Windows Se7en’s User Experience

 

Preface

As mentioned in the earlier post, I’ll update with my user experience towards the Windows 7 Operating System (OS).  My comparisons are basically between Windows XP and Windows 7 as I never (or seldom) use Windows Vista.  Currently I’m using the latest RC Escrow (pre-release candidate) build 7077 of Windows 7.

Fresh Install or Upgrade

This section is basically for Windows Vista or earlier Windows 7 version where upgrading is possible. Sorry for Windows XP’s user as this is not an option for you!!  My observation is

• Upgrading take really long time if your previous OS have a lot of programme.
• Clean install is faster than upgrading if you do not mind reinstall all the software and configuring your system again.

 

Device’s Driver

Installation of driver is tweak in build 7077 making it slightly faster than build 7068 (which contribute to faster fresh install speed). 

 

Window’s Graphic User Interface (GUI)

This is the most dramatic part that you will notice starting from the installation process.  Once you finish testing your machine performance by rating it, aero peek will be activated (hopefully).  What is aero peek?  Well refer to the picture below :    

Hover your mouse to the opened programme in the taskbar, active thumbnail will show up for the relevant programme and once pointed on it all the opened window will become translucent (only the pointed thumbnail window will be shown).  Apart from the nice effect of it, it is really convenient as you can close the tab or window from the thumbnail itself. 

 

Desktop Gadget

This is initially called sidebar in Windows Vista but renamed to desktop gadget in Windows 7.  The reason for this is Microsoft finally tweak the tool to be more flexible.  You can move the gadget all around the desktop.  However, thing to be noticed is that enabling desktop gadget need some additional RAM to be burned (around 100mb for 5 Gadgets).

 

Networking

Ahh… the most annoying part in configuring a new system.  Surprisingly, Windows 7 make everything as easy as 123.  The new wizard make home networking very very easy even for person with limited networking knowledge.  The setting up process took me less than 5 minutes with minimal user input (most of the things are automatically configure by window).    

 

Multiple Monitor

For laptop user or multiple monitors user this is basically the best tool so far.  You can easily extend or duplicate your monitor.  A simple shortcut of window+P called up the utility.  A sample of my extended desktop is shown below. 

As you can see I dedicated my smaller laptop screen for all the gadgets and live messenger while the bigger screen as my main display.

 

Features On/Off

This new function allow most of the windows function to be turn off.  For example Internet Explorer, tablet pc function, games, etc.

 

Updates

• Seems like build 7077 will not be the public release candidate as build 7078 and 7079 had been compiled.
• Latest version of Kaspersky Internet Security 8 for Windows 7 will caused window explorer to be unresponsive.
• Please be caution when disabling IE as some of the application still dependent on it.
• Windows 7 release date revised to early September 2009

Edinburgh’s Future Transport

 

This is the scene if you arrived Edinburgh City in this time of year. Ahh blocked with major barrier due to city tram upgrading process.

   Some information on where are the planned stop for the future tram services.  Apparently the tram line run from the harbour till the airport. 

The much annoying construction process.

How the tram will look like in the year 2011 when it officially run.

Another photo showing the model tram.

Lastly a photo of a funny guy. This guy posed for me when I'm taking the model tram picture.

Brain Surgery

Ahh the day to celebrate indeed, finished all of my coursework and my laptop got a new brain.  After utilising the original hard disk for almost 3 years.  I think it is the time for it to retire as primary hard disk. 

 

As usual, I ordered my parts (160Gb SATA 7200rpm and SATA enclosure) at Ebay.  The replacement process is quite straight forward as a no brainer also can do it.  The hardest part is to reinstall all the stuff.  For this part, I’m choosing a dual boot option where Window XP and Window 7 will be installed.

 

   

So far the next generation OS (window 7) performance is quite remarkable.  The install time is half of Window XP as the native driver included is quite sufficient.  I only need to download my graphic driver through window update and the rest come as native interface.

 

The installation of some software didn’t seems successful in window 7 but no worry the OS can run the programme in compability mode which solve all of my problem so far.  This is the likely scenario for using a beta software (in fact mine is close to RC version which is 7068) as support from manufacture is still unavailable.    

I’ll further update my user experience as time come but so far I really like the new GUI and the stable performance from window 7. 

Internet Explorer 8

Ahh after the official released (19 March 2009) and the marketing heat make by M$ itself, I finally give it a try.  Below is my personal experience in using IE8 and it has no intention in causing defamation (LOL!!!)

The good thing about the browser:

New accelerators tool is really cool and it certainly will made your work much faster by just a right click.  However, until now the M$ add-on site still lack of programme that support the accelerator function leaving you with the basic window live add-on.

Another thing noted is the web slice function which update your chosen or favourite page almost every time even your didn’t execute IE8.  This is great for site like weather forecast, Ebay, Blog page, etc.  Ahh the down side of this is you got the function built in your browser but your favourite page code is not updated to use it (how sad it is T_T).  This is the likely scenario as the browser is just released and webmaster need time to implement their page with the new IE8.

 

Here come the bad thing of this internet browser:

The much claimed fastest browser by Microsoft is really a joke actually.  Firstly it fail the Chrome Experiments (the browser totally hang once the test start!!!) while  Firefox 3 and Google Chrome (of course as the test is designed to test chrome strongest field JAVA & AJAX) render the test effortlessly.  Secondly, web surfing is extremely slow compared with Firefox 3 and Google Chrome.  However it is faster compared with IE7.

Next is compatibility issue, like the mentioned web slice function most of the site haven’t adopt the new IE8 code.  The result of this is the page displayed in a wrongful manner.  However, IE8 managed to counter this problem by enabling compatibility button at the side of URL.  Although this is extremely useful, sometimes is also annoying as you need to click the compatibility button almost on every page!!!

Last thing to mention in this section is the install process.  Although it is quite straight forward but the time to install the programme is actually killing me (~10mins on my laptop and ~20mins on my netbook).  This is because the install process consist of download update (yes even I installed it from the full installed kit), scanning malware, install IE8, install IE8 updates and reboot. 

Conclusion:

For those of you used to Firefox or Google Chrome, my advice is not worth switching your browser to IE8 as is still SLOWWWWW.  and for those who like IE, yes go update your IE to version 8 as the improved feature and speed is undeniable.

For me I’ll stick with my trusty Firefox (main) and Google Chrome (Incognito mode). 

 

PS: The next version of Firefox 3.5 will be out in coming May or Jun. Stay tune as the new version consist of features that will boost web surfing speed!!!     

少女时代 (SNSD) - Gee

Been crazy on one of the song (Gee) from this group recently.  The first time I listened the song is in a Korean entertainment show called 我们结婚了.  After that my brain keep popping the rhythm ‘

Gee Gee Gee Gee Baby Baby Baby Baby Gee Gee Gee Gee Baby Baby Baby Baby’.  This is totally insane and godlike as I only listen the promo version of the song once and it already goes into my head.  I can say this song is one of the classic masterpiece which will be popular at least for years.  Now the song is constantly staying No.1 at Korea's major chart.  I had embed their official music video below plus the lyric (translated to chinese).

 

  

Uh-Huh! Listen Boy! My First Love Story 
(U-Uh-Huh U-Uh-Huh Yeah) 
My Angel(Ha-Ah)& My Girls(Ha-Ah)
My Sunshine Uh Uh Lets Go~ 
好帅气 好耀眼 所以快要窒息无法呼吸的Girl
Gee Gee Gee Gee Baby Baby Baby Baby Gee Gee Gee Gee Baby Baby Baby Baby 
Oh！好害羞 所以无法看向你的陷入爱情的害羞Girl
Gee Gee Gee Gee Baby Baby Baby Baby Gee Gee Gee Gee Be Be Be Be Be Be 
（怎么办呢）怎么怎么办（发抖的我）发抖的我
（砰砰砰砰砰）因为砰砰跳的心 夜晚无法入睡
我是我是傻瓜  只喜欢你的傻瓜 是的 只看你的我
转自百度少女时代吧
好闪闪耀眼 No No No No No
好惊讶 好惊讶的我Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh 
酥酥麻麻的颤抖Gee Gee Gee Gee Gee 
Oh!湿润的目光  Oh Yeah~ Oh!  
美好的香气Oh Yeah Yeah Yeah~ 
因为好美丽 心好善良 
第一眼看的时候就一见钟情的Girl
Gee Gee Gee Gee Baby Baby Baby Baby Gee Gee Gee Gee Baby Baby Baby Baby 
因为好炽热 无法碰触  
因为爱在燃烧的暖烘烘的Girl
Gee Gee Gee Gee Baby Baby Baby Baby Gee Gee Gee Gee Be Be Be Be Be Be 
怎么办才好（怎么办才好）害羞的我（害羞的我）
说着不懂不懂 （不懂不懂不懂）每天只思念你
亲密朋友们对我说   
你真是无药可救了 傻瓜  但我只会看着你
好闪闪耀眼 No No No No No
好惊讶 好惊讶的我Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh 
酥酥麻麻的颤抖Gee Gee Gee Gee Gee 
湿润的目光 Oh Yeah~     
美好的香气 Oh Yeah Yeah Yeah~ 
什么也说不出口 因为好害羞的我
(U-Uh-Huh U-Uh-Huh Yeah)
因为没有勇气吗  (Ha-Ah)   怎么办才好呢(Ha-Ah) 
带着一颗砰砰跳的心 只能望着你的我
好闪闪耀眼 (Oh~) No No No No No (Ha!)
好惊讶 好惊讶的我Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh (Oh Oh Oh Yeah~)
酥酥麻麻的颤抖 (颤抖) Gee Gee Gee Gee Gee
湿润的目光 Oh Yeah~     
美好的香气Oh Yeah Yeah Yeah~ (oh Yeah~) 
转自百度少女时代吧
好闪闪耀眼（耀眼） No No No No No(No No No~)
好惊讶 好惊讶的我Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
（惊讶惊讶的我Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh~）
酥酥麻麻的颤抖 Gee Gee Gee Gee Gee （颤抖着）
湿润的目光 Oh Yeah~     
美好的香气 Oh Yeah Yeah Yeah~

Iphone ‘Reborn’

Wow I am really amazed with the latest Iphone OS 3.0 which will be released around June this year.  Apple has promised to give a preview of the new OS at Cupertino today and again WOW!!!

The word Reborn is use to describe the new OS as for me it represent the REAL moment where Apple publish a competitive smartphone in the market.  The new OS has incorporated the much awaited ‘cut & paste’ , MMS, one stop search and SMS forwarding.  The Bluetooth function has also being improved to standard Bluetooth where sending of file or playing LAN game with other iphone or ipod touch user is possible (originally it only can only pair with earphone). 

The news of Maxis will be the sole operator in Malaysia to distribute Iphone is much welcome by most of the people.  However as expected the minimum cost to own 8Gb version is still very expensive which is RM2540 plus a 6 months contract of RM250 each month.

Below is the basic enhancement that will come with the OS 3.0 (source: engadget)

App and developer functionality

• Peer-to-peer connectivity over Bluetooth for gaming and other info-swapping.
• Paid apps will have the potential to be subscription fee-based, and can include optional paid content that can be bought from right inside the app.
• Developers can now build apps that call out to Google Maps, and can also finally bring Apple-blessed turn-by-turn to the phone.
• Devs can also connect with hardware accessories over in their apps now, such as a blood pressure monitor -- or perhaps a keyboard? Connectivity works through the dock connector or over Bluetooth.
• Long-promised push functionality will at last be included, but apps won't run in the background.
• Developers can add streaming video and audio to their apps, along with in-game voice use.

General functionality

• Cut, copy and paste. At last! You can shake the phone to undo and redo the action, and it works with both text and photos, allowing Mail to send multiple photos at a time. (more here)
• MMS, along with forward and delete for multiple messages. (more here)
• A2DP stereo Bluetooth.
• Unlocked Bluetooth functionality on 2G iPod touch. (more here)
• Spotlight has been added to a new home screen page to the left of existing pages, allowing for universal search on the phone. (more here)
• Tethering is built into 3.0, and Apple will work with carriers on that -- who will have the last say on its implementation, most likely.
• App Store will be available in 77 countries.
• Parental controls for TV shows, movies and App Store apps.
• Auto-login for Wi-Fi hotspots.

Apple apps

• A new app called Voice Memos which lets you record notes and reminders.
• A revised Stocks app, with news stories and a landscape view.
• Landscape view available for Mail, Text and Notes.
• CalDAV support has been added to Calendar, along with subscriptions support in the .ics format.
• Apple's major apps have all been expanded with search functionality.
• Note syncing to Mac and PC.
• YouTube account support.
• Form auto-fill.
• Phishing protection.
• Shake the shuffle iPod playback.

SkinZ !!!

 

Yahoos…my ordered gadget skin had arrived yesterday. Both of them are ordered from http://www.istyles.com/.  I am really impressed of how easy it is to be applied and as claimed by the seller it leaves no residue once removed.  This has been proved as I try to reposition the whole back of my netbook because I stick the whole picture upside down (how stupid of me!!).  Below is the picture of my newly skinz netbook and iphone.

The back of my netbook.  By the way the name of the skinz is ‘Radiocity’ 

The skinz also applied on the palm rest area…Cool!!!

Another elevation shoot which show the newly skinz netbook

My Zen style Iphone skinz.  The skinz also come with matching wallpaper.

Rear view.