I have installed the latest CTP build of Vista on my Toshiba M4. Here is what I noticed right away.
- Unlike previous builds, the glass drivers for my NVidia card were built into this install and I didn't have to do anything special to get the glass effects. With earlier builds, I had to do a bit of work which I explained in this blog post.
- Like previous builds, I needed to run the Windows Update to get my sound card driver working (SoundMax). Like previous builds, I didn't notice that it was an optional download in the updates and I didn't check it and didn't get it. So I had to run the updates a second time.
- I finally figured out how to get the Flip 3-D effect which I was struggling with in build 5308. Since there was no “how to“ anywhere, I was close but not there. The trick to getting this is to hold down the windows key and then tap the TAB key. Each tap of the TAB key will flip the order of the windows, sending the top to the back. When you let go of the Windows Key, whatever window is on top becomes the active window. I like the fact that the desktop is one of the options.
- Something looks a bit different about the sidebar and gadgets but I can't put my finger on it. It felt a little obtrusive in the past, but I like it now. Perhaps nothing has changed but my own perception.
- I installed Camtasia to record the Flip 3D and general look and feel but had some issues which I think are more based on Aero's dependency on heavy duty processing and fast screen refresh rates. I haven't found the right combination of settings yet to record the screen properly although I see it has been done in the past. Possibly I need to reduce my screen resolution. I'll try it a little later and add a new blog post if I'm successful.
- [had to add this in:] It can finally handle a resume. Resume problems were being blamed on boxes with >=2GB of RAM, but mine only has 1GB, so I didn't undertand the insanity that happened when I shut the lid of the laptop while it was running and then opened it again. Magically, the problem has disappeared.
Kate Gregory has a fun post of what she loves about Vista.
I have to admit, because I know I'm going to want to try out the new builds, I have not been taking the time to install VS2005, WinFX, Office12, etc on these builds because they take so much time. So I have been installing, exploring a little and the getting back to work on my WinXP box.
That's frustrating to me because I just really dig the overall new look and feel of Vista - without even scratching the surface of it's real capabilities.
And I am definitely addicted to the tabbed browsers in IE7 (yeah yeah I know I can get Firefox).
So until I can do a real update from one build to the next (not an option yet), I won't be digging in to get a real experience and will be sticking to my day job.