Windows 7 Taskbar Rocks

Another nice feature which really makes complete sense, is the revamped Taskbar - really it is just like an extended "Quick Launch" bar, with "Jump Lists".

This new feature was hidden from the M2 release for some reason and only made available to internal MS users. Looking at it, and the features that it brings, it is very special and should make day to day PC work a lot less clicking. Maybe it is even a little "MAC" like....!

Ok so how will it work? Imagine each taskbar item being just an ICON and having full right click functionality....for example, if you have a Word icon on your Quick Launch bar imagine if you could right click it and open one of Word files you were working on yesterday - WITHOUT having to open Word first?

Cool.

It should save us a few clicks and really it just makes sense (i.e. why did we not have that feature 10 years ago!)

Here is a quick peek at it from a video taken at the PDC!

When will Windows 7 BETA release?

Not long to wait....1 week before Christmas is the unofficial expected birth date - WOW that is only 4 weeks away before you can have your own personal look and try out of the next version of Windows.

Prior to BETA Microsoft has released two M (”milestone”) designated Windows 7 builds (M1 and M2). The Windows client team is currently working on the M3 build and this is nearly complete.
When I was sneaking a preview of the M2, early November, it looked very good, and I can't wait for the M3 and BETA. Internal Microsoft employees are actively been encouraged to use M2 on their PCs right now - it is that stable (and of course it is quicker than Vista).

So where do you get it in December?

Outside of Microsoft it will be tricky but Microsoft is trying to make it widely available (since they REALLY want it to succeed). MCTs, MVPs and other SME are expected to be able to receive it and then the rest of the world will be able to sign up on the Microsoft Connect site and request access.

Although there is already some "pre-beta" versions of Windows 7 available on various BitTorrent sites - I would strongly advise NOT using these sites as sources since the code you install is not approved, not safe, and it is so easy to drop in a Trojan or virus into the VHD/virtual machine and then upload it to BitTorrent.... be warned.

On the Connect site it is unknown at this point whether a full ISO build will be available whether it will be only as a pre-built Virtual Machine.... watch this space.

I think the key thing to note if you DO get the BETA, is please provide feedback to Microsoft. Some previous BETAs have suffered from users evaluating but not providing feedback - which seems a waste of time to me. If you see a glitch report it - the more people who report glitches the better and the more likely Microsoft will fix it or improve it for everyone.

Looks like a bumper Christmas – whilst the kids are outside playing in the snow, we can delve into Windows 7 and try out the new features for real.

Windows 7 first look

I just wanted to share some news about Windows 7 - this will be the successor to Vista. Don't expect to see much about Windows 7 just yet, as it is not due to be released until then end of 2009.

I managed to see a copy of the pre-release Windows 7 whilst I was at TechEd 2008 in Barcelona.

First impressions are - it looks a LOT like Vista! It is more polished, faster, clearer to look at and it will include some really useful features.

• Speed improvements
• Integrated Internet Explorer 8
• Updated Paint and WordPad
• Application Compatibility
• Bitlocker To Go
• Changes to the User Interface - Start Menu and Windows Explorer
• Native Blu-Ray Read/write support
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Ultra Wideband (UWB) and Wireless USB
• Location Aware Printing
• HomeGroup & Libraries
• Windows Media Player Light
• Multi Touch
• UAC revisions

These are just a few of the features which will ensure Windows 7 succeeds! I think so long as it is faster and has better compatibility issues then it will be well received by the business and home users.

Hello, welcome, enjoy!

This is my first exploration into Blogging, so please be kind and visit often.

I intend to use this blog to publish useful snippets about the next version of Microsoft Windows - now officially named as Windows 7.

I am a Microsoft Certified Trainer, and as such learning about new Microsoft software is once of my job benefits! The internet is for sharing info, and so I am happy to share what I learn and what I find.

If you have any comments or news to share regarding Windows 7 please post here, or drop me an email bettanyandrew@googlemail.com

Take care

Andrew