Living in Windows 7: Part 1
Monday, February 2, 2009 by Frogboy | Discussion: Personal Computing
I’m running the BETA of Windows 7 and it’s been running so well that I’ve decided to make it my quasi-production machine.
Windows 7 is a massive usability upgrade from any previous version of Windows. Much of the changes are just minor in terms of effort but just make the whole system feel a lot better designed.
For example, if I want look at my connected devices I see this:
Notice I don’t see a bunch of crap. I just see the stuff actually connected to the machine. It’s a very nice change from what has been in Windows before.
One of the purposes of this series of articles is to let you know what programs I have problems with, and which ones work right.
Over the coming weeks and months I’ll give you generalized reports on the progress of our software (Stardock’s) running on Windows 7 as well as highlighting cool little touches in Windows 7.
Now, for the purposes of making life hard on Stardock, I’m not just running a beta of Windows 7, I’m running a beta of Windows 7 64-bit. By the time Windows 7 is released, all applicable Stardock software must run on this machine. 
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Reply #42 Thursday, February 26, 2009 4:01 AM
*LOL* Yeah, of course... This is why MS has to constantly release critical security patches, huh?
Granted, the Airbook was the first one to be cracked when they tried it, a Vista notebook and some other nb I forgot about. Still, stating that Windows security works well is like saying coitus interruptus is a good way to prevent pregnancy.
And before you ask where I get my expertise from: I'm a ten year experience system/network engineer and administrator.
Haven't tried a Vista or Server2k8 rig yet, but with access to the LAN they're connected to, I'll hack you an XP or Win2k3 in 5 minutes.
Don't get me wrong. I don't say that Windows is the root of all evil, but it's heavily flawed. Can't testify on whether or not Mac OS is any better though, due to the lack of first hand experience.
Reply #43 Thursday, February 26, 2009 12:57 PM
Vista/MS blows Mac/Apple security any day of the year.
*LOL* Yeah, of course... This is why MS has to constantly release critical security patches, huh?
Granted, the Airbook was the first one to be cracked when they tried it, a Vista notebook and some other nb I forgot about. Still, stating that Windows security works well is like saying coitus interruptus is a good way to prevent pregnancy.
And before you ask where I get my expertise from: I'm a ten year experience system/network engineer and administrator.
Haven't tried a Vista or Server2k8 rig yet, but with access to the LAN they're connected to, I'll hack you an XP or Win2k3 in 5 minutes.
Don't get me wrong. I don't say that Windows is the root of all evil, but it's heavily flawed. Can't testify on whether or not Mac OS is any better though, due to the lack of first hand experience.
I have my fair share of security knowledge too. And I stand by my words, Vista is far more secure than Mac OS. I won't argue about XP as you are right there, but that OS was designed before the SDL was implemented in Microsoft. They learned their lessons with XP and it payed off in Vista.
Btw, hacking a Win2k3 server is not a great feat at all. As hacking a Linux box or hacking anything else. Most flaws when a site gets hacked are human flaws or security flaws from programs installed over the OS (bad developed applications, etc).
Reply #44 Thursday, March 19, 2009 9:28 AM
So much for security...
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/the-pwn2own-trifecta-safari-ie-8-and-firefox-exploited-on-day
Excerpt:
"In a repeat performance, Charlie Miller pocketed a $5,000 cash prize and a fully-patched MacBook by splitting it wide, and gaining full control of the device after a user clicked on his malicious link. Another white-hatter by the name Nils (pictured) toppled Internet Explorer 8 running on a Windows 7 laptop."
So it looks like Data Execution Prevention, Adress Space Layout Randomisation and so on are still of no use in conjunction with the usual internet browser...
Reply #46 Thursday, March 19, 2009 10:07 AM
Hacking a pre-beta-software in a beta-OS? Why, that's practically unheard of!
Seriously though. Windows and Security Don't Mix. Because they have the largest market, they are the largest target and therefore face the largest threat.
Reply #47 Friday, March 20, 2009 6:09 AM
I wonder if there is a corresponding exploit for AMD processors...
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Reply #41 Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:03 PM
[quote who="-=XX=-Nephilim"]
Regarding "fanboy" stuff - lol, just forget it... It has nothing to do with being a "fan" or not but about comfortable, reliable and secure work environment. As professional designer and photographer who happens to be spending most of his time in front of computer for me "comfortable, reliable and secure" is imperative and after huge number of years using Win I can only be happy to move away from it... For the time being, OS X is the way to go - no doubt - but in near or distant future it can easily be something else - Linux or perhaps Win again if M$ gets their act together... I will have no problem ditching all my Apple Mac stuff for hardware / OS that performs better...
[/quote]
Mac is secure because their market share is so small, not because the OS is secure itself. Vista/MS blows Mac/Apple security any day of the year. If you want to learn more about Windows security and internals Mark Russinovich blog and videos are a great place to start.