Windows 7 is just Vista with lipstick

It's not easy being Microsoft these days, with the glorious days of its most successful OS: Windows XP is entering into 'obselete' category, Microsoft is still trying to revive Vista to live up as the next successor while completing Windows 7 into perfection.

We know Microsoft is pushing the money to promote Vista, and doing plenty of lip-services on how slim & fast is the new Windows 7 will be.

But no matter how sweet the words are, no matter how much money poured in for advertising, and no matter how mighty Microsoft's PR (Public Relations) is to influence the blogoshpere; they all can't cover up how stinky it really is the hard-to-swallow truth: Windows 7 is Windows Vista, just minus the bloated drivers & unnecessary plug-ins.

At long last, someone from a respected technology website, who has tested himself the pre-beta version of Windows 7, has spoken the truth about the much hyped young heir to Windows crown. I'll cut to the chase and quote directly from Randall C. Kennedy at InfoWorld (via PC World):

"Bottom line: So far, Windows 7 looks, behaves, and performs almost exactly like Windows Vista. ... In other words, Microsoft's follow-up to its most unpopular OS release since Windows Me threatens to deliver zero measurable performance benefits while introducing new and potentially crippling compatibility issues."

Randall doesn't just speak up his mind without any bases, in fact he has done some thorough tests & benchmarking on the pre-beta Windows 7; including the kernell where the most fundamental changes should've take place. But like he said: "The more I dug into Windows 7, the more I became convinced that I was dealing with an OS that was a slightly tweaked, nearly baked revision of Windows Vista."

Even the promised speed to be present in the new trimmed Windows 7 is nowhere to be seen yet, Randall's verdict after observed the few minor kernell tweak variations during comparive tests is: "...they certainly don't indicate a significant performance overhaul. ... From a raw throughput perspective, Windows 7 promises to perform as poorly as its predecessor. "Pre-beta" notwithstanding, the reality is that any hope for closing of the performance gap with Windows XP is unlikely to materialize in Windows 7."

All in all, I couldn't say it better than what Randall is saying on what Microsoft is really doing with Windows 7 under the polished hood: "Lipstick on the Pig." And unfortunately, what really makes me sad is not only for having the next gen Windows 7 to be just as the same as Vista wearing lipstick; but also because "Microsoft still doesn't get it."

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Device Stage points a new direction of device management in Windows 7

There's a little debate going on in the blogoshpere about this new feature within Windows 7, called Device Stage (pictured left).

Device Stage is basically a source of information window for (Windows) users, to see what devices that have been plugged or attached to their machine. Although the idea to show the installed devices is good and an eye-opener even for average users, it may become troublesome if users are starting to install too many devices; which then over populate the Device Stage window. This is only one issue, there'll be plenty technical issues to deal with behind the scene...

Here's the snipped info that I took from PC World: "Device Stage is a new feature that gathers all of the information (everything from drivers and applications to manuals) relating to a particular phone, printer, or other piece of hardware, and lets you access it from a single window. But it will show up only if device vendors create an XML document based on a Microsoft template, a document that also must be approved by Microsoft. The good news is that such documents are a lot easier to create than new device drivers--and vendors can stick with the drivers created for Vista."

Good or bad, it's not hard to understand if Microsoft insist on using this Device Stage feature in its upcoming Windows 7 OS. You do know why Microsoft insisted on using the User Account Controller (UAC) in Vista right? You don't know? Well, so am I. ;-p

And that's why we so in love with Microsoft, it has so many level of mysteries to unravel. Oh, I'm so excited! ~LOL~

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Asus shows touch-panel laptop concept for Windows 7

We can laugh at Windows 7, all with its new naming endorsements etc. But when I saw what the laughable next Windows Vista successor is going to change the computer design, like what you can see on the left live photo shot there; then I'll think about stop making fun out of it.

Asustek Computer showed a new concept for laptop during Computex 2008, the laptop is slated to be released to market in first or second quarter of 2009; as reported by Digitimes (via Ubergizmo).

But unfortunately Digitimes doesn't say whether the black colored touch panel on Asus' new laptop concept is using glass or not. Because if it is, then it looks like Asus is also jumping into the trend bandwagon; just when Apple is started to use glass display for its new MacBooks 2008 line-up.

Obviously, the touch-panel laptop concept is designed to take advantage of the upcoming Windows 7. And most probably, Microsoft's Surface technology as well. Here's something for us to see more interesting things to come out in 2009...

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

When 7 becomes the new 6.1

Never mind the poor chihuhua in the photo, it was there before the chair broken and got away in time. No animal was harm during the photo shoot. ~LOL~

I just wanted to give y'all a picture of what I mean, when something is largely over proportioned for its own size. It also goes in rhyme like what the girls love to say about the size of the clothes, something like that. ;-p
What I'm talking about? I'm talking about Windows 7, which I previously mentioned here at PalmAddict that the next heir to Windows Vista throne is simply named as Windows 7. Why?

Why, is a natural question that comes up after knowing the OS for your office's computers is gonna be named differently from its predecessor. Well, even though Microsoft has officially announce the reason behind picking up the new name; like you, I'm more interested to guess and find out what could be the real reasons are. Besides, it wouldn't be fun for this end of the week if I've done covering Apple/iPhone & Google/Android, but left behind the easiest one to be made fun of all: Microsoft/Windows. ;-D

I read a very interesting fact at PCW Business Center, it's about this naming game that Microsoft finally decided to use no. 7 instead of its original build number: To reach the magic number, Microsoft tossed all Windows 9x versions -- Windows 95, 98, 92 SE and Millennium -- as Windows 4.0. By that reckoning, Windows 2000 is 5.0 and Vista is 6.0.

To confuse matters further, Mike Nash, vice president of Windows product management noted that although the next Windows will carry the "7" moniker, and is considered the seventh version of the operating system, its code will actually be marked as Windows 6.1. "We decided to ship the Windows 7 code as Windows 6.1, which is what you will see in the actual version of the product [when you run] cmd.exe," said Nash.

One interesting comment comes from PatriotB, an anonymous visitor at Windows Vista Blog site: "No one at [Microsoft] wants to admit that in the grand scheme of things, it's a comparatively minor release, so no one's willing to be brave and stick up for calling it Windows 6.1 after all the months of letting the Windows 7 codename float around."

But a more professional comment is presented by Michael Cherry, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, "There may be all sorts of reasons that 'Windows 7' makes marketing sense because it allows Microsoft to distance themselves from any perception people have about Vista."

Does it matter to have a killer name for a good/bad product? Do we have to care with all the fuzz about Windows new naming endorsement? Maybe not, but IMHO it sure is amusing to make fun of it. ~LOL~

UPDATE: "[Windows 7], it's Windows Vista, a lot better," said Ballmer during a 45-minute question-and-answer session hosted by a pair of Gartner Inc. analysts at the research firm's annual Symposium ITxpo in Orlando, Fla. Read the whole article.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Windows 7 is officially named... 'Windows 7'

Microsoft finally realized that they shouldn't try to beat Apple in the naming game with their OSes, so the upcoming Vista successor is going to be called with its beta name after all: Windows 7.

Mike Nash from Windows Vista Blog (found via Engadget) made the announcement: "The decision to use the name Windows 7 is about simplicity. ... We've used version numbers like Windows 3.11, or dates like Windows 98, or 'aspirational' monikers like Windows XP or Windows Vista. ... Simply put, this is the seventh release of Windows, so therefore 'Windows 7' just makes sense."

That's great and all, but let's hope that this new 'Windows 7' will lasts seven months longer than Windows Vista, which is roughly the time frame when Vista in the end branded as a failure product and dumped/downgraded by everyone.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Windows 7 official engineering blog has started

For you who want to know early on what to expect in the upcoming and most the anticipated OS in the world: Windows 7, Microsoft has just soft launched (on August 14th) a special blog that's dedicated to the engineering of Microsoft Windows 7.

The blog is not specially for software or IT engineers, or technical experts, but instead it's meant for everyone who is interested in Windows Vista successor. Like what's mentioned in the blog:

"The audience of enthusiasts, bloggers, and those that are the most passionate about Windows represent the folks we are dedicating this blog to. With this blog we’re opening up a two-way discussion about how we are making Windows 7. ... We strongly believe that success for Windows 7 includes an open and honest, and two-way, discussion about how we balance all of these interests and deliver software on the scale of Windows. We promise and will deliver such a dialog with this blog."

Now I know there are some of you who can't wait for Windows 7, perhaps this could be your ticket to get the beta version when it's ready to come out. Who knows? ;-)

But don't expect to see the "wow" factors, like we all first hope to see at Windows Vista. Because the engineering Windows 7 blog is far from "wow", with only two posts till now, and painted in plain blue & white colors; the blog is really not for sight seeing...

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Special delivery: Q&A on Windows Embedded new road map

This news might have gone unnoticed by some of you, but recently Microsoft announced a new road map for its Windows Embedded products, released the update to Windows XP Embedded and introduced its newest OS, Windows Embedded NavReady 2009.

Windows Embedded was at first lacking the popularity, most probably because there weren't much of devices available for it in the past. But now, as portable and mobile devices based on Windows Embedded are coming out more and more often, Microsoft believes it's time to introduce better products with more familiar naming for them.

Windows Embedded introduced its renaming strategy for future product upgrades to help drive awareness, credibility and differentiation of the Windows Embedded product family around key benefits including faster time to market, and connected experiences on a broad range of products and devices.

The upgrades to each product, which started with Windows Embedded Standard 2009, the newest version of Windows XP Embedded, will be introduced one by one. Currently, Microsoft has announced the new naming scheme and expected launch timing which is as follows:

• Windows Embedded Compact, the next generation of Windows Embedded CE, will launch in the second half of 2009.
• The next generation of Windows Embedded Point of Service will launch as Windows Embedded POSReady in 2009.
• Windows Embedded NavReady, a new product, launched in summer 2008.
• Windows Embedded Enterprise, is a fully application-compatible embedded operating system that over time will gain a broader set of embedded enabling features. Today this product group is composed of Windows Vista and Windows XP for Embedded Systems and is licensed exclusively for embedded device development.

All of the new products are still based from the popular and widely used Windows XP platform, not Windows Vista, this will give more opportunities for software developers to create compatible 3rd party softwares for the upcoming new Windows Embedded platforms. And it looks like everyone are agree, this is for the best for all since Windows Embedded platforms are aimed for middle class users; rather than the cutting-edge and power hungry devices.

The first product update, Windows Embedded Standard, is the next generation of the already existing Windows XP Embedded product. According to Richard Naas (Embedded.com);,Windows Embedded Standard offers features beyond a new name. These new features include Silverlight, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) 6.1, and .NET Framework 3.5. Support for Silverlight provides a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in to deliver the next-generation of media experiences, including video, animation, and user interactivity. The latest version of RDP lets devices seamlessly connect to systems running Windows Vista, and take advantage of new features in Windows Server 2008 including the latest security and management technology.

Windows Embedded NavReady is Microsoft’s first embedded operating system designed specifically for OEMs building portable navigation devices (PNDs). Based on Windows Embedded CE, Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 will help developers and OEMs quickly bring to market smart, connected, service-oriented PNDs that easily connect to online services, mobile phones using Bluetooth, Windows-based PCs and the Internet.

“As demand for personal navigation devices continues to increase, and existing owners look to upgrade from their original devices, original equipment manufacturers must continue to innovate and enhance their products with features that will attract a variety of users,” said Chris Jones, Canalys vice president and principal analyst.

With the addition of the Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 solution, Windows Embedded now presents two device category-specific offerings: Windows Embedded NavReady 2009 and Windows Embedded POSReady. Windows Embedded POSReady, the next generation of Windows Embedded for Point of Service, is scheduled to ship in 2009.

As for Windows Embedded CE, the root of Windows Mobile, it will be updated to Windows Embedded Compact in the second half of 2009. I managed to get in touch with Windows Embedded, and they have been very helpful to give answers on the new naming and road map of Windows Embedded. I'll lay them all bare naked for you below:

1. What was the reasons for Microsoft to rename the Windows Embedded products line-up? --- Windows Embedded is renaming its family of products in a way that is easy to remember, more intuitive. The renaming will drive awareness, credibility and differentiation of the Windows Embedded product family around key benefits including faster time to market, and connected experiences on a broad range of products and devices focused around our key device categories (PND, CMD, Thin Client, ATM/Kiosks/POS). This will continue to drive leadership around the new world of smart, connected, service-oriented devices and what this means with respect to users, new business models, as well as opportunities for OEM’s, Enterprises and Service providers.
2. How Microsoft decides on the name like Standard, Enterprise and Compact? --- We knew we needed a clear way to introduce new products in the pipeline with nomenclature that was easily understood and more customer-centric. We decided to address this by investing in quantifiable research to determine a new naming structure for the embedded market.We worked with our corporate marketing experts in language and geography to review a list of possible names and the structure. “Compact, Standard and Enterprise” tested very well individually and they worked relative to each other. In fact, over 90% of respondents could determine the order for footprint size and features when listing the names. Also, research clearly showed a preference for names, not acronyms.
3. For a quick comparison from you, what are the main differences among those three above? --- Windows Embedded Enterprise products are fully functional versions of XP Pro and Vista that cannot be componentized. Standard PC development tools are used to develop OEM applications. These operating systems have the same hardware operating requirements as their desktop equivalents.Windows Embedded Standard (formerly Windows XPe) is a componentized version of Windows XP Pro. Developers use custom tools to remove components they do not need in order to reduce the software footprint of the operating system. Windows Embedded Standard 2009 features technologies that easily connect with many common industry standards plus several Microsoft desktop and server technologies leading to lower costs in application development, operating system deployment, servicing, and maintenance. With Windows Embedded Standard 2009, developers get access to a mature technology portfolio of embedded specific tools that work in the familiar developer environment of Visual Studio allowing them to rapidly configure, build, and deploy devices that are more secure, reliable, and manageable.Windows Compact Edition (formerly Windows Embedded CE) is a small footprint operating system that is built up from a software core. The operating system is highly customizable.
4. I see Microsoft has released a new line-up with the naming of "Ready", what does "Ready" stand for? --- As part of the Windows Embedded strategic roadmap, we will be driving entrance into key device categories to address the growing demands on developers to quickly deliver new and innovative connected devices in these key categories. The new key device category solutions will be offered under the Windows Embedded “Ready” moniker and ship as preconfigured toolkits providing device maker’s with in-demand market specific features allowing them to build and ship next generation smart, connected, service-oriented devices in an accelerated fashion. These new solutions will be released on a rolling schedule and started in the first half of 2008 with the first offering targeting the Personal Navigation Device (PND) and GPS market. This product is named Windows Embedded NavReady. Windows Embedded for Point of Service will also become an integral part of the key device category solutions offerings, targeting the Retail Sector following its next release in 2009 as Windows Embedded POSReady.
5. With the new naming, is that mean also new price? --- No. The new naming isn’t tied to any pricing change. Pricing decisions will remain based on the specific product and release and market factors.

Please see this chart image of the Windows Embedded roadmap for your easier viewing pleasure (pictured right, click on the image to view it larger). Enjoy!

[blogged with my Treo 750v]