So, the Windows 7 Release Candidate hit last night for MSDN & technet subscribers.  It's also available on torrents, I imagine (build 7100).
I'm such a geek, I stayed up until 2am downloading it from MSDN, and then installing it on my primary system.

So far, I'm really liking it.  I'd run the beta from Feb - early April on another computer, but I decided to go all out and drop it on my main system.
Honestly, it's a really elegant upgrade over Vista.  Also, it runs exceptionally well for being a release candidate (note:  I'm using hardware that is about 4 years old, and at least 2 generations old from a CPU/GPU/chipset perspective).  I've had no issues or errors so far.

I was able to use several Vista drivers to get things up and running.  Specifically, the RAID card I'm using as a boot device (Adaptec 1220SA) needed drivers, but they loaded right off a USB key during setup.  It was a fantastically smooth experience.

I think it has another 3-4 months before the product goes "gold", so there will probably be additional changes.  Then there will be another 1-2 months for retail copies to be created.  So, October should see Windows 7 available in the marketplace.

Anyway, to anyone that has a spare computer, or is just really brave about trying new things, I recommend trying it out either via torrent or waiting for the public RC to happen.


edit:  Oh, I think I've found an issue.  IE8 doesn't seem to like when I type past the height of this text box.  I can't actually read what I'm typing here, because of weird behavoir on the window.  hmm!
edit2:  Ah, if I switch IE8 to run in Compatibility View for LG, then the problem goes away.  So, it must be something that SMF 1.1.8 doesn't handle well.

soooo, going from XP to 7 is the way ?

I wouldn't consider 7 untill 6 months after release, not on the office boxes. I've been thinking about linux for this home box, I dont game enough and that wine thingy or whatever they cal it these day should be enough.

As far as an emulator is concerned, you want VICE!

Commodore 64 power right on your PC.

As soon as SMF v2 is out, its in.

Dave has said so. Anyways, I really dont like IE these days... I dont think Mickeysoft have put their best onto it. I use Firefox, hasnt let me down.

But that said, I'm still using XP, and will do until like HoJo, at least the first Win7 service pack has been released

soooo, going from XP to 7 is the way ?

yeah, definitely just skip Vista.  Windows 7 is hot, my man.

I wouldn't consider 7 untill 6 months after release, not on the office boxes.

You'll probably want to wait until Server 2008 hits SP1 anyway, before picking up any new technologies in the office.

I've been thinking about linux for this home box

Kubuntu is my favorite flavor at the moment.  It's really nice.

But that said, I'm still using XP, and will do until like HoJo, at least the first Win7 service pack has been released

I'd argue that waiting for the first service pack doesn't make a lot of sense on this one, since Windows 7 is very much an iterative release over Vista.

@mosh -- C64 games is about as big as I can DL so. cool !!!



@anybody -- I never saw a need for vista. I loved the way it looked but ~shrug, I had a version of windows that actually worked for once in XP.



@eitje -- I'll just wait to see what falls over exploit wise.

Vista just seems so incredibly shitty, I can't see any reason to get it

I doubt I'll try this one really, but I may end up pirating W7 or something when it comes out, unless I can luck into a free copy like I did XP.  The main condition is that my PC is the internet server for all of my other shit, and I'm not sure I want to relearn a new OS to set it all up again.

soooo, going from XP to 7 is the way ?

I wouldn't consider 7 untill 6 months after release, not on the office boxes. I've been thinking about linux for this home box, I dont game enough and that wine thingy or whatever they cal it these day should be enough.

FYI, there's nothing wrong with Vista.  All the shit-talking is bollocks.

I can't see any point going to Vista if 7 wil be realy within a year. I never did listen to the canning of Vista. I just had something that worked fine, didnt see the point in changing. I also didnt understand the the new licencing for business. but thats another story. Can't wait to see what the do with 7.

edit:  Oh, I think I've found an issue.  IE8 doesn't seem to like when I type past the height of this text box.  I can't actually read what I'm typing here, because of weird behavoir on the window.  hmm!
edit2:  Ah, if I switch IE8 to run in Compatibility View for LG, then the problem goes away.  So, it must be something that SMF 1.1.8 doesn't handle well.

Maybe it's because Internet Explorer sucks and will always suck.

Yeah, no fucking shit.  Who the fuck uses IE?

well, i do!

And Sahki, part of the thing with IE8 is that they're making it more standards compliant.  Which means that everything built with IE6/7 in mind (as these boards must be) get jacked up.  Compatability View is part of what turns the old IE6/7 engine back on, for select sites.

Also, I met Randall Munroe 2 years ago. 

OMG, I don't understand.  Firefox is better on so many levels.

Trust me, I've been in the Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox/Pogo/Chrome boat for a long time.
But at some point, you just have to realize that a browser is a tool, not a religion.
So, when Windows 7 is in a release candidate, I'm going to use the base tools and submit feedback when they don't work.

Alternately, I could argue:  what does Firefox do for browsing porn and reading LG, which I can't do using IE?

What does something DO that the other thing can't GET?  That makes no sense.  I am teh eitja cannot no speak clean england.

coding websites for IE6 sucks balls. It's great that they'll be compliant with the new version.

coding websites for IE6 sucks balls. It's great that they'll be more compliant with the new version.

MS should have stuck to the fucking standards in the first place instead of trying to bully the industry into adopting their coding "standards".

Hence IE is unuseable at best.

Trust me, I've been in the Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox/Pogo/Chrome boat for a long time.
But at some point, you just have to realize that a browser is a tool, not a religion.
So, when Windows 7 is in a release candidate, I'm going to use the base tools and submit feedback when they don't work.

Alternately, I could argue:  what does Firefox do for browsing porn and reading LG, which I can't do using IE?

I've tried using IE. I used to only use it before I knew and cared about the others but it's annoying. I use Opera and it's so much easier to use for me. Surely you want to use the better tool? Plus it's prettier. Different skins.

[and for the record, I'm not overly fond of firefox or chrome. chrome<firefox but the only reason I keep them around is because they can do things that opera can't].

IN THE BUTT!

I use virtual machine for testing.

The Release Candidate is now available for anyone to download:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

It lasts for a little over a year before it deactivates.
So, one could even consider this a free-as-in-beer OS.

You'll need to be able to burn a DVD ISO to a disc.  I recommend (if you're already using Windows) the free software, CD Burner XP.
(or use a virtual machine, like Lothar's recommending)

is it work my wife waiting for this to come out before getting a new PC. She said she's happy to buy one whenever

ordered!

is it work my wife waiting for this to come out before getting a new PC. She said she's happy to buy one whenever

Nah, go ahead with what they're offering.

ordered!

For Fuse:
Windows 7 will come with an "XP Mode" which will PRECISELY emulate Windows XP (using a virtual machine).  Thus, applications that require XP or older will be fully compatible with Windows 7.  PDF here.

the catch - the hardware needs to support VT (Virtualization Technology) extensions from either AMD or Intel.  And that's a big catch if you only buy Intel; they currently use VT extensions for product segmentation, which means not all of their procs have it.

The Japanese & French language packs just became available.