Posted 09/25/09 at 02:37:59 PM by Jason Barry

Phoenix is working on the latest in BIOS technology and what have they got to show for it? They can boot a Windows 7 computer in less than 10 seconds, and post in just under 1.5 seconds.

The new technology called UEFI has been a long time coming, but it looks to be worth the wait.  Steve Jones, chief scientist at Promise, showed off the new BIOS at IDF this week.  He booted up a Lenovo T400 that made it to the Windows 7 desktop in less than 10 seconds.  They also retrofitted a Dell Adamo that got there in under 20 seconds.

The guys at Engadget caught it all on video.  Check it out after the jump.

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Posted 11/06/08 at 09:17:16 PM by Mark Edward Soper

This year's edition of WinHEC, which has already demonstrated Windows 7's digital goodness with Device Stage, has more good news about Microsoft's next desktop operating system:

• Longer battery life
• Faster boot times

As Maximum PC.com readers know, better hardware support has been a major goal of Windows 7 right from the start, and it looks as if Windows 7, even in its pre-beta stage, is making impressive strides.

Engadget has posted a video from WinHEC that shows a Windows 7 machine providing energy savings equivalent to an extra hour of DVD playback: you won't have to worry about running out of power before the movie ends, and you'll even have enough juice for a special feature or two.

WinHEC also featured Microsoft exec Jon DeVaan, the Senior Vice President in charge of Core Operating System Division, performing a "boot drag race" pitting identical machines running Windows 7 and Windows Vista: Windows 7 won by several seconds. It's part of DeVaan and Steven Sinofsky's keynote address, which you can see at the WinHEC virtual pressroom.

To find out who else is seeing the improvements in Windows 7, join us after the jump.

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