Journal of Post-Ralphaelite Thought

I downloaded the Windows 8 Consumer Preview today and just spent the last several hours playing around with it. It's ....interesting. Now, granted, Microsoft has taken pains to emphasize this is a Beta release (they have a cute lil' "Beta" fish on the start up screen to remind us), and also is careful to point out much could change between now and whenever they end up releasing this thing.  And having messed about with it, I'd bet money they will, since its current iteration will not win it many fans. It's ....interesting. And "interesting" is not the same as good. If you don't believe me, next time your significant other makes dinner and asks how you like it, say, "It's ....interesting." You'll find it scores you no points. For whatever reason, Microsoft has decided to drag out it's clunky, horsey-looking Windows Mobile interface (now apparently re-name "Metro") and attempt yet again to sell it to the ...

According to OSNews ( your source for all the latest operating system news ) Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions will come with what Microsoft is calling XP Mode, which promises to give you absolute compatibility with Windows XP for any applications that don't play nice with Windows 7. This will be accomplished by making available a fully integrated and licensed copy of Windows XP SP3 in a VirtualPC-based environment. Currently, VirtualPC is a free download from Microsoft -- what's new here is the inclusion of a legal copy of XP. This sounds like an interesting approach to the thorny issue Microsoft faces every time they introduce some major changes to underlying operating system architecture -- how to support the old stuff out there without grunging up the new OS? One concern I'd have about this approach is this: how much overhead will running XP in a virtualized environment generate? I've played with running XP this way and face it, your poor c...

I've been playing with the Windows 7 Beta on and off for a couple of months. It's not bad. Now word (including release dates) about Windows 7 RC1 has begun to leak onto the 'nets. According to Ars Technica and ZDNet , RC1 (release candidate 1) will be available some time in May, and will expire on June 1, 2010. Unlike the usual unsubstantiated rumors, Ars Technica grabbed a screenshot off the Microsoft website from a page subsequently pulled. The screenshot is visible at the Ars Technica link above. Although there have been some tweaks to the User Interface , hardware requirements have not changed much from the Beta: 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor or higher 1 GB of system memory or more 16 GB of available disk space Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (to enable the Aero theme) DVD-R/W Drive Once released, the beta will be generally downloadable through June 2009, with no limits to the number of product keys.

Okay, I'm always up for fun. So, as previously noted, I downloaded the new Windows 7 beta, both 32 bit and 64 bit editions. The 64 bit edition went on the young padawan's honkin' big gaming box: Athlon 6000 3 gHz 64 bit dual core processor, 4 GB memory, 512 MB video card. His initial reaction: "It's ridiculously awesome." He's already told me to hold off buying a laptop for college as long as possible since he wants Windows 7 on it, not Vista. I have to say, with Aero effects (possible with the badass video card) there is some cool looking stuff -- such as previewing windows as you switch between apps -- and if you like eye candy, you'll love this shit. On his machine, it runs well: no lock ups or crashes or other signs of instability. He did find, however, after buying a new Zune 120 that the Zune drivers are not ready for prime time, and have caused him some degree of pain. Still, he's happy. I installed the 32 bit version on a (relatively) ol...

Okay, call me an idiot, but I just downloaded the Windows 7 beta, which is available to the first 2.5 million interested parties. Actually, I did this twice: once for the 64-bit version (for youngest son) and once for the 32-bit version (for me). We're both planning on installing on spare hard drives - him on his faster-than-shit gaming box, and me with my old(er) Athlon 2800 box (I do have a faster machine, but it's a Linux box and shall stay that way). First thing I noticed was that you had to download with IE so you could use some Microsoft download manager ActiveX components. I was tempted to try going in with Firefox and Linux but I decided I was more interested in just getting on with it. You also need to have registered with Microsoft (which I'd already done). Once you've satisfied their insatiable curiosity (thank god there is not an ActiveX component that does anal probes) you choose whether you want the 32-bit or 64-bit version, and are taken to a page where y...