Entries for Andre Da Costa

37 Brand New Windows 7 M3 Screenshots [37 Brand New Windows 7 M3 Screenshots]

Andre Da Costa — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:36:10 GMT

From THINKNEXT via Mary Jo Foley All About Microsoft

Here are a couple videos

And here is my preview post about it all.

in reply to 37 Brand New Windows 7 M3 Screenshots

My Wish List for Windows 7 [My Wish List for Windows 7]

Andre Da Costa — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:10:54 GMT

Hi everyone, haven't posted here for a while. I hope my post is not out of tone, if so please feel free to delete it. I thought that with the 2008 PDC approaching and the main topic being Windows 7 at the event, I would gather some of my wishes for this release and hope the Windows Team take some time out of their busy schedule to read and engage in a conversation on what I and others would like to see in this release. I am aware of the Engineering Windows 7 blog, but wouldn't want to post a wish list as long as this in the comments. Thanks and let me hear everyones feedback.

Integrate Windows Live Skydrive into Computer explorer as a Mapped Network drive where I can drag and drop files on my personal computer and save to it directly from within Windows and third party applications.
Ability to use ‘Backup files’ in ‘Backup and Restore Center’ in Windows 7 to backup files to Skydrive. Please note this is only for Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos (basically the contents of the User folder), also with the option of selecting specific files, since there is a limitation to Skydrive’s storage capacity.
A ‘Task’ drop menu next to ‘Organize’ drop down menu on the command bar in explorer windows for common options such as moving files, saving explorer settings and options that were once available under Task Panes in Windows XP explorers.
Consolidate and centralize Networking into two locations/explorers for everything networking. Right now there are just too many confusing windows for networking: Network, Network Sharing Center, Manage Network Connections, and Network Map. Some of the task links in Network and Sharing Center could be on the fly radio box links that changes the view of the window when clicked. Try to give the user some focus.
Turn ‘Personalization’ appearance options into collapsible panels, meaning, the various options such as Windows Color and Appearance, Desktop Background, Screen Saver, etc instead of a separate explorer view or dialogs; you will simply click a button next to the setting link that expands to reveal options related to that applet. When the button is clicked, all the options are put into view and when clicked retract to put all the link options back into view. (Please view concept).
Try and make more dialogs in the system into actual explorer windows that can reveal more information such as:
- TCP IP Properties.
- Advance Settings under System Properties.
- Folder Options and the various applets in the Control Panel that use dialogs. Dialogs to me are unproductive, lacking detail and just confusing how information is revealed to the user. Most were great for Windows 95 when screen size was 800 by 600.
Ability to rearrange open window buttons on Taskbar and have saved favorites applications that the user can open with one click.
Call up and auto-hide keyboard command for Windows Gadgets.
Windows Macro Tool for automating simple task throughout the user interface. Make it easy using flow charting capabilities and standard set of templates users can start with and more they can download from Microsoft.com.
Thinner window borders, they are too large.
Make initial phase of Windows Setup when launched from within an existing running version of Windows minimize to Notification Area, so you can do something else while files copy from the Windows 7 disk. When the files have finished copying, a mandatory 1 minute notification should appear informing the user that a restart is required to continue installation, save all work and click ok to continue. I can do this now, by initiating the Windows + D command, but it’s cumbersome and does not feel official.
Speaking of installation, don’t let Windows tell me it has completed installing, when it still has to go through an optimization phase before it actually takes you to the log in screen or desktop. I notice after I setup an account in Vista, select my recommended security settings, it has to go through this tiresome, boring optimizing computer performance routine. Make that be a part of the actual installation, please.
Create a System Restore point on first boot, seems like a good idea to me. So, if you do hose your system with the first app you install, Windows 7 got you covered.
Do not put the swap file (pagefile.sys) at the end of the drive; I want to make partitions in Disk Management larger than 2 GBs.
Ability to resize and enlarge partitions by utilizing existing free space. For instance, if I have Windows 7 installed on an Extended (logical drive), I can allocate free space from an Active/Primary partition that might have Windows XP or Vista installed.
Ability to boot off Windows 7 DVD into a basic Windows environment with basic networking, ability to access storage devices and access to the Internet, you could make this possible by improving on the System Recovery Environment in Vista.
Upgrade an existing installation of Windows by booting off the DVD, the point of killing something like this that has been in Windows for so long seemed pointless. Why must I boot into Windows to start an up upgrade? I could simply, boot the computer, insert disk, boot from Windows 7 installation disk and select upgrade and it does the rest.
Restore just your personal files from a Complete PC Backup.
Include Complete PC Backup in all editions of Windows 7, I think everybody’s data is just as important no matter the edition of Windows you are running.
DVD Burning capabilities in all editions of Windows 7, even a $260 computer has a DVD Burner these days.
Include Remote Desktop in all editions of Windows 7 and make the ability to access remote computers easy over the Internet, but secure. It’s easy now, but I still see some complexity to it especially differentiating the separation between a LAN and WAN. I live in Jamaica, I am on a business trip in the States, makes it easy for me to access my Windows 7 PC at home with Windows 7 notebook in the hotel lobby. I am not talking about remote assistance; I want an actual rich experience.
Ability to drag and drop Gadgets on supported web pages and Windows Live Messenger conversation window, for example, a note gadget dragged and dropped into a conversation window, should work great with Multi-touch too.
Make it easy to backup data stored in Windows Gadgets, and integrate the Notes Gadgets with Office Outlook Notes.
View photos in multiple locations by including filters in Pictures explorer, whether they are on your Windows Live Space, Facebook, My Space or Flickr. The same should apply for videos, whether they are on Facebook, MSN Soapbox or YouTube. Developers should have access to API’s so they can tie in their own custom multimedia web applications.
Ability to browse the contents of a Complete PC Backup image (read only).
Include a subsystem for Windows XP SP3 to maintain complete compatibility with legacy devices and software. If you can have a subsystem for UNIX in Vista Enterprise and Ultimate, I don’t see why you cannot for Windows.
Internet Guest account, this brings down your settings on any high speed internet enabled Windows 7 computer, a very secure high encryption account, once you log out settings and personal files are removed. Your Windows Live Hotmail address is used to do this and there must be no option at all to save username or password on the computer. Personalized options include, access to your personal files, access to your Skydrive, this would be excellent for public computers and kiosk.
Include viewers for common applications like PowerPoint, Word, Photoshop, and Illustrator. I am not asking for the ability to edit, just view them if I don’t have the appropriate applications installed. You might say I should download the viewers for PPT and Word or buy the application, but I think with the ubiquity of Office, the ability to view them should be native in the OS. Make previewing richer and more agile, by simply hovering a file I can see a full preview of the file (with the ability to turn this feature off.
Bring back Film Strip view.
Standardized Save and Open windows in addition to standardized ‘Do You Want to Save this file?’ modal dialogs in all Windows based applications and Microsoft software applications, make an effort for every third party application developer to jump on board for this.
Ability to Search Task Pane links from Start menu search box. Examples include:

- Change Desktop Icons – Personalization

- Adjust Font size (DPI) - Personalization

- Advanced System Settings – System Properties

- Remote Settings - System Properties

- System Protection - System Properties

- View Computers and Devices – Network and Sharing Center

- Connect to a network - Network and Sharing Center

- Manage Network Connections - Network and Sharing Center

- Setup a network or connection - Network and Sharing Center

- Diagnose and repair - Network and Sharing Center

There are many more task links throughout Windows I believe should also be searchable, not just limited to applets, applications and personal files. The Search facilities in Windows 7 need to be more extensive and inclusive.

Ability to remove/uncheck thumbnails in list view in Windows Media Player.
Remove cached thumbnails of music files and albums when user deletes them from library.
Create a Dynamic partition for Digital locker that automatically resizes itself when you download applications from Windows Market Place.
Make ‘Add a printer’ wizard look like Turn on Windows Features window.
Make ‘Add hardware’ wizard look like Turn on Windows Features window.
Ability to customize a Windows 7 installation, remove unnecessary Printer drivers, only install for supported and available hardware devices that user knows is in their system.
Slip streaming utility in Windows to make servicing Windows 7 easier, so when the first Service Pack for Windows 7 arrives, a built in tool under System Tools in Windows 7 automatically does it for you, only thing you need to provide is a blank DVD. This slip stream utility could have additional options for adding authorized drivers provided by certified IHVs and authorized software, such as a new version of Internet Explorer, Media Player and so on.
Make the Properties bar at the bottom of each explorer window show more information about a file, try to eliminate the need to go to properties of the file to reveal more meta data, you could integrate the tabs for from the properties dialog of a file such as Sharing, Security and Previous versions into the Properties bar, just have a chevron collapsible panel button on the properties bar, when clicked reveals more information.
Preview files by hovering over them, whether it’s a song (embedded control), or image in Pictures explorer similar to Photo Gallery.
Make the look of Wizards more consistent.
Ability to change the color intensity of non-key (non-active) windows when Aero Glass theme is being used.
Glow to selected icons on desktop instead of the square box, ability to turn it off and use the classic selection highlight of icon like in Windows XP.
Make URLs work through Run dialog box without having to type in http://
Put pictorial representations of Start menu common links icons beside the worded link instead of at the top of the Start menu. The User profile picture in my opinion takes up just too much space and it looks useless.
Include a built in dictionary, I would suggest the Encarta Dictionary, could also make it a Gadget.
Improve the Windows Aero Basic theme; I think it’s the worst looking theme in the entire Universe. I recommend something that looks more like Office Communicators theme with the Vista Aero Glass styled min, max, restore and close buttons. If Windows Media Player 11 for XP and Windows Live Messenger 8.5 can have it, I don’t see why an improved Windows Aero Basic in Windows 7 cannot have this. Give users who don’t have powerful enough PC’s to run the high graphics tiers something to feel confident and pleased about, a theme that I would feel confident enough to switch to even if my PC has the capabilities to run Aero Glass.
Publish movies directly from Windows Movie Maker to MSN Soap box, Windows Live Spaces, Facebook, You Tube, Flickr and Skydrive.
Please include the supported Language Packs in the appropriate Windows 7 SKUs on the actual disk; I don’t want to see these showing up in Windows Update at all, even if we do now have the ability to hide updates.
Officially support dual booting with prior versions of Windows, accept it, it’s a fact of life, people dual boot. I have 6 versions of Windows on my computer right now and I want a powerful built in boot manager that’s easy to use like EasyBCD by NeoSmart Technologies, hey I’m sure Mahmoud Al-Qudsi would join your development team for free just have this working in Windows 7.
Make Windows Complete PC Backup recognize changed partition layouts. Ok, I have Windows Vista on a 160 GB drive; it’s using approximately 90 GBs of that, leaving me with around 60 to 65 GBs of free space. I did a Complete PC Backup, and wiped the drive clean (160 GBs), from this 160 GB, I created a 20 GB partition, leaving me with around 140 GB, ample space to restore that 90 GB Complete PC backup I created. When I booted off my Windows Vista DVD and selected the Repair Computer option and selected Completed PC Backup, I pointed to the Complete PC Backup .VHD on my external drive, the restoration process started, and then I saw a strange sentence that said “restoring partition layout”. I said, ok, but never paid much attention. When the restoration was finally complete and I booted up Windows Vista, logged in and checked Computer, the 20 GB partition I created was nowhere to be found, only the same old 160 GB partition with my 90 GB Vista installation intact. Please fix this.
Better looking demos and tours in Windows 7. The bundled tours in Windows Vista are awful; they looked like they were put together by an amateur (I am not disrespecting you whoever did create them, just my opinion). Windows XP’s tour was so beautiful, rich and inviting, even to this day I watch it with that soothing narrator and encouraging song in the background filled with such momentumJ.
Help and Support, give actual examples of scenarios, not instructions. If Paul was setting up a home network, show Paul an actual example of setting up a home network in Windows, not where to find the things, but how the thing is done. Jesus Christ led by example, let Windows 7 take a cue from that.
Make Windows Meeting Space into a social networking tool that targets not just businesses, but consumers. It clearly needs to be revamped. Make it a way for users to extend their personal computing experience with family, friends and colleagues. For example, you aggregate, data from a number of online sources such as Twitter, Facebook, Windows Live Space, Pictures, Music, Videos, Flickr and Office files. Have common scenarios setup, home work, business projects, travel with sub categories and makes it full functionality available to all editions of Windows 7 with support for video conferencing.
Thumbnail previews of images and video files in Start menu search when files are filtered down to the top 5, when it’s a lot of results, that’s hard to discern, support the ability to hover over each result with a big thumbnail preview.
Flip 3D for album view in Media Player, will be great for Multi-touch mania.
Ability to set default library view when Media Player is opened, I personally prefer Album thumbnails instead of list view.
Colorize folders, this can actually make even searching easier, so you can filter search results by color of folder. So that report I wrote, I knew I put it in the Orange folder.
Make Windows Calendar recognize holidays, especially localized ones.
Ejecting USB devices needs to be less annoying, just the other day, I clicked the eject USB device icon in Notification area, yet it insisted the device is still in use. I closed out all applications and explorer windows associated with the device, yet it kept nagging me. Come on, please let me be in control and tell Windows I know better sometimes.
Speaking of holidays, make the floating Notification Area Calendar display these holidays also in addition to the Calendar gadget.
Viruses, I have to say this, it’s still a fact on Windows Vista, even the 64 bit platform. Just the other day, my friends Vista Home Premium 64 bit Laptop contracted a virus that disabled Run, Task Manager, Command Prompt and any type of Administrative activity. Could you please put something in Windows Security that says, hey’ this is a regular consumer user who would never want these type of things disabled. What’s interesting, these things are coming through the browsers, which must mean some tightening up needs to be done there.
Harmonization between Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer again. Remember in the pre-Vista days when you typed a URL in Windows Explorer window (My Documents, Pictures etc and it automatically transformed into the IE web browser? I want to see that magic again. J
Postpone restarting my computer to install updates option to ‘when I feel like it’?
Built in support for Industry Standard image based file formats, there is some degree of support .VHD, but I would like to see it taken to the next level, in addition to support for the ubiquitous .ISO, ability to mount, browse and burn from within Windows 7.
Support WinRAR compressed files, please.
Sync Windows Contacts with Windows Live Hotmail contacts, maybe I would actually use it then, then again the next version of Windows Live Mail might make this point moot.
Tighter integration between Windows Live Mail, Calendar and Contacts. Instead of just links to the application, at least make there be some degree of integration similar to Office Outlook, I am not asking for a downright replica here, just reduce the clutter of having the need for multiple applications open all the time. Sometimes I am in my email and just need a quick check and edit of my calendar; I don’t need to fire up a separate program to do that. If Windows Live Hotmail can do this, I think it’s a likely possibility for Windows.
Better Windows DVD Maker themes, I’m serious, like copy the ones that Apple has in iDVD. I don’t like the repurposing of Windows wallpapers used in the themes that are included in DVD Maker, especially that red African daisy and the Windows Vista aurora wallpaper. Have themes that revolve around scenarios, Birthdays, Travel, New Baby, Wedding, Family, Nature, Professional and holidays.
Better integration between DVD Maker and Windows Movie Maker, these two were meant to be joined in holy software matrimony.
Under Desktop Background in Personalization Explorer, make the Picture Location list box be located beside the wallpapers, it’s annoying to change in the list box to look at different wall papers. (Browse while I simply click is the concept here).
What’s up with the Windows Aurora screensaver in Screen Savers? Get rid of that thing, pronto!
Every task link that leads to a dialog in an explorer window must be a Radio Box that leads to an explorer.
Repair Network connection dialog – could you actually make this useful? For instance, I can’t get access to the Internet, please don’t tell me to ask my Administrator for help! The Administrator account is even disabled in Windows these days, most home users don’t even know what an Administrator is and duh, they are most often the Standard Administrator of the computer. I am looking for real solutions here. Here is a list of common problems associated with networking.

- Conflicting IP Addresses

- Not in the same workgroup

- ISP is having problems – this actually suggested.

- The connection you are trying to connect through (gateway) is not shared – this one in particular gets me every time.

Expound on these in the Diagnose network connection dialog and I am sure more users will be able to resolve their problems better.

Make the Network icon balloon icon when hovered over in the Notification area reveal sent and received packets. In addition to a how long have you been on the net, especially handy for dial up users who are still out there in large numbers. The entire world is not broad band ubiquitous just yet and I don’t think it will be by 2010.
Could you actually include both Windows 7 32 and 64 bit disk in the packaging? I am sick of the complaints this caused, especially in the retail space. ‘Hey, I thought Vista Home Premium was available in both 32-bit and “64-bit”? Oh man, I really gonna have to sign up to get the additional disk?
Hey, if you can even put both platforms on a dual layer disk and have the user choose their platform of choice during setup that would be nice. But let there be clear distinctions when choosing this option during setup. E.g.:
Chose Windows 7 64 bit if you have 4 GBs of memory or more, if you have applications that can address more than 4 GBs of memory, technical applications: engineering, architectural, animation, and design/publishing. I don’t know, but you can figure something out.
Make Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade for supported SKU’s be be interchangeable, eg:
7 Home > Business, Premium
7 Premium > Business
7 Business > Premium
I have seen the cases where a user wants this particular edition because of this, hey, it would even be better if you could just outright buy the feature for your SKU, even if you Microsoft would want it to require a product key and activation. Running Windows 7 Business and need Media Center and DVD Play back, then purchase it for $49.99. Running Home Basic and really need that Domain Join functionality, then purchase it for $70.99. I am talking about the key differentiators here that make each SKU special. Even if it means adding anti-piracy features at an extreme level, at least make this an option for all Windows 7 users.
Since we are on the topic of SKU’s, Vista has been the most controversial to date. Microsoft, you gotta make this easy, you gotta make people be enthused and not confused or heartbroken. I have seen stupidity happen over this very same SKU fiasco in my lab and I am sick of defending it!

“I got Ultimate and you don’t and you are running Home Basic which is like the worst edition” even between premium SKU’s I have witnessed arguments.

Kara: “I’m running Vista Ultimate 32-bit and its way better and have all the features”.

Wolli: Actually, I am running the better edition of Vista, Home Premium 64-bit, because it’s more secure and is not susceptible viruses like the 32-bit one and it can use more memory.

Stop! Ok, one more.

Cian: “I am running Vista Home Basic and I feel left out”.

How can we solve this? The SKU strategy needs to be redesigned, here’s a tip:
Cut out Windows Vista Ultimate, it does not make sense – I have witnessed over 30 notebooks running Vista where I study and only 3 I see are running Ultimate, the majority is Home Basic or Home Premium. Rare cases will you see even a Business Vista based computer.

The SKU strategy for Windows 7 must be like this:

Windows 7 Home – same strategy as Vista Home basic, supports upgrading from XP Home Edition and Vista Home Basic. Decent looking theme (AERO Glass). I am sure by 2010; most computers will have a powerful enough card to at least run this theme.
Windows 7 Business (Eliminate Enterprise, let whatever unique functionality it offers be add on under software assurance). This would in fact I believe spur more Company’s to actually sign up, and push the initiative of software as a service in the Enterprise and revamp some of Microsoft’s businesses like SA and EA.
Windows 7 Premium – Includes Media Center and all multimedia features and the successor to Ultimate. Persons who upgrade from Vista Ultimate to 7 Premium must get access to all the same and improved functionality. So, things like Domain Join for instance that is in Ultimate, but is not a default feature of 7 Premium, must be carried over, just write it off as an add on purchased by the user, similar to what I described earlier. I can give an example of this. Remember when the first version of XP MCE was released? It included Domain Join, but subsequent versions after that were done through clean installs did not include DJ, but if you upgraded from say MCE v1 to MCE 2004 or 2005, the Domain Join functionality is retained, yeah, it’s something like that.

Pricing:

- Windows 7 Home - $100 (no upgrade pricing, just let there be a $100 dollar edition of Windows like there use to be). $160 family pack, supports up to 5 computers in the home and stick to it too, don’t back out 7 months into the program.

- Windows 7 Business - $200 ($140 upgrade), don’t make this SKU a hard bargain, make persons who actually want business features and business features only actually want to buy this SKU. Again, it should also replace Vista Enterprise. When I plug in a UTP cable, it should automatically be able to detect a Domain, type of Network and guide the user to successfully join and access resources just by providing username, password and domain name. Diagnosis should be informative, explanation of how to join a domain, what the Administrator might not have provided to the end user to make you join the network, what the administrator might be doing wrong on his/her end. Make it easy for users to bring home work and continue accessing resources remotely.

- Windows 7 Premium - $200 ($140 upgrade), Multimedia based version of Windows 7 that includes all the features of Home Basic and all the latest rich consumer experiences on the PC, from Parental controls, to a premium experience with Windows Live, Media Center and so on, I am sure you can bundle some goodies to make it a key differentiator. $350 family pack for 3 computers, make people want to see value in it enough to spend that kind of money on an OS.

- And stick to this strategy for all eternity.

There you have it, three SKU’s that can be easily adopted by mainstream markets. If I had my way, I would personally eliminate even the basic Home SKU and just have Windows 7 Business and Premium. Yes, there are compromises, but at the same time I believe this strategy shuts up the point about bloat in Windows. It gives consumers, SMBs and Enterprises choice and an easy way to get Windows 7 with the features they do need.

Put back Windows Fax and Scan in all consumer SKUs, don’t make something like this which was available Windows 95 a compromise now, it’s just too late.
Make connecting to locally connected Projectors easier, I should just plug it in and be able to start a show. Pressing F1 and toggling displays does not work sometimes. Windows 7 must have the common sense to say, user has connected projector, user has PowerPoint open, user must want to project slide show, let me ask him/her. Eureka! Going to Personalization > Display Settings > Identify monitors is just confusing at times.
Built in system wide spell checker. Do it for the sake of the kids and me, Windows and Office have corrupted my grammar skills and I want to mend and protect my nephews own while I am at it.
Non Adjacent selection of text in Internet Explorer on Windows 7, looks like it’s not gonna happen for version 8 now.
Reset Windows 7 Settings; reset Windows 7 to its default settings. Meaning, when I buy an OEM branded computer, I can remove all the third party programs that OEM’s often include without having to reinstall the OS from scratch, this should not affect device drivers. But even virus protection software must be removed in the reset process. Let me the user; decide what I want to put on my computer. IE 7 has a similar setting.
User Account Control, it’s not working and you need to make it AEROrized. And when I say it’s not working, it’s an annoyance and not intelligent enough to know the areas of the system that does not need it, let me list some:

- Advanced System Setting

- Change Date and Time

- Turn Windows Features on or off

- When I insert a software program through CD/DVD. Come on, I intentionally put the disk in the drive.

- Accessing device manager – look, I am not saying it’s not needed there, just that, opening the applet doesn’t mean I must encounter UAC, if I am actually editing a device, uninstalling then fine.

- Disk Cleanup

- Let me designate applications I install as completely safe.

- Areas I think need to be tightened up in terms of security? Task Manager, Run command and Command Prompt.

Support upgrading from 64-bit XP and Vista 64-bit to 7 64-bit, whether installation is started from within a running copy or by booting from the DVD.
Export and import of speech profile option.
Do a Complete PC Backup of Windows 7 on a partition with Boot settings excluding other installations of Windows. For instance, I have 3 partitions, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008. I want the option in Complete PC Backup, to back up only the Windows 7 partition and restore it to a different partition, maybe a larger one example. I don’t like how Complete PC Backup has to backup everything although it’s called Complete PC Backup for a reason; I want some degree of control over the process.
The About Windows dialog and the System Properties explorer reports contradicting amounts of memory, could you please fix this:

- System Properties - 2,559 MBs

- Windows About dialog - 2,619,865 KBs

Next Windows Mail needs to include some professional looking Stationary for various occasions, birthdays, weddings, new baby, party, invitations, and greetings and so on. They must look very good, have a simple layout and a quick access to your photo and video library, preferably a Task Pane on the right with drag and drop capabilities.
Ability to do a one click export of attached photos sent by email to my Pictures library, with the option of adding directly to library or in a folder. Try avoiding implementing modal dialogs.
Virtual Desktops utility, easy to access, situated in the Notification Area or a Windows Gadget (preferably the notification area).
Make Microsoft Management Console windows look and work like actual Windows Explorer windows.
Consistency between expanding tree indicators, I notice, Device Manager use (+) signs, while things like the Windows Explorer folder tree uses triangles.
Search box in Registry toolbar. The Edit > Find (CTRL + F command modal dialog is just old school and rather unintuitive.
Windows Experience Index rating needs to get its act together, I have upgraded my PC to the 9’s, yet I get a lousy rating.

· 3.2 Ghz P4 32-Bit

· 2.6 GBs of RAM

· nVidia Geforce FX 6200 512 MB AGP

· 250 GB drive

· Vista Ultimate 32-Bit

And I still get a lousy 2.3 rating even after that? From those specs, it’s a 3.5 minimum I say.

Please include some decent Gadgets for the following categories, I haven’t seen anything decent on Windows Live Gadgets that I would use:

· Windows Media Player – similar to that one that existed during the alphas demoed in Vista Build 5219 at the 2005 PDC

· A countdown timer gadget with an alarm, I am baking some muffins at the moment and the instructions on the packaging say 16 to 21 mins.

· Virtual Desktops Gadget

· Mail Gadget

· IM Gadget

Show pictorial representations for a program such as Office, Windows, Silverlight, Live Writer, Outlook in Installed Updates History and Windows Update view available updates explorer.
Ability to uncheck Welcome Center on first boot to the Windows Desktop.
Update personal file location changes in Windows and applications installed on Windows 7. For instance, I saved a file in my Documents folder, then a couple days later, moved it to my Public Documents folder. When I open that same file link from the Recent Items menu or say the application it was created, the link should automatically know the new location without presenting a cannot find file window or searching for file dialog.
Remember Resized column views in folders.
Scenarios and OOBE. When people just install Windows 7, they want to know what to do with their PC, especially for the consumer SKU’s. I suggest you have a one stop wizard that setups an email account (or use an existing one) with the ability to start publishing content to all the key Windows Live services, a blog post, publish and post videos, photos, socializing with friends and family. Just focus on a scenario of experiencing the web in an engaging way after setting up Windows 7.
Make the Windows 7 product box easier to open – I am working on some concepts.
Make Windows 7 faster: Startup (although I am using hibernate these days), shutdown, resume from hibernation, sleep, indexing faster (please take advantage of the multi-core CPUs, make applications pop open, just make it super, super, super fast.

So there you have it, my 103 suggestions: Design Change Request, Additions, and improvements to this operating system I use every day. Yes some are minor, some sound like huge undertakings, but I just want you the Windows Team to actually read them and understand my passion and why I want to see deep synergy with the Internet, the Windows Live platform and services. The aim is about scenarios, the Internet, power users, affordability, functionality, relevancy, deep integration, choice, accuracy and a way to make Windows a platform everyone can be proud of.

Thank You

in reply to My Wish List for Windows 7

VistaBootPro 1.0 for Windows Vista [VistaBootPro 1.0 for Windows Vista]

Andre Da Costa — Mon, 15 May 2006 22:45:16 GMT

VistaBootPRO is the first tweak-ware to be released for Windows Vista, but it's more than just that. When Microsoft first announced that they would not be providing anything easier than bcdedit.exe (a CLI-only tool with nested options and embedded tags) for the modification of the boot loader, we knew something had to be done, and now we're proud to announce that together with PROnetworks and months of hard work, planning, desiging, and researching have come to test with the initial release of VistaBootPRO.

Download here:
http://neosmart.net/forums/index.php?gettopic=25

I have been using this to edit and clean up my Windows Boot Manager and its been such a lifesaver, its graphical and you are gonna love it. Spread the news everyone. Thanks Computer Guru for developing this wonderful utility! :)

in reply to VistaBootPro 1.0 for Windows Vista

On 10 PC Contest - I think we have winner [On 10 PC Contest - I think we have winner]

Andre Da Costa — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 15:51:45 GMT

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockergnome/113630746/

in reply to On 10 PC Contest - I think we have winner

Windows Vista Launch - November 2006 [Windows Vista Launch - November 2006]

Andre Da Costa — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:44:14 GMT

Quote:
"This is the year. the year that Microsoft releases the newest version of Windows. Yes, Vista will be released in November of this year. So what is so compelling that our customers would want to spend money upgrading to the Vista operating system? Let's take a quick look at all that Vista offers a small business."

http://blogs.msdn.com/conblog/archive/2006/03/14/550826.aspx

in reply to Windows Vista Launch - November 2006

Office 2007 Technical Refresh Screenshots! [Office 2007 Technical Refresh Screenshots!]

Andre Da Costa — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 16:40:31 GMT

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/2007office/default.mspx

Does anybody see any similarities between Netscape 8 and Office 2007?

in reply to Office 2007 Technical Refresh Screenshots!

Windows Vista SKU Web Page Up! [Windows Vista SKU Web Page Up!]

Andre Da Costa — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 19:38:16 GMT

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/c0680472-bb5f-4a9c-9480-b16ab3eeb8f51033.mspx
The listed SKUs are

Windows Starter 2007
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate
Windows Vista Home Basic N
Windows Vista Business N

There may be a few things we haven't seen yet!

in reply to Windows Vista SKU Web Page Up!

Windows Vista 5270 Screenshots - ActiveWin [Windows Vista 5270 Screenshots - ActiveWin]

Andre Da Costa — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 22:23:02 GMT

Looking good:
http://www.activewin.com/screenshots/vista/5270/

in reply to Windows Vista 5270 Screenshots - ActiveWin

Novell Linux Desktop 10 Screenies [Novell Linux Desktop 10 Screenies]

Andre Da Costa — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 18:14:42 GMT

Scroll down the page
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=96912&page=5

Looking good! But not as good as Vista ;)

in reply to Novell Linux Desktop 10 Screenies

CNET: No Vista Beta 2 this year [CNET: No Vista Beta 2 this year]

Andre Da Costa — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 23:20:00 GMT

"The second beta of Windows Vista will not come until next year, Microsoft said Tuesday.

The software maker did not give a time frame for the release of Beta 2 of the operating system, and said only that it would have more to say next year. Microsoft had not said when Beta 2 will come, but some had expected it might come in December or January.

Microsoft did say it still plans to release the final version of Vista in the second half of next year.

"First and foremost, we are still on track for general availability in the second half of calendar year 2006," said Amitabh Srivastava, a corporate vice president in Microsoft's Windows unit."

Read the rest here

in reply to CNET: No Vista Beta 2 this year

Scary Guy at Best Buy [Scary Guy at Best Buy]

Andre Da Costa — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 16:52:14 GMT

I saw this pic on Vals Space in here photo albums showing pics of the recent sales frenzy over the XBOX 360 at Best Buy. One pic caught my eye though and I find it a little bit eerie. Check out the guy behind Bill Gates. Thanks to Chris for the possible thought.

I wonder if its Beer28 from Channel9.

in reply to Scary Guy at Best Buy

Windows XP commemorative Edition [Windows XP commemorative Edition]

Andre Da Costa — Sat, 19 Nov 2005 02:25:40 GMT

Localization be damned, since Microsoft has decided to release a special edition of Windows XP only in Japan to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first Windows. Finding details about what has changed versus previous XPs is difficult (probably because nothing changed), but we do know that it will feature a special “20th anniversary edition” desktop theme. Err, does that even count?

Read the rest here:
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000487068548/#comments

in reply to Windows XP commemorative Edition

Microsoft AntiSpyware is now Microsoft Windows Defender [Microsoft AntiSpyware is now Microsoft Windows Defender]

Andre Da Costa — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 23:58:20 GMT

What's in a name?? A lot!! Announcing Windows Defender!

Every week seems like a big week for us in the engineering team working on our anti-malware technology. However, last week was especially important in a sentimental way. We got the final name for the cool technology our team has been developing for Windows. The name, after long consideration by our product marketing and branding folks, is "Windows Defender"! What's really cool about this name is that it’s more positive than "Windows AntiSpyware". Windows Defender is about what Windows will do for customers, defending them from spyware and other unwanted software. Our solution has really been about more than just the standard definition of "spyware". We’ve always said we will provide visibility and control, as well as protection, detection and removal from other potentially unwanted software, including rootkits, keystroke loggers and more.

Also:
It is going to be a part of VISTA!
The biggest announcement we are making is that Windows Defender will be a part of Vista when it releases. You will be able to run another spyware product instead of Windows Defender if you would like. Although I may shed a small tear, you will be able to disable or turn off Windows Defender and install whichever 3rd party anti-spyware application you would like. The really cool thing is that the Windows Security Center in Vista will be redesigned to detect if an Anti-Spyware application such as Windows Defender is running and operating normally.

From Steve Dodson

in reply to Microsoft AntiSpyware is now Microsoft Windows Defender

Prefessor Gates [Prefessor Gates]

Andre Da Costa — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 20:02:26 GMT

Seriously, this guy would make a perfect Prefessor, he has everything down to a T, even the sweater! I could not imagine Larry Ellison in such a setting, a 10,000 dollar suit would look very awkward in this type of environment. Maybe Steve Jobs and Scott McNealy would be ok, Steve Ballmer, is more of the Battle Field, Iraq general type.

More info here: http://www.news.wisc.edu/11679.html

in reply to Prefessor Gates

Inside Bill Gates Office - PC Magazing got a pic [Inside Bill Gates Office - PC Magazing got a pic]

Andre Da Costa — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 22:04:02 GMT

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1861685,00.asp

in reply to Inside Bill Gates Office - PC Magazing got a pic

Microsoft warns, don't use "Windows XP Service Pack 3 Preview" [Microsoft warns, don't use "Windows XP Service Pack 3 Preview"]

Andre Da Costa — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 00:43:12 GMT

Sorry I had to start a new post for this, but I really didn't want it to get lost in footbalism's post:

From: "Mike Brannigan [MSFT]" <mikeb...@online.microsoft.com>
Subject: Re: Windows XP SP3 Preview download

You would be well advised to stay clear of this FAKE SP3 package.
It is NOT suitable for testing as it is NOT SP3.

If is just a collection of hotfixes and other updates we have released. It will not update your Windows XP system to SP3
It also contains a number of private " hotfixes that are usually only issued to users with a specific identifiable problem. The hotfixes are not as rigorously tested at public released ones this is why we ask you to call PSS to get them so we can track you and provide further assistance such as new versions of the fixes etc as they become available. Just installing all the "privates" on your PC may make you machine LESS stable and will also put you out of support from Microsoft or an OEM as you are installing incorrectly issued private hotfixes.

Frankly this "package" should be avoid and you should continue to use Windows Update and the download site to get the most up-to-date and correctly issued Microsoft fixes and patches.

Anyone who installs this thinking they are getting SP3 (even as a preview)
is being grossly mislead and is posing a significant potentially non
recoverable risk to their PC and data.
--

Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

http://bink.nu/Article5008.bink

in reply to Microsoft warns, don't use "Windows XP Service Pack 3 Preview"

A Good Stretch [A Good Stretch]

Andre Da Costa — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 21:08:32 GMT

Billg: Yep, Life is good, Vista and Office 12 is coming along just fine.

Billg: Yep, still the richest man in the world for the 12 consecutive year, eat that Larry! Falls asleep then starts snoring, zzzzzzz

Check out the rest http://www.internet-nexus.com/
Sorry if this has been posted already.

in reply to A Good Stretch

The version of SQL after version 2005 [The version of SQL after version 2005]

Andre Da Costa — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 22:56:20 GMT

I just found this out in a CRN interview with Bill Gates:

CRN: How will the corporate search integrate with WinFS?

GATES: WinFS. WinFS is the idea of taking the file system and the database and the directory and the mail store and bringing those together. In this wave we still have a directory store, we have an Exchange mail store, we have a database store, we have a file server, so that dream of unifying those things, you know, people can see the technology we're building for that.

It's really the next round of SQL on the server where you could get that deep unification. And now we'll have it on the server and the client, we've got people helping us do the design of those things. So that doesn't really relate to Google in any way, because they're just Web search.

CRN: When you say the next wave, you mean the SQL Server after SQL Server 2005?

GATES: After. The next major one after that, that's right. I mean, we always use our codenames and Yukon was the codename of SQL 2005, and now there's this codename Katmai. I think it's a national park in Alaska.

Sorry if this has been posted already. Read the rest here

in reply to The version of SQL after version 2005

Scoble is now a Stock Photo [Scoble is now a Stock Photo]

Andre Da Costa — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 18:51:31 GMT

I just wanted to say congrats to Robert for becoming a Stock Photo. Here's the exclusive shot on microsoft.com:

in reply to Scoble is now a Stock Photo

Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs code-named “Eiger” [Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs code-named “Eiger”]

Andre Da Costa — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 18:09:49 GMT

Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (formerly code-named “Eiger”). For enterprise customers concerned with security and manageability of legacy PCs running legacy operating systems, but that are not in a position to replace those PCs, Microsoft is introducing Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs as an exclusive benefit to SA customers. Based on Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 2, Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is designed to provide a bridge solution that enables customers to get additional life out of legacy PCs while reducing security risks and improving manageability as well as providing an easy upgrade path to new PC hardware running either Windows XP or Windows Vista.

Interesting, and Bink claimed that it was not based on XP Embedded.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/sep05/09-15AddsEightBenefitsPR.mspx

in reply to Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs code-named “Eiger”

Windows Vista BETA 2 [Build 5219] Screenshots [Windows Vista BETA 2 [Build 5219] Screenshots]

Andre Da Costa — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 14:23:17 GMT

http://www.strengholt-online.nl/pdc05/index.html

in reply to Windows Vista BETA 2 [Build 5219] Screenshots

Vista End User Features, Processor & RAM requirements revealed [Vista End User Features, Processor & RAM requirements revealed]

Andre Da Costa — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 17:47:44 GMT

An examination of Microsoft internal documentation this weekend reveals that the software giant is prepping a number of major end-user features for Windows Vista (codenamed Longhorn), many of which had not yet previously been revealed. Here's a rundown of many of the features we can expect in the various Windows Vista product editions (for more information about the editions, please refer to "Windows Vista Product Editions Revealed," URL below).

As noted in that previous article, Microsoft is created 7 versions of Windows Vista for end users (9 if you count the N Editions that will target European markets). To differentiate these products, the company is carefully matching feature sets to the expected markets that will adopt each product version.

Two low-end versions of Windows Vista, Starter Edition and Home Basic Edition, will not feature the much-vaunted Aero user interface that will adorn all other Vista versions. Instead, these versions will utilize a lower quality, XP-like user interface that is more appropriate for the low-end hardware that infrequent PC users and those emerging markets might utilize. Starter Edition and Home Basic Edition will also lack the rolodex, tab previews, and task bar previews features that other Vista editions will offer.

A new version of Internet Information Services (IIS), now called Microsoft Windows Web Server, will be included with the business oriented versions of Windows Vista only (Professional, Professional N, Small Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions). These versions will also include other unique features, such as a Windows Fax client, and the ability to join an Active Directory domain. However, Windows Vista Home Premium Edition will be able to join new home-oriented domains offered by a new Longhorn Server version codenamed Quattro.

Read the rest here

Processor and Memory Support
As you might expect, Starter Edition is the most constrained. This Vista version will support 1 32-bit microprocessor and up to 256 MB of RAM. Also the screen resolution will be limited to 1024 x 768 (up from 800 x 600 in XP Starter Edition).

The other editions--Home Basic, Home Premium, Home N, Professional, Professional N, Small Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate Editions--will ship in both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions (or will support both architectures). All of the home-oriented editions will support 1 processor, while the business-oriented editions (and Ultimate Edition) will support 2.

Home Basic and Home N Editions will be limited to 8 GB of RAM, while Home Premium Edition will support up to 16 GB of RAM, on both 32-bit and 64-bit PCs. All of the other products will support the maximum physical memory size on 32-bit systems, and up to 128 GB of RAM on x64 systems (though Microsoft is looking at upping that amount in the future since that figure is soft-limited).

Windows IT Pro

in reply to Vista End User Features, Processor & RAM requirements revealed

Exclusive: Windows Vista Product Editions Revealed [Exclusive: Windows Vista Product Editions Revealed]

Andre Da Costa — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 21:59:59 GMT

From Windows ITPro

Qoute:

"Two days before the start of Professional Developers Conference (PDC) 2005, I've received exclusive insider information about the product editions, or SKUs, which Microsoft intends to create for Windows Vista (codenamed Longhorn). While the exact breakdown of the Windows Vista editions has been the subject of much speculation, this list closely matches the editions list I first published on the SuperSite for Windows last year. Here's how the Windows Vista product editions break down.

Here is a list of the Editions:

1. Windows Vista Starter Edition

2. Windows Vista Home Basic Edition

3. Windows Vista Home Premium Edition

4. Windows Vista Professional Edition

5. Windows Vista Small Business Edition

6. Windows Vista Enterprise Edition

7. Windows Vista Ultimate Edition

Paul forgot this one:

8. Windows Vista Embedded Edition

Read more about these editions here

Of course, I will need the best, so its Ultimate Edition for me, I better open a savings acount for it at the bank on Monday.

in reply to Exclusive: Windows Vista Product Editions Revealed

Will there be a PDC 2006? [Will there be a PDC 2006?]

Andre Da Costa — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 00:06:31 GMT

If Windows Vista and Office 12 are expected for release in Q4 of 2006, does that mean there will be a PDC 2006 before they RTM? Or is Microsoft skipping a PDC for next year preferrably wait until 2007?

in reply to Will there be a PDC 2006?

Looks like WinFS is back on track. [Looks like WinFS is back on track.]

Andre Da Costa — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 17:34:58 GMT

It seems like development of WinFS is ramping up again just in time for PDC 2005, plus a recently released beta to MSDN on monday.

From Microsoft Watch

Many had written off Microsoft's next-generation Windows file system as little more than vaporware. But sources say the first WinFS beta code is to come within a month.

When Microsoft announced a year ago that it had decided to rip the next-generation Windows File System (WinFS) from Longhorn, many company watchers wrote off the feature as little more than vaporware.

But it seems Microsoft didn't simply shelve WinFS. According to sources close to the company, Microsoft just last week put the finishing touches on the first beta release of WinFS. And the company is moving ahead with plans to back-port the WinFS technology to Windows XP, the same way that it decided to do with the Windows Communication Foundation (Indigo) and Windows Presentation Foundation (Avalon) Windows subsystems.

Read the rest here

From CNET Blogs

Microsoft on Monday posted the first test version of a new Windows file system.

The company made the test version the file system, called WinFS, available to subscribers to its Microsoft Developer Network service.

The software was originally intended as a key feature of Windows Vista--developed under the code name Longhorn--the next release of the operating system expected somtime next year.

However, roughly one year ago, Microsoft announced that it was removing WinFS from Vista and would release it separately in order to meet its delivery schedule for Longhorn.

Microsoft says WinFS will make it easier to find information stored on both local PCs and across networks.

"WinFS bridges the gap between file systems and databases and provides a unified, rich programming platform for all data: structured, semi-structured, and unstructured," according to information posted to MSDN on Monday.

in reply to Looks like WinFS is back on track.