I doubt anyone's really been keeping up to date with this stuff, because in all fairness I kind of lost interest too, when everything everyone was talking about was the same stuff over and over again. However I took a second peak this morning, only to find out that the RC1 version of Windows 7 was supplied to MSDN members yesterday (no surprise really), and open to public May 5th (unconfirmed). That's not what struck my interest though. I mean this is just Microsoft doing what Microsoft does, right?
Wrong, well... kind of.
I couldn't help but to notice, in coherence with an article I was reading on engadget, that Microsoft seems to have a completely new sense of style with Windows 7, as compared to Windows Vista, and even Windows XP, which isn't too far off when you think about just scenic eye candy.
If I had to guess, the style change is largely inspired by the Zune, which seems to be more accepted then I initially thought it would be when I heard about it. However I'm interested in seeing what people here at TDC think about the style change. Like it? I personally think it's a very refreshing change on the normal, just so long as it's not shoved down our throats. I love the crisp clean scenic theme of Vista, and probably would much prefer that over this, but like I said, it's refreshing. Other opinions?
I like the new overall UI look of Win7 compared to Vista but them backgrounds? Bleh. Way too busy for me. Them glass panels over the 2nd pic look like semi-invisible windows but thankfully you'll be able to use your own pics so it's no big deal for me.
linux compiz is still by far my favorite for desktop pizazz. i really dont see how thats any different from vista other than making it shinier and more glassy. honestly i would have assumed it was vista had you just said nothing about windows 7.
Well when you look up a lot of new features being included in Windows 7, it's pretty impressive. For example, theres a new "Windows XP Mode" where you can run applications using an offset of VirtualPC, that seamlessly work with the desktop. They also have a Virtual Hard drive feature that actually allows for installations of operating systems on it, allowing for new types of dual booting. They also stripped down the UAC tremendously so that it's not nearly as annoying, completely redesigned the taskbar, took out most of the programs that were included in Vista, and made them available as free downloads. Windows 7 seems to appeal a lot more when you break it down.
The problem I have with it though, has to do with the interface. If I'm going to be staring at this screen all day, this is very important to me. For example, the titlebars are actually thicker and thus the nice thin buttons at the top right corner, feel fat. They also completely changed it so that Maximized window titlebars don't go black. This is severely disappointing to me, because I think it's incredibly cluttering when you can still see Windows behind a maximized window, in the titlebar. They should have at the very least, kept this an option so I didn't have to shut off Window transparency all together.
I think those desktop BG's were an RC special for the MSDNers. I could be wrong, but I thought I read that somewhere...
At any rate, it's interesting as an art piece, but not a piece you'd find me using as a desktop background. This isn't Microsoft's new style. If it was, Windows 7's UI would have flowers everywhere and swirly rainbow colors in the titlebars. Microsoft has always had that kind of symmetric straightforward and clean-cut look (even with Vista's doodads) and it won't and certainly shouldn't change.
There are a lot of Microsoft and/or Vista haters, but I've always admired their sense of design.
Oh I absolutely love their sense of style, trust me. I don't think this is a 'replacement' style as you said, but they defiantly are interpretation it into the design of Windows 7 a little bit. I just got done downloading the RC1 (I'm impatient, and the Beta key works, so it's not cracked, it's legit), and I'm on it now. When you boot it up, it actually has something of a leaf-flower design that strains up from the bottom left up towards the middle. It's not anywhere near as 'busy' as the wallpapers included, but it's there and... looks nice actually.
I found out how to fix the bloated thick titlebar, but theres still the rather pesky reason as to why I can't have solid black titlebars when (and only when my windows) are maximized.
I... haven't really followed Microsoft besides XP, but I'm not too fond on those backgrounds. I haven't really seen Vista or anything either. I really just prefer XP's simple, scenic style that are easy on the eye but enjoyable to look at. They've just stuck with me throughout the years.
As for my favorite background, it would be "Autumn" on the XP.
Oh, god those backgrounds make my eye burn. Looking at that while working is like listening to garage band screamo punk rock while working.
Disclaimer: Any sarcasm in my posts will not be mentioned as that would ruin the purpose. It is assumed that the reader is intelligent enough to tell the difference between what is sarcasm and what is not.
Originally Posted by The Cecil i still use windows classic style
copy that.
I like it because it's thin and doesn't fluff up the size of windows or UI elements needlessly. In a work environment I like to see as much as I can whilst still having a fully working OS.
Aero has thin bars and you can go into the classic advanced controls, any size changes you make in their will impact Aero, so you can get rid of the thick toolbar padding and change the thickness of the titlebars and such. It's more flexible then people think.
Originally Posted by The Cecil i still use windows classic style
Me too
I would use that but it doesn't compare to Win9x's style. It looks like when you set the size on everything to huge. XP and Vista's classic style is more bloaty looking to me than their respective "new" styles. If they would really give me back my trusty Windows 98 UI look, with that less-tan grey and the smaller start button and taskbar, I'd take it back up in a heartbeat.
There are many differences. The taskbar as I said, and the spacing and colors are different. Plus menus and things are rearranged and the sidebar with that weird billowy blue thing was replaced...
Can I still use windows classic mode with windows 7? That's really all I care about, being able to buy a new pc with an operating system that works as much like XP as possible.
Yeah, Vista had some compatibility issues early off, and God knows compatibility mode never worked in either XP nor Vista. Windows 7 has XP mode though, which is a stem off of Virtual PC, emulating the application directly off on it's own little branch of Windows XP built inside Windows 7. It's pretty clever if you ask me.
Looking forward to Win 7. I don't really have any problems with Vista to speak of, but it does use a lot more resources, which I heard is fixed somewhat in Win 7.
Main thing is, I'm waiting for it to release so I can get my wife a laptop. Would like to get one now, but I don't really want Vista on it. Although, assuming the manufacturer has Win 7 drivers for it, I could just upgrade it later.
Originally Posted by BrandonC
What's the difference again?
Is that for real? Last time I used Vista there wasn't a Windows classic option. Just XP's default interface and Aero. I might go back to Vista if thats the case.
Yeah, no version of Windows that I know of yet, goes without Windows Classic.
Just go into Personalization > Windows Color and Appearance > Open classic appearance properties for more color options.
That will bring you up to the Appearance Settings dialog, which you can choose from Aero, Windows Vista Basic, Windows Standard, and Windows Classic. They also have High contrast colors too. Go to the Advanced button and it'll bring you up the classic color control that you had in Windows 9x.
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but thankfully you'll be able to use your own pics so it's no big deal for me.
This isn't Microsoft's new style. If it was, Windows 7's UI would have flowers everywhere and swirly rainbow colors in the titlebars. 
Microsoft has always had that kind of symmetric straightforward and clean-cut look (even with Vista's doodads) and it won't and certainly shouldn't change.
Edited by OMC
That's like the CEO of Ford driving a Chevy. 
