Windows 7 Beta 1 – 1 month in February 11, 2009

For those of you who are reading up on this blog, you’ll know that I’m putting the windows 7 beta to the test. I’ve already given it a review, and another one, 3 weeks later.

So, here we are, a month(and some days, evidently) later. For those who read my “3 weeks in” review, you’ll note that the OS was holding itself pretty good, and showed no obvious flaws. However, after a month, even Windows 7 is showing itself to become just as all the other iterations. A rule of thumb I’ve always lived by, is that no windows install lasts for more than a couple of months before you basically have to make a clean install. Of course, if you treat it right, using registry defrags and clean up stuff from time to time, you can obviously make it last for years, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make either. Anyways, a month after I installed Windows 7 Beta 1, it’s starting to give annoying errors here and there.

It’s not unfixable though, and I’ll get to that. For example, some programs just refuse to install. I was given an error while trying to install QuickTime the other day, and windows didn’t even give me a valid reason as to why this happened, but instead, just refuse to actually run the installer. Instead, it gave the infamous “..Has encountered an error and will now shut down”-message. Oh joy. However, after a couple of runs trying to install QT and iTunes, and still not getting the thing to work, the Windows Action Center gave me a message as to what was wrong. Apparently, the registry’s been worked at in Win 7 too, and this is what’s giving the error, rendering some applications unable to install. But, Windows 7 wasn’t only generous enough to tell me what was going on, it even told me how to fix it. If you’re encountering the same kind of thing, here’s what you got to do.

1. Open up the command prompt as an admin by going to “Start->All programs->accessories, and right-clicking the command prompt.
2. Type the following in the command prompt window: reg del hkey\sowtare\microsoft\sqmclient\windows\disabledsessions /va /f
3. Hit return/enter.

And there you go, the issue should be resolved. Now, of course, it is a beta, so it’s bound to have some issues, but it’s a good thing that the action center told me what the error was. Of course, if you’re efficient with running through the registry, you probably got that the command further up here is a command that directly changes a value in a file in the registry, and you can also do this manually. However, I’m not going to suggest tampering with it anymore than that command, as it can seriously screw a lot up.

Now, on to the other issues. The sleep/wake times have been HEAVILY improved compared to Vista, but lately, it’s actually been slowing down. Now, when I wake from sleep, it takes a couple of minutes before it’s actually back on track, and the joy of typing the password and then instantly starting Spotify to tune in to music has become more of an "oy” than joy(think cockney). Huzzah. Now, I’ve searched for a solution to this, and while I’ve yet to find one, I’m pretty sure it’s got nothing to do with the registry, but instead, it’s linked to the computer’s memory(RAM). The computer I’m using it on only has 1GB of SO-DIMM DDR2 RAM, so it’s bound to get issues here and there when it comes to performance, but if you’re running on 2GB++, I’m sure it won’t bother you the same way as it has been with me.

However, the bug that’s bothering me the most, is WLAN stability. It actually had some problems regarding the stability in the first day, but as the Windows Update managed to find a new and improved driver for my WLAN adapter, I didn’t see how mentioning it would be necessary. Evidently, I was wrong. The last couple of days, the WLAN has started become VERY unstable, and disconnects me from the router in intercvals. Some days, there are no problems at all, but then there’s the other days, when it keeps doing it chronically. It usually happens when I start a download, be it from FTP’s, torrents or simple HTTP downloads. It also tends to happen when moving files from one computer to another via the network.

Now, this is a bug I find very annoying. If you’re not online via WLAN, you’re probably safe, but I’ve yet to test an actual cabled connection.

Of course, some of you might think that this is router related, but when my Mac and PS3 stays connected, you probably get that it’s not.

Another thing that’s also full of bugs is Windows Media Player 12. Now you’re probably thinking “WMP? Who the hell in their right mind uses WMP?” Well, I don’t, actually. Not for desktop playback of files. I use Spotify for listening to tunes, I use iTunes for syncing my iPhone, and I use VLC Media Player to watch films/videos. However, WMP has a nice feature that allows you to share media over the network. This is especially good when trying to watch HD video. As I stated earlier, my laptop isn’t exactly powerful, so even 720p files is laggy. My PS3 can play them back without any issues at all, and so, instead of copying the file to an external drive and connecting it to the ps3 later on, I simply add it to the WMP library and share it. Since the PS3 can connect to media servers hosted by WMP, I kinda have to use it. And also, if I want to watch something on another laptop in the house, I don’t have to copy files all over the place.

But, there’s issues. For one thing, WMP has a tendency of not starting at all these days, and when it finally does, re-syncing the folders it’s set to watch and add media from, can be a royal pain in the ass. It works some times, but generally, the later days, it’s actually becoming really hard to do. I try to re-sync the folders, I try adding it manually, and I try dragging and dropping. It’s still not showing up in the library, and it’s most certainly not popping up on the PS3 either. Windows Media Player has, however gotten a pretty extensive codec library/support, so playing back files within it, is less of a problem now, than it was a couple of years ago. Compared to WMP 10/11, it’s actually a delight. If you overlook the fact that it won’t start, and won’t add files to the library.

..And that’s actually pretty much it. It’s still holding up pretty good, but there are some errors that need fixing. And of course, considering it’s still in beta, they will be.

 

-Tom Ellingsen

OS X tips & tricks – Keyboard shortcuts February 4, 2009

For those of you who are sick of reading my ever-so-clever windows 7 posts, fear not. I’m still a mac user, and I think Microsoft needs to do way more than putting a 7 in its brands to make me do a switcheroo.

Anyways, I’m starting a new series called “OS X Tips and Tricks”, which I’m sure isn’t original at all, but for what it’s worth, I’ll share some of the secrets and other nifty things in OS X(Namely Leopard) I’ve learned and know about.

This post will be all about keyboard shortcuts. There’s always need for shortcuts, and key strokes have always been the preferred method. Mouse gestures just don’t cut it, in my humble opinion.

1. Turning off the monitor
   For switching that monitor off quickly, and hiding your secret documents/porn from over-the-shoulder-viewers, hit ctrl+shift+eject
2. Precise volume control
   Just in case your Mac is hooked up to 1000W speakers, it’s better to use these simple shortcuts to enable a smoother and more precise volume control, to hinder ear-bleeding. alt+shift+F11 to turn it down, and alt+shift+F12 to crank it up.
3. Noiseless volume control
   Is that “pop” sound when you hit a volume key annoying you too? There’s simple ways around everything. shift+F11 will silently lower your volume, whilst shift+F12 will “silently” blow your speakers(not literally).
   Note that this isn’t directly what it sounds like. If you’ve already disabled the sounds for this, this trick will do the opposite.
4. Moving directly to Safari’s Google search box
   Yeah, I know. If tab isn’t working, just press cmd+alt+f to get to the Google box, should your mouse-finger be too lazy to move those inches.
5. Opening search results in a new tab
   If you don’t like to lose your current window, or just want to be cool, press cmd+enter instead of just enter when using the Google box. It’ll open up the results in a new tab instead of the one you’re in, so that you don’t lose any sites you’re viewing.
6. Zooming the screen
   Okay, this one you probably knew about already, either by mistake, or just basic knowledge, but if you hold down ctrl while scrolling the mouse, you get to zoom in on the screen. It’s pretty handy if you need an exact pixel’s color, but other than that… It’s just cool.
7. Quick shut-down and quick reboot
   This one you probably didn’t know, but if you’re just too busy to shut the Mac down using your mouse, simply press cmd+ctrl+alt+eject. If you’re just looking for a quick reboot, it’s ctrl+alt+eject. Same thing, just stay away from the cmd button.
8. Quick hibernation
   Same as above, just this one’s cmd+alt+eject. It’ll hibernate the Mac without having to move the mouse a pixel.
9. Quick log-out
   I’m beginning to think I don’t really need an own bullet-point for all of these things, but in any case, ctrl+alt+shift+q logs you out of the system, without a hassle.
10. Apple logo
    This one’s pretty pointless, but if you ever need to view the infamous apple logo, hit alt+a.
11. Invert the monitor’s colors
    This, on the other hand, is actually really handy. If you’re doing designing, and would like to know how the logo you’re making would look inverted, without having to re-color the stuff, just hit ctrl+alt+8. Note that this doesn’t harm your mac in any way, it’s just instant invert. How neat is that? It inverts whatever you’re looking at, so it works while watching movies or playing games as well.
12. Hide/Show the dock
    If you’ve set the dock to hide, you can bring it right up again by pressing cmd+alt+d. To hide it again, press it again.
13. Moving directly to Safari’s address line
    Doesn’t need a description, but press cmd+L to go directly to the address line.
14. Exposé in slow-motion
    Another pointless trick, holding down shift while doing any of the exposé commands will do them in slow-motion.
15. Screenshots and screen clips
    This one is for all the windows users saying that Mac’s are lacking the PrintScreen button. Well, on the mac, we just press cmd+shift+3, and we don’t even have to go into MSPaint to save it, as OS X saves a high-quality PNG on the desktop. In addition to that, pressing cmd+shift+4 will let you grab whatever portion of the screen you desire. If you want them on the clipboard instead, add shift to the formula.

That’s all the ones for now, but keep reading up on this blog, I’ll share some more mac tips later on.

 

-Tom out.