Windows 7 - The Movie

The best way to take a look at Windows 7 is to actually see it. Although my video making skills could best be described as ‘crap’, adding a bit of music to it does show a slight improvement on earlier attempts.

Windows 7 - Versions

From Home Basic to Ultimate

Windows 7 will be available in six versions, in reality for most users it will be a choice of two and those with any sense just one. My reasoning being that Home Premium is the version that offers the best deal and the pricier Ultimate offers so few extras that buying Home Premium and, if you wish, manually add the missing extras; namely BitLocker Drive Encryption.

The six Windows 7 versions are:

• Windows 7 Home Basic
• Windows 7 Starter
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows 7 Enterprise
• Windows 7 Ultimate

Windows Home Basic

Home Basic is not intended for Microsoft’s main markets therefore it will only be available in countries that come under the underdeveloped category.

Windows 7 Starter

At the bottom end of the Windows 7 spectrum that will be available is Windows 7 Starter, which, to my knowledge will be pre-installed on Netbooks and appear on some low-end computers.

What you get is the basic Windows 7 interface minus the good bits. The ‘good bits’ being the Aero and preview effects which will be covered in detail later. It does include such features as the Action Center, Windows Search, Windows Firewall, Windows Media Player (not Windows Media Center), Windows Gadgets and the usual games and accessories (Paint, WordPad Etc.). Unless you buy a Netbook with Windows 7 pre-installed you can place it safely on the ‘don’t touch with a barge-pole’ list. The unnecessary restrictions on things like changing the desktop image and the absence of the visual effects make it unattractive.

Windows 7 Home Premium

Have a good look at Windows Home Premium because for the next few years this is what you are going to be using. I will cover the features included with Windows 7 Home Premium and other versions in the next post.

Windows 7 Professional

If you need to handle up to 192 gigabytes of ram (in 64 bit version) as opposed to 16 gigabytes and you also need a virtual PC that runs Window XP (licensed version of Windows XP service pack 3 included) for the remaining compatibility issues that will linger, then Windows 7 Professional is for you. Network backup and EFS (Encrypting File System) support are also included.

Windows 7 Enterprise

Like Windows 7 Home Basic there is not much to be said about a product that will not be available. Windows 7 Enterprise contains all the features of Windows 7 Ultimate but is aimed at Microsoft’s corporate customers and is not available for purchase by individuals.

Windows 7 Ultimate

Top of the range is Windows 7 Ultimate which will contain all Windows 7 components, including BitLocker Drive Encryption is the choice for someone who has to have everything. Unfortunately for those who have to have everything is that the ‘everything’ not included in Windows 7 Home Premium can be downloaded from third party software makers.

Try them all

When you buy a Windows 7 disc (any version) and try to install it, it will install the version you bought, obvious really. But if you like playing around with things like that then you will discover that all versions are contained on the disc. To access the other versions and try the 30 day trials for them you need to rip the disc and delete the ei.cfg file. After creating an ISO image (minus the deleted file) and burning it to a new disc the next time you insert the disc there will be a ‘Select the operating system you want to install’ screen showing all versions except Windows 7 Enterprise.

Windows 7

Windows 7 - 30 day trial (or more?)

October 22 is the release date for Windows 7 and, although I have used the Release Candidate (Evaluation Copy) Build 7100 for some months now, it was my intention to start the 30 day trial period of the RTM version in the run-up to the release date.

Sometime last week a story appeared on the web about a bug in Windows 7 which allows you to extend the 30 day trial period, or as Microsoft call it 'Rearm' it, for another 30 days. The process can be repeated three times in all giving four months (approximately) or 120 days of free use before deciding to buy.

At the moment there are no actual discs available for Windows 7, only downloads, but when they do become available, regardless of which version you buy, you will have access to all versions including a 30 day trial period to try it.

To get the extension to the trial period is simple and is already in built into the system. I would not advise experimenting with it until it is close to expiring because it will reset the clock on the trial regardless of how many days left you have.

The easiest way to check how long is left on the trial is to right-click on Computer from the Start menu and select Properties. At the bottom of the page is Windows activation showing the number of days left before activation is needed.

The Bug

The thing I like about 'The Bug' is that it was built into the system by Microsoft so it is not some hack or crack found on a forum that could screw up your system and/or complicate your license agreement.

Before reaching the end of your trial period (Windows 7 any version) go to the Start menu and in Accessories right-click on the Command Prompt selecting 'Run as administrator'. In the Command Prompt type 'slmgr -rearm' (without quotes) and hit Return. Restart windows and check the properties page which will now show 30 days before activation is required.

Windows Software Licensing Management Tool

Usage: slmgr.vbs [MachineName [User Password]]

MachineName: Name of remote machine (default is local machine)

User: Account with required privilege on remote machine

Password: password for previous account

Global Options:

/ipk

Install product key (replaces existing key)

/ato [Activation ID]

Activate Windows

/dli [Activation ID | All]

Display license information (default: current license)

/dlv [Activation ID | All]

Display detailed license information (default: current license)

/xpr [Activation ID]

Expiration date for current license state

Avanced Options

/cpky

Clear product key from the registry (prevents diclosure attacks)

/ilc

Install license

/rilc

Re-install system license files

/rearm

Reset the licensing status of the machine

/upk [Activation ID]

Uninstall product key

/dti [Activation ID]

Display Intallation ID for offline activation

/atp [Activation ID]

Activate product with user-provided Confirmation ID

Volume Licensing: Key Management Service (KMS) Client Options

/skms [Activation ID] [Activation ID]

Set the name and/or the port for the KMS computer this machine will use. IPv6 address must be specified in the format [hostname]:port

/ckms [Activation ID]

Clear name of KMS computer used (sets the port to the default)

/skhc

Enable KMS host caching

/ckhc

Disable KMS host caching

Volume Licensing: Token-based Activation Options:

/lil

List installed Token-based Activation Issuance Licenses

/ril

Remove installed Token-based Activation Issuance License

/ctao

Clear Token-based Activation Only flag (default)

/stao

Set Token-based Activation Only flag

/ltc

List Token-based Activation Certificates

/fta []

Force Token-based Activation

Volume Licensing: Key Management Service (KMS) Options

/sprt

Set TCP port KMS will use to communicate with clients

/sai

Set interval (minutes) for unactivated clients to attempt KMS connection. The activation interval must be between 15 minutes (min) and 30 days (max) although the default (2 hours) is recommended.

/sri

Set renewal interval (minutes) for activated clients to attempt KMS connection. The renewal interval must be between 15 minutes (min) and 30 days (max) although the default (7 days) is recommended.

/sdns

Enable DNS publishing by KMS (default)

/cdns

Disable DNS publishing by KMS

/spri

Set KMS priority to normal (default)

/cpri

Set KMS priority to low

Windows 7

Widows 7 - Promo video

As a Windows 7 user, for some time now, I will be covering it either on this page or on another page closer to its release date (22 October).

Web Browsers, continued...

Google Chrome

The Google Chrome Web Browser was September 2008 in beta version. Of the five main browsers in use it is fourth on the table of most popular browsers, Internet Explorer being first and Opera last. Its share of the market is just under 2% compared with Microsoft’s share of 65%. When I see Google Chrome using the Vista/Windows 7 Aero effect I wonder if Google deliberately designed it for this platform.

Of all five browsers it looks the most integrated with Windows 7, apart from one significant feature, there’s no thumbnail preview of individual Tabs; missing also in Firefox and Opera, but available in Safari’s ‘Open in Tabs’.

The Google Chrome interface is nothing short of spectacular, especially for someone like me who wants less of everything. Less of everything that gets in the way that is, I do prefer a ‘hands-on’ approach to advanced setting and options, which Google Chrome lacks.

The user interface has nothing more than back, forward, refresh and Favorites buttons, apparently you can add a homepage button too if you really need one. Combining the search box and address bar is unusual at first but, in my opinion, the way to go.

Google announced last week its intention to release the Google Chrome operating system for netbooks. Although they claim it will be an open source project they haven’t released the code yet. Plans are towards the end of 2009.

If Google Chrome were fully integrated with Windows 7 and had a few more advanced setting then I could stop using Internet Explorer altogether. Until now it hasn’t and I didn’t.

Internet Explorer 8

Regardless of who you are, where you are or what you do, everybody has used Internet Explorer. Since taking over from Netscape Navigator in the mid-90’s it established itself, even controversially, has The Browser with at least 95% usage during its version 5 and 6 days.

The security vulnerabilities that affect all browsers tend to affect Internet Explorer more for the simple fact that it is more widely used so makers of adware, spyware and viruses will have a larger target if they aim specifically at Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 8 is slightly slower than other browsers, but we’re talking milliseconds and its integration with Windows 7 (Release Candidate) makes it a must for windows users. There are plans to release a version of Windows 7 (possibly called Windows 7 EU) with no browser?! This is due to the E.U.’s anti-trust regulations and continuing cases between Microsoft and the Opera makers.

It is my understanding that the manufacturers of new computers will be able to pre-install any browser they choose with Windows 7. If you live in Norway then the chances are your new pc will probably come with Opera pre-installed which originates from, let me think... Oh yes, Norway.

I have no way of accurately measuring my browser use in percentages, if I was to make a guess I’d say about 70-30 between Internet Explorer 8 and Google Chrome, though, that may vary due to odd facts like CNN’s live pop-up window is resizable in Google Chrome whilst not with Internet Explorer 8. I have to say that having discovered Safari’s nine news pages simultaneously, which made me laugh when I discovered it, its share could grow from a percentage close to zero to a ‘bit’.

Web Browsers

A non-Office 2010 moment

Browser makers are falling over themselves these days to come up with the fastest and safest browser on the market. As browser users, who don’t actually pay anything, we can only benefit from the competition.

Browser has we know them today started in 1994 with Netscape Navigator and, although there were alternatives, it was the preferred way to browse the internet (series of tubes). With Windows 95, (Chicago, all Microsoft products have codenames though I’ve never discovered what Internet Explorer’s was although I do know Netscape Navigator’s, Mozilla) Microsoft began its almost complete domination of internet browsing. The Mac didn’t get its own browser, Safari, until around 2003.

There are five browsers today that are worth mentioning and I have all five running on this machine and to be honest there isn’t a slow one that you can just eliminate from the argument. They all load pages in from 2 to 4 seconds. I’ve tested all five with a stopwatch timer on this webpage.

This page is set to show five posts per page, because of the number of images I use, and knowing full well the internet (series of tubes) isn’t the same everywhere, I would prefer less but five is the minimum.

My use of the term ‘series of tubes’ is, of course, a reference to one of the United States’ former internet regulators (Ted Stevens) who shared his profound understanding of internet technology during a radio interview with the following gem:

“Ten movies streaming across that, that Internet, and what happens to your own personal Internet? I just the other day got...an Internet was sent by my staff at 10 o'clock in the morning on Friday. I got it yesterday. Why? Because it got tangled up with all these things going on the Internet commercially.

They want to deliver vast amounts of information over the Internet. And again, the Internet is not something that you just dump something on. It's not a big truck. It's a series of tubes. And if you don't understand, those tubes can be filled and if they are filled, when you put your message in, it gets in line and it's going to be delayed by anyone that puts into that tube enormous amounts of material, enormous amounts of material”.

So, having run the test a few times I have to say there was no clear winner or loser. The times I recorded were from the first run with Google Chrome first at 2.533 and, not surprisingly, last place was Internet Explorer 8 with 3.602, Opera and Firefox were both under 3 seconds while Safari was just over.

Opera 9.6

I downloaded the latest Opera browser for the simple reason that it keeps appearing on lists of favourite or least favourite browsers and I didn’t want to compare the others without it. My last encounter with Opera was back in the day (90’s) when it had an advertisement bar at the top which you could remove by subscription. Opera 9, (9.64) like the other four, does what a browser should so the only criteria I can find to eliminate three of the five are personal preference and appearance.

When I get my hands on a new browser, updated or otherwise, the first thing I do is get rid of all the trimmings. I don’t need or like toolbars, add-ons, buttons and the like. All I need, or want, is the absolute minimum browser interface. With Opera I can’t remove the Menu bar though I can remove the Tabs bar, without which I’d have no idea how many open Tabs there are! The Tabs are not pretty in Opera, in fact they’re ugly as sin, although the Tab review thumbnails their job.

Everyone should have at least two browsers and although I will browse on just about anything, and also the fact that there isn’t anything fundamentally wrong with Opera I can’t see myself using it whilst there are so many exceptional browsers to choose from.

Safari 4

Safari has an uphill struggle too; the first question I asked Safari 4 is “where are the Tabs?” Then I see the folders, I click News dropdown and see ‘Open in Tabs’, there they are. I click ‘Open in Tabs’ and all nine News pages open at once.

The good news is, unlike Google Chrome, Firefox and Opera, the individual Tabs show in the Windows 7 (I assume it’s the same in Vista) preview thumbnails and Windows Peak.

Top Sites looks fine but I really wanted individual Tabs. The Bookmark browser is really cute but unnecessary. A few less gimmicks and a few more basics would put Safari in the top three instead of it being a mostly Mac users browser.

Got News

Firefox 3.5

The problem I have with Firefox is a perception issue. It is a product like any other, if it accepted that I could give it the respect it probably deserves. We needed an alternative to Internet Explorer, and thankfully got more than one. But, the tag/label of being open source, alternative and free makes me suspicious when browsers are free to begin with. Yes, the Netscape Navigator source code, on which it was originally based, was released after AOL bought the Netscape brand name; and yes it’s free and was a much faster, less resource hungry alternative to Internet Explorer when we really needed one. An open source project is, almost by definition, done with passion and usually underfunded.

To date the pricing hasn’t been fixed for Office 2010 but when it is, and however much it is, if you compare it to the OpenOffice project then you’ll see the difference between a commercial venture and an open source project. Mozilla Firefox is a commercial venture.

The people I know who use Firefox say that it works fine until you install too many add-ons and accessories and then it slows. The Firefox 3.5 Menu bar can’t be hidden but apart from that the interface is clean and efficient, worthy of its second place in the browser users’ statistics.

Next, Internet Explorer 8 & Google Chrome...