Windows 7 First Look

As someone who really did not like Vista, and tried my best to avoid it,  I will have to say that I am liking Windows 7.  I have had it installed since the RTM release and have been using it exclusively for my Email system.

What?  Email System?  what are you talking about.  Well I am a big proponent of efficiency and my main machine has two monitors, but I don’t use email on it.  You see, as a devleoper, there are lots of little periods of time, where I am waiting for the program to compile and during those times, I like to check email, answer forum posts etc.  So I use a separate system for that.  that is my email computer, and it has a single monitor and my email is alwasy up and running.  this allows me to quickly move from system to system, keeping up on email, while not slowing down the compiler.

 

Anyway back to Windows 7.   I don’t like to upgrade operating systems, so I did not test out that part, but what I did was purchase a new desktop computer with Vista 64 already installed.  I then installed Windows 7 on top of the Vista installation, so I don’t have a dual boot system, just windows 7.   The install was very easy and I did not have any problems.   All the drivers where present and I did not have to do anything other than the standard install.  Once it was booted, I went to install SQL Express and Junxure as the main purpose for my testing was to see how Junxure will work on Windows 7.

First issue was the SQL Express install that I had was for a 32 bit system and it would not install.  No real issue here, just needed to get the 64 bit version.  I went to the web and since I was already feeling ambisious I decided to try the SQL Express 2008 version.  Microsoft has a new web installer and it installed SQL Express without really leaving the broswer.  Nothing too big, but it was a timesaver and it may help those who don’t know how to save and find a file.

Once sql was installed, I attached the SQL 2000 database and it attached without any problems.  I then installed Junxure and that is where the problems started.  Nothing too big, but since our installer used the 32 bit sql, and it won’t install, I wound up installing it manually.  A manual installtion simply entails copying the files over and making an Icon for the Junxure.exe.

Now the real testing started.  Out of the box, it all worked just fine, but seemed a bit slow.  I changed the sql compatibility mode to 2008 and then it was back to normal.  Windows seven is different, but I can’t exactly put my finger on why.  It seems smoother as you open windows.

Windows 7 has a variable DPI (Dots Per Inch) setting that allows you to adjust it to any of the  numbers in the range of the slider.  I choose 200% and logged in again, as you need to log in for the changes to take effect.  That is where I started noticing some issues.  Most of the labels and buttons where either too large and cutting off stuff, or just out of reach on the screens.  I spend the next couple of days going thru the program and fixing all the issues that I was able to see, but every now and then I come across a screen that I will need to adjust.  Now that I have made those changes it all seems to work pretty good.

I now feel comfortable in saying that Junxure will work with Windows 7 although will will probably have to do a bit of work with the installer.  Before giving the final word, I am going to wait for the retail version and double check everything, but if you are thinking about upgrading to windows 7, it may be work a look. 

UAC is Improved

I was really disappointed with the UAC in Vista, but in windows 7 they have seemed to make it where it is not too intrusive.  You don’t get as many prompts to do regular stuff, but the security is still there.  Programs don’t run as an administrator, so you still need to right click and run as administrator if you want to do this, but you should not have to.  It has a slider bar that you can set the “Annoyance” level.  You can get to the settings for UAC right from the UAC prompt.  Overall it is much better and the number of clicks is greatly reduced.

Here is a short look at some of the new features in windows 7 that I have found to be  pretty cool.

Pinning Applications to the Taskbar

You can right click on an application to “Pin” it to the taskbar.  Once pinned it is like the quick lauch in XP, and you can start the program from that Icon.  The difference is that applications when pinned to the taskbar, use the same Icon to indicate that they are running.  When they are running, there will be a box around the icon and when they are not runnign, the box will disappear.  In this screenshot, you can see that Internet Explorer and Outlook are both pinned but only outlook is running.  I have found this very usefule as I always know where to start outlook, running or not.

Snipping Tool

While not as robust as Snagit, my favorite screen clipping tool, windows 7 ships with a snipping tool, that allows you to easily create screen shots of a portion of the screen by dragging the mouse and releasing it.  I took the above screen shot with that tool.

Win Tab

The Windows button tab, works like in Vista, alt tabbing between screens with the 3D presentations of the open windows.

 

Taskbar Preview

When you have an application open on the task bar, you get a preview when you mouse over it, and if there are multiple windows open, you see each of the open windows.  Hove over that windows and it will display that window in the background, click on the preview and it opens to that window.  At first it was a bit wierd, but as you use it, it becomes pretty usefule, especially when you have multiple windows open, like in an email application, where I may have 15 different emails open.

Magnifier

There is a magnifier built into the OS, and when you hit the Windows button and + or – it brings it up.  It has 2 modes,  FullScreen, Lens and Docked.  Here is a picture of the lens, the full screen zooms the whole screen and the docking put a magnifier docking panel at the edge of the screen and it mags wherever your mouse goes.   This is something that I am finding more and more useful when I go to a site that is too small, and since it is tied to the OS is it easy to open and use, with nothing to install.

 Windows Left / Windows Right

Another feature that is available, but I have not yet determined if I will use it, is the ability to pin any windows to the left or right side, so it only takes up 1/2 the screen.  Hit Windows Left or Windows Right and the active window will move over.  With a dual monitor system, it will move the window to the other screen.

Windows Space

This allows you to preview the desktop, so you can look at gadgets if you use them.  There is also a small pad on the right of the taskbar that will minimize all the windows.   Although you could always right click on the taskbar, and click show desktop, this is easier and something that I use often.

Windows + Number 1-0

This is kind of neat, it opens the programs on the taskbar depending on the number that you select.  If you click Windows 1, on my system it will open explorer as that is the first icon that I have on my taskbar.

Adding Toolbars

You can add folders as toolbars to the taskbar.  I have added a toolbar called computer and it gives me easy access to my computer right from the taskbar.

Switching Views in Explorer

For me this is a great thing.  There are a lot owordpadf views in explorer but the one I like the most is Details,   In windows 7 you can hold down the control key while rolling the mouse and it will switch thru all of the view, including image previews, that you can size from many on a screen to just one, zoomed in view.  This also works in Vista.

Win Up and Win Down

This will toggle a window from a maximized to a non maximized state and vice versa.

Alt Up

The Explorer in Windows 7 does not have an up button, you know the one that goes up one level in explorer.

In windows 7 you can click Alt and the Up Arrow and it iwll go up one directory, just like this button used to do.

 New calculator

It has a programmer mode, showing Hex, Binary,Oct and Decimal.  Nothing too big, but it can be useful.  Also has a history.

 Wordpad and Paint

They have been redone and now have a ribbon.  Not sure if I like the ribbon, still getting used to Office 2007 but this is new.

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