zrath

Wow, it takes a while to download and reinstall all the little programs one needs to use one's computer.
Though this is actually a computer at work.
You see, about 3 weeks ago, my manager wiped my test computer clean to chase away all the accumulated cyberschmutz.
But he went above and beyond and installed Windows 7 (with Internet Explorer 8) instead of XP.
I was very concerned.
Getting some hands-on time with a new OS is always a good idea, especially when you work in Quality Assurance.
But, golly, Windows 7 is still in beta, and I doubt very much our customer base is using it.
After a couple of weeks, it became evident that my productivity was being affected by this new Windows.
Several programs I needed didn't run right, or at all. And some websites just plain freaked out at Internet Explorer 8.
So I asked my manager to put XP back on.
And today, he give me a different computer instead, with XP Pro already on it.
This new machine is LARGE.
It's an IBM IntelliStation Z Pro with dual Xeon cores (4 CPUs total), 2 gigs of RAM, in a monstrous black tower case.
My previous machine was a little Dell desktop with Pentium Dual Cores and an ATI card.
This machine looks like SRS BIZNS!!!!!1! :D

Anyway, Windows 7 does have some nifty features.
- When you're downloading a file and you minimize the download window, the entire taskbar button for that download
turns into a gauge!
- When you mouse over a minimized browser task bar button, you get small preview windows of every tab and window
you have active in that browser, so you can mouse over the one you need and click on it to bring it up.
- The volume mixer is adaptive and it gives you extra volume adjustment sliders for whatever programs you're running.
If you have iTunes and Firefox running, the mixer gives you separate iTunes and Firefox sliders.
- However, this causes a conflict between headphones and speakers. If you have both plugged in Windows 7 refuses
to give you sound to the headphones. You need to unplug the speakers, even if you're using two different plugs.
That's pretty dumb. Other Windows simply cut the speakers when headphones are plugged in.
- Windows have translucent edges with adjustable opacity and color.
That's all I remember off the top of my head.
I did get the impression that the computer was running slower than when it was on XP.
When I finally get myself a new computer for home, I will most likely install XP on it.
Windows 7 isn't quite there yet.