I was wondering around my spam mail, and saw an advertisement to download and give Windows 7 Beta a test run. So I signed up, downloaded it and installed it inside VirtualBox.

The install took a while, but this box isn’t a ram monster so at 1gig system ram I could only spare about 512mb for Windows 7. I gave it 20 gig of hard drive and 32mb of video ram. I know these aren’t what might be suggested, but it’s all I could spare.

So I installed Windows 7:

Windows 7 Install

Let it run it’s updates (took for ever and had to reboot twice):

Windows 7 Welcome Screen

and waiting for the “first” desktop (I’ve got a tattoo of a Beta fish like this on my right shoulder blade):

Windows 7 Ultimate Desktop 1

and updating:

Windows 7 Ultimate Updating

and one more reboot (The logo pulses as it boots):

Windows 7 Ultimate Startup

and the first usable Desktop (total time to desktop in virtual machine, about an hour):

Windows 7 Ultimate Beta

and after all the updates and VirtualBox additions… now it’s Broken!:

Windows 7 Ultimate Desktop

Overall I get the impression Linux is making greater strides in computer end user ease of use than Windows; especially since some of the installation process of Windows 7 greatly reflects Linspire Circa 2006. It installed pretty easily, but there isn’t really any way to install it wrong, it just doesn’t give you any options during install. Basic stuff yes, but if you want to install it in your own unique way; well tough titty said the kitty.

I’ll continue to try to figure out why Aero is all pissed off at the video after it’s updates, but some of the buttons aren’t visible and Windows isn’t user freindly when it comes to gettting under the hood and manually changing some things.

If I find time I will update my use of this new fancy schmancy same looking as Vista update Windows so greaciously handed out for free (until they shut’r down when all the free help has been offered up).

TTFN,

Justin

P.S. Fixed the color issues. Found the button and changed it back to True Color 32 bit and all looks fine except it is still terribly slow. I’ll post the screenshot asap.

Here is Windows 7, all updated and corrected. Still not as responsive as XP (Or any Linux I’uve used) but it’s “usable” at best.

Windows 7 Beta Finished