I was just reading Leo Laporte’s blog and noticed something that I wanted to share with you.
I recently posted about how the pro Apple bloggers / podcatsers / journalists would have a challenge in 2009; dissing Windows 7 – when the general geek population seems (mainly) to think that even the beta version is actually pretty good.
Great is not good enough for Leo Laporte
I love Leo Laporte’s work – he’s one of the people that inspired me to blog about tech! However, he freely admits to being an Apple guy. This is why I found his recent post about Windows 7 so interesting.
On his blog today, Leo says that even though Windows 7 is a great operating system, the best Windows OS since Windows 2000 – There were some problems. One gripe was that he couldn’t get Google Chrome to work. However, the second gripe was plain silly and makes the point I blogged about; when I asked how the Pro Apple guys would treat such a popular Windows OS.
Leo said that the Windows 7 default UAC setting was too low. Now, when Windows Vista was released, Leo complained that Vista’s default UAC setting was set too high!
I’m getting the feeling that no matter how good Windows 7 turns out to be, it’s still going to get a lot of sniping. It’s going to be interesting, watching how others in the Apple camp comment on Windows 7.
UPDATE:
Paul Thurrott has just posted a reply from Microsoft, regarding the UAC issue. You can read it here.
Related posts:
Leo knows his stuff, but his prejudices against all things Microsoft really gets in the way.
Nice blog.
All of my apps are working just fine with Windows 7, except for Nokia Software Updater; I think it’s more Google’s fault Chrome doesn’t work with 7 than Microsoft’s fault. And I’m sure Google will do a good job fixing compatibility before Windows 7 is released. And what’s this about UAC? I liked how it was set in 7, though I still turned it off. Leo’s just letting his pro-Apple opinions get in the way of an objective review. I myself was a Microsoft hater till a few months ago, in which I just became neutral. Windows 7 is the first time I’m actually happy with a Microsoft product (and it’s not even finished yet!) and waiting for it to come out. I wasn’t too happy with Vista myself, I thought it was bearable after SP1, and I’ve been using it till last week since I got it with my laptop. But 7 is just brilliant… Microsoft need to get the credit they deserve for a soon-to-come great OS.
It’s funny I’m an avid Mac user and lover and even i recognize that Windows 7 s a HUGE step up for microsoft. I still don’t think its as intuitive as Mac’s but as far as how it manages resources, its SO much better than vista and trumps XP at least (which in my opinion Vista failed to do.. sad when people have to downgrade because an OS is so worthless).
With that said, though i am impressed with 7, i’m very disappointed that they didn’t use winFS as a filesystem, like they were drafting back in the longhorn development. Why still NTFS? Did they not work out the bugs or was it because they didn’t want to take the time to make win7 use a whole different architecture?
I agree with Leo… but let me explain. In OS X for example if you install something that alters system files, and has a globle inpact on the system, the computer will ask for the adminstrator password. In the land of windows, all you have to do is click allow “i’m not sure if this is right, i just click past it without a second thought” If they would at least give that option that would really help. Also one other gripe, get rid of the light blue “high light” for selected items, give me something darker. Its like they want you to get pissed off at you computer. One the whole I love windows 7, I refer to it as windows xp, vista edition.
@Samuel: I’d totally turn off UAC if I had to give password prompt, there’s nothing I find more annoying to do (I use my fingerprint reader instead of password for logging in, and I use Sxipper to fill forms on Firefox. I find entering password contradicts with my laziness). And I like the light blue!