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Windows 7 M3 Build 6780 Updates

Justin Kerr — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:29:24 -0500

Screenshots have been appearing all over the net of Windows 7 M3 Build 6780, and one criticism seems to float to the top every time. Users are disappointed that the UI looks exactly like Vista. This reaction although true, should be taken with a grain of salt. Microsoft has a very storied history of leaving user interface tweaks to the very end for a good reason. Popular GUI elements are always in a state of flux among fickle users. Core improvements to the kernel on the other hand, are something that can be worked on at any time while leaving the final layer of Chrome to the very end. A full layout of screen shots of M3 (milestone 3) were posted at thinknext.net and is likely going to be similar to the version Microsoft will show at its upcoming PDC in October. One trend that we can identify now however is the inclusion of the ribbon interface from Office 2007 into core applications like Paint and WordPad. Other than this, things don’t look a whole lot different. Love it or hate it, the ribbon UI seems to be the future of Microsoft applications and is likely to become a trademark of the OS. The latest builds of Windows 7 include Internet Explorer 8 and presumably, given the lengthy turnaround on IE releases, will be the final version included in Windows 7. Currently the OS seems to remain on track for its scheduled launch somewhere between mid 2009 and early 2010. This timetable seems reasonable given that ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley expressed belief that Windows 7 will enter beta 1 by December of this year. Want to see the evolution of the paint UI from Windows 98 to Windows 7 so far? Hit the thumbnails to see f or yourself just how different the Windows 7 version actually is.

Windows 98

Windows XP

Windows Vista

Windows 7

Want to read more about Windows 7 Milestone 3? Check out Mark Soper's breakdown of the new features.

Want Windows Live OneCare with a Side of Office? Get Equipt!

Mark Edward Soper — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:57:06 -0500

CNet reports that the Microsoft Office subscription service previously code-named "Albany" will be sold at Circuit City as Microsoft Equipt.

Equipt Makes Home Users Well-Equipped

As we reported back in April, Equipt includes a subscription to Windows Live OneCare antivirus, Microsoft Office Student and Teacher edition (includes Word 2007, Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007 and OneNote 2007), Office Live Workspace, as well as Windows Live Suite (Live Messenger, Live Mail, Live Photo Gallery, Live Writer, and Live Toolbar).

How Much? Not Much!

A one-year subscription to Equipt will cost $69.99, which is only $20 more than a one-year subscription to Windows Live OneCare - and, up to three home PC users are covered by a single subscription.

Although Circuit City is the first vendor that will offer Equipt, you might see it other places over time.

For more details, see the press release and fact sheet (.doc format).

Interested in trying Equipt? Share your thoughts!

Image courtesy Microsoft

No BS Podcast #6

Maximum PC Staff — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:15:46 -0600

This week, we return to an all Maximum PC podcast! Join Will, Gordon, Katherine, and Dave as they celebrate Jeremy's triumphant return and discuss:

AMD's Barcelona CPU
Department of Transportation bans Vista, IE7, Office 2007
Vista activation cracked using brute force
Music executives hate DRM now
Streamburst sells movies sans DRM

All that, plus Ask the Doctor, a live update on what everyone's testing in the Maximum PC Lab, reader questions, and Gordon's Rant of the Week, in the Maximum PC Podcast!

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Links: Send audio questions!