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ActiveWin.com: New High Resolution Microsoft Windows Vista February 2006 CTP Build 5308 Screenshots Gallery - Updated! | |
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| Time: 03:00 EST/08:00 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin.com | Posted By: Robert Stein | ||
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We have posted up some screenshots of the new Microsoft Windows Vista February 2006 Community Technical Preview Build 5308. These shots show IE 7, installing, welcome center, system properties, windows gadgets, the desktop, WMP 11, Windows photo gallery, sidebar (different skins), and Flip 3D. Screenshots were provided in part by Utaks and Windows Connected. Updated: We have just posted ten new, additional screenshots. These new shots are of Flip 3d, games, and a variety of other features. Check them out! |
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Read Only Comments Return to News |
Displaying Comments 1 through 33 of 33 |
This is an archived static copy of ActiveWin.com. |
| #1 By 116 (70.113.124.5) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 03:03:48 PM |
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I didn't like that sidebar before but thats looking pretty sweet I could see how I would actually make use of it now. Flip3d looks incredible. I hope its not just eyecandy for the sake of eyecandy though *<cough> os x </cough>*
Peace, RA |
| #2 By 1401 (65.255.137.20) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 04:36:04 PM |
| You only get glass if you have a glass support video card |
| #3 By 1401 (65.255.137.20) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 04:49:43 PM |
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The UI in IE7 is a joke! If that's final, I just won't be able to believe it. There is no rhyme or reason to it at all. The back and forward buttons way over on the left, but the home button way over on the right. The refresh and stop buttons combined into one button. It's just plain stupid. I'd rather use Firefox, and FF is a POS! This post was edited by chrishedlund on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 16:50. |
| #4 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 05:04:14 PM |
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The interface is coming along... I wasn't so crazy about it before, but some of the tweaks they've made help greatly. It's not revolutionary, but it's not "this isn't Windows! Change it back!" either--for which I'm grateful, I guess.
I hope the MMC consoles are due to be spiced-up before RTM, though--they look like a hodgepodge of old and new at the moment. The event viewer has some great new features; unfortunately, pleasant appearance is not one of them (yet). The file manager has changed at least a little with each version of Windows. I always felt Windows Explorer was a great file manager, and the 2000/XP versions of it were excellent. I'm confused with the one in Vista; I haven't had much time to play with it, but so far, it's a big change. Maybe it's better once I get familiar with it? Even if it is, though, they will take some serious knocks if it doesn't change, unless perhaps it's a necessary precursor to WinFS. I'm familiar with document management systems, though, and even if it's a WinFS placeholder, the UI needs some work. They have a fantastic opportunity not only to break with tradition, but to introduce something truly wonderful (and necessary, really). I'm looking forward to downloading it. Hopefully it performs at least a little better than the December CTP. |
| #5 By 7760 (12.155.143.50) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 05:14:51 PM |
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chrishedlund, the refresh and stop buttons haven't been the same button for months. Take a closer look at the 2nd screenshot. Also, who even uses the Home button, especially frequently. No, most people don't use it very much, hence the reason why it's not near the buttons that you do use often.
StormChaser, see if there's a Vista driver for your video card or chipset. Nvidia and ATi both have drivers for their video chipsets; others may, as well. |
| #6 By 1401 (65.255.137.20) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 06:36:36 PM |
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I use the home button (well - I use Opera, so....)
But in my IE6 setup, I have the back, forward, stop, refresh and home butons and that's it - then I have the address bar in line with the buttons and the menu bar - everything on one single row - that's all I need. |
| #7 By 1401 (65.255.137.20) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 06:37:27 PM |
| LOL! 'Force glass', makes is sound like you want to rape your computer... |
| #8 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 07:46:31 PM |
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Gawd...the pain...the anguish....the horror of it all...and I've run, it, too and....
"I HATE IT." There, I said it. Chris is right about IE 7, too. It STINKS! The UI is the worst I have ever used and Microsoft [look, I really like all your servers and love your platform and had huge hopes of just dying for Vista]. Now, I am certain, I can turn this "Clutter Hut" - all that added info off....GAWD, it just sticks..., BUT I do not look forward to having to do that. Clearly, this thing is headed for 20-22" 16:9 screens - well, someone better tell the 40 Million devs out here to re-tool, because the format just stinks as far as apps go [and I am writing this from an MCE 2005 box 8' from a 32" LCD, and yes, most apps formats stink. IE 7 really stinks - not the speed, not the security, but the UI - freaking dreadful! Please, Microsoft, go club whatever pink butterfly you hired to lead this... I mean the Recycle Bin looks like an over done piece from an over done set from Star Dock. It just stinks. It's all "Bunyan" a term we use in our shop when something looks to big, floppy, crayon'ish and this just stinks. What the flip were you all thinking??????? It's too busy and too much "junk" all over the joint. Half the dang screen is eaten up by stuff any user with a few months on a box already knows....get it....we know...we know where our "stuff" is and how to find it, use it and manage it. Blasted ancillary information all over the place...and IE 7 just stinks - two stinking levels just to turn of the lock sliders check so I can even see the freaking IE Options....I hate it and all this wasted space. I have mombo screens - three (3) count em three (3) 19" LCD's and on each, I want MY information not a bunch of stuff I already know. It's all just a distracting mess. yeah, yeah, yeah - I know....I'll be able to turn it off [we had better be able to....]. Who did you all hire...? Some butterfly hugging freak show, I bet - I bet it is someone that hates Microsoft and is working for Apple, or has an Apple at home. I mean, some of our teenage Daughters will dig all this crap - may be, if they don't puke because it's too sweet. GAWD - I'm just dying here and IE 7 just stinks! and PNG????? PHK .PNG mongo sizes....mongo....I hate it. Whose PNG backside are guys kissing? You should have crushed them. ./Rant and Office Live....???? Oh Gawd.... Oh Gawd.... ./Rant - JUST how Clutter Hut are we gonna go here.....??? How dang busy can one page get....??? If these are hints at what you are going to do to us....? Then I am out.... I'll hang nothing but terminals running embedded and be done with it. Whomever you hired [look for the touchy-feel good moron with pink crap in their hair, and club her/him with a ball bat till her/his clothes change color], because they HAVE DESTROYED Windows. Now where is the turn this crap off switch???? I bet it's buried nine layers deep.... And finally….the previously “UBIQUITOUS” START button – why did you remove it – I do not care if the chick on Channel 9 asserts that people “Know” it’s the Start button. You/she have broken THE RULE in branding as well as building discoverable apps – a) START was synonymous with Windows! And b) START was the beginning of all things discoverable – “a known beginning point…” Step “A” in building any app, or OS. I can just hear everyone of us…”Ok, Ma’am, please click the START button….and either the user will say, “What START button, or worse, they’ll turn the dang machine off.” “Put all that ancillary crap in front of people and that is just that much more crap they are going to ask tech’s about…what’s this….what’s this mean….???? Gawd – just take us all out and kill us with a club. And sit that gal on channel 9 down in from of a console at the help desk for six months…your OS would reflect what she would have learned – hopefully! |
| #9 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 07:58:40 PM |
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#7, I use the "Home" button about 150 times a day - as my home page is a custom WSS page/Site with all my links and apps layed out on it. I bet Chris' is, too - or something like that.
The UI is just garbage. I can't stand it. They all but gave oral love to FF and OSX. For the last time..."When you are in a RACE, DRIVE YOUR OWN CAR!" Tomorrow, I begin my personal search for a new OS. A multices of some sort - by God in heaven I swear it! Gawd are they stupid....they have dorked the very people that sell all their stuff for them...they have hammered us. This post was edited by lketchum on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 19:59. |
| #10 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 08:13:52 PM |
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MS was punk'd - this all has to be a sad joke.
"I'm going to wake up and find it was all a bad dream.... and the BOW BEFORE the Tabbed Browser IDIOTS will vomit up their Koolaid and remember their task bars...." "Trendy" - so many people wanting to show just how different they are....by being just like everyone else... GAWD. It is a BLACK day, indeed. Please for the love of God, Microsoft, in the set up, or OPK init, please, please, please with NO SUGAR on top, provide a check box that reads, "Are you truly an adult...an individual and can you read....if so, click here and we'll cut down on the syrup......" Under that have it read..."Trendy, really cool people, just ignore that check box and enjoy becoming a type 1 diabetic on us..." |
| #11 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 08:14:50 PM |
| May be Google will actually build an OS - them's people that know how to build a home page.... very "CLEAN" free of cotton candy. |
| #12 By 1401 (65.255.137.20) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 08:15:09 PM |
| way to go ketchum - I'm right there with ya man |
| #13 By 1401 (65.255.137.20) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 08:18:11 PM |
| yes - a Google OS - wouldn't that be sweet? I know they've already got their own file system. With the power of Google search baked right into the OS. Imagine being able to search your own home pc from anywhere on the internet from google.com and getting what you need from just about anywhere. |
| #14 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 09:36:46 PM |
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#17, we can hope, but I doubt it....
They're public now and it's all about share price and earnings per share from here on out for Google... - read, "They will cave to every feature-freak on the planet to "appear" as though they are doing "something - anything" to increase earnings per share." They'll end up a flipping pink haired clutter-hut, too. Gawd, it's like a candle shop - nasal overload and a desperate run for fresh air. On the CTP for Vista...I am just dying inside. They need to slap the goo'ey outta the paint sniffing freaks that did this. Look, it's really simple...human beings have vision subject to motion blur. A computer screen is static - relative to human vision. unlike a book, that moves with our eyes, a screen does not - hence, our ability to sense even the slightest bit of movement. Men can actually see 180 plus frames a second and woman, on average as much as 220 frames per second. Motion Blur is used to trick us into seeing movement fluidly - when we move, and an object does not move with us, we lose focus. This is why apps/OS designers need to be a) male and b) have less than perfect vision, or they need to review apps interfaces on a scope - not review art elements on paper [where the copy and their eyes move together]. In reality, computers display content poorly - relative to how our eyes and brains process images - too much and our eyes cannot focus on the target - like pointing with one's head. A GUI, depends on accurate pointing - the alignment of one's eyes and a relative line to one's hand. Dork this with garbage and the lines break and the user cannot point - with the head. My bet is that the people that did this were female, young and with near super-normal vision [20/10 or better]. They also grew up with new equipment, have not worked at MS very long and are likely really attractive people in many ways - personality, etc... They drove this mess - off of a cliff - they should have hired a 50 year old Optometrist to test these and inject some dang science. The facts are that imagery and 4D graphics have evolved faster and ahead of human vision. Fine. That is cool in a movie, where the over-effect is more of an instantaneous experience. PC's are not at all like that - they are sustained views - sustained visualizations. As humans we eat meat - or we should. We have stereo-optic binocular vision because we needed it. Our eyes are set in the center of our faces and we largely look forward - so we can bit little critters we once hunted. Our vision is pretty specific. Vista takes our vision for a Missouri Boat-Ride and retards focus and what was once perfect about Windows - its discoverability, is now hidden and obfuscated by trash, clutter and pretty little things. Whomever did this loves art and hated computers, people and productivity. They loved art for the sake of it. That's why it no longer works - it no longer inspires. Vista and IE 7 and Office Live just insult - the senses and they ignore human physiology. Just because it has color does not make it art. Logic, it can be said, is beautiful. What is beautiful is often seen as art. Science is the same. I just hate this and I am sad for Microsoft and all of us that looked forward to Vista. Google, your creators are at this moment, melancholy for when they were a private company. |
| #15 By 1401 (65.255.137.20) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 09:49:51 PM |
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I see about 4 or 5 frames per second, but that's because I'm drunk most of the time...
um.. I'm in Missouri btw...so watch what you say about our boat rides...(and watch what you say about my sister, er...I mean my wife...) And I think you're wrong about the google OS - you say that Google is public and only sees earnings per share, etc. Well hell, the OS business obviously is huge in terms of a money making business - billions upon billions for MS each year - Hell, even UNIX sold 17 some odd billion last year. So if I was running Google (which I should be) - I'd be seriously looking at some type of business model. I think Google's problem is they don't know how to sell software. Selling software is an art Microsoft has mastered. This post was edited by chrishedlund on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 21:58. |
| #16 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 10:42:04 PM |
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Chris, a Missouri Boat_ride is what Missouran's do to others - they set em loose to wonder aimlessly through life.
There's a big difference...they guys who created MS still run the show for the most part - any company like Google, who's stock has doen what it stock has done, is no longer their company - the share holders drive it and sooner or later, they'll exit - that's the whole point to equity and the only downside to a free maket society - it has little heart. MS remained influenced by its founder - until now. That's just my thinking. A unix is not enough - a freebie teaching adaptation of a multices. No, I'd be begging for the now abandoned national standard technical workstation - it was a dream and had a windowing system long before RAND/Xerox and Apple ever thought about it. So sweet it was... |
| #17 By 1401 (65.255.137.20) at Wednesday, February 22, 2006 10:56:35 PM |
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Let me know how that search for the new OS goes ketchum, I may be right behind you...(wandering aimlessly of course) This post was edited by chrishedlund on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 22:57. |
| #18 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 12:40:06 AM |
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Well...it can't be Multics (Multiplexed Information and Computing Service) - the last compatible hardware went offline in 2000... anyone remember PL/1 ? Boy there was a debate - assembler purists - v those using some of the first compilers... not unlike *nix -v Win32 fights..well, sort of...
The new OS...hard to say now... it will have to be some form of commercial Unices - given how few project OS'es are in meaningful and open development. Some of the late 90's stuff was so cool - XOS, etc... Probably Solaris. Definately something commercial - I want the devs to get paid and and don't want the competition to get the cash. Something "clean" ... I mean, an OS is an application, after all... one that sets up an environment for one to run applications of one's desire. Some bloody, how, MS forgot that. What I mean is, I want it to get out of the flipping way. I don't want it to be the end all and I really believe MS has lost its collective mind. How can a company that so gorgeously virtualized the name space in R2, be the same company that came up with this...this mess, dripping with what...? I can't even describe it. Some day, someone is going to say, "It was about the environment, stupid!" MS once had it locked - precisely because its OS allowed people to decide for themselves - if they tanked because they were naive, or foolish - cool - tank away. My God, I can't even see the environment any longer...where'd it go? Where are any of MY apps to go? All this rubbish - looks like one of those Zoo or roller Coaster Tycoon games where a kid just goes nuts adding crap all over the place. And tabs by default..... oh goody...now we all get to shift our eyes up and freaking down the entire screen all the time - time, people, time millionths of a second matter. I mean, I can flat out make a system fly...just work it...push it and get load done - in and out of the console all day and just fly. Now in Vista, I feel like I have to dodge all over the place. Yeah, yeah yeah....don't even say it - I KNOW - one can turn it off, but that is not my point...ONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO. Good design does not require it. "Fluffer Butter" I'm staring a rumor - among the 6 or 60 versions MS will ship, there will be a fluffer-butter version with the fluffer-butter theme and fluffer-butter icons that will drip animated goo when one hovers over them. Gawd, Mr. Gates, please go pistol whip someone in the art department - I'm going to paint "START" in translucent paint on every PC I see running this mess. with a small sub-title that reads, "Look idiot, START does not mean power button... Oh, back to the new OS - Solaris. I've decided....and...I'm going to begin servicing systems based upon it, too. With it, one can set up very specific environments, perfectly suited to each application [remember, the ones we choose to run...?]. |
| #19 By 21203 (71.111.5.199) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 12:54:36 AM |
| Chris: You can move the home button (along with feeds, tools, etc) under the back/forward button, if it's anything like the IE7 latest build for XP. Generally I get rid of everything but the Feeds button since all of that is available in the menu (tap Alt), but you can get the home button there too. |
| #20 By 9549 (12.150.6.130) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 06:55:18 AM |
| I haven't had the pleasure of using IE7 yet but this if for those who have used it; Can't you move all the button icons anywhere you want on the bar? This has been in IE6 and before I can't see why they would take that out. So what are we bitching about; out of the box defaults that we are going to customize anyway? |
| #21 By 61 (72.64.155.167) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 07:51:15 AM |
| On that install screenshot, what is that XP Theme, I saw it on my friends fresh Gateway computer and didn't think to look at the display properties to find out what it is. |
| #22 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 08:14:55 AM |
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I warning you all. If you don't stop bashing Vista and IE7, you'll make Parkkker cry!
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| #23 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 08:20:54 AM |
| #24, That's part of the point.... in IE 7 Beta 2 [yes, we all know it's a BETA], one cannot move them around - one cannot even move items around inside the bars and even when unlocked, only very limited movement of sliders is possible. So, if you're a user like myself, who DOES NOT use tabs, it is a mess. One is just "Stuck" with the UI as is, "Froofy and FF-Like" |
| #24 By 12071 (203.214.147.215) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 08:41:29 AM |
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Right... who stole lketchum's identity? We all know him better than to ever say anything even remotely close to something that could be potentially perceived as negative towards Microsoft!
#27 FF basher boy - FF doesn't show the tabs until you have... wait for it... opened up a new tab... imagine that! If you don't open up a tab you'll never even know that tab's a possible - maybe that's why IE shows them by default, to put that functionality right into the users face. I used to be a tab critic, and still am as I hate them in nearly every other application... but in FF, love them! Now back to your IE7 bashing. |
| #25 By 8556 (12.217.111.92) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 09:34:31 AM |
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A couple of tablespoons of Pepto should take care of the upset stomach from all the frenzy about the latest build. Send your feedback to MS with the emotional reactions removed bu using the instructions provided. Someone WILL read it. If enough of the 1/2 million beta testers send in helpful feedback, changes will be made. Once it's cast in stone, or gold in this case, it's too late to have them pay attention to your comments.
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| #26 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 10:05:36 AM |
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#28, LOLOL At least I got a smile out of this thread...
Naively, I am hoping the guys at MS read this board and go club the bunnies in the art dept. Don't worry, Not Parrkkkkker will cry on his own - just as soon as he see's what I have seen. Cuz all the fluffer-butter would gag a maggot. I had a dream last night - Bill and Stevo went through the art dept with mouse cords whipping the art director. I had to stare into a Windows Server 2003 screen for a few moments - just to de-tox to be able to sleep. I'm still hoping I will wake up and find that this is all a bad dream... I mean look, even what some are saying is cool, isn't! The multiple thumbs of pages in tabs to visualize the pages one has open.... ok, so I have to mouse over there, click this chicklet and see and select the page I want. Uh... NO. I'd long have been able to alt-tab-release and been on the desired page weeks before I could snoozy my way up to said chicklet. Same with the address bar, at least a millionth of a second further away. When you are used to making a machine fly so fast most people have no ability to keep up with what they are seeing, this stuff matters - a lot and the whole dang thing just stinks. Some dang body got loose with the crayons and went nuts and all that candy had better stop, because I feel just ill and need to check into a clinic to have my blood sugar tested. #28, I am objective, or try to be. When they get it right and it can be used to help people, I call it, when it sux [and this all does sux HARD], I call that, too. I mean, I have to support this crap and I just got a whole host of 40 to 50 somethings really cruising - they and their aging eyes are gonna hate this - "Oh...Heck NO..." was a response from the most forward thinking early to adopt all technology customers I have. He was just ill, too. He's ordered a Solaris based machine, today, too. Our collective response - "focus on the environment and get the heck out of our way so we can work." Microsoft listened to everyone except the people that sign the "FRONT SIDES" of checks. They ignored us in the case of Vista and IE 7. Some of our clients - top shelf aesthetics surgeons, said, "It's offensive." "It hurts the eyes" - they're right, too - it does. They need a theme manager, or something very simple that allows one to turn off all the hand holding and screen eating extra information. |
| #27 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 10:06:33 AM |
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And finally for any OEM builders - just you wait... when Vista, using/leveraging advanced speed step and advanced power management displays that the user of the machine is running at 1.8 GHz, vice the 3.0, or 3.2 GHz that you sold them... count on a lengthy explanation opposite speed step and how to turn it off - the OS will often, at least as it does now, report incorrectly - with just the currently running speed, vice the potential and it offers no explanation as to what is happening. Lay users will only see that they are not running at the power they thought they bought and the costs of that will be broken off in the asses of OEMS like me. As I said, it just stinks. If I wanted an apple, I'd have bought an apple and chanted in the streets. BTW, in the 60's I wore a crew cut and despised that generation that abandoned their responsibilities as citizens. FF is just ugly, #28. Bunyan, naive and ugly - it's the modern secularist commit to nothing approach that will destroy us all thinking that does that - produces that kind of minimalist implementation. It takes no stand. IE 6 was/is "elegant" beautiful, because it is linear. None of the stepping and non-linear grouping that thrash the eyes as IE 7 does. I have been forcing myself to use IE 7, because I know I will have to support it, too. I can't stand it. Oh, and the size of the dang controls in the pictures in Vista - what in God's name is that garrish mess? It's huge - looks like some massive VCR from 1970. http://developers.sun.com/prodtech/solaris/x86/index.html I'll be over here for a while.
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| #28 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 10:19:42 AM |
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#29, Dude, we're eating Nexium like freaking skittles over here. We've loaded the hot water heater with Pepto and as testors, partners, advocates and salesmen [for MS], we have tried all that and been ignored.
At this point, at least for a couple of days...we are entitled to a little emotional response. In fact, it seems like that is all anyone at MS DOES respond to - emotions and responses baed upon them - that's what appears to have driven this. Now, no doubt - no question at all - I am certain that the code under all this cotton candy is gorgeous and I am equally certain that a few of those devs are as bummed as we are - to have that beautiful work represented like this. So, my sincerest hope is that MS will hear us , too and provide clear ways to tone down some of the candy, syrup, and dripping goo that has polluted their work. I mean, MCE's Royale look - clean, crisp, bright, and out of the way is elegant and did I say, out of the way? Oh no... emotion....ok we get it.. We sure do - that is all they listen to. I mean this board is peppered with it - wild stuff all the time - precious little science, or fact, just "feelings" well.. MS need to know, 40 million devs and as many more integrators do not like all this "in your face" crap. No more than we do any attempt by Next, *nix, or any other knock-off that tries to do the same. There is no balance here - not in IE 7, Office Live, or Vista, it just offends to give guys like Paul T. something to coo about - the part they understand. We don't want that - we want an environment where we can run OUR applications easily. People think the DOT Net Bubble burst because of business and market factors. That is BS. It burst when and how it did when each of the major players mashed together one clutter-hut after another. They forgot that above all, a web application is a miny environment - push crap in people's faces and that is lost and so too is the path to the interactions that result in transactions and revenue. The same is happening now in OS'es. This post was edited by lketchum on Thursday, February 23, 2006 at 10:23. |
| #29 By 3746 (216.16.225.210) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 11:09:44 AM |
| someone has way too much time on their hands. |
| #30 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 12:27:29 PM |
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lketchum... I've always respected your posts and am glad to see you posting again. I think your response is a little over-the-top, though. I have some gripes with the UI also--many, in fact--but it's not THAT bad. You keep saying it's bubble-gummy and has gratuitous special effects... I really don't find that to be the case. Can you give an example? I think it's more the opposite--sure, there are effects (as there always has been in Windows--witness the fade-in menus in 2000, for example), but I'd say they are understated--and probably to the chagrin of folks like Paul Thurrott and others who wanted something more. On principle, I agree--the effects, even if they look "cool" at first, tend to get in the way, and you end up turning them off instead. But on the other hand, I think visual cues can be beneficial, and things like the quick fade on closing out windows give a polish to the interface that makes it more pleasant to use. Some people won't care--much like some people never put a picture up in their office. But some do, and I think Microsoft is at least trying to address the ever-present criticism that Windows looks unpolished. I'm really not going to get that bent out of shape over the "pearl" vs. a button "that should have 'Start' written on it."
I think IE 7 is also an improvement, on the whole. I love tabs... I'm not sure why you're so against them, but you can still hit Ctrl + N (or right-click) for the new window. It takes two clicks to get around to different pages using the MDI of IE 6 and previous versions, but only one in IE 7. Plus, you can save all your open sites in one step--a fantastic thing if you need to turn off your computer, and a real chore in IE 6 or before. Printing is MUCH better. Security is much better. To my mind, the interface is mostly an improvement, though I think the way they buried the Tools menu (unless you toggle the File menu on with the alt key) is strange. I'm all for getting more space--getting it out of the way, right? I've had trouble tweaking the IE 6 UI the way I want it. I find that less so with IE 7, but I wish I get those icons on the tabs row out of the way. I also wish that they left both the forward and back drop-down histories, instead of just the back (next to the forward, of all places!). I'm not sure what Microsoft can do--Windows is routinely bashed for an "ugly UI" by some, but it sounds like you would prefer them not to change anything. In fact, functionality being equal, it sounds like you'd prefer them to keep things rather spartan looking. |
| #31 By 20505 (216.102.144.11) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 05:37:15 PM |
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501
i'm buying vista too... gonna get me a purdy new computer and load up on the newest ms os. who knows i may even like it more than xp. old computer with the 3GHz processor, 1gig memory and $300 video card goes to the kids. ps - i do hope that you can turn off all of the desktop crap. maybe then it looks like my xp machines ;) |
| #32 By 23275 (209.149.207.40) at Thursday, February 23, 2006 07:54:39 PM |
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Yeah - it all really flipped me over, and intentionally, I went over the top do in a forum, what I felt was happening in the OS - "it" [Vista] is over the top.
BLUVG nailed it and I am very grateful someone did - that is, yes, I do try and be very balanced and offer both helpful observations and perhaps some benefit with a post. Reflecting on what the OS is to me - truly an environment that we the users decide what we experience....and that is, that Vista, IE 7 and I'm seeing the same in Office Live - it really is too in one's face and while I am certain, possible, I'd prefer not to have to hunt down all the ways to turn it off. XP is bad enough - where I make more than 1,000 changes [18 pages front and back on our checklists], to our builds. What I want and have found our users - even gamers, want is "their apps and content" - by that, I mean they want to see the OS as little as possible - they want to find their applications and have those applications find their data. When they are done, or wish to switch to a new application, they want the old appplication(s) to get out of the way without the OS manifesting itself in any way. That does not mean that we do not want Windows to contain a slew of features. It is that we want them to be transparent until we open them. We do want the controls to be nearly as transparent - that part just offends my senses in any case. So, I wanted my intentionally over the top reaction to sharly contrast with all else I had posted - to show, at least to us, how Vista was impacting us. I know there is no changing this in Vista - it is feature complete - so now...oddly, we will be counting on third parties to not add to a Windows OS [visually], but to control it visually. And #33, Yes, I do have a great deal of time on my hands and devote it to what matters most. After retiring twice and building a successful company, all those 20 hour days paid off and resulted in exactly that, time - to decide what I do and when I do it. That was the very reason I, a) defended those rights and b) when I had earned it, started to enjoy a few of them. I built an ability for myself and our men and our customers to work exactly the way they want and from where and when they wanted and that recurring base is astonishingly strong. In fact, we only gather each day, just to "hang out" for two hours or so and share a bit of time and catch up. The rest is virtualized. It is also true that we can make systems fly - like few people ever have - we build them and run them that way and quite literally, smoke one new high-end keyboard each, about every three months. This one matters to me - Windows, Microsoft and frankly, this site. Each has contributed a great deal. Vista has more potential than any previous version of Windows, but I do fear that what it really is - where it really is amazing, is going to be lost in an amongst a lot of things that if people wanted them, they could add just as they do now. There is one last side to this - Windows and Vista are not about features. They are about choices - the part that smacked me is that many of the choices appear to be made for me. That's what flew in my face. |
| #33 By 2459 (24.175.147.11) at Friday, February 24, 2006 06:22:58 PM |
| CPUGuy -- In case your question wasn't answered, that theme is "Energy Blue" and is the default theme for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. |
