Windows 7 takes center 'stage'
Correction, 10:33 a.m. PST: This story initially misstated when a Windows 7 feature-complete beta will be available. It is early 2009.
LOS ANGELES--Choice was the watchword in the Windows 7 discussion Wednesday, as Microsoft aimed to highlight what it sees as its chief advantage over rival Apple.
Steven Sinofsky, sporting a bit of a Steve Jobs look, shows off Windows 7 at the WinHEC 2008 conference in Los Angeles.
(Credit: Ina Fried/CNET News)"A key part of Windows 7 is to enable a full spectrum of choices," senior vice president Steven Sinofsky said in a speech at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) here.
While the new Windows will enable high-end machines with multitouch, it will also work on low-end machines. While Vista has largely been absent in the fast-growing Netbook category, Windows 7 is aimed to work well on such low-end devices--a number of which are on display at WinHEC.
Among the machines Microsoft showed was an Eee PC with a 1GB hard drive and a 16GB solid-state drive, which the software maker said could run Windows 7 with "room to spare."
For hardware makers, Microsoft has a feature called "device stage" that lets them offer up things like manuals, links to services, and access to content stored on the device in one place.
On stage, Microsoft showed a Nokia phone hooked up to Windows 7, automatically making available all the content on the device.
The company also said it will support a number of additional audio and video formats out of the box, including Divx, H.264 and unprotected AAC.
Windows 7 also has integrated support for sensors, such as light sensors, accelerometers or GPS, or even more exotic kinds of input. For example, Microsoft showed a ThinkPad with a spectrophotometer to help handle color calibration.
Sinofsky also noted that even though Microsoft has put a lot of focus on touch, it is not abandoning its Tablet PC work. Ray Ozzie last week told TechFlash that touch can be mainstream, while Tablet PC was "truly niche," a description that apparently irked the Tablet PC enthusiast crowd.
As for when folks will actually get their hands on 7, Microsoft didn't offer new details, beyond saying a feature-complete beta will be available in early 2009.
Sinofsky did mention a "release candidate to RTM phase," suggesting that Microsoft is only planning a single beta.
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
Should this be 1G of RAM???
Will it decide what you can instal or will it let you decide.
Will the security be so in your face as not worth getting it again.
Will you need a MEGA machine to run it with added DX11,12 or 13 Graphic Cards.
All the people wwant is XP 2, An interface that as easy as XP but just looks and works better.
People running the "pre-beta" Alpha (build 6801, myself included) note that it runs BETTER than Vista on the same hardware. Outrageous for ALPHA code to do that, considering it's not even optimized.
You really should read more than one article (or one period) and not just skip to the bottom and post a lame comment.
I did buy a "mega machine" to run it on, but nothing that is insanely priced and not the top-of-the-line graphics card. My machine is definitely not over-priced.
I have gripes with Vista, including the "account control" feature that constantly annoys me asking my permission to execute a program. But, I cannot think of anything else that bugs me. Overall, my experience with Vista has been wonderful.
Vista combined with Office 2007 is amazing. I also have an XP machine on my desk, but definitely favor the Vista box.
I really would like to understand why there are so many negative comments about Vista. Can somebody explain the issues without getting into an Apple vs Microsoft debate and without complaining that their 8 year old hardware is not supported? (I just can't accept that as a valid argument.)
I like UAC. I also like a firewall that notifies me when a new program is trying to use the internet and lets me choose what to do (ZoneAlarm). I somewhat don't like SUDO in linux when using the graphical interface because I'm using the mouse and have to move to the keyboard and back to the mouse. In Vista, I can continue to use just the mouse.
@pablouk1: Your 2nd and 3rd statements are opposites. In XP, the computer just installs whatever runs. In Vista, you get the chance to tell it to not run a program that is about to access sensitive areas of your computer. Oh, and you seem to have skipped the 3rd paragraph of the story.
paboluk1's comments are typical of the usual fanboy lunatic who really doesn't know what he's talking about - poorly written, appalling grammar, factually incorrect and clearly posted without RTFA.
The system has been stable from day one. I only had ?problems? installing SP1. It failed the first couple of times I tried. I gave up for awhile and when I tried again it went smoothly and there were no problems after installation.
The major ?issues? were on my part. I had a hard time adjusting to the new interface: the user account management; control panel; network security; even the search files window is confusing for me :-P But as far as the system goes, it works correctly.
I agree with paulej. I think people trash Vista just because? With no real experience or reason to do it.
I?m not a Microsoft groupie or an Apple groupie or any company groupie for that matter. I?m a consumer who wants to get the best possible experience from whatever service or hardware I buy. Competition is healthy and I think we all gain by being impartially critic, instead of blindingly defending a company that doesn?t even care if you exist or not. Until you start complaining?
System 1 is a EVGA 790iFTW dual 9800GTX, 4gb of ram Core 2 Duo 3.2
Running Vista 64 with all my normal things open, ie browsers, AV, messengers it idled at 1.81gb in use. Which is some what high.
Then launching EQ2 it jumped to 2.82gb in use.
Going to to areas 1 not so graphic intense and one that was I got 30, and 20 FPS.
Test system 2 MSI865PE MB P4 3.06, 2gb of ram ATI850XTX AGP video card
Windows 7 32bit
Idle with browser, and messengers open 476 mb in use.
Launch EQ2 jump up to 1.76gb in use.
Check out the same areas one graphic intense the other not so bad got 29, and 19fps.
So the old 5+ year old hardware with Windows 7 kept pass with the high end hardware in gaming.
Boot up speeds was no comparison, system is fast to boot.
I will be installing it tonight on the newer system to test the differences.
So I guess the definition of 'choice' by MS means hardware, not software. While some are arguing that Windows 7 is not stripped-down Vista, I would think that if you are going to be left to download a boatload of components from the web after installation to bring it to parity with a modern OS like Apple's, your hardware requirements are only going to increase right out of the box.
'Choice' is the option to augment your user experience by not settling for whatever your OEM manufacturer chooses to give you. I can see nothing wrong with the ability to download and install added features - and since you and your ilk like nothing better than to bleat on about anti-trust and monopolies you should appreciate this too.
- by Jimmygotajobatgoogle November 6, 2008 7:48 AM PST
- Wow, this sounds good, I can't believe Im complimenting Microsoft. Anyway, lets hope they don't screw it up again shall we.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(15 Comments)Oh yeah, and I can't believe they renaming it as Windows 7 when it is actually Windows Vista SE.