Windows 7 on multicore: How much faster?
Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system is receiving raves in its pre-release testing. While much of the kernel that lies at the heart of the operating system is based on Vista code, several key advances have been made that get rid of Vista annoyances and greatly improve the user experience. Inside the kernel, one important change centers on how multithreaded applications are run. The threading advances provide benefits in energy reduction, scalability, and, in theory, performance.
To check out the benefits on the desktop, I ran tests that reflect the most common use case for heavily threaded desktop apps — namely, graphics-oriented software. Programs such as Adobe Photoshop and other graphical applications query a system’s capabilities at startup and self-configure workloads accordingly.
They typically use all the processor cores and as much RAM as they can get away with monopolizing. This approach enables them to provide the fastest performance. So I checked how such programs perform using the Viewperf benchmark (an omnibus graphics benchmark from SPEC, the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation) and Cinebench, which is a pure rendering benchmark from Maxon Computer.
Full Story: Info World
A Guide to Windows 7 Security
Until now, Windows Vista was the most secure version of the Windows operating system. Windows 7 picks up where Vista left off, and improves on that foundation to provide an even more secure computing experience. Microsoft also incorporated user feedback about Vista to enrich the user experience and to ensure that the security features are intuitive and user-friendly. Here’s a look at some of the more significant security enhancements in Windows 7.
Full Story: PC World
Why Microsoft can’t afford Windows 7 to fail
On Thursday, Microsoft launches Windows 7, the latest version of its operating system. Its success or failure will determine the future of the world’s biggest software company.
When talking about Microsoft, it is useful to remind yourself of the sheer scale of its reach. Windows powers about 90% of the world’s computers; by the company’s own reckoning more than one billion people use it.
Windows also powers Microsoft. During its last financial year, a $58.4bn (£35.7bn) turnover generated an operating profit of $20.3bn (net profit: $14.6bn). Windows accounted for well over half of that.
For years, critics have claimed that Microsoft’s virtual monopoly is about to end.
They say it will be brought down by a resurgent Apple, insurgent open-source rival Linux or a revolution in how we use computers, when the actual computing moves from desktop machines to the “cloud” where software runs on remote servers.
Full Story: BBC News
Is Windows 7 on Patch Tuesday Agenda?
Microsoft on Thursday released its monthly bug fix advance notice, warning IT shops that it plans to release five critical patches for virtually all versions of Windows next week on “Patch Tuesday.”
Still, the warning notice may more notable for what is missing than what it will fix. Invariably fairly thin on details, Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) advance notices provide administrators with a little early warning of what they can expect to focus on when the actual patches come out a few days later.
Patch Tuesday, the day when Microsoft releases all or most of the patches it will issue each month, is traditionally slated as the second Tuesday of the month.
Full Story: Internet News
First Look: Windows 7 Shapes Up as Microsoft’s Best OS Yet
Good news, everyone! If you’ve been stuck in a time loop using Windows XP, which is nearing eight years old, or Windows Vista, which is just annoying, you can finally break free: Windows 7 is almost here. Microsoft delivers a slickly designed, vastly improved OS that will warp you to the world of today. This upgrade is big, and it’s hugely recommended for Microsoft users.
When we say big, we mean really BIG — so we’re not going to bombard you with an epic overview covering every single aspect. Rather, today we’ll guide you through an early look at some major new features and enhancements we tested in the almost-final version released last week. And in the weeks leading up to the Oct. 22 launch of Windows 7, we’ll continue posting our impressions, testing more features of the OS on various types of hardware.
We’ll start with interface, move on to performance and usability, and then we’ll conclude with the “funner” stuff. Let’s begin exploring, shall we?
Full Story: Wired
Microsoft Should Follow Apple’s Lead on Windows 7 Pricing
Apple’s upcoming Snow Leopard upgrade currently occupies two of the three top spots on Amazon’s software top seller list. The pre-sale prices are $29 for a single computer and $49 for a 5-user family pack.
Microsoft occupied the same two spots last month when it was pre-selling the Windows 7 Home Premium edition upgrade for $50 and the Professional edition for $100.
There’s a profound difference between the $29 Apple is charging, and Microsoft’s $50 offer: Apple’s price won’t expire.
That same Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade will now set you back a solid $120. While one might ask why Microsoft would need to lower its prices when its current prices are more aggressive than what they asked for Vista. I have the answer; Consumer’s expectations have changed.
Full Story: Yahoo Tech
Intel will deploy Windows 7 on employee’s computers
According to The Register, Intel plans to deploy Windows 7 on its employee’s computers. When asked at a Technology Summit with reporters and analysts in San Francisco whether the company would wait until service pack 1 to deploy Windows 7, Intel’s EVP and chief sales and marketing officer Sean Maloney said, “This time I think we’ll go faster.”
This is good news for Microsoft since Intel and many other companies skipped Vista. The company’s top salesman also sympathized with those who passed on Vista. “There was an excuse not to deploy Vista, because – rightly or wrongly – people said ‘wait for service pack X’ or ‘we don’t like the compatibility issues.”
But this time, things may be different. Maloney said, “There are really good reasons for the business client in terms of security, power management – lots of good reasons why you’d go for it.”
Full Story: Neowin
Vista Makes Gains Despite Windows 7’s Debut
Much of the IT world is busy preparing for Windows 7’s debut in October. But don’t look now, because Windows Vista is making something of a comeback.
A new survey shows that the nearly three-year-old Vista — roundly criticized for being a sluggish, overpriced resource hog that initially had poor driver support and lack of application compatibility — grew 4 percentage points between July 2008 and March 2009. As a result, Vista has been installed in 11.9 percent of IT shops, according to the report.
The gains that Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Vista has made have largely been at the expense of the reigning king of the PC operating system hill, the venerable Windows XP, which lost almost the same amount of share as Vista picked up during that time. As of March, XP still resided on 86 percent of all business PCs.
Full Story: Internet News
Microsoft: Windows 7 is done, on its way to manufacturers
Microsoft today announced that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 have hit the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) milestone. The software giant still has a lot of work to do, but the bigger responsibility now falls to OEMs that must get PCs ready, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) that are testing their new apps, and Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs) that are preparing their new hardware.
OEMs can get their hands on it this Friday, while MSDN and TechNet subscribers will be able to get it on August 6. Consumers will have to wait until October 22.
Full Story: Ars technica
Windows 7 and Office 2010 leaks galore
The week’s top Microsoft news was all Windows 7, with a little bit of Office thrown in to spice things us. We have leaked Windows screenshots, news that Apple disapproves of Microsoft’s ad campaign, and an announcement about the death of Popfly. That and more inside.
Full Story: Arstechnica
