Reason for rant….. as mentioned before on this blog I am a host for the windows 7 launch parties. Now today I got wind that Kaspersky, Panda and Norton were offering free 1 year licenses for their internet security products. Great I though, never 1 to miss out on a good freebie especially as only earlier today I was considering installing an internet security suite rather than rely on windows firewall and windows security essentials to protect me.

Only one problem, the companies concerned seem to have forgotten there is a whole planet full of countries outside of the USA. Panda’s offer is currently down, Norton apparently gave out codes that only seemed to materialise in the USA versions of the party packs and Kaspersky appear to have harvested only USA based hosts e-mail addresses and are cross checking any applications for a license against that database.

So to all those companies, and to anyone else who seems to think the world starts and ends with the USA (rather than just the wars that start and end with them), may I direct you HERE where you can behold some of those many other countries in all their glory!

I’ve been using Windows 7 as my main operating system since the RC was released and I had a look at a couple of the betas too. However, thanks to the windows 7 launch party, I’ve also been running the final relase for the last week. But is it any good. I’ll be looking at some of the features, new and old

Desktop

The desktop has a totally new look and feel about it with the taskbar undergoing a complete redesign. Applications can now be pinned to the taskbar in a replacement for the quicklaunch bar and clicking their icon will lauch the application. Running applications are now depicted by their icon alone (though there is the option to revert to a more old school task bar if you prefer. The new taskbar also automatically creates keyboard shortcuts for the applications pinned to it which can be launched by pressing windows+number key where number key is the number the icon is along the taskbar (win+1 will launch the first application, win+2 the second and so on)

The new windows 7 desktop

The desktop also now sports the option to add gadgets anywhere to it rather than just limited to a sidebar like in windows vista. Perhaps the coolest new feature of the desktop is the addition of slideshow backgrounds. You can now have the desktop run a slideshow of pictures from your pictures library (more on libraries in a bit) or any other location and it will automatically change the background every few minutes/seconds or however long you want. Why pay £50 for a digital photo frame when your PC can do the job on a much bigger screen!

Homegroup

Most homes these days have more than 1 PC. Windows 7 simplifies the sharing of files, media and even printers across all devices on the network with the homegroup. You simply add the PCs you want to the homegroup using a password and then all devices in that group share files, media and the printer. It will also stream media to devices such as the xbox and even the PS3. By sharing the printer this eliminates the need to buy a wifi or other network enabled printer

Windows 7 Homegroup

Libraries

Files such as documents, pictures, videos and music are now organised into libraries rather than folders. A library can span multiple folder locations on the hard drive but still display the files as though they are in one folder making it easy to access all your files of a specific type, wherever they are.

A library spanning 2 folders

Virtual Operating Systems

An inclusion in the higher end versions of windows 7 (ultimate/professional/business) is a virtual environment for a second OS and a fully licensed version of windows XP to use in this environment

Setting up a new virtual machine

Once the virtual machine is setup it is a fully functioning genine copy of windows XP. The following picture shows the machine running and passing windows genuine validation.

Genuine windows XP passing validation

As mentioned above, this feature is only available in the higher end versions of windows 7 (home premium being the main version excluded) and will only work if your PC’s processor supports the virtualisation elements it requires.

Experience index

Experience index, whilst widely being a bit of a pointless number, is a back. To make way for new hardware advances since the release of vista the scale has been regraded with a new maximum score of 7.9. As before anything over 3.0 should be able to enjoy all the features of windows vista and my netbook that has a score of 2.0 is running it quite nicely with aero turned off.

Windows 7 Experience Index

Conclusion

There is too much that is new in windows 7 to discuss in this post without me being here all day. This hopefully summed up some of the main new features. Windows 7 is a huge improvement on vista and anyone who can upgrade should do so. Windows 7 is available from amazon.co.uk and many other retailers

Opened the free pack of cards today to discover something very wrong with my 10 of diamonds. Not sure I’d manage much bluffing in poker with this card

Actually it is pretty good as I get a free copy of windows 7 ultimate edition. Not good for microsoft/amazon though as I then cancelled one of my pre-orders as I only need two copies. Windows 7 is also pretty good though after the debarcle affectionately known as “fucking windows vista asking me to confirm if I want to click the mouse 800 times before it fucking well goes and does it” that isn’t hard!

In a good move as well you no longer have to choose whether you want 32 bit or 64 bit discs as both are included.

We’ve been running the release candidate version for a while now and are pretty impressed with it compared to vista. European customers will need to obtain a web browser and put it on a disc or a memory stick before installing windows 7 as Microsoft have removed internet explorer from the european editions in line with competition law. There are many people who would view the absence of internet explorer in the OS as a very good thing!!

EDIT The limited price discount offer seems to have finished now. However pre orders are still available just at the full price (however with amazon and their price guarantee you will pay the lowest price between your pre-order and the release)