As for my Classicness, I hate with a passion the way Microsoft started making their products look starting with XP. It's bubbly and cartoony. I don't need my computer to be pretty with round edges and colors, I need to to be an interface for what I want to do on it. To me, if I wanted pretty interfaces, I'd use a Mac. I understand they are trying to make it more accessible to a broader audience, but they already got me using it, and I liked how it looked.
First thing I do on a machine is set it back to the classic (98) theme.
Granted, I'm stubborn and resistant to change. It took me ages to upgrade from 98 to XP, and I completely skipped Vista. But, Win 7 lured me in, and this is the first time I've upgraded at/ before launch. So, good job Microsoft. I just want my classic start menu back, and I'll be good to go.
As for my Classicness, I hate with a passion the way Microsoft started making their products look starting with XP. It's bubbly and cartoony. I don't need my computer to be pretty with round edges and colors, I need to to be an interface for what I want to do on it. To me, if I wanted pretty interfaces, I'd use a Mac. I understand they are trying to make it more accessible to a broader audience, but they already got me using it, and I liked how it looked.
First thing I do on a machine is set it back to the classic (98) theme.
Granted, I'm stubborn and resistant to change. It took me ages to upgrade from 98 to XP, and I completely skipped Vista. But, Win 7 lured me in, and this is the first time I've upgraded at/ before launch. So, good job Microsoft. I just want my classic start menu back, and I'll be good to go.
but. win 7 is not bubbly/cartoony at all?
Every single button is shaded to appear glossy, I think that's what he was talking about. Every OS since OS X launched has been doing it, and I agree it's kind of silly.
XP does feel like ass to me now. I gradually transitioned through Vista to 7 so i'm used to the design interface. I love the new taskbar and how it works. No more hundreds of annoying windows to search through. And i can keep my desktop clear of clutter.
The shinyness doesn't bother me, i like it infact. A step away from bland colour blended windows. For something i use everyday I want it to look nice. It's like walking into a house that's been completely whitewashed, i don't want that, i want a place that is comfortable to me. (This works for both sides of the argument)
The guy I ordered the copy from asked me if I wanted just one copy or more, so it should be okay.
What's not okay is that the key I was given isn't working with the installation. It says that the key doesn't match the SKU. He gave me a link to the Ultimate version of Windows 7, saying it would work. I contacted him about this, and hopefully get some clarification.
For the ones who got it to work, what version did you install. And could you Perhaps Maybe share that link with me?
Edit: He just e-mailed me back with a key that worked. Woo, got Ultimate installed on my laptop. More than I really needed, but heck for $12 you can't beat it.
So yeah, I can personally vouch for Corey. I'm sure the way he got these keys aren't exactly legal, but he's very quick and reliable, so you get well above your money's worth.
If you go to the System panel, down at the bottom you should see a string of numbers that starts with two blocks; XXXXX-XXX-etc... The second block of three digits will tell you what type of media was installed (OEM, Retail, MSDN, Volume, or whatever).
This article is for Windows Server 2003, but as far as I know channel IDs are consistent across all products (there's a small chart toward the bottom, just before the "references" section).
Ultimate shouldn't show up Volume (which is where you get the MAK/KMS type keys that will stop working over time). MSDN, OEM, or Retail probably won't stop working (unless the key is shared/leaked wide-scale and blocked) and won't cause you problems unless you're in a business and get audited without the accompanying license.
Ok, I just don't see the leap between "I only care about being able to use it" to "PRETTY THINGS ARE THE WORK OF THE DEVIL AND MUST BE CAST OUT"
Does it actually bother you when things look good? It at worst is unnecessary, but I don't see how it's even close to possibly a problem
I agree it is weird of me. Just a quirk of mine. I like my computer to look how I'm used to, and I've been changing it first thing on an install since XP came out.
I enjoy my computer looking like a technical thing, rather than some ergonomical plastic button panel.
Well I'll be damned, the $12 ebay key works and verifies fine. I love how Windows 7 takes like 10 minutes from format to completely installed.
Back during Vista there were special corporate keys that worked and installed and verified fine, you wouldn't know the difference. In the background they would try to contact the company's activation server, if they couldn't within 60 days they would lock the user our until it was put on the proper private network and put in contact with it's server.
I know 7 has something similar as we had to put a 7 activation server on our network, so lets hope your 12 dollar key isn't a stolen one like that.
Isn't that an Enterprise-only thing? He should be fine if it's 7 Professional or Ultimate, right?
I was under the impression that Enterprise required a special disc, this is plain old Professional. Guess we'll see (when I wake up one day and it doesn't work anymore)
I am on 7 Pro from work now and I was told I has to have the laptop hooked up on the network to make sure it could see the activation server at least once.
But no one is really sure. We do have an activation server in the data center so hopefully it's doing what it's supposed to do.
Navigate to a folder with hundreds of .mp3s and .wavs, and delete all of the .wavs. Tell me how long it takes with your precious GUI.
Seriously though, is there an easy way to do it? Takes like five seconds in a terminal, but I feel like a chump having to use that.
A good command line is awesome (the only thing I have seen on a Mac that I want in Windows is the command line.) But your example would take me longer to do in text then GUI
I have Win 7 explorers view to always show details (http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/kmkenney/how-to-disable-automatic-folder-type-discovery.aspx).
To delete all .wav files I would sort by: file type and select the first wav, hold shift and press end, then delete.
Less then five sec. (One of my major irritations with Windows 7 is that all selections are lost when press size, name, date etc. Anyone know how to change it back to XP behavior?)
if you like the command line, shift clicking a folder is useful. It adds a "Open Command window here" option.
Well I'll be damned, the $12 ebay key works and verifies fine. I love how Windows 7 takes like 10 minutes from format to completely installed.
Back during Vista there were special corporate keys that worked and installed and verified fine, you wouldn't know the difference. In the background they would try to contact the company's activation server, if they couldn't within 60 days they would lock the user our until it was put on the proper private network and put in contact with it's server.
I know 7 has something similar as we had to put a 7 activation server on our network, so lets hope your 12 dollar key isn't a stolen one like that.
Isn't that an Enterprise-only thing? He should be fine if it's 7 Professional or Ultimate, right?
I was under the impression that Enterprise required a special disc, this is plain old Professional. Guess we'll see (when I wake up one day and it doesn't work anymore)
I am on 7 Pro from work now and I was told I has to have the laptop hooked up on the network to make sure it could see the activation server at least once.
But no one is really sure. We do have an activation server in the data center so hopefully it's doing what it's supposed to do.
Sounds like KMS. If you have internal activation servers, you have to "check in" with them at least once every 180 days.
I'm thinking of buying a key from that guy on ebay, but I'm not sure if I want Premium or Pro and 32bit or 64bit. What is the "best" version? (I currently have Vista Home premium 32bit.)
The fastest way to delete those .wav files would be to say 'Hey, computer, could you delete the wave files in that folder? Thanks." Or better yet, just to think it. The whole eye/hand input method is still pretty clumsy.
so I'm trying to decide what version of this to buy. I pretty much just use my PC for games, DvDs and homework, so I was thinking the $150 (because I forgot to preorder it like an idiot) home basic version.
Anyone know if theres a way to get this cheaper anywhere for being a college student?
I'm thinking of buying a key from that guy on ebay, but I'm not sure if I want Premium or Pro and 32bit or 64bit. What is the "best" version? (I currently have Vista Home premium 32bit.)
Get Home Premium 64 bit unless you have some specific need for the 'better' ones. Assuming they're all the same price, haven't looked myself. But get 64 bit in either case.
Xeddicus on
"For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men. Not women. Not beasts...this you can trust."
0
joshgotroDeviled EggThe Land of REAL CHILIRegistered Userregular
edited October 2009
Student pricing. Didn't think I would be getting this for awhile. Yes please.
so I'm trying to decide what version of this to buy. I pretty much just use my PC for games, DvDs and homework, so I was thinking the $150 (because I forgot to preorder it like an idiot) home basic version.
Anyone know if theres a way to get this cheaper anywhere for being a college student?
If you do a computing degree check MSDNAA. I got my Windows 7 for free.
It's funny, because I spend most of my time in Linux anyway.
I am on 7 Pro from work now and I was told I has to have the laptop hooked up on the network to make sure it could see the activation server at least once.
But no one is really sure. We do have an activation server in the data center so hopefully it's doing what it's supposed to do.
Sounds like KMS. If you have internal activation servers, you have to "check in" with them at least once every 180 days.
Yup, that's exactly what it is.
You can install it, it will say everything is fine, run nice and happy, but if it can't phone home in that time period it will shut down on you.
Lord Jezo on
I KISS YOU!
0
syndalisGetting ClassyOn the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Productsregular
I do almost all of my file management with the Cygwin tools.
bash is superior to explorer in so many ways, it causes me pain when I witness people doing repetitive tasks using the mouse.
A well honed GUI user though can move "almost" as fast, with the benefit of it being accessible to a much wider audience.
Like I said earlier, in the time it takes to open a terminal, nav to the folder, and do your work, you can jump immediately to the folder via the winkey-type or spotlight, filter results (either through folder based spotlight or windows search via folder), ctrl-a (or cmd-a), then delete key (or cmd-backspace).
Maybe seconds can be shaved in terminal (as someone who still uses it from time to time I know it's value), but the GUI can be a fast and functional tool if you learn the shortcuts.
syndalis on
SW-4158-3990-6116
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
To the folks that love command line, look into Powershell. Its very versatile and I use it over vbs for almost everything.
bigwah on
LoL Tribunal:
"Was cursing, in broken english at his team, and at our team. made fun of dead family members and mentioned he had sex with a dog."
"Hope he dies tbh but a ban would do."
A well honed GUI user though can move "almost" as fast, with the benefit of it being accessible to a much wider audience.
Like I said earlier, in the time it takes to open a terminal, nav to the folder, and do your work, you can jump immediately to the folder via the winkey-type or spotlight, filter results (either through folder based spotlight or windows search via folder), ctrl-a (or cmd-a), then delete key (or cmd-backspace).
Maybe seconds can be shaved in terminal (as someone who still uses it from time to time I know it's value), but the GUI can be a fast and functional tool if you learn the shortcuts.
Well, it's not just a file deletions that a CLI is good for. The concept of pipes and one-line shell scripts has no equal in the GUI world, and they're such huge timesavers for doing work it really disappoints me that the only CLI in Windows is still that piece of shit 'cmd'. We're going on 15 years with it and you still can't even use the cut and paste keys.
xzzy on
0
syndalisGetting ClassyOn the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Productsregular
A well honed GUI user though can move "almost" as fast, with the benefit of it being accessible to a much wider audience.
Like I said earlier, in the time it takes to open a terminal, nav to the folder, and do your work, you can jump immediately to the folder via the winkey-type or spotlight, filter results (either through folder based spotlight or windows search via folder), ctrl-a (or cmd-a), then delete key (or cmd-backspace).
Maybe seconds can be shaved in terminal (as someone who still uses it from time to time I know it's value), but the GUI can be a fast and functional tool if you learn the shortcuts.
Well, it's not just a file deletions that a CLI is good for. The concept of pipes and one-line shell scripts has no equal in the GUI world, and they're such huge timesavers for doing work it really disappoints me that the only CLI in Windows is still that piece of shit 'cmd'. We're going on 15 years with it and you still can't even use the cut and paste keys.
Navigate to a folder with hundreds of .mp3s and .wavs, and delete all of the .wavs. Tell me how long it takes with your precious GUI.
Seriously though, is there an easy way to do it? Takes like five seconds in a terminal, but I feel like a chump having to use that.
I know of a GUI faster than that, and Windows too.
Norton Commander.
Literally faster than rm *.wav ? Impressive.
Why yes, because the Norton Commander was some sort of shell/gui for DOS. You could just type that, or use the commands/shortcuts it came with. It was great. When I switched from DOS to WIN95 I still used NC because it was quicker/simpler than Win95's explorer.
Posts
but. win 7 is not bubbly/cartoony at all?
Every single button is shaded to appear glossy, I think that's what he was talking about. Every OS since OS X launched has been doing it, and I agree it's kind of silly.
Does it actually bother you when things look good? It at worst is unnecessary, but I don't see how it's even close to possibly a problem
Well, it's subjective. Some people like very simple designs, some people like really elaborate designs.
The shinyness doesn't bother me, i like it infact. A step away from bland colour blended windows. For something i use everyday I want it to look nice. It's like walking into a house that's been completely whitewashed, i don't want that, i want a place that is comfortable to me. (This works for both sides of the argument)
If you go to the System panel, down at the bottom you should see a string of numbers that starts with two blocks; XXXXX-XXX-etc... The second block of three digits will tell you what type of media was installed (OEM, Retail, MSDN, Volume, or whatever).
This article is for Windows Server 2003, but as far as I know channel IDs are consistent across all products (there's a small chart toward the bottom, just before the "references" section).
Ultimate shouldn't show up Volume (which is where you get the MAK/KMS type keys that will stop working over time). MSDN, OEM, or Retail probably won't stop working (unless the key is shared/leaked wide-scale and blocked) and won't cause you problems unless you're in a business and get audited without the accompanying license.
I agree it is weird of me. Just a quirk of mine. I like my computer to look how I'm used to, and I've been changing it first thing on an install since XP came out.
I enjoy my computer looking like a technical thing, rather than some ergonomical plastic button panel.
Navigate to a folder with hundreds of .mp3s and .wavs, and delete all of the .wavs. Tell me how long it takes with your precious GUI.
Seriously though, is there an easy way to do it? Takes like five seconds in a terminal, but I feel like a chump having to use that.
Well, in a mac, you can do a finder search by filetype in a folder, cmd-a, drag to trash. Takes almost no time at all.
Windows 7 should have something similar.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
I am on 7 Pro from work now and I was told I has to have the laptop hooked up on the network to make sure it could see the activation server at least once.
But no one is really sure. We do have an activation server in the data center so hopefully it's doing what it's supposed to do.
I KISS YOU!
Click on the "Type" header to sort by type, then select them all and nuke them.
I have Win 7 explorers view to always show details (http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/kmkenney/how-to-disable-automatic-folder-type-discovery.aspx).
To delete all .wav files I would sort by: file type and select the first wav, hold shift and press end, then delete.
Less then five sec. (One of my major irritations with Windows 7 is that all selections are lost when press size, name, date etc. Anyone know how to change it back to XP behavior?)
if you like the command line, shift clicking a folder is useful. It adds a "Open Command window here" option.
Sounds like KMS. If you have internal activation servers, you have to "check in" with them at least once every 180 days.
I know of a GUI faster than that, and Windows too.
Norton Commander.
Literally faster than rm *.wav ? Impressive.
the hell is this this unix shit doing here
Powershell, chief
See how many books I've read so far in 2010
Blog||Tumblr|Steam|Twitter|FFXIV|Twitch|YouTube|Podcast|PSN|XBL|DarkZero
Man, I wish I was born 500 years later.
Anyone know if theres a way to get this cheaper anywhere for being a college student?
There is!
Get Home Premium 64 bit unless you have some specific need for the 'better' ones. Assuming they're all the same price, haven't looked myself. But get 64 bit in either case.
If you do a computing degree check MSDNAA. I got my Windows 7 for free.
It's funny, because I spend most of my time in Linux anyway.
*dangles Windows 7 key in front of starved fans*
I do almost all of my file management with the Cygwin tools.
bash is superior to explorer in so many ways, it causes me pain when I witness people doing repetitive tasks using the mouse.
See how many books I've read so far in 2010
Yup, that's exactly what it is.
You can install it, it will say everything is fine, run nice and happy, but if it can't phone home in that time period it will shut down on you.
I KISS YOU!
A well honed GUI user though can move "almost" as fast, with the benefit of it being accessible to a much wider audience.
Like I said earlier, in the time it takes to open a terminal, nav to the folder, and do your work, you can jump immediately to the folder via the winkey-type or spotlight, filter results (either through folder based spotlight or windows search via folder), ctrl-a (or cmd-a), then delete key (or cmd-backspace).
Maybe seconds can be shaved in terminal (as someone who still uses it from time to time I know it's value), but the GUI can be a fast and functional tool if you learn the shortcuts.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
See how many books I've read so far in 2010
"Was cursing, in broken english at his team, and at our team. made fun of dead family members and mentioned he had sex with a dog."
"Hope he dies tbh but a ban would do."
Well, it's not just a file deletions that a CLI is good for. The concept of pipes and one-line shell scripts has no equal in the GUI world, and they're such huge timesavers for doing work it really disappoints me that the only CLI in Windows is still that piece of shit 'cmd'. We're going on 15 years with it and you still can't even use the cut and paste keys.
its pretty swell.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/powershell/default.mspx
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
Why yes, because the Norton Commander was some sort of shell/gui for DOS. You could just type that, or use the commands/shortcuts it came with. It was great. When I switched from DOS to WIN95 I still used NC because it was quicker/simpler than Win95's explorer.
For those who never used/saw it: