So it's been a little while between updates on the blog, sorry about that!
I've been on a bit of an OS roller coaster ride of late. I tried the latest
LonghornI mean
Vista beta (beta 2) on a couple of machines. I didn't do a lot of homework because I have this bad habit with operating systems - I just grab the bootable disc and dive in the deep end. I did this with Linux in '98 and it took me 6 years to kick the habit!
The two machines were:
- Dell Inspiron 1100 laptop, P4 2Ghz, 1Gb RAM, integrated Intel graphics, 80Gb HDD
- Home-brew PC, P4 Dual Core 3Ghz, 2Gb RAM, 512Mb 6800 graphics, 1.2Tb storage
First thing's first - they both run fine. The install was painless, the new features and UI are discoverable and I am well impressed with the direction Vista is taking.
My problem is that the laptop needs to run
Visual Studio 2003 to maintain some Web Services projects. These require Front Page extentions on the local IIS to do debugging when I am on a train or otherwise not close to a server. So after a week of new-OS glow and fighting uphill against IIS 7.0 (which does not and will not support FPE) I am presently formatting the HDD and putting XP SP2 back. *sigh*
The desktop box runs a treat with the "
Glass" enabled and all. I am looking forward to running the final release on it.
As an aside both these machines are running the
Office 12 beta too! They have taken things back to real core usability in this release and I think it's a very good thing. There are some cool new features, sure- but the killer for me is in its usability improvements.
After blog mint [?]: I love Linux to bits and it has come along leaps and bounds in that time - I'm just a Windows guy at the moment. 2003 Server played a bit part in that. I harbour no ill will to the penguin, it's just not me right now. that's all.