A Few Questions About Windows 7 Beta

[Harpyja]

Hey. I'm running the Windows 7 (Build 7000) demo and I'm considering buying the OS. I do have a few questions about the OS though, which I can't seem to find an answer to.



Why is it that no matter what I try to do, I cannot seem to display the language bar for my keyboard? The language bar shows up on the login screen, but it doesn't show up when I'm actually logged in.
Is there any way to get Windows 7 to stop asking me if I want to reformat any and all of my iPods when I plug them in?
What are the disadvantages of using an admin account, versus using a basic and entering in credentials when needed?

[PhreePhly]

Hey. I'm running the Windows 7 (Build 7000) demo and I'm considering buying the OS. I do have a few questions about the OS though, which I can't seem to find an answer to.



Why is it that no matter what I try to do, I cannot seem to display the language bar for my keyboard? The language bar shows up on the login screen, but it doesn't show up when I'm actually logged in.
Is there any way to get Windows 7 to stop asking me if I want to reformat any and all of my iPods when I plug them in?
What are the disadvantages of using an admin account, versus using a basic and entering in credentials when needed?


A couple of things. First of all, I would consider at least upgrading to the RC (Build 7100) because as of July 1, the beta copy will begin automatic shutdowns every 2 hours. That will become annoying.

For the language bar, Click the start orb and type "Region". A shortcut to Region and Language should show up on the bar under Control Panel. Click on the Keyboards and Languages Tab. Click Change Keyboard and pick the Language Bar tab. You can set it up there.

Windows 7 doesn't recognize iPods as iPods. Instead it sees them as mass storage devices.

If you use the admin account, the default setting of UAC won't flag some actions taken. If you practice safe computing, understand where you web surf, etc. That should be fine. I run as admin, but I have the UAC sensitivity slider on the "Always Notify" setting. I get a UAC prompt maybe once a week. No big deal for me.

PhreePhly

[Dorian Gray]

If you do the beta, what if you decide you don't want to buy it?

[dtugg]

If you do the beta, what if you decide you don't want to buy it?

Then don't buy it.

[PhreePhly]

If you do the beta, what if you decide you don't want to buy it?

I believe the Beta shutsdown permanently in August 2009 and the RC shuts down permanently June 1, 2010. You will want to save your data and install your old OS.

PhreePhly

[Harpyja]

A couple of things. First of all, I would consider at least upgrading to the RC (Build 7100) because as of July 1, the beta copy will begin automatic shutdowns every 2 hours. That will become annoying.

For the language bar, Click the start orb and type "Region". A shortcut to Region and Language should show up on the bar under Control Panel. Click on the Keyboards and Languages Tab. Click Change Keyboard and pick the Language Bar tab. You can set it up there.

Windows 7 doesn't recognize iPods as iPods. Instead it sees them as mass storage devices.

If you use the admin account, the default setting of UAC won't flag some actions taken. If you practice safe computing, understand where you web surf, etc. That should be fine. I run as admin, but I have the UAC sensitivity slider on the "Always Notify" setting. I get a UAC prompt maybe once a week. No big deal for me.

PhreePhly

So that's what that was. I assumed it was some sort of power outage caused by the thunderstorms we've been having in the region. It rains almost every day here. It's terribly annoying, but where do I get the RC build?

[dtugg]

but where do I get the RC build?

Here you go. (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=download+windows+7)

[Harpyja]

Very funny. I tried goggling it earlier, but because I had RC 7100 in the search, Google kept taking me to news places. Is there any other method that I can use to download it? It's taken over 2 hours to download the file (and then my computer shuts down) and this is my only computer.

[jsiv]

It's not very hard to find, it's the first hit for Windows 7 RC:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

You'll have to log on with a Passport/register to download though.

[dtugg]

Very funny. I tried goggling it earlier, but because I had RC 7100 in the search, Google kept taking me to news places. Is there any other method that I can use to download it? It's taken over 2 hours to download the file (and then my computer shuts down) and this is my only computer.

The RC is probably still on torrent sites. There are also newer builds and the RC keys work with them.

[Bobert]

WOW that was quick of MS to jump from Vista to 7.
Is it worth upgrading?

[dtugg]

WOW that was quick of MS to jump from Vista to 7.

Not really. It's just that it took them forever to jump from XP to Vista. They're back on a normal release schedule now.


Is it worth upgrading?

They're pre-selling the upgrade for $50 (normal price is $120). I think that's worth it. Of course, you can always download the RC to see for yourself.

[GreNME]

Two and a half years is longer than Microsoft's switch from Win 2000 to XP (though ME comes into play there). It's about as long as Microsoft took between Win 95 and Win 98. The oddity was the length of time it took Microsoft to develop past XP. Vista still seems new and fresh because the first year and a half had it with very low adoption rates, and even today the rate of adoption is only barely above that of people getting new computers.

[Bobert]

Ok see I visited http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features and checked out windows 7.
I am no MS hater nor fanboy but man Windows 7 is what Vista SHOULD HAVE BEEN and now they want friggin $49 bucks to upgrade?!
Oh ya and thats the special price because once it is released in OCT it will be 99 for the home edition.
seems nothing more then a way for MS to squeeze more money out of its users.
29 bucks at best is what I would pay.
What a joke.

[Bobert]

Not really. It's just that it took them forever to jump from XP to Vista. They're back on a normal release schedule now.



They're pre-selling the upgrade for $50 (normal price is $120). I think that's worth it. Of course, you can always download the RC to see for yourself.
I will probably end up paying the $49 but that sucks to have to wait until OCT to get it.