Windows 7 Beta Review Part 2

Yes, I know there has been some time between this post and the last one about Windows 7, but it has been a little busy for me with exams any everything. So, lets just move on to the juicy stuff that is Windows 7 Beta.

Windows 7 takes devices like printers and cameras to a whole new simplified platform of its own. Certain printers and cameras and even other devices. Microsoft is calling this the ‘Device Stage’ and it really does look promising.

From a first glance it doesn’t look like anything special but one you select a device here (if your device is supported for Device Stage) then a you’ll get a must more user friendly set of options. In my case, the Canon PowerShot SX100 IS is not compatible with Device Stage, but my HP Photosmart C5280 is compatible.

Upon looking at this screen, all of your basic options are grouped together for easy access. In my case, printer and scanner options are grouped into their own categories. I can even buy ink through HP (which I wouldn’t to begin with) and if I wanted to I could even buy a warranty through HP right through HP’s link in their Device Stage.

Now every device will vary of course, but after seeing what Device Stage can do things do look very promising. If more devices adapted this feature of Windows 7, then installed addition programs from the manufacturer will no longer be needed which is always nice since you won’t have to use valuable system resources.

Between these 2 posts are only 3 major things that caught my attention right off the bat. There are other features though that I’m sure that others will enjoy. Microsoft has added some mouse gestures that allow you to manipulate other windows on the screen (try shake a window at the top with other windows open to minimize all the windows). Also with Windows 7, I’ve noticed on my HP Pavilion DV5220us, that Windows 7 boots much faster than what Windows Vista Ultimate did on this system and this system is no slouch (Intel Core Duo 1.6GHZ, 2GB of DDR2 667, 250GB Seagate HD…). If Microsoft can make push this out to retailers in this condition (working out the bugs before hand though), then I would like to believe that Microsoft will be right on track again and we won’t have to see any more of those Mac commercials.