Comments on: Windows 7 pre-beta hits BitTorrent

Thousands of enthusiasts around the world are downloading the version from BitTorrent sites like The Pirate Bay and Mininova. And they're not shy about offering their opinions.

[lkrupp]

krosavcheg,

My sentiments exactly. A picture is worth a thousand words.

[slecalvez]

So childish... don't like MS, don't use it... idiot

[applusr]

to slecalvez: Why can't a mac user comment on a windows story. All of you can't wait to have comments about apple stories.

[rapier1]

Hey, I'm just trying to figure out what they are agreeing with.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Rapier: There were previous comments and postings that were less than stellar examples of intellect. Those have been removed prior to you seeing them by the admins, thankfully.

[paoconnell]

Can someone pass the information to Microsoft that those "ribbon" interfaces they used in Office 2007 are not very intuitive, and there doesn't seem to be a way to change functionality to the button interface?

When I bought my laptop at the end of 2007, there was a copy of Microsoft Home and Office 2007 installed, but not registered. After playing with this version of Office for three weeks I removed it purely because of the counter intuitive ribbon controls, and installed Open Office, which has buttons that work like older versions of Office. I'm still using Open Office a year later(latest version), because it just works.

If Microsoft insists on building the ribbon interface into Office 7(per the pictures of the pre-beta), I may not upgrade to that version until someone builds a plugin to change the interfaces back to their normal appearance and functionality.

[jamesk111]

Hey, I think that the new UI is nice. There's no hidden features. Seriously, if you can't find anything, get a Mac. Help on Mac's are so easy, probably because they're too fancy to use intuitively.

[rdnetto]

The new Ribbon UI is *way* easier to use, since nothing is hidden in a menu. Besides, all the new applications are moving to it - even Paint in Windows 7 uses it. I reckon that you just can't adapt to the changing technology.
Also, it won't be called Office 7 (Office 2007 is version 12); the Windows 7 version of Office is Office 14.

[RideMan]

Trouble with the ribbon is that it takes up screen real estate that isn't really available.

Most documents (other than PowerPoint shows) tend to be taller than they are wide, and yet, the entire world is changing over to screens that are wider than they are tall. Which is fine, given that the screens also tend to be big. But with that in mind, I'm really surprised that Microsoft replaced the menus and toolbar with the ribbon, and didn't run it *vertically* on the screen, to make use of some of the "new" space.

[ace10134]

If u think ribbon takes up to much space, right click the top of it, and select minimize ribbon. It gives you soo much more space!!! And you still have the ribbon accessable very quickly. Try it by using the online demo version of Office at microsoft's website. Then you don't even have to install office again, but you can still test it.

by the way, i love the ribbon.

[mkannappa]

guy, I love the ribbon UI. BTW, you can dbl click on the ribbon to roll-up the ribbon bar. It shows up on Mouse over and click-it to show always.

[rapier1]

I agree with the concern about screen real-estate along the top but that's why I bought a display that rotates to portrait. It makes a huge difference.

[monstar001]

wow, yeah... open office!! good one, personally I don't know why we ever did away with the abacus?? what were they thinking? Oh yeah.. change... progress.... new things... lead to new ideas... lead to a better outcome... can someone pass on the information to Microsoft that there are some "people" out there that just don't like change, so lets just keep it simple, slow, uninspiring and don't ever change, just so the dip sticks don't get left behind ;-)

[juz1093]

The ribbon is great. I go to high school and everybody, including teachers are finding it a lot easier to use because everything is layed out so much better and easier to find. I'm all for them to incorporate the Ribbon where ever possible.

[mrgtb]

Well, I have to say I'm not that suprised. And sometimes I wonder if it's leaked on purpose to hget general feedback from people using it as a beta version on the quite.

http://www.mrgtb.com

[unknown unknown]

Yeah, I finally installed Vista after several people I trust said it was now very usable now that Microsoft has done a lot of patching. Though i still have XP on separate partition just in case. Last thing I am going to do is give MS more money.

[TxTom21]

Wow...I'd always thought there was something strange about Windows users, but after Vista...and so many so eager to get Windows 7...it's pretty clear that Windows users are truly masochists at the keyboard.

[jezzali]

I agree entirely. Microsoft keeps shoveling crap in their faces and they just keep coming back for more. People who behave like that are suffering from some kind of mental retardation. Now watch them flame me for stating the bleeding obvious.

[renGek]

to jezzali:
... You mean like apple when it comes out with an ipod every year and the fanboys go "OMG a new ipod, I have to have it because this new one has rounded edges" or "omg a new ipod and this one is also a phone I am soooo going to bring it with me tonight when we go see rocky 9"

[TxTom21]

Wow...I'd always thought there was something strange about Windows users, but after Vista...and so many so eager to get Windows 7...it's pretty clear that Windows users are truly masochists at the keyboard.

[ace10134]

could someone give a link to a working download of the beta on pirate bay? I don't wanna download the wrong one.

[iertry]

Nobody's gonna give you a link to it. Cnet will just remove the post as downloading it in this way is illegal as MS hasn't released it or given permission or it to be downloaded freely.

[ajnauron]

I don't have any issues with the ribbon interface, I just think it's interesting that MS has such a fascination with it. I mean, even in MSPaint? I think simpler programs like paint should stick to their buttons, but it's alright for things like office where you've got dozens of functions to show.

[jessiethe3rd]

Common, user, interface. Users understand things when they are handled the same way throughout the application stack - this is why Microosft spent millions upon millions redesigning and this is why it will show up in virtually every product.

[3rdalbum]

Wow! It's less resource-intensive than Vista! Now I only need 2.5 gigabytes of RAM to get good performance from it!

[timber2005]

Users on our forums are reporting memory usage of 280MB with aero enabled, and multiple apps running including Avast and Firefox.

Clean install boots with 150MB ram usage, comparable to the beloved XP.

[rapier1]

Yeah! Lets make a lot of uninformed comments about something that isn't even released to the public yet! Nothing makes me feel more like a big man than tearing down something I know nothing about

[mikestatic1]

Why would I want to download a Beta version? I already have an unstable resource-hog of an operating system, Vista. Or Mojave. Either one sux.

[nopinktoday]

Pre-Beta. Stop using it then.

[Xtoo]

The true and honest words of 95% of all windows users! Why keep buying windows???? As someone above said it, "masochists".

[CrashPad63]

Makes no sense to use it. So stop. I really dont understand this argument about resources. Every gen of OS uses resources in a different way. Vista works best with higher ram, XP works better with higher ram. However better is different in both OS.

[42istheanswer]

'maintain compatibility with Vista'! Wow, that makes me shudder. Vista already most of my old hardware out of the water. They make anymore drastic changes like that with the next version and it's adios Windows. The upgrade to Vista was horrible. Scanners, printers, etc. Gone. Thanks, M$, and the rest of your money hungry minions for making the world a 'better' place.

[timber2005]

Keyword, "Old"

How much of that hardware works on other latest release OS's?

[blackroseMD1]

I installed this on my test laptop, and compatibility was awesome out of the box. The only thing that didn't automatically install was the built in video camera, and that worked perfectly after the first run of Windows Update. Even though it's a pre-beta, it's the most stable OS I've had up to this point. I've been running it since it first leaked, and haven't had a crash yet. Nice job by MS.

[rapier1]

If the device manufacturer won't make the investment to write the drivers for your 10 year old printer why is that the fault of microsoft?

[monstar001]

there is one word here that you're missing and that is "choice", you "chose" to buy vista, no one made you do it, you then proceeded to upgrade your old, slow and poor performing peripherals to newer faster better performing equiptment, hopefully you were wise enough to upgrade your processor and ram, congratulations you've moved out of the 90's technology. You see, vista has been designed in a way to try to keep people who don't know what they're doing from trashing their OS. There are many industry standards in play that have not been followed by a lot of shotty software and hardware designers. vista has gone to great lengths to try and pull these into line, unfortunatily it's been a bad marketing move from MS. but hay at the end of the day if you want to sell a product that is designed to function on very particular platforms then for god's sake do your research, learn the standards and write to them. If you think you can do better job then tell me, where can I download your new operating system?

[Arayta]

I don't know if I'm allowed to ask this, but does anyone know if this supports the multi-touch support show in the preview videos? And how is it on system resources? I might install in a virtual machine to try it out.

Also, does it include any of the features in this guy's videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/creamhackered

If so, then I'm pretty hyped for Windows 7. It seems like they've been listening to the Vista complaints and added a whole lot of new features! I like the new taskbar and ribbon interface.

[Cube Over]

"Ribbons" would be fine, if they were placed vertivally, at the left edge. The new widescreen display are just shouting for such placements, especially when you work on documents NOT in a landscape format (e.g. Letter/A4).
The vertical screen estate is at premium already, but they kill even more of it with the current ribbons plus menus.
Horizontal screen size is currently under-used, and is a preferred place to use. Take heed of Mac Office 2004's palettes. I have blogged about this at http://cubeover.blogspot.com/2007/10/microsoft-officemac2008.html one year ago!

[sureshgarre]

I think Vista has changed the way people now look at Microsoft products...

I wish Windows 7 the very best...

http://www.comparecontractmobiles.com

[Renegade Knight]

Vista warmed over. Yawn. Fix Vista. Then work on 7. If MS can't fix Vista why in the heck would I ever want to go with the next generation?

[Arayta]

I think they've done all they can with Vista, and it's fine if you ask me. I haven't had problems with Vista, nor have my friends who have Vista. It's just bad media. Its gotten even better with SP1.

[maverick_nick]

Plus there's a Vista SP2 on the way.

[CrashPad63]

Note to all Apple fanbois, Vista works great!!! Your reality distortion field works only on yourselves. What a shame to be so closed minded.

[bob1xxxx]

Look vista = More Excerment oops windows me , hopefully window 7 will go back to more sensable OS , that will allow not windows 7 approved drivers to work. The major reason why I have adopted vista is hardware and software compadablity issue . I see no need to get a new printer, scanner, network gear or new word processor or have 50% of my legacy game collection be incompatable as a result of OS "upgrade" if windows 7 works to fix compadablity issues I might buy it. Otherwise XP forever BABY! LOL

[maverick_nick]

Bet you've never used Vista, huh... Yeah, you stick to your old stuff forever - baby

[CrashPad63]

Games not working, please. I play Woldenstein on my Vista, Doom the first one. I use a 4 year old printer. a 3 year old Dell. So no you havent used Vista.

[monkeyfun14]

Keyword is legacy you can't expect things to be different or more powerful and expect programs written for another os to work it just doesn't work that way

[monstar001]

You know I really hope nothing ever changes, I remember when they brought out VHS, it was the end of my "legacy" sony 8's, oh dear oh dear.... and of course this has led to nothing constructive, and then they made us walk further to school when they brought in the dam metric system, you know it used to 2 miles to school, now it's over 3 k's!!! .... snip to the present.... Oh no none of my 10yr old games or 7yr old printer will work now that hey have changed the OS..... oh I don't like ribbons...... oh those crazy teenagers and their dam skateboards.....

[RobertAPierce]

The notion that I should have to purchase all new hardware because MS decides to roll out another pile of junk OS is absurd. Forget windows 7 and Vista, XP is still by far the best OS from MS.

[Malenx]

Apply fanboys are drooling over the chance rip apart a Microsoft per-beta program that they've never used. PC users are complaining that they want to run the newest software on older machines... for free. Man, we got a whole bunch of winners here.

[renGek]

Funny when XP came out, people ripped it apart saying its the worst microsoft OS and that we all need to stick with windows 2000. Now everyone clamors for XP. I like innovation even if a misstep is made every now and then. How are you going to learn if you don't make a mistake here and there. Y'all sound like my users "I want your app to do everything but I'm not going to tell you how and I'm not going to tell you what kind of interface I like but I'm telling you now, it needs to do everything and really really fast on my 10 year old PC".

[renGek]

Funny when XP came out, people ripped it apart saying its the worst microsoft OS and that we all need to stick with windows 2000. Now everyone clamors for XP. I like innovation even if a misstep is made every now and then. How are you going to learn if you don't make a mistake here and there. Y'all sound like my users "I want your app to do everything but I'm not going to tell you how and I'm not going to tell you what kind of interface I like but I'm telling you now, it needs to do everything and really really fast on my 10 year old PC".

And why exactly do you "have to" buy a new OS. I can't recall the last time I *had* to replace an OS on my pc because there was a new one available.

[Stang5150]

Stewie Griffin on Windows 7:

'What is this? Something's wrong with Windows!! I don't like change!!"

[Vegaman_Dan]

If it were up to me, I'd include a code or ID on each installation disk so that you could trace where those BT versions came from. Track it back down to the person who attended PDC and then when they got home with their new drive then uploaded the code.

Once you find that person, turn them over to the FBI. When they are done with them, sue them into oblivion. Let it be known that whatever company sent that person to the PDC conference had employed this software pirate. Let that company's reputation be destroyed for having that person on staff.

Software piracy prevention currently is rather pathetic and jokingly ineffective.

Perhaps the RIAA needs to get involved. They seem to be pretty draconic about this sort of thing.

I hate criminals like this. I have zero sympathy for them.

[renGek]

YES, and the next time you video tape a tv show without the written consent of the network the FBI should be automatically notified by your TV of the crime and then the feds can knock down your door and haul you and your dog away without a warrant.

[rapier1]

Actually renGek, that sort of thing is explicitly allowed by law. Its the public performance aspect that can get people into trouble.

[DrtyDogg]

@renGek: Who uses video tape any more?