you print exactly what you want, with or without headers and footers, and with variable margin widths (Figure). It's astonishing.
Favorites Center. Microsoft has replaced its Favorites and History features with the new Favorites Center, which aggregates these two document lists with the new RSS (Real Simple Syndication) support. So from this single interface, you can now access all of your favorite Web sites, your browser history, and your subscribed RSS feeds (Figure).
ClearType. In a somewhat controversial move, Microsoft is enabling ClearType rendering by default, even if the user has not enabled ClearType at the OS level. In the unlikely event that you're not familiar with ClearType, the short answer is that it effectively triples the horizontal resolution of text by using a technology called sub-pixel rendering. ClearType generally improves the readability of text by a wide margin, but some users complain that it makes text look blurry, especially on CRT displays.
Text Zoom. While previous IE versions let you adjust the size of text in Web pages, IE 7 uses an intelligent zoom feature that you will likely find quite impressive. Controlled via a small widget in the lower right corner of the browser window, IE 7 zoom works with both text and graphics and should be a boon to the eyesight impaired (Figure).
Major security features. IE 7 is simply brimming with new security features, and while it will be several months before we know whether this is enough to turn the tide on IE's security ills, you have to at least be impressed by the effort. ActiveX Opt protects your system from virtually all ActiveX controls, ensuring that only those controls you explicitly OK are allowed to instantiate. ActiveX controls and other browser add-ons are managed through the updated Manage Add-ons interface, which now lets you uninstall many ActiveX controls (Figure). The new Phishing Filter protects against dangerous phishing Web sites, which typically masquerade as financial institutions, ecommerce Web sites, and other related sites. Stupidly, the Phishing Filter is optional. This feature should be on by default.
A new Fix My Settings feature triggers an Information Bar alert when you manually change the security settings so as to make the browser less secure (Figure). In a wonderful nod toward actually making IE 7 secure, this Information Bar will not go away until you fix the problem, which I think is fantastic. And the Information Bar makes it silly easy to return the browser to its default, secure state. A Delete Browsing History dialog lets you delete your temporary Internet files, cookies, history, form data, or passwords, all from a single window (Figure). Or, click a single button, and they're all deleted at the same time. Nice.
Platform/developer changes. Microsoft is finally getting around to fixing the many problems that were caused by the horrid rendering engine in previous IE versions. To that end, IE 7 will have better support for Web technologies like Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) 2.1, AJAX, RSS, and transparent PNG images. To help Web site creators combat the resulting compatibility issues, the company is also providing an Internet Explorer Compatibility Toolkit and Internet Explorer Compatibility Evaluator (see below for details).
Enterprise features. IE 7 supports Active Directory (AD) Group Policy, making it highly manageable in corporate networks. This functionality includes controlling unique new IE 7 features like the Phishing Filter.
Again, for more information about most of these features, please refer to my IE 7.0 Beta 2 Public Preview review.
What's new in Beta 2?
So now we've got Beta 2. What's changed since the January and March releases? Well, not much. But that's part of the plan, right? Back in January, Microsoft issued a public preview that it described as "end user complete," so it's not surprising that the UI or feature set hasn't changed dramatically. The March release was described as "Web developer complete," meaning that the features in that release were aimed at content creators and Web site operators that needed to make sure their sites would be compatible with IE 7.
With the final Beta 2 release, Microsoft will be promoting IE 7.0 broadly from its Web site, though the intended audience is still technology enthusiasts. As Microsoft Director of Windows Product Management Gary Schare told me in a recent briefing, "Beta 2 can be broadly used. We think anyone who hears about it and gets excited to test it are the right people. We feel very good about this release."
New to Beta 2 is expanded platform support. While previous pre-release versions of IE 7 only ran on 32-bit versions of Windows XP with SP2, Beta 2 now installs and runs on XP x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 with SP1 as well. The initial release will ship in an English language version only, German, Arabic, and Finnish version will ship May 3, followed by Japanese on May 8.
Also new: Microsoft is providing free phone support for Beta 2 and will provide an in-place upgrade path from Beta 2 (and subsequent interim releases) to the final version of IE 7. Schare told me that this decision highlights how confident Microsoft is in Beta 2. "This is all part of an effort to encourage people to use IE 7," he said. "Even at this stage, we want people to adopt it and use it." Schare said there would be at least a few more interim builds of IE 7 after Beta 2, probably this summer, and that one would likely be called Beta 3. However, we shouldn't expect any major new features before IE 7 is finalized. Regarding the upgrade path: It doesn't apply to Beta 2. If you've installed a previous pre-release version of IE 7, it will need to be uninstalled before you install Beta 2 (the Beta 2 installer automates this process, thankfully).
As for the build itself, there are a few minor UI changes, including some toolbar work and bug fixes. Overall, it's very close to the previous beta builds, but more stable and refined. The installer has been updated somewhat as well and now walks you through a nicer Welcome site in which you can set certain features.
Problems with IE 7.0 Beta 2
Microsoft wants users and Web developers to test IE 7.0 Beta 2 with the Web sites they most frequently visit so they can fix any remaining compatibility issues. Schare told me that a handful of high profile Web sites are still using old fashion user agent string detection technology, which incorrectly identifies IE 7 as IE 2. And of course, some sites will exhibit smaller problems.
When Beta 2 is ready for public download, Microsoft will also issue tools that will help people deal with these incompatibilies. One tool, for example, will let you change the IE 7 user agent string so you can access sites that aren't doing the right thing.
In my own experience with IE 7.0 Beta 2, I've seen few problems. When I tried to publish a book using MyPublisher.com's IE-based client tool, a blank page greeted me during the purchase phase, for example, forcing me to try again with IE 6 on a different system (where, naturally, it worked fine). Other sites, like that for the Mercury News, display incorrectly in IE 7 Beta 2. And some secure Web site, like that for Wells Fargo, still have problems.
IE 7 isn't perfect. It is missing key features that I find essential, though with Microsoft now actively developing IE again, these things could be fixed in a future release. For example, IE 7 lacks the useful inline find and Download Manager features I rely on in Mozilla Firefox. Some features can only be found in the Windows Vista version of IE 7.0. With XP, XP x64, and 2003, you don't get the safer Protected Mode functionality or parental controls that Vista users will enjoy.
Other IE 7.0 announcements
To support IE 7, Microsoft is also announcing the creation of the IE Addons Web site. This site will be similar to the Mozilla Addons Web site that the Mozilla Corporation provides to Firefox users, giving IE users a centralized location for finding add-ons (Figure). The site, which replaces a previous sub-site on Windows Marketplace, will include both Microsoft and third party add-ons, and Microsoft promises you'll see at least a few new add-ons when the site goes live this week (though they will be third-party add-ons, not new Microsoft add-ons). You can access IE Addons via a new shortcut in Favorites.
Schare told me that Microsoft plans to ship IE 7 sometime around the time that Vista is finalized. That's late October 2006, by the way, though he wouldn't pin down the exact date. "It will be out in the market at least 60 days ahead of Vista," Schare said, meaning Vista's January 2007 consumer availability date. "We're confident that we can ship this in the second half of 2006."
Conclusions
Internet Explorer 7 may not be enough to satisfy the demands of the truly technical users who have turned to Firefox, but let's face it, that's not really the audience Microsoft is going after here. IE 7 is a monumental improvement over IE 6 in both security and functionality, and will likely impress most typical Windows users. That audience, of course, is humongous. Since most normal people would never even consider switching from IE (let along understand that such a thing is even possible, let alone potentially desirable), IE 7's improvements are all the more striking. Microsoft could have phoned it in on this release and just improved security and added a few token new features. That they didn't do that, and have instead created a product that actually exceeds my beloved Firefox in a few key areas, says a lot about the integrity of the people working on IE these days. IE 7.0 Beta 2 is stable enough to use on production PCs and servers, and if you're wondering what the future is going to look like, dive right in. Die-hard Firefox users may not see enough to switch back, but everyone else will likely be quite impressed.
My own opinion - I am looking forward to IE 7 - but I am going to wait until the final version.
Conor
In January, Microsoft released the Public Preview version of Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0 Beta 2 (see my review), a pre-release version of its next Web browser. The Public Preview was described as feature complete from an end user standpoint, Microsoft says. In March, that product was updated with a refresh build that was described as feature complete for Web developers; the idea was that developers and Web site operators should use that build to test their sites in anticipation of the final IE 7 release, due in late 2006.
Flash forward to this week and Microsoft has shipped IE 7.0 Beta 2. This version isn't hugely different from the previous two pre-release versions, but the product has been fine-tuned quite a bit and is now quite close to the final version we'll see later. In fact, Microsoft is so sure of IE 7.0 Beta 2 that they're actually going to provide free phone support for this version: They want people to use this beta broadly and make sure everything is working properly before the final release. With that in mind, let's quickly examine what features you can expect in IE 7.0, note the changes in Beta 2, and discuss some of the other unique things that are going on around this release.
IE 7.0: The mile-high view
In my review of the IE 7.0 Beta 2 Public Preview, I stepped through most of the major functional changes in this release, so I don't want to simply rewrite that now. If you haven't already, please do read that review before continuing. Everything there still applies, though a very few small UI changes have also occurred.
The short version, however, is that IE 7.0 is a major software release. Unlike both IE 5.x and IE 6.0, IE 7.0 includes both major functional changes as well as major changes under the hood that impact both the security and stability of IE as well as how the product renders Web sites. This can only be viewed as a Good Thing: As I've written, again and again, IE 6.0 pales in comparison to modern browsers such as Mozilla Firefox from a functional standpoint and is, of course, one of the most insecure software products ever created. With IE 7.0, Microsoft seeks to address both of these issues. From my testing of the product this year, it's clear they've done a decent job. IE 7.0 isn't perfect, but it's pretty darn good, and will likely be enough to keep most IE users firmly in the Microsoft camp.
As for major new features, there are many. Some highlights include:
A major UI refresh. The old stacked toolbar approach has been completely overhauled for better or worse. IE 7.0 now features a Vista-style UI with the Back and Forward buttons, the Address Bar, and the search bar aligned along the top of the application, while the tabs and new Command Bar take up most of the second row of UI controls (Figure). Microsoft says that this layout takes up less space than the IE 6 toolbars, which may technically be true. But I think the new layout is less intuitive and point to Firefox's simpler UI as the way things should be done. For example, the navigational buttons in IE 7 are all over the place: Back and Forward are on the top row in the upper left, but Refresh and Stop are in the upper right. And Home is in the second row as part of the Command Bar. In Firefox (and previous IE releases), these buttons are all right next to each other. I find myself constantly mousing around trying to find certain controls in IE 7, and I think a lot of people will face some serious retraining before they get used to the new UI.
Some users might also be put off by the fact that IE 7 hides its application menu by default, but I think this reduces clutter and is ultimately a good idea. To view the menu, press ALT. Additionally, you can also configure IE 7 to display the application menu at all times if you'd like.
Tabbed browsing. Microsoft has finally implemented tabbed browsing in IE 7, and they've done a great job. All the expected functionality is there: CTRL+T opens a new tab, CTRL+W closes the current tab, and IE throws up a warning dialog if you try to close a browser window with multiple open tabs (Figure). IE 7 also adds a few unique features. There's a New Tab button for mouse users. The Close Window button for each tab is located right on the tab, right where God intended (A feature Firefox does not, but should use, and will reportedly be moving to.) And of course, there is Quick Tabs, which is technically a unique feature, but is related, so I'll mention it here (Figure). Quick Tabs let's you visually switch between open Web documents and it's a peach. Expect Firefox to copy it soon.
Integrated search. Like Firefox, IE 7 now features a prominent toolbar-based search box (Figure). Big deal, right? Well, how about this one: Microsoft even lets you easily change the default search engine to your favorite, including Google. And there's none of the stupidity you might suspect Microsoft of engaging in here at all. The company is even maintaining a Web site full of search engine providers so you can pick your favorite search engine easily and get on with life.
Printing advances. How's this for impressive? IE 6 is, perhaps, the poorest application in the world when it comes to printing, as anyone who's printed a Web page can tell you: The rightmost third is often cut off completely, rendering the printout useless. Well, IE 7 turns this equation completely on its head: IE 7 now features one of the very best document printing features I've ever seen, and it's easy to ensure that you print exactly what you want, with or without headers and footers, and with variable margin widths (Figure). It's astonishing.
Favorites Center. Microsoft has replaced its Favorites and History features with the new Favorites Center, which aggregates these two document lists with the new RSS (Real Simple Syndication) support. So from this single interface, you can now access all of your favorite Web sites, your browser history, and your subscribed RSS feeds (Figure).
ClearType. In a somewhat controversial move, Microsoft is enabling ClearType rendering by default, even if the user has not enabled ClearType at the OS level. In the unlikely event that you're not familiar with ClearType, the short answer is that it effectively triples the horizontal resolution of text by using a technology called sub-pixel rendering. ClearType generally improves the readability of text by a wide margin, but some users complain that it makes text look blurry, especially on CRT displays.
Text Zoom. While previous IE versions let you adjust the size of text in Web pages, IE 7 uses an intelligent zoom feature that you will likely find quite impressive. Controlled via a small widget in the lower right corner of the browser window, IE 7 zoom works with both text and graphics and should be a boon to the eyesight impaired (Figure).
Major security features. IE 7 is simply brimming with new security features, and while it will be several months before we know whether this is enough to turn the tide on IE's security ills, you have to at least be impressed by the effort. ActiveX Opt protects your system from virtually all ActiveX controls, ensuring that only those controls you explicitly OK are allowed to instantiate. ActiveX controls and other browser add-ons are managed through the updated Manage Add-ons interface, which now lets you uninstall many ActiveX controls (Figure). The new Phishing Filter protects against dangerous phishing Web sites, which typically masquerade as financial institutions, ecommerce Web sites, and other related sites. Stupidly, the Phishing Filter is optional. This feature should be on by default.
A new Fix My Settings feature triggers an Information Bar alert when you manually change the security settings so as to make the browser less secure (Figure). In a wonderful nod toward actually making IE 7 secure, this Information Bar will not go away until you fix the problem, which I think is fantastic. And the Information Bar makes it silly easy to return the browser to its default, secure state. A Delete Browsing History dialog lets you delete your temporary Internet files, cookies, history, form data, or passwords, all from a single window (Figure). Or, click a single button, and they're all deleted at the same time. Nice.
Platform/developer changes. Microsoft is finally getting around to fixing the many problems that were caused by the horrid rendering engine in previous IE versions. To that end, IE 7 will have better support for Web technologies like Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) 2.1, AJAX, RSS, and transparent PNG images. To help Web site creators combat the resulting compatibility issues, the company is also providing an Internet Explorer Compatibility Toolkit and Internet Explorer Compatibility Evaluator (see below for details).
Enterprise features. IE 7 supports Active Directory (AD) Group Policy, making it highly manageable in corporate networks. This functionality includes controlling unique new IE 7 features like the Phishing Filter.
Again, for more information about most of these features, please refer to my IE 7.0 Beta 2 Public Preview review.
What's new in Beta 2?
So now we've got Beta 2. What's changed since the January and March releases? Well, not much. But that's part of the plan, right? Back in January, Microsoft issued a public preview that it described as "end user complete," so it's not surprising that the UI or feature set hasn't changed dramatically. The March release was described as "Web developer complete," meaning that the features in that release were aimed at content creators and Web site operators that needed to make sure their sites would be compatible with IE 7.
With the final Beta 2 release, Microsoft will be promoting IE 7.0 broadly from its Web site, though the intended audience is still technology enthusiasts. As Microsoft Director of Windows Product Management Gary Schare told me in a recent briefing, "Beta 2 can be broadly used. We think anyone who hears about it and gets excited to test it are the right people. We feel very good about this release."
New to Beta 2 is expanded platform support. While previous pre-release versions of IE 7 only ran on 32-bit versions of Windows XP with SP2, Beta 2 now installs and runs on XP x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 with SP1 as well. The initial release will ship in an English language version only, German, Arabic, and Finnish version will ship May 3, followed by Japanese on May 8.
Also new: Microsoft is providing free phone support for Beta 2 and will provide an in-place upgrade path from Beta 2 (and subsequent interim releases) to the final version of IE 7. Schare told me that this decision highlights how confident Microsoft is in Beta 2. "This is all part of an effort to encourage people to use IE 7," he said. "Even at this stage, we want people to adopt it and use it." Schare said there would be at least a few more interim builds of IE 7 after Beta 2, probably this summer, and that one would likely be called Beta 3. However, we shouldn't expect any major new features before IE 7 is finalized. Regarding the upgrade path: It doesn't apply to Beta 2. If you've installed a previous pre-release version of IE 7, it will need to be uninstalled before you install Beta 2 (the Beta 2 installer automates this process, thankfully).
As for the build itself, there are a few minor UI changes, including some toolbar work and bug fixes. Overall, it's very close to the previous beta builds, but more stable and refined. The installer has been updated somewhat as well and now walks you through a nicer Welcome site in which you can set certain features.
Problems with IE 7.0 Beta 2
Microsoft wants users and Web developers to test IE 7.0 Beta 2 with the Web sites they most frequently visit so they can fix any remaining compatibility issues. Schare told me that a handful of high profile Web sites are still using old fashion user agent string detection technology, which incorrectly identifies IE 7 as IE 2. And of course, some sites will exhibit smaller problems.
When Beta 2 is ready for public download, Microsoft will also issue tools that will help people deal with these incompatibilies. One tool, for example, will let you change the IE 7 user agent string so you can access sites that aren't doing the right thing.
In my own experience with IE 7.0 Beta 2, I've seen few problems. When I tried to publish a book using MyPublisher.com's IE-based client tool, a blank page greeted me during the purchase phase, for example, forcing me to try again with IE 6 on a different system (where, naturally, it worked fine). Other sites, like that for the Mercury News, display incorrectly in IE 7 Beta 2. And some secure Web site, like that for Wells Fargo, still have problems.
IE 7 isn't perfect. It is missing key features that I find essential, though with Microsoft now actively developing IE again, these things could be fixed in a future release. For example, IE 7 lacks the useful inline find and Download Manager features I rely on in Mozilla Firefox. Some features can only be found in the Windows Vista version of IE 7.0. With XP, XP x64, and 2003, you don't get the safer Protected Mode functionality or parental controls that Vista users will enjoy.
Other IE 7.0 announcements
To support IE 7, Microsoft is also announcing the creation of the IE Addons Web site. This site will be similar to the Mozilla Addons Web site that the Mozilla Corporation provides to Firefox users, giving IE users a centralized location for finding add-ons (Figure). The site, which replaces a previous sub-site on Windows Marketplace, will include both Microsoft and third party add-ons, and Microsoft promises you'll see at least a few new add-ons when the site goes live this week (though they will be third-party add-ons, not new Microsoft add-ons). You can access IE Addons via a new shortcut in Favorites.
Schare told me that Microsoft plans to ship IE 7 sometime around the time that Vista is finalized. That's late October 2006, by the way, though he wouldn't pin down the exact date. "It will be out in the market at least 60 days ahead of Vista," Schare said, meaning Vista's January 2007 consumer availability date. "We're confident that we can ship this in the second half of 2006."
Conclusions
Internet Explorer 7 may not be enough to satisfy the demands of the truly technical users who have turned to Firefox, but let's face it, that's not really the audience Microsoft is going after here. IE 7 is a monumental improvement over IE 6 in both security and functionality, and will likely impress most typical Windows users. That audience, of course, is humongous. Since most normal people would never even consider switching from IE (let along understand that such a thing is even possible, let alone potentially desirable), IE 7's improvements are all the more striking. Microsoft could have phoned it in on this release and just improved security and added a few token new features. That they didn't do that, and have instead created a product that actually exceeds my beloved Firefox in a few key areas, says a lot about the integrity of the people working on IE these days. IE 7.0 Beta 2 is stable enough to use on production PCs and servers, and if you're wondering what the future is going to look like, dive right in. Die-hard Firefox users may not see enough to switch back, but everyone else will likely be quite impressed.
My own opinion - I am looking forward to IE 7 - but I am going to wait until the final version.
Conor
Monday, April 24, 2006
New Windows Vista version!
Information courtesy of www.winsupersite.com
Windows Vista Build 5365 Review
Late Friday night, Microsoft finally posted the Windows Vista interim build I promised was on the way (here and here). Windows Vista build 5365 follows build 5342 (see my screenshot gallery) by almost exactly a month and will be the final interim build Microsoft issues before Beta 2, which is now due May 22, 2006. Build 5365 is a significant improvement over the builds we've seen previously and features one major functional change, which I'll explain below.
Unlike my previous February CTP/Build 5342 review, this will review will be relatively short and will unfold in a single article. But that's mostly because Vista is starting to shape up into its final form and little is changing from build to build. Before getting into a rundown of what's changed in 5365, however, I'd like to address some of the issues I finally raised in part 5 of my February CTP/Build 5342 review, Where Vista Fails. This article, for better or worse, was widely disseminated around the Windows, Mac OS, and Linux communities, debated and dissected. Most people were highly complimentary of the fact that I was able to so concretely criticize Microsoft for its failings. A very tiny minority were disappointed or, in one bizarre case, accused me of baldly trying to drum up readers by taking a controversial stance.
Sigh.
The truth is so much less sensational. I'd been intending to point out Vista's failings for quite some time, actually, and figured the small list of issues I highlighted in that article would simply be a starting point. Oftentimes, it's helpful to step back and take in the big picture. Most of that five-part review is about specific feature changes, but I've been wondering lately whether Windows Vista is meeting the many promises Microsoft has made about this release. In many ways, of course, it does: Windows Vista is, overall, a huge improvement over Windows XP. Obviously.
However, it many ways, the Windows Vista we're going to get late 2006 fails to match the excitement Microsoft generated at the PDC event I described in the review. I get emails virtually every day from people wondering where a certain feature in Vista went. "Is that really the final UI?" they ask, curious why it's not as elegant looking as the UI shown in the "Geeks Bearing Gifts" promotional video. (To be fair, I think the final Vista UI is actually nicer, but I'm just relaying what I hear.)
As I wrote in that article, I don't "hate" Microsoft or Windows Vista. If anything, I care enough about this product and, ugh, even the company, to want them both to be the best they can be. As I noted, I've got lots of good friends there. They're good people, intelligent people. They want customers to be excited about Windows Vista. I have less of a stake in that than they do, of course. I just want you to know the truth about Windows Vista. I'd like it to be great, but if it's not, I'll reveal the warts. That's what I do.
So the reality of Windows Vista, like most things in life, is that there's good and bad. It's not perfect. But it's not a complete dog either. And if the well-timed build 5365 release can be viewed in this context, you'll see that things are indeed getting better for the most part. I don't believe that Microsoft can or will fix all of the problems it faces both internally and with Windows Vista overnight. But I've been heartened by the responses I've gotten about this article from within Microsoft. They care. And they're trying to make Windows Vista better. I think that's about all we can ask.
What's new in build 5365?
Windows Vista build 5365 is largely similar to previous Vista builds. As noted above, there is one major functional change and a variety of smaller improvements. Let's take a look.
User Account Protection (UAP)
In part 5 of my February CTP/Build 5342 review, I eviscerated User Account Protection (UAP) because it's annoying and can often trigger a seemingly endless series of authorization dialog boxes. UAP is, at heart, one of the best things Microsoft could possibly add to Windows. In use, however, UAP is horribly implemented. It's just a disaster.
In build 5365, UAP has changed dramatically. (This is the one major change I noted previously.) However, none of the changes are related to making this feature less annoying. Instead, it's been changed to obviate a potential security vulnerability in the original UAP implementation. Now, UAP consent dialogs open in a new environment called the Secure Desktop (Figure), where most of the screen goes black and only the consent dialog is available. This forces the user to deal with the dialog before doing anything else. So not only is UAP annoying, but now you can't even get something else done until you deal with it (Figure).
My sources tell me that the security team at Microsoft were able to develop a proof of concept cursor spoof attack that hid the real cursor under a fake one, letting exploit code click the Allow button when the user thought they were clicking Cancel. The Secure Desktop environment is the same one utilized by the Windows Logon process when you press CTRL+ALT+DEL to logon to Windows at boot-up, so it's a known quantity and has proven to be quite secure. But its use here is unique and could cause havoc with video drivers for the next few months. Apparently, poorly-written video drivers can cause some funky screen effects during a UAP action--like unwanted resolution changes and blank screens--though I haven't seen this happen personally.
Windows Sidebar
I don't know that this is going to be the shipping functionality, but in build 5365, for the first time, the new Sidebar comes up by default when you logon for the first time, and it loads with three default gadgets, Slide Show, Clock, and Feed Viewer (Figure). Additionally, there are a number of new Sidebar gadgets available by default in this build, including CPU Meter, Currency Converter, Sticky Notes, Stocks, and Weather (Figure).
Shell changes
I'm working with Brian Livingston on a book called "Windows Vista Secrets" for Wiley and one of the things that's been particularly irritating to me is the sheer number of times Microsoft has changed the behavior of the shell in Windows Vista. In build 5365, it's changed yet again. These changes related both to the implementation of virtual folders (also known as both "saved searches" and, simply, as "searches") and the way in which this information is visually represented in the UI. In build 5365, folder windows have been changed again, and in my opinion they're better looking. The Preview Pane area is still located along the bottom of each window, but months after Microsoft gave up on color coding these panes based on the contents of the folder, the company has settled on a softer, light blue color scheme that is actually quite pleasing (Figure).
The leftmost pane in these windows, called Favorite Links, now includes a list of related folder locations, including the occasional virtual folder. However, they don't appear to be context sensitive anymore. Now, you just see Documents, Pictures, Music, Recently Changed, and Searches (previously called "Library") in all of the special shell folders. That's a huge step back from both XP, which had context-sensitive task lists, and from Microsoft's original vision for Vista, which included dynamic lists of related virtual folders. A Folders pop-up pane can be triggered to put the window into a pseudo-Windows Explorer mode, though that was available in the previous two external builds as well.
With the de-emphasis of virtual folders, you won't be surprised to discover that Microsoft is also walking away from the underlying features that would have made virtual folders truly useful. This build's casualty is keywords. Previously, users would be able to view and edit keywords that were related to any document or file in the shell. Now, only Microsoft Office documents will have any keyword support: Microsoft is effectively removing this support from the general Vista shell. Maybe we'll see that feature re-added in Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1, codenamed "Fiji") or Vista R2 ("Vienna"). Probably not.
Games
I mentioned in my previous review that Microsoft's Texas Hold-Em game was missing in action. Apparently, it won't be included in Vista at all because of political sensitivity reasons. However, Microsoft is planning on offering Texas Hold-Em to Vista users in certain locales via a Web download.
Desktop backgrounds and screensavers
No biggie, but build 5365 includes a number of very attractive desktop wallpapers in a number of categories (black and white, light auras, paintings, textures, vistas, and widescreen). There are still a few placeholders here and there, but this build does include a number of new backgrounds (Figure). There are nice solid colors as well, though that functionality debuted in 5342.
Build 5365 also includes two new screensavers, both of which are quite nice. Aurora provides that neat-looking blue and green moving drapes effect (Figure) that Vista shows off during Setup (Figure), while Windows Energy (Figure) goes for an animated blue on blue effect (Figure).
Windows Calendar
Windows Calendar gets a completely new toolbar in build 5365 that is much nicer looking than the pale version in previous builds (Figure). It also loses the bottom-mounted navigational controls (similar to those used in WMP 11 and Photo Gallery), probably because most of the buttons were almost identical. In my opinion, the new UI is both better looking and more respectful of the available onscreen real estate.
Windows Media Player 11
Windows Media Player 11 is shaping up to be a high point in Windows Vista (a beta version of WMP 11 for XP will be available, along with MTV's URGE service, within two weeks). In build 5365, WMP 11 includes a wider range of sample songs, which makes it easier to enjoy the application's visual organizational skills (Figure). I'm quite taken with the ways in which WMP 11 lets you view your music library. Particularly nice are the "stacks" views (Figure) in which related items appear to be visually stacked like real CDs. It's just neat. Media Center should be this nice.
Like WMP 10, WMP 11 can also manage pictures (Figure) and videos (Figure), though it's not really optimal for still images.
Disk Defragmenter
The built-in disk defragmenter in Windows has always gotten a lot of flak because it can only be used to manually defrag the disk (that is, you have to manually find and launch the application). In Vista, the situation is somewhat reversed: Now, Disk Defragmenter is designed to automatically defrag the disk by default (Figure), and you shouldn't normally need to find and launch the application. However, you can of course manually trigger a defrag if you really want to.
Backup and Restore Center
Vista's backup functionality has been overhauled into a new Backup and Restore Center that is both attractive and simple to use (Figure). Now, Backup creates the equivalent of a Virtual Hard Drive (VHD file, just like VirtualPC), when you perform a a full system backup. And you can restore that backup from the new Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This feature is now called CompletePC Backup. If you want to backup specific files and folders, you can use the Files and Folders Backup Wizard which, like CompletePC Backup, is available from the Backup and Restore Center.
Minor changes all around
Throughout the build, there are subtle improvements. There are new icons all around. Windows Paint is more like its XP predecessor (which I actually really appreciate). Help and Support is finally shaping up with new icons and some actual content. And Windows Marketplace, for some reason, is now in the main Start Menu. Performance still isn't great, but the OS install seemed to go by very quickly compared to previous builds, and they've changed the UI a bit. There's probably a lot more, but I've only been using the build for a few days.
Conclusions
Windows Vista build 5365 offers various refinements and improvements compared to previous builds and is a suitable launch point for Beta 2, which will be broadly distributed to the public. Three years after Microsoft began promoting Windows Vista, we're finally at a point where it's just about useable by the general public. That's both exhilarating and infuriating, because I'm curious to see how general XP users react to the changes, though I have to wonder why it's taken so long. But as a slice in time, build 5365 shows concrete progress over previous builds. That's a good thing, even if there are some deeper issues with Windows Vista that may not be addressed until a future Windows release. Many people who have been waiting and waiting to install a prerelease Vista version on their PCs and that wait, finally, is almost over. Stayed tuned: Beta 2 is on the way.
Conor
Windows Vista Build 5365 ReviewLate Friday night, Microsoft finally posted the Windows Vista interim build I promised was on the way (here and here). Windows Vista build 5365 follows build 5342 (see my screenshot gallery) by almost exactly a month and will be the final interim build Microsoft issues before Beta 2, which is now due May 22, 2006. Build 5365 is a significant improvement over the builds we've seen previously and features one major functional change, which I'll explain below.
Unlike my previous February CTP/Build 5342 review, this will review will be relatively short and will unfold in a single article. But that's mostly because Vista is starting to shape up into its final form and little is changing from build to build. Before getting into a rundown of what's changed in 5365, however, I'd like to address some of the issues I finally raised in part 5 of my February CTP/Build 5342 review, Where Vista Fails. This article, for better or worse, was widely disseminated around the Windows, Mac OS, and Linux communities, debated and dissected. Most people were highly complimentary of the fact that I was able to so concretely criticize Microsoft for its failings. A very tiny minority were disappointed or, in one bizarre case, accused me of baldly trying to drum up readers by taking a controversial stance.
Sigh.
The truth is so much less sensational. I'd been intending to point out Vista's failings for quite some time, actually, and figured the small list of issues I highlighted in that article would simply be a starting point. Oftentimes, it's helpful to step back and take in the big picture. Most of that five-part review is about specific feature changes, but I've been wondering lately whether Windows Vista is meeting the many promises Microsoft has made about this release. In many ways, of course, it does: Windows Vista is, overall, a huge improvement over Windows XP. Obviously.
However, it many ways, the Windows Vista we're going to get late 2006 fails to match the excitement Microsoft generated at the PDC event I described in the review. I get emails virtually every day from people wondering where a certain feature in Vista went. "Is that really the final UI?" they ask, curious why it's not as elegant looking as the UI shown in the "Geeks Bearing Gifts" promotional video. (To be fair, I think the final Vista UI is actually nicer, but I'm just relaying what I hear.)
As I wrote in that article, I don't "hate" Microsoft or Windows Vista. If anything, I care enough about this product and, ugh, even the company, to want them both to be the best they can be. As I noted, I've got lots of good friends there. They're good people, intelligent people. They want customers to be excited about Windows Vista. I have less of a stake in that than they do, of course. I just want you to know the truth about Windows Vista. I'd like it to be great, but if it's not, I'll reveal the warts. That's what I do.
So the reality of Windows Vista, like most things in life, is that there's good and bad. It's not perfect. But it's not a complete dog either. And if the well-timed build 5365 release can be viewed in this context, you'll see that things are indeed getting better for the most part. I don't believe that Microsoft can or will fix all of the problems it faces both internally and with Windows Vista overnight. But I've been heartened by the responses I've gotten about this article from within Microsoft. They care. And they're trying to make Windows Vista better. I think that's about all we can ask.
What's new in build 5365?
Windows Vista build 5365 is largely similar to previous Vista builds. As noted above, there is one major functional change and a variety of smaller improvements. Let's take a look.
User Account Protection (UAP)
In part 5 of my February CTP/Build 5342 review, I eviscerated User Account Protection (UAP) because it's annoying and can often trigger a seemingly endless series of authorization dialog boxes. UAP is, at heart, one of the best things Microsoft could possibly add to Windows. In use, however, UAP is horribly implemented. It's just a disaster.
In build 5365, UAP has changed dramatically. (This is the one major change I noted previously.) However, none of the changes are related to making this feature less annoying. Instead, it's been changed to obviate a potential security vulnerability in the original UAP implementation. Now, UAP consent dialogs open in a new environment called the Secure Desktop (Figure), where most of the screen goes black and only the consent dialog is available. This forces the user to deal with the dialog before doing anything else. So not only is UAP annoying, but now you can't even get something else done until you deal with it (Figure).
My sources tell me that the security team at Microsoft were able to develop a proof of concept cursor spoof attack that hid the real cursor under a fake one, letting exploit code click the Allow button when the user thought they were clicking Cancel. The Secure Desktop environment is the same one utilized by the Windows Logon process when you press CTRL+ALT+DEL to logon to Windows at boot-up, so it's a known quantity and has proven to be quite secure. But its use here is unique and could cause havoc with video drivers for the next few months. Apparently, poorly-written video drivers can cause some funky screen effects during a UAP action--like unwanted resolution changes and blank screens--though I haven't seen this happen personally.
Windows Sidebar
I don't know that this is going to be the shipping functionality, but in build 5365, for the first time, the new Sidebar comes up by default when you logon for the first time, and it loads with three default gadgets, Slide Show, Clock, and Feed Viewer (Figure). Additionally, there are a number of new Sidebar gadgets available by default in this build, including CPU Meter, Currency Converter, Sticky Notes, Stocks, and Weather (Figure).
Shell changes
I'm working with Brian Livingston on a book called "Windows Vista Secrets" for Wiley and one of the things that's been particularly irritating to me is the sheer number of times Microsoft has changed the behavior of the shell in Windows Vista. In build 5365, it's changed yet again. These changes related both to the implementation of virtual folders (also known as both "saved searches" and, simply, as "searches") and the way in which this information is visually represented in the UI. In build 5365, folder windows have been changed again, and in my opinion they're better looking. The Preview Pane area is still located along the bottom of each window, but months after Microsoft gave up on color coding these panes based on the contents of the folder, the company has settled on a softer, light blue color scheme that is actually quite pleasing (Figure).
The leftmost pane in these windows, called Favorite Links, now includes a list of related folder locations, including the occasional virtual folder. However, they don't appear to be context sensitive anymore. Now, you just see Documents, Pictures, Music, Recently Changed, and Searches (previously called "Library") in all of the special shell folders. That's a huge step back from both XP, which had context-sensitive task lists, and from Microsoft's original vision for Vista, which included dynamic lists of related virtual folders. A Folders pop-up pane can be triggered to put the window into a pseudo-Windows Explorer mode, though that was available in the previous two external builds as well.
With the de-emphasis of virtual folders, you won't be surprised to discover that Microsoft is also walking away from the underlying features that would have made virtual folders truly useful. This build's casualty is keywords. Previously, users would be able to view and edit keywords that were related to any document or file in the shell. Now, only Microsoft Office documents will have any keyword support: Microsoft is effectively removing this support from the general Vista shell. Maybe we'll see that feature re-added in Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1, codenamed "Fiji") or Vista R2 ("Vienna"). Probably not.
Games
I mentioned in my previous review that Microsoft's Texas Hold-Em game was missing in action. Apparently, it won't be included in Vista at all because of political sensitivity reasons. However, Microsoft is planning on offering Texas Hold-Em to Vista users in certain locales via a Web download.
Desktop backgrounds and screensavers
No biggie, but build 5365 includes a number of very attractive desktop wallpapers in a number of categories (black and white, light auras, paintings, textures, vistas, and widescreen). There are still a few placeholders here and there, but this build does include a number of new backgrounds (Figure). There are nice solid colors as well, though that functionality debuted in 5342.
Build 5365 also includes two new screensavers, both of which are quite nice. Aurora provides that neat-looking blue and green moving drapes effect (Figure) that Vista shows off during Setup (Figure), while Windows Energy (Figure) goes for an animated blue on blue effect (Figure).
Windows Calendar
Windows Calendar gets a completely new toolbar in build 5365 that is much nicer looking than the pale version in previous builds (Figure). It also loses the bottom-mounted navigational controls (similar to those used in WMP 11 and Photo Gallery), probably because most of the buttons were almost identical. In my opinion, the new UI is both better looking and more respectful of the available onscreen real estate.
Windows Media Player 11
Windows Media Player 11 is shaping up to be a high point in Windows Vista (a beta version of WMP 11 for XP will be available, along with MTV's URGE service, within two weeks). In build 5365, WMP 11 includes a wider range of sample songs, which makes it easier to enjoy the application's visual organizational skills (Figure). I'm quite taken with the ways in which WMP 11 lets you view your music library. Particularly nice are the "stacks" views (Figure) in which related items appear to be visually stacked like real CDs. It's just neat. Media Center should be this nice.
Like WMP 10, WMP 11 can also manage pictures (Figure) and videos (Figure), though it's not really optimal for still images.
Disk Defragmenter
The built-in disk defragmenter in Windows has always gotten a lot of flak because it can only be used to manually defrag the disk (that is, you have to manually find and launch the application). In Vista, the situation is somewhat reversed: Now, Disk Defragmenter is designed to automatically defrag the disk by default (Figure), and you shouldn't normally need to find and launch the application. However, you can of course manually trigger a defrag if you really want to.
Backup and Restore Center
Vista's backup functionality has been overhauled into a new Backup and Restore Center that is both attractive and simple to use (Figure). Now, Backup creates the equivalent of a Virtual Hard Drive (VHD file, just like VirtualPC), when you perform a a full system backup. And you can restore that backup from the new Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This feature is now called CompletePC Backup. If you want to backup specific files and folders, you can use the Files and Folders Backup Wizard which, like CompletePC Backup, is available from the Backup and Restore Center.
Minor changes all around
Throughout the build, there are subtle improvements. There are new icons all around. Windows Paint is more like its XP predecessor (which I actually really appreciate). Help and Support is finally shaping up with new icons and some actual content. And Windows Marketplace, for some reason, is now in the main Start Menu. Performance still isn't great, but the OS install seemed to go by very quickly compared to previous builds, and they've changed the UI a bit. There's probably a lot more, but I've only been using the build for a few days.
Conclusions
Windows Vista build 5365 offers various refinements and improvements compared to previous builds and is a suitable launch point for Beta 2, which will be broadly distributed to the public. Three years after Microsoft began promoting Windows Vista, we're finally at a point where it's just about useable by the general public. That's both exhilarating and infuriating, because I'm curious to see how general XP users react to the changes, though I have to wonder why it's taken so long. But as a slice in time, build 5365 shows concrete progress over previous builds. That's a good thing, even if there are some deeper issues with Windows Vista that may not be addressed until a future Windows release. Many people who have been waiting and waiting to install a prerelease Vista version on their PCs and that wait, finally, is almost over. Stayed tuned: Beta 2 is on the way.
Conor
Friday, April 14, 2006
Yet another game!
Today another game hit the stores!
The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff was released.
All in all, it's just 60+ new items with some build mode options. Of course, I am interested in the game and have bought it!
Maxis might be on a roll - but hey - 55 million of us sims players can't be wrong!
Conor
The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff was released.
All in all, it's just 60+ new items with some build mode options. Of course, I am interested in the game and have bought it!
Maxis might be on a roll - but hey - 55 million of us sims players can't be wrong!
Conor
Friday, April 07, 2006
Game of the year hits stores today!
It's finally here!
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Legend has been released.
I, of course bought my copy today in HMV (with exclusive packaging) and immediately made my way home and inserted it into my PS2. After playing it for a few hours, (currently on level 3 - Japan) - it is totally superb!
Official Playstation 2 magazine were extremely correct to give the game a score of 8/10. All I can say - Angel of Darkness didn't even exist!
Conor
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Legend has been released.
I, of course bought my copy today in HMV (with exclusive packaging) and immediately made my way home and inserted it into my PS2. After playing it for a few hours, (currently on level 3 - Japan) - it is totally superb!
Official Playstation 2 magazine were extremely correct to give the game a score of 8/10. All I can say - Angel of Darkness didn't even exist!
Conor
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Macs to run Windows
Information courtesy of http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/apr/05bootcamp.html
Apple Introduces Boot Camp
Public Beta Software Enables Intel-based Macs to Run Windows XP
CUPERTINO, California—April 5, 2006—Apple® today introduced Boot Camp, public beta software that enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP. Available as a download beginning today, Boot Camp allows users with a Microsoft Windows XP installation disc to install Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac®, and once installation is complete, users can restart their computer to run either Mac OS® X or Windows XP. Boot Camp will be a feature in “Leopard,” Apple’s next major release of Mac OS X, that will be previewed at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in August.
“Apple has no desire or plan to sell or support Windows, but many customers have expressed their interest to run Windows on Apple’s superior hardware now that we use Intel processors,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We think Boot Camp makes the Mac even more appealing to Windows users considering making the switch.”
Boot Camp simplifies Windows installation on an Intel-based Mac by providing a simple graphical step-by-step assistant application to dynamically create a second partition on the hard drive for Windows, to burn a CD with all the necessary Windows drivers, and to install Windows from a Windows XP installation CD. After installation is complete, users can choose to run either Mac OS X or Windows when they restart their computer.
Pricing & Availability The public beta of Boot Camp is available immediately as a download at www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp, and is preview software licensed for use on a trial basis for a limited time. The final version of Boot Camp will be available as a feature in the upcoming Mac OS X version 10.5 “Leopard.” Apple does not provide support for installing or running Boot Camp and does not sell or support Microsoft Windows software. Apple welcomes user feedback on Boot Camp at bootcamp@apple.com.
System Requirements Boot Camp requires an Intel-based Mac with a USB keyboard and mouse, or a built-in keyboard and TrackPad; Mac OS X version 10.4.6 or later; the latest firmware update; at least 10GB of free space on the startup disk; a blank recordable CD or DVD; and single-disc version of Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.
Conor
Apple Introduces Boot Camp
Public Beta Software Enables Intel-based Macs to Run Windows XP
CUPERTINO, California—April 5, 2006—Apple® today introduced Boot Camp, public beta software that enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP. Available as a download beginning today, Boot Camp allows users with a Microsoft Windows XP installation disc to install Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac®, and once installation is complete, users can restart their computer to run either Mac OS® X or Windows XP. Boot Camp will be a feature in “Leopard,” Apple’s next major release of Mac OS X, that will be previewed at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in August.
“Apple has no desire or plan to sell or support Windows, but many customers have expressed their interest to run Windows on Apple’s superior hardware now that we use Intel processors,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We think Boot Camp makes the Mac even more appealing to Windows users considering making the switch.”
Boot Camp simplifies Windows installation on an Intel-based Mac by providing a simple graphical step-by-step assistant application to dynamically create a second partition on the hard drive for Windows, to burn a CD with all the necessary Windows drivers, and to install Windows from a Windows XP installation CD. After installation is complete, users can choose to run either Mac OS X or Windows when they restart their computer.
Pricing & Availability The public beta of Boot Camp is available immediately as a download at www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp, and is preview software licensed for use on a trial basis for a limited time. The final version of Boot Camp will be available as a feature in the upcoming Mac OS X version 10.5 “Leopard.” Apple does not provide support for installing or running Boot Camp and does not sell or support Microsoft Windows software. Apple welcomes user feedback on Boot Camp at bootcamp@apple.com.
System Requirements Boot Camp requires an Intel-based Mac with a USB keyboard and mouse, or a built-in keyboard and TrackPad; Mac OS X version 10.4.6 or later; the latest firmware update; at least 10GB of free space on the startup disk; a blank recordable CD or DVD; and single-disc version of Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.
Conor
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