Life’s good: living with Vista RC1 and Office 2007 every day

by Alex Zaharov-Reutt

Monday, 09 October 2006

Page 2 of 5 The Vista Basic graphics scheme once looked like the basic Windows 2000 GUI, but worse. Thankfully in Vista RC1 it’s been beefed up to look just like Vista Aero, but simply without the transparency. Given that most applications run in full screen mode, if the screen didn’t flicker and change to Vista Basic mode, then show you a yellow pop-up box telling me so, you probably wouldn’t have noticed that anything happened, at least until you try using the ‘Flip 3D’ mode to see a rolodex style view of open windows or until you clicked on the graphical ‘Vista’ button (which replaces the Start menu) or do something else that would normally trigger transparent Windows. Sure, it’s annoying that Java isn’t Aero compatible, but surely that’s something that will be fixed in due course by the RTM. Using Vista itself is a treat, and it flawlessly connected to the Ethernet, iBurst, Wi-Fi and Unwired broadband networks that I tried it with. Everything looks much more shiny and bright, the system is surprisingly responsive, the inbuilt desktop search which is seamlessly integrated into the operating system works and feels as good as Google’s Desktop Search software, but with the shiny Vista interface instead of in a web page. Everything just feels more comfortable, more modern and friendlier. Of course things are different here and there, but if you’re an everyday user of Windows XP, there’s no doubt you’ll quickly find the differences, find out how to do it in Windows Vista, and just keep on going. If it takes you a bit longer to get used to it, and you’re using Vista (be it the RC1, RC2 or the final version in the not-too distant future), well, you’ll be up to speed in no time, or at least you’ll have to be, because you’re unlikely to keep Windows XP around as a backup. Indeed, with Vista RC2 launching only last Friday in the US, it’s currently being downloaded. I’ll totally re-install the Tablet PC with it, completely removing the existing C: partition with Windows XP. C: and D: will be merged back into one partition and RC2 loaded instead. Otherwise it’s just a waste of a 30Gb partition! It seems funny to say that, given that XP has been my operating system of choice for the past 5 years, but everything moves on. I’m living in a Vista world now, and I’m not going back! So, what has gone wrong? The sound card has only partially installed, sending sound to the internal speakers, but the microphone doesn’t work, nor do the 3.5mm sockets for headphones and a microphone. A Logitech USB microphone/headset was plugged in, and thankfully it worked, restoring access to Skype and Audacity, a free audio editing program, used to record a weekly podcast. Still, there were more niggly issues... << First page <   1 2 3 4 5 Next page > Last page - Post your comment >>

 

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