In many years, you will look back on multi-touch on the desktop the way you look back on the 1950s "World of Tomorrow' videos... it's a completely untenable interaction mechanism to have to move both of your arms around all the time. The correct solutions are moving toward low/no movement. I.e. start with eye-tracking, move to EKG/neural interface input.

bobdole

nice gimmick, but who would really use this shit?

nobodyzhome

wow, I must say I am really disappointed here.

You know? That was it!?

a piano, that was the huge difference between vista and windows 7...
Last I heard M$ was going to really change personal computing with windows 7.
Which scared me a little because I am a Mac user. Not because I'm an Apple-whore, but because its the best OS out there. So when I thought in a few years I my next computer purchase would be a PC instead of a Mac, haha oh well let's just say they had me fooled that Windows 7 was going to be something great. And from this it looks like it's nothing more than a touch screen version of Vista.... with a piano and what ever microsoft is calling google earth these days.

good luck with that.. losers

kevindeluca1

I'd really like a new OS and all those nifty OS features of Longhorn included in Windows 7 that were missing in Vista.

Do that first, before putting in all that multi-touch crap.

radiochief

This is defiantly awesome, I love my ipod touch so I will love this!

Pieman2

Windows 7 better be 64-bit only.

D4RK_53K70R

If apple comes up with 2-3 new features with a new OS selling for 129$ ish, every freaking mac slut says wow, how awesome and shit. When MS comes with a new OS with tons of new features, everyone has a problem with it. I mean if I m upgrading to a new OS, I want lot of new features, not just 2-3 like glossy dock and so called time machine in mac os. You gotta realize that when u bought your shitty ass pc, it was compatible with the OS in the market at that time, don't upgrade to a new os and complain if ur hardware sucks more than a Vancouver slut.

ChasityGanado

Haven't read all the comments, but we have two of the same articles with different DIGG counts...

[gizmodo.com]
[gizmodo.com]

rainfever

Jesus Christ what a bunch of bloody cry-babies on here today. Just because they announced the most PR-friendly features doesn't mean they're the only features, it means they get attention and they need this when a lot of people don't even realise they're making 7. "Less dependant on registry" hardly grabs headlines, this touch-screen stuff made it to the front page of the BBC website. If you didn't anticipate that one day pretty much every screen will be a touch screen (whether you use it or not) then you're a retard. Lots of people don't use the cameras on their mobile but you still see them on pretty much every phone made simply because they're so cheap to implement now.

Maybe one day someone will invent a screen that resists your greasy Cheetos-stained fingers and somebody else will develop some really good uses for multi-touch on a home computer, but why would they do it until OSs actually support multi-touch. MS is just taking the first necessary step. That and they know that Apple are going to have it on OS X before 7 is out so they're announcing it now so people won't get on the copycat bandwagon. This isn't out for AT LEAST 18 months and the touch-screen looks pretty good already so they have plenty of time to add other features. Personally I reckon this should be a service pack for Vista if it's going to be based on it but since it's not then maybe they've got some other major changes in the pipeline. MS have a history of empty feature promises and since we didn't se a lot of them for Vista they're changing their PR strategies, they have been acting kinda different lately. Just look at some of the videos they released for the Popfly tutorials, going all Google-y and trying to appear friendly and quirky.

I'm still pissed off with MS because I shelled out for Vista Ultimate and soon I'll have to pay again. Not that I can't afford it but it's a principle thing. If they want me to be more enthusiastic then I want to see more OS X features like single file programs and more automated (and effective) maintenance.

I really wish people would stop bitching because Windows isn't tailor made to suit them. If you prefer XP so much then keep using it, it's not like they've stopped supporting it and they extended it's shelf-life since everyone wanted that so much.

Twinnie

@rudolphdude:

Yeah because google, the search engine, would really know a lot about software development and operating systems. Are you kidding me dude?

That is the stupidest thing ive seen on gizmodo this week.

CCCombobreaker

I'm vaguely amazed by the stupidity influx here.

This isn't the whole of all the features of the new OS. An earlier post even said that they're not showing everything that's coming up, in order to not disappoint with anything new.

The piano's not a damned feature, people, neither is anything else- it's a tech demo of sorts, something that shows that it can do something. If I pointed at something and said "It has multitouch" to the average consumer, they'd go "...What?" until I showed them "Look, I poke at these bits and they do this, and I can poke multiple bits at a time."

Reilaos~

I think its time for msoft to take a tip from linux about efficiency. I can run all vista's and osx's neat effects plus even better ones on ubuntu using lesser hardware without it eating all my system resources.

snakepliskin

You're all missing the big question here. Was that poop on that kids face?

highfloydelity

HEre is what i don't understand when apple shows a new graphics ui everybody goes crazy but when microsoft does it everybody complains? Come on

majortom1029

What's wrong with you people? How can you not see the potential for a true multi-touch operating system? I've read numerous comments that complain multi-touch is useless without applications designed for it - well guess what, there WILL be applications designed for it. Is that even a question? seriously? That's like saying, "A mouse is useless without applications designed for it!" This is obvious and not even a matter for discussion. MS and other partners *will* make amazing applications that utilize touch technology. Some of us want a better way to interact without machines. Something that works faster, quicker, and is far more accurate than just a mouse and keyboard. I can only imagine the amazingness of using Photoshop with Surface technology. About having *actual* paintbrushes for painting, versus having to use a mediocre Wacom tablet and dealing with the disconnect and spacial differences that accompany it. I'll gladly upgrade my monitor, without a doubt. A release like this would make me buy a Windows computer again, rather than just running it through VMWare on my Mac. I can only imagine how badass it will be to get to files, how i can easily page through things like a book...the possibilities are endless and exciting. MS just showed us the very beginning of the future of computer. Star Trek, Minority Report and Iron Man - remember when you saw these computer interactions and said, "Holy crap...that's awesome!" Well, welcome to the first step. When MS gets this polished, and trust me, they will, then well all be working faster, more effeciently, and the use of a mouse and keyboard will be akin to using a rock and chisel for writing. +1 to Microsoft for understanding this important next step in computer and interface interaction.

PeggyZephyrus

I love the Microsoft logic of adding lame shit like "Piano" to this new OS while they had "Hold em Poker" on the Vista "Ultimate".

They need to restructure MS and take advantage of the smart people there. Google needs to take them over. Somebody new. No more Psycho Ballmer.

rudolphdude

@Hijakk:
You should check out Windows SteadyState which give you the ability to manage publicly shared computers basically have a clean installation everytime the machine is rebooted. Think of it like a giant UNDO button for your machine after each user session. Did I mention it's free? http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/default.mspx

PhoebeCanus

@DWD Macs come with 4-button mice now. And you've been able to use your own multi-button mice for a long time. It's stupid pervasive myths like this...

redwall_hp

Back in 2006, Jeff Han showed that exact same technology, or use of, with a touch screen that he built with high resolution and multi-touch movements over at the TED Conference.

He said the draft board he created, not including the projector only cost him $100 to build. I'm surprised he didn't find a buyer prior to now...

[video.google.com]

ajmac2

From the objective point of view as a person who regularly uses Windows XP, Vista, Ubuntu, and OSX.... I have to say so far their little preview is excessively unimpressive. The preview is showcasing a technology that few people are excited about (multi-touch.)

If they want to Dazzle us with Windows 7... make Ribbon a standard feature into whatever forthcoming generation of .NET is pending and integrate its features into the next version of the OS and visual studio with reverse compatibility for apps to run on XP/Vista.

Seriously, 7 seems like it will be the same pile of inconsistent interfaces, inconsistent behaviors, and bloated detritus that Vista is.

Let me ask Microsoft this....
1. Are you going to fix the taskbar so that it changes color/transparency along with the windows glass settings?
2. Are you going to get rid of that annoying bring blue line along the bottom and right side of active windows?
3. Are you going to integrate Ribbon? Instead of hording it for office and making us have to buy third-party widgets in order to implement it... therein persisting interface inconsistency.
4. How about leaning on 3rd party hardware devices to actually support your 64bit edition before moving on?... like say.... Canon and the Rebel XT (400D). Yes, I acknowledge that this isn't entirely your problem Microsoft, but, it is YOUR operating system.
5. Admit for the love of G-d that Vista, while a good attempt, failed in a lot of places... and FIX THEM.

koruptid

Lol at everyone thinking this is so uncommon. You're all spoiled by XPs lifetime. Actually windows 7 is going to take longer to come out after vista than most other windows versions in the past.

Windows 95: August 24, 1995
Windows 98: June 25, 1998
Windows ME: September 14, 2000
Windows 2000: February 17, 2000
Windows XP: October 25, 2001

CCCombobreaker

@taoprophet420:
You could alway switch turn off double click
Just go to folder option and change it.

k2001

Mac OS is a great and in many ways better than windows. I will never buy it unless apple changes their policies. Their developing of proprietary software and hardware is the embodiment of what is wrong with the computer If microsoft pulled half the stuff they do they would be sued inside out.
They refusal to allow Mac OS on other hardware is ridiculus. I'm smart enough to find driver's I should be able to. itunes and drm combined with crazy file format apple uses on ipods to stop you from using other media players on your computer is just so frustrating. The whole iphone situation with unlocking and approving programs is complete bullshit. Anyone who calls Microsoft M$ and own a Mac are a bunch of hypocrites. Apples policies are huge step backward in the computer industry. Windows is still not the best, but they are better than that. If only linux could create a viable option for the average computer user.

TheZomb

@nojo: The original Excel, and Word 5.1 for Mac.

You mean Multiplan?

"The first version of Excel was released for the Mac in 1985..."

robstah

Holy crap! Looks like Microsoft has better spies in Cupertino than macrumors has. 10.6 is gonna be AWSOME!
Oh and that time Bill (or Ballmer or whoever) didn't even wait for the WWDC banners. (Redmond start your photocopiers!).

IVPPITER

Sad to see them copying off Mac even more by adding a dock.

leonard71

I didn't care when Apple released multi-touch and I won't care when Microsoft does it. I don't like touch screens period. In fact I'll go one step further, I don't like gesture controls like the Wii. I like my mouch and keyboard just fine thank you. Also, I'm not going to spend who knows how much money on a touch screen display for my desktop PC... maybe if i was buying a new laptop I might be interested if, I didn't hate touch screen stuff so much.

I will say this, anything that gets vista off the market a little faster makes me smile. Vista = Windows Me, just pretend it never happened :P

LankySean

Looks great, the sad thing is that it's made from Microsoft :(

When are we gonna see a working counterattack form Apple?
relly looking forward to that.

Mr-Simpson

@CyRu5:
i agree with you 100%
i am a fan of both MS and Apple, so i like news about both, but as soon as MBP or Imac get this, "this is the coolest thing ever!"

i think giz did the interview with Bill gates were he said,"we innovate alot of material, but apple makes it popular" something around those lines...i probably shouldnt have used quotes, oh well

halfpastme

[Somwhere in a parallel universe]
Jalopnik releases a story about BMW, showing what color interiors their 2011 line will have and nothing else. The commenters bitch about how awful the unannounced engine will be. They moan about how the ugly the body looks without seeing it. Benz fanboys crow about how their unseen products will beat BMW's unseen products.

So MS shows off their surface multi touch features for the next version of Windows. Who DIDN"T think they would eventually incorporate that tech into tablet PCs and the like? Since there is very little else known as FACT for Windows 7 at this time, most of the bitching here sounds just as retarded as the scenario above.

TKWarrior

The real questions:
1. Is it bringing out software as a service? a.k.a. extra charges for stuff that used to be bundled with windows (this was the rumor)
2. Will it blend?

Mitch

I'm actually going to post something relating to the video. I know some of you will be shocked if you've read the rest of the comments.

I like the idea of the circular dial menu thing. You see it a couple of times on the map demo when a finger is held down for a few seconds. You can see that being useful if it were the same for the right-click context menu. Instead of moving all the way down to the bottom of the menu to create new 'whatever', it will be right next to the pointer, along with all the other options.

That would help increase productivity.

BoardStupid

Is it just me or when the photos are moving from slot to slot there kinda lag a bit..Just like when your running vista witch hungers 2gb of ram just to run, Your window movements look like crap

XxRiXoNxX182

@RoscoPeeholePain: How long do you think they've had this in development? It's not just a reaction to the iphone : /

Itsuru

@PR-0927: I have to disagree, it is not about the OS per se, it is about their company culture, as long a you have Ballmer jumping up and down and being thrown eggs at, you are well the uncool kind on the block to say the least. Windows hold of its market share is due in great part to the support the OS gets from third parties software companies, chances are an application will be more likely to run on windows than any other OS and this is simply because their early days marketing, it still pays off today.

Tohe

Where's the dock?
Anyways, they better up the UI on windows, and those apps.

EnzoFX

@Kaiser-Machead: Not impressed either, I see no innovation, but I believe the target for this OS will be umpcs more so than desktops or notebooks.

Tohe

@thomusvoo: Lakers!!!!

Xacnhto

when they announced it will not run on minwin kernel and instead use a modified vista kernel completly killed it for me... i had so high hopes. But im still gonna give it a go once it's released.

Rexter

So... Lemme see if I got this right. To use this new SHIT we'll have to buy a touch screen. Oh wait! A multitouch enabled screen! Most likely from Microsoft themselves. Plus pay for the windows itself... Aren't the morons working in Microsoft impudent?! Or at least incredibly stupid! A 17 inch touch screen is pretty expensive already, so what about at 17 inch multitouch one? And let's face it. 17" is just not enough for today's usage - movies, internet... Idiotic. Just plain idiotic. Well... it actually brings Microsoft closer to their demise, so I guess it'll be fun watching! :D

DaSmith

@what the Ph15h?: *oops. Sounded too much like a MS fanboy.* Uh...Nowadays, Microsoft Likes to play it safe. Whenever they do something bold and new, people start to hate them, so they opt for something tried and true.

what the Ph15h?

@sdf632: They invent more than innovate.

what the Ph15h?

Why is everyone thinking that Windows 7 is just Vista + Multi-touch? Why are you disappointed in features that you don't know yet?

This demo was only showing a "snippet" of Windows 7. Microsoft NEVER claimed that this is the only thing changing in Windows 7. Just one thing.

People are such idiots. If you're worried about reliability, under the hood stuff, and all the things that are NOT user experience, than wait until the near launch of Windows 7 to find out. No need to think that Win7 is just this.

quikboy

This is so disappointing... I only want a reliable OS, not some fancy effects like Vista or worse... Windows 7.

I got the feeling MS OS are getting less and less attractive... if it was up to me, I will still be on Windows 2000 Pro (the best OS so far !!!)

prouted

I'm glad for the multitouch, but the thing why don't they make it run better...

and doesn't it translate into buying more hardware each time? how about turning into a 64bit OS only if we have to spend more? most companies don't bother with the 64bit drivers or they release one and fix the bugs a few months later...

To all those that say stuff doesn't run on mac, it doesn't. But that doesn't mean we have to put up with Windows Vista crashing applications that run on XP... or making everything compatible between both OS, except for DirectX10, something that forced gamers into Vista...

VakeroRokero

@media_lush: are they reaching MS bank account status b.c of quality or mostly by trend? C'mon

itscarmennnn

im sure apple will beat them in bringing out the multi-touch laptop/tablet, well see which one kicks more butt in 2010 if all goes as planned...

Xacnhto

I bet blind people will really appreciate all the new Multi-touch graphics. What is Microsoft doing to support handicapped people with the os?

RoryNowak

@angrykeyboarder:

I agree. Windows Vista has been much better than XP for me. I like to call it a "shiny" XP, because that is what it is - no reason to upgrade from XP to Vista, but if buying a new computer, go Vista.

Some of the more "user-friendly" aspects and DirectX 10 make Vista > XP, IMO, not to mention the faster overall speed and...the shininess. I like shiny.

I want MS so stop making so many OSes so quickly. Put some effort into Windows 7 - make it innovative and useful, and release it in more than 1-2 years. Maybe it's just me, but for a while, most people have been moving to Linux and Mac. If MS wants to bring back any more customers, they will need to start making an operating system that is truly better than others.

- PR-0927

PR-0927

Can this not just be an update for Vista. I don't want to have to buy Vista 2.0.

Oh wait, thats right. I switched to a Mac. I don't have to.

Blinklink11

@Kaiser-Machead:
no

multitouch is the next generation of computing
while it may not be super useful to help u type word documents or excel sheets, multitouch is going to make it possible to blend the digital world with the real world

this means that every part of your life will be able to be connected

that could mean flipping through your emails on an iphone
or that could mean a doctor having a surface computer in a patience office
or it could be put in schools to help students learn

multitouch will bring physical interaction with a digital world

imagine playing a game like warcraft where u can command an army with ur fingers
it seems like nothing now but multitouch will soon take a form in almost everthing
the iphone and microsoft surface are just the prototypes for an entire new world of computers

jozen

Unlike many, I like Windows Vista. It is much superior to XP. I've had no hardware problems at all.

But Windows 7 better add more than just touch-screen stuff or I won't be buying.

The touch screen stuff looks really cool, but not cool enough for me to make the jump.

Give us WinFS and better search.

In the meantime, I'll continue to spend most of my time in Linux.

angrykeyboarder

I really hope that MS has reserve the best feature for last! regarding this multitouch feature, I hope it wont stress your 3GHZ multicore CPU just to do some kindergarten paintings.

kaede

@itchytooth: hahaha
I loved the eye twitch with the teeth sticking out lol, oh man

itscarmennnn

If my desk were a computer, this multitouch windows 7 would be pretty awesome... but chances are, I'm still going to have a keyboard and mouse. If Apple came out with a multitouch lcd screen for OS X, it would be way cooler. Why? Because Apple knows how to incorporate it into their UI, Microsoft will figure it out in 4 years.

eddiesdguy

@carmen89: Me too. And now, whenever someone says "hilarious", I think of Jerri Blank saying it. Amy Sedaris is rad as hell.

itchytooth

so basically after reading all these posts and watching this video ive understood that microsoft just still sucks balls and sucks more balls after sucking those balls. seriously, microsoft people will cry about their ball sucking os while mac "fanboys" also known as "those who have operating systems that work" bask in the beauty of a nice mac. sorry to offend the super mega ultra nerd supertacular ultratacular microsoftacular programmer mega man goofball peice of shit that nobody cares about that uses M$ crap that doesnt work and is far from innovative. Bah...crappy crap from M$ again...whod'a thunk?

livinzlife

@itchytooth: OH I LOVED STRANGERS WITH CANDY!

itscarmennnn

@johcagaorl:

Sigh. that was supposed to be in a different article, something when wrong.

johcagaorl

@taoprophet420: WTF? what are you talking about? the mice that come with mac have, two buttons (left and right), a scroll ball that scrolls up and down as well as side to side and acts as a third button... and you have an action for squeezing the sides as well... that's basically four buttons plus scroll wheel functionality... when is the last time you used a mac?

doctorSpoc

I think this is awesome. Can't wait to see MS develop it more into Windows 7.

quikboy

doesn't anyone get it?...... once the OS goes touch it'll live or die by the hardware that uses it....IMO this is another nail in the coffin for Microsoft as only the very top PC hardware co's should/could be able to make the kit (the reliable kit) that this OS would use. Given that the Microsoft demographic is pretty much still ruled by the grey boxes and those grey box users ain't touching Vista I can't imagine them upgrading to a generic touch screen Windows 7 machine in a million years (possibly less).

Apple has an incredible track record with touch screen in the "real world" and what Windows has shown here as for 2009 (real estimate 2011) actually looks old school to what we've seen with the new iphone apps.

When you consider that Apple has almost reached the "cash" value of Microsoft (how much actual cash they have in bank accounts) and are approaching the total worth of them you would have to seriously question the long term success of the company. Given a choice of investing your life savings between Apple and MS how could anyone invest in Microsoft, really?

They've had a helluva run but they're turning into dinosaurs in the IT world - huge, massive and way too slow to adapt!

media_lush

@Syndication:
"That's like saying Leopard is slower than Tiger which it is. Install Leopard one of the older mac pros and compare it to Tiger. Tiger > Leopard."

Do you own a mac? Leopard is faster. Thats one of the amazing things.

johcagaorl

@gohepcat: NTFS isn't any better. Where is WinFS (like they promised), ZFS or something more advanced? Microsoft has the resources and they drop the ball EVERY time.

Joseph

@carmen89: You wouldn't happen to be a Strangers With Candy fan?

itchytooth

@What The Geek: thats an orgy of OS's
my mouth is watering

itscarmennnn

@gohepcat: NTFS aint any better.

Joseph

@DJJS:

*clapping hands*

thomusvoo

@What The Geek: ...and then run a TI/HP in emulation...or is TI vs. HP a whole other debate?

DWD

Good times :-)

zimstyles

@carmen89: I'd buy one and put linux on it.

What The Geek

Solution.. -

AppleFanboys STFU - Don't Like Microsoft - DONT BUY IT! Don't Use It! Dont Read This Article END OF STORY!

MicrosoftFaboys - Don't Like Apple Products . - Read Above..

Competition - Leads to Great Innovating Products !!!!

@Krutch: Agree = )

For The Record i Own a Mac & PC Both are great!

DJJS

Wouldn't it be HILARIOUS if Apple and Microsoft made a computer together?!

itscarmennnn

@DWD
@TaoProphet

No, the Mighty Mouse is 2 button (Actually 4 + Scroll Wheel) It just doesn't look like it.

johcagaorl

So... Windows 7 will have a touchscreen application type thing added and also a ObjectDock type program to make the "OSX-like dock". It really sounds like something that could be done in a simple patch/download/update. It is MS though so of course they have to demand $200 for something that should be $20.

ttech10

@gohepcat: dReadyBoost!! Thank you - I couldn't remember the name for the life of me. When I tested ready boost on a system w/ two gigs of ram, it did help boost performance. You didn't see it unless you were working with very large folders, but it was there.

What The Geek

oh yeah, and to add to my comment, go ahead and run windows on a mac and do your solidworks... DO IT! DO IT!!!!

ill laff when it crashes and there goes your 100 hours of engineering work.

thomusvoo

ahh, i dream of neutrality
make fun of ms is so old...

AndersonBMX

@gohepcat: Yep. Actually, as I recall reading it's just over 3...3.1 or 3.2 or something. Regardless, the memory was a special deal with no option for just 3GB...also the 4GB is there just in case in the future, if I fall under the spell of Syndication, I up/down grade to Vista.

DWD

LAKERS 3-1 woot woot!

anyways, cant we all just get along?
seriously, yes macs are good in areas
and yes microsoft is good in other areas
im a industrial design student, we use design software such as rhino, autodesk and solidworks that work ONLY...OOOOONNNNLLLY on PC. makes me wonder what program they use to engineer a mac and what operating system it uses.
when i use the mac its usually for adobe products illustrator, photoshop.. the usual.

does the mac check my email faster and better?
does the my pc web browse gizmodo better than a mac?

i dont know about you guys, i prefer a 3-some with my tech.

thomusvoo

@DWD:

You do know that XP can't see more than 3GBs of ram right?
(BTW 32bit Vista can't either so)

[support.microsoft.com]

gohepcat

I still don't understand the problems people have with Vista. I have been running it since beta on my gaming rig and my newly bought laptop for $500 and it runs great and I can play TF2 on that too!

Many of the issues with Windows has nothing to do with Microsoft its the businesses who are too lazy to upgrade their software/drivers and the people who are too lazy to upgrade there 933mhz machine they bought when ME came out.

Also I think if I had one wish it would be to remove all retards from the world. I don't mean mentally handicapped individuals, just Apple fanboys.

Krutch

@Joseph:

"(SERIOUSLY Fat32?)"

....seriously hasn't been used in an MS OS for 8 years.

gohepcat

@Syndication: You can't just ignore learning curve. There must be benefits that out weigh the learning curve. I don't see the return on learning to do stuff in Vista. You are very tech savy, so perhaps you don't see the learning curve as steep as most people do. It was hard for me set up a secure wireless network at home on XP with printer, mass storage, extender, etc. I worked with friend setting up his on Vista, it was a nightmare. I fail to see the benefits of Vista.

[sarcasm]Didn't know my hardware was crap...I'll look into upgrading:[/sarcasm]

E8500 (3.16GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 1333 FSB, 45nm)
4GB Corsair Dominator DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz, 4 DIMMs
nVidia GeForce 8800 GT 512MB
750GB Hard Drive, 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
Dual Drives: 48x Combo + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer
750 watt Power Supply
Windows XP Professional

DWD

@TheZomb: The dock on macs is definetly a knock off of the taskbar

NeXTstep, circa 1987.

nojo

@What The Geek:

"and IF you take advantage of the ability to cache to a thumb drive."

Hehe. Of all the things you give Vista credit for, you choose the one thing that doesn't actually work too well. The "Redyboost" feature you are referring to only seems to show improvements in systems that have far too little ram in the first place (e.g. 512MB). Benchmarks show almost no improvements in speed as soon as you hit 1GB of system ram. So Readyboost seems like it's been kind of a dud.

Does anyone actually remember the Xp launch? Does anyone remember the complaints levied against it? "Too Bloated" was the most common. XP is now considered lean! I never thought I'd live to see the day.

gohepcat

@snakepliskin: I'm 100% in agreement with you. I think Microsoft is missing the point by trying to make everything glitzy... it's like they have a John Deer tractor lawnmower and are trying to put a Ferrari body kit on it and market it as a Ferrari. I think the UI on Vista is nice, I a lot about it except for performance. They aren't fixing core fundamental problems such as the registry(IMO this is useless),Memory Management, Networking, File System(SERIOUSLY Fat32?). Microsoft could be so far ahead with all their resources, but instead of building something good, they opted to pile crap on crap... on crap.

Joseph

@snakepliskin:

Don't buy a cheap-ass laptop with Vista.

Of course Vista is going to be slower than XP
That's like saying Leopard is slower than Tiger which it is. Install Leopard one of the older mac pros and compare it to Tiger. Tiger > Leopard.

@DWD:
Bitching about Vista is just like bitching about the Office Ribbon. Vista is a more stable platform, The Office ribbon makes things more visible than before rather than having things buried in menu's.

Everyone here will get use to Vista, just as everyone will get use to the office ribbon

Syndication

Im not interested in gimmicks. I want something that runs more efficiently. Is it that hard for msoft to figure out? You can talk about all these new features and multitouch and whatever but if its still gonna run as slow as vista on my laptop than forget it. I dont even have a mac to compare vista to, all i know is my computer running xp runs much smoother and with less problems than both my vista computers. I doubt being able to resize a picture of someone elses ugly ass kid is gonna put faith back into the average consumer. My ipod touch already does all this shit anyways.

snakepliskin

@Joseph: lolololololololol

What The Geek

@marm0lade: Agreed, I was exaggerating, just trying to point out that there are a far greater number of non-tech people using computers than tech people and that compared to Syndication, I am closer to those masses than he.

My experience, different than yours, with non-tech people and XP/Vista is that they do better on XP, partly because of familiarity and partly because...well, that whole craptacular aspect of Vista.

I'm still full of crap however, but for reasons unexplored on Giz ;)

DWD

@DWD:

Just because you don't want to learn how the interface has changed in Vista or in Office doesn't mean it's a crappy product. Shit changes in all operating systems all the time. It's not slow and complicated in Vista, you're just running it on crap hardware. Turn the animations off and it's just like Windows XP. Hey whattaya know!

Syndication

@gohepcat: See, I understand the tech behind it, and I also understand that with the right third party software, and by tweaking a few services and reg keys in xp you can get the same sort of performance out of xp that you can with vista, but with about 3/4 the workload on the hardware. There are a few things I'll hand to vista, but for the most part, I still prefer to work w/ xp.

You can make a single image work on multiple computers w/ xp - just takes a little work. I will hand it to vista for having that functionality out of the box. As for opening folders full of files, yea, vista outperforms xp IF you leave all of the indexing features enables (lost system resources) and IF you take advantage of the ability to cache to a thumb drive. It does have some strong networking features, however, it also fails to play nicely on mixed networks in a lot of cases. I'll also give it up for functional accounts. Vector icons? Come on, when has that ever helped you out?

I'm not denying that vista has useful features, and I'm not saying it's total garbage. However, Overall, pound for pound, when I sat down to compare the functionality of Vista, and XP (with some third party help) on the same rig, XP did the job, and it did it with a much lighter load on the system. If you've got a PC with some freshalicious specs, yea, go ahead, grab a copy of vista. You may have to tool around with it to get all the bells and whistles under control, but it's got some solid functionality built in. However, for the average joe, I always recommend xp over vista - like I said, does the same job, but with a much lighter load.

What The Geek

UPDATE: Windows 7 Features Lead to Argument

itchytooth

@sdf632:

Windows Server 2000
Windows Server 2000 Data Center
Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2008
Windows Server Update Services

gohepcat

At 38 seconds in is this Ballmer's kid?
Kid

Ballmer

Joseph

@sdf632

Ever heard of powerpoint.

The dock on macs is definetly a knock off of the taskbar

The touch table was being developed years before apple released multi touch.

The whole concept of having windows to view things in hence the name windows.

Maybe people who think Microsoft is only copying apple should do some research.

TheZomb

@Hijakk: Cool! But what about a simple option on a stand alone PC for home or small offices, where you set up the computer the way you want it and then with an admin password hit freeze, and after that when you log off everything is wiped so the next login starts fresh from the same frozen place? That's more of what I'm talking about. I fully agree there are amazing programs out there (Faronics) that can do server level/remote stuff...but why not something totally local like the Guest login?

DWD

Watch apple will come out with a new touch screen computer and everybody will call it innovative and the newest and best thing. And then they will complain that windows is copying them.....

lilkeith7

@kstagg:
Quit being such a cheap ass. I love that most people here complain about upgrading their computer for Vista but hold no qualms in purchasing a new mac. Leopard runs like shit on anything that's PowerPC. Vista runs like shit on anything that isn't dual core. Get use to it. Quit being a cheap ass and upgrade. If I can buy a quad core from dell for $499, then you should be able to get a decent computer to run vista.

Syndication

@DWD:

Please do not self prescribe yourself as representing 99% of the PC market. That is ignorant and comical at the same time. In my experience, people with little computer knowledge have had very little trouble with Vista.

In other words, you are full of crap.

marm0lade

I dont know where else to go with this...BUT THE NEW LAYOUT ON HERE ROCKS!
I love red :)

itscarmennnn

@Syndication: Why zero footprint...perhaps privacy...perhaps administrative ease...surely there are decent reasons. Even, maybe, irrational reasons that don't make sense to the computer literate but may be desirable to the computer illiterate.

I don't believe it can't be done...it's amazing the things that can be done. It's just that those that can do it haven't seen the need.

DWD

@DWD: I'm a systems administrator at a big university - we use Faronics Deep Freeze pretty extensively on our public machines. It lets users install whatever they need or want, and all we need to do to remove the tentacle porn and Party Poker is reboot the system. We're moving to floating profiles fairly soon, which could potentially mean auto-mounting space on the central servers. Good fun, and all possible with XP.

Hijakk

@Syndication: "Granted, Vista isn't perfect, but it's no where as craptacular as you paint it out to be."

Perhaps Vista is a gift to the computer Gods like yourself. But, for myself, representing the 99% of the computer populace that doesn't know nearly as much about computers as you...Vista is crap. I've used both...that which is fast and simple in XP is slow and complicated in Vista. I have no doubt that you can list many reasons that you believe Vista is superior, but they don't translate to the great unwashed masses like myself.

DWD

@DWD:

and why do you need an absolute 0 footprint persay?

Here's a simple solution.

change ntuser.dat to ntuser.man if you'd like no changes on your desktop. It can be do, but any operating system will leave a footprint given if a person has logged in. A profile has to be created somewhere, any operating system, be it OSX, Linux or Windows creates profiles upon first login storing system settings for everything related to that account.

What you're proposing is that everytime the user logs out is that we

rmdir ~\Users everytime.

This is not feasible nor efficient.

Syndication

It looks preety cool. I thought there was no sound until I heard the piano.

takashimike

I can't wait to get my computer screen all fingerprinty. Really, how useful is all this multitouch crap in real-world applications? How many photos do we really need to pinch and zoom?

technabob

@sdf632: but has MS ever REALLY innovated?

The original Excel, and Word 5.1 for Mac.

nojo

@What The Geek:
Open a folder with 20,000 files in it with Vista, then do the same with XP. That should show you a dramatic deference. Open a network share with multiple files and folders, again a dramatic difference. Run a network using Active Directory and see the granularity in which you can control Vista compared to XP. Save countless hours and space by using a single Vista image to deploy across hundreds of hardware configurations instead of hundreds of XP images. Install XP with native SATA features (Hot swapable disks, NCQ) vs installing Vista with those features.

On top of all of that the numerous, memory, kernel, display improvements, functional user accounts, vector based icons, on the fly scandisk repairs, and…well take a look at Wikipedia for all of the other internal changes.

Vista is vastly superior to XP in so many ways, unfortunately most people just simply do not understand the tech behind it, so they bash it.

gohepcat

Ok, so let me get this straight.... In order to really appreciate all the cool features of Vista, I have to upgrade my RAM and monitor. Now in order to enjoy all the features of Windows 7 - I probably will have to do the same, as well as probably get a new touch-capable-monitor.

Give me freaking break.

kstagg

you fanboys...i LAFF

thomusvoo

@Syndication: Actually, I've compared vista and xp on the same rig. For the xp install, I used third party backup software to achieve all the same effects. As far as a replacement for media center, I use vlc - handles more filetypes, and doesn't take up all my system resources. I use wmp 11 to share files to my xbox 360 and PS3. My personal results comparing Vista to XP w/ 3rd party software? XP wins hands down.

What The Geek

I can't recall ever seeing anything so useless. I could do all those actions about 100x faster with a mouse, not to mention I then do not need to clean my screen constantly or battle a sore upper shoulder from touching my screen that's 2ft away. So what are system specs for windows7? minimum 8-core running at 7GHZ and 1TB ram?

JordyT

@Syndication: Not certain your conclusion that I'm retarded follows from the given premises but I'll cut you some slack for hyperbole. I've talked to our tech guy...he must be retarded too as well as others...who say that GPO and other methodologies come close but do not leave the environment with an absolute zero footprint. Although, I fully admit I could be wrong since...I'm not a tech person...just the most tech oriented person in a 30 person company...and am relying on what others tell me.

DWD

Okay, so that explains the noise I heard when Windows 7 multi-touch was announced: it was the furious clicking of brain-cels from the entire porn industry considering new possibilities!

professor

@sdf632:

What is a Shadowcopy? Google it.

Did OSX even have a feasible backup in the operating system before 10.5? (writing cron jobs don't count)

Syndication

@What The Geek:

Use the windows backup utility yet? You can now create an image of your computer easily. Shadow copies on the local system? Make a mistake on a file? No problem you can recover previous versions locally.

The average person doesn't need media center? I say they do

For an IT technician, you don't know too much. Have you even used Vista yet? DX10? That's the only feature people can say they know about without using the system.

Granted, Vista isn't perfect, but it's no where as craptacular as you paint it out to be.

Syndication

I'm sure that the MS fanboys will slam me for this, but has MS ever REALLY innovated? I mean, most of their newer features/innovations seem to be pulled from Apple and various other developers.

I'm just asking for MS's one unique innovation; some sort of idea that never existed before MS thought of it.

That is all.

sdf632

@DWD:

This can already be done you retard. It can be done through General Policy Objects something that Windows Server excels at.

Syndication

Used to be, that you only "wanted" to upgrade your hardware with every release, but unless I'm missing something in order to use the new multitouch functionality, you'll actually HAVE to buy new hardware. oooh ahhhh wow, color me unimpressed.

Every version of Linux and for that matter OSX get faster and better than the last. Windows seems to like to add and redesign everything instead of refining anything.

xymotic

@CyRu5: @CyRu5: Inappropriate language. And yes, I'm aware that this is gizmodo; if you're going to be offensive, you should also be amusing. And, cyrus, you are not amusing.

snideguy

So with companies stripping Solitaire, Minesweeper and Freecell from computers, skipping Vista, not upgrading to a ribboned office suite...does Microsoft really think corporate American will embrace multi-touch and all the crap that will come with it?

Here's a million dollar idea MS...use it for free...how about a type of login called TV login, that when you log out it leaves the computer as clean as a TV when you turn it off. No favorites, no history, no recently used anything, nothing saved locally (only on the network), so when the next user hops on there is zero evidence of the prior user anywhere. I'm not even in the tech industry and I've had people ask why this isn't an option.

No one is sitting around wondering, "I wish I could manipulate this word/excel/access/powerpoint file with my fingers on the screen.

DWD

I think it's funny that so many people complained about the changed UI from XP to Vista and now everyone wants a new one. I doubt they would brag about every single glitch they fixed from version to version. They have also said they have improved the kernel. So don't judge a product 18 months before it comes out based on a two minute video

TheZomb

@gohepcat: Alright mayor douchington of douchania, prove to me that vista is in any way superior to XP. I'm well educated, knowledgeable in programming, and I work as an IT technician - and I have yet to see a good reason to adopt vista. Vista is full of features that the average person doesn't need, and the tech savvy person doesn't want. It comes in way too many flavors not to confuse customers, and yes, it is bloatware. Everything it does, it does inefficiently. The only upside I've found so far is DX10. So go ahead, prove me wrong. Show me the hidden magic I have yet to see. Open my eyes.

What The Geek

Jesus. Consider me just whelmed.

tchefunkte

@Syndication: Yes. No one ever made money using other non-Microsoft productivity tools. I guess I'll just smash my PowerMac and forget this crazy freelance Microsoft-free software affair.

Kaiser-Machead

I don't know what you guys are talking about that feature set sounds like it would make me at least 20-30% more productive.

originalgermy

@devGOD: So far Apple's platform that utilizes this tech more extensively is way more successful, so it doesn't matter if Microsoft's Surface was longer in development than the iPhone. If this was an OS X tablet, people would be more interested in the fact that it was a tablet more than multitouch, since the only tablet in existence for Mac is the OWC/Axiotron Modbook. No one gives a flying spaghetti fart about multitouch.

Kaiser-Machead

@DWD: It's like you're inside my head looking at my thoughts.... get out!! If you won't leave, at least stay away from that dark corner over there...

Seriously, I'm calling it now - MS will push the multi touch functionality hard, and ignore the problems w/ other aspects of the OS - I didn't really adopt vista, and I don't see myself adopting 7 at this point either.... I mean, I'm open to the possibility of MS proving me wrong.... but somehow I doubt they will.

What The Geek

CyRu5: this particular "fag" uses both a mac and an apple and has done so for over 10-years. i hate apple only slightly less than microsoft, but i have to at least give apple credit for creating an OS that works decently. lastly, if my house was on fire i'd be running outside with my mac (and my backup drives) not my PC.

RoscoPeeholePain

@devGOD

No MS was not developing Surface before the iPhone. Surface was completely designed, developed, and introduced in a weekend. Search YouTube for "Multi-Touch" and you will see a lot of very clever implementations of the tech from kids working out of their garages. In fact, the under pinnings of Multi-touch were done in the 80's. Surface is nothing special. Microsoft just pretended it was and the media bought it.

To date: Apple is the only company actually SHIPPING A MULTI-TOUCH product.

Surface was and is still Vaporware.

dallasmay2

Soooo. 18 months before all you douches start claiming Vista is the best OS, and Windows 7 is bloatware? Great. I look forward to it.

Ugg. God damn I'm just so friggin sick of the MS bashing. It just gets so tiresome.

Vista is such a solid platform to build off of, unfortunately the average "tech nerd" has no idea what that means

gohepcat

@Ryan.Reed: Oh no, I'm pretty certain it will be chocked full of additional features besides multi-touch and that the additional features will be poorly implemented, glitch causing with security ramifications that won't even be considered until long after release and then only by hackers.

DWD

@taoprophet420: So if McMurphy were in a psych ward in 2008, he would have been forced to use MS Surface instead of being subjected to electroshock therapy?

jibbly

So it's vista with multitouch?

With the exception of the piano, I can do everything I just saw quicker with a mouse and XP. Tell me again why I should spend however many thousands of dollars on a multi touch interface?? I'm going to hold on to xp for as long as humanly possible from the looks of this video.

What The Geek

does it have 1,024 points of pressure sensitivity?
if so, my cintiq is obsolete

thomusvoo

@Ryan.Reed: 18mons would make it november next year, that's not a long time for an OS. And I'm pretty sure at the end of the year there will be beta version out to test like MS does with all of there OS

devGOD

and macs now come with 2-button mice (though I would personally get a different mouse).
Right-clicking has been available for a while... and if you're willing to ctrl-click instead that's been in Mac OS since at least 1996.

kzooguy

Looks like a resource hog that will prevent you from doing anything fast. Wonder what they will rollback to once this hits the streets - Vista?? Lol

XP - running strong since 2001.

funkychunky

@Vonn64: Sounds like a fine idea too. I don't think u should have to double click anything in the first place.

taoprophet420

@kzooguy: Can anyone fill me in on this "filesystem" thing that was promised?

i saw 394243 posts mentioning it, but never figured out what it was.. >>

Vonn64

So basically, Vista + multitouch. Useful UI additions, I'll admit, but to be honest, we all know by the time this is halfway to market Mac OS X 10.6 will be out and have multitouch and many other features.
Though it does look pretty, I kinda hope there are some new features other than multitouch. Like, you know, that new filesystem they were gonna put in Vista, and all that other crap.

kzooguy

Chill out kids..
This is only the first Features.
not the whole Debut.
if you don't like it Don't Buy it !!!
Just Use Linux or Get a Mac.

DJJS

@taoprophet420:

PROTIP: open the case, look for this big thing. looks like a block and has fans on it. it's metal.

Vonn64

Remember kids, everyone important runs Microsoft Office. Whether you like it or not, you're still Microsoft's bitch unless you don't care about interfacing with the business world, which in that case, feel free to be poor. :-)

Keep running windows on your mac plz. k thx

Syndication

Wow.. . People are really jumping all over this. An OS not set for release for another 18 months and everyone hops on to assume that the only new features are the touchscreen? Do you honestly think, that in 18 months, THAT is what they're going to work on the entire time? Grow up and be patient. Apple is not the omega and Microsoft is not the devil. Both companies have the positives and negatives.

Ryan.Reed

@taoprophet420: While we're at it, how about delivering a shock to the mouse for people who double-click on things that are one-clickable?

DWD

@DWD: Think of all the money people would save on electric shock therapy. what a brilliant idea.

taoprophet420

@jibbly: Glad I'm not the only one who thought that. The nice thing about computers is the organization and neatness, leave it to MS to take that away and jumble everything up for us.

DWD

Looks cool, I wonder why they didn't use better pictures, those looked like crap when blown up. lol.

I'm excited to see this hopefully MS will get this right and until they do I will be happy with my Mac :)

Strider-No.9

Sorry but MS was developing Surface long before the iphone was even a thought. If Windows 7 was an apple multitouch OS then everyone would be saying Apple's the best... get your heads out of apple's ass.

devGOD

God even with a mild case of OCD, those photos and windows positioned all lopsided and not parallel and perpendicular to the edges of the screen drove me absolutely BATSHIT CRAZY. No joke, oh my himmy hamma, I'm having a goddamn nervous breakdown thinking of my windows being lopsided and unevenly spread out.

jibbly

@Kaiser-Machead: Correct. Desktop users are not clamoring for multi-touch. Keyboard, mouse, touch the screen, wave hands in air, stand up, do a jumping jack, now give me an eight-count burpee. If efficient users use keyboard short cuts, isn't this a step backward?

Instead of multi-touch, what about a non-touch screen...something that shocks a person if they touch the screen. Finally, no more fingerprints! That would be useful.

DWD

@CyRu5: If Apple announced an iMac with a multitouch screen, I'd ask why the fuck they're cramming useless expensive shit in a form factor I couldn't possibly take advantage of to even use it. I'll say it again: Multitouch, for all of its wonder and excitement, is little more than a gimmick in the computer realm if there are no applications designed to take advantage of it. On the iPhone, and any other mobile phone, this works because it allows better virtual controls, like keypads, but who is going to use this for anything useful?

It's fine and good that it has multitouch support, and on a tablet it would be cool, but there has to be bigger better features that actually make this worth the upgrade.

Kaiser-Machead

This should be in SP2 for vista.

i mean.. really a new os?

atleast change the way it looks.. even though vista looked like XP at its first stages.

OSX-like dock?

hmm... RocketDock for now, folks!

but i was disappointed with that being ALL that there is to it.

Sure, it's cool on my Hueg CRT. But on an lcd monitor, for example.. you touch to close a window and the monitor tips over.

agh...
microsoft, as much as i love you.. well.. i still love you.

Vonn64

Comments:

. It's mostly a hardware demo (albeit w/ OS support). Unless MS were to sell this "Surface" screen with every copy of Win7, it's academic.

. Not to belittle the wow factor, but all of the functions--select, zoom, (un)pinch, rotate--can already be done with an indirect pointer, aka the lowly mouse. Doing so directly with your hands at the screen incurs a high ergonomic cost. Imagine the arm strain you'll have having to do this "direct pointing" for an hour, let alone for a whole day.

. How do you avoid smudges?

It's a bit too much to ask for, to see something of substance about Win7 at this early juncture. But at least we have the general direction, that it'll be a Vista derivative rather than the more modular "miniWin". Disappointing, but not a surprise.

Bubsy

Yes they still use one button mice, but u can always buy another mouse for it and the one botton realy dont matter much. I never had any problems with just the one button.

taoprophet420

Begun the touch wars has between Microsoft and Apple.

dagamer34

It wouldnt surprise me if they put a rush to get this out, just not very microsoft to get quick releases of windows out. Also cant see this being on more than just realy expensive tablets til touch surfaces become cheaper.

taoprophet420

What a bunch of gimmicky toy crap and eye candy, none of which will help me be more productive at work or at home. I can point out tons of repeatable glitch/error/poorly thought stuff in XP (vastly superior to Vista) that if MS just corrected would make everyone who uses PCs lives better. But, NO, MS has to go and bring in tons of new "features" which they have no idea how will interact with everything else causing operating and security issues for years to come. We don't want/need to play the freaking piano on our screen or resize/rotate pics with our fingers...give us secure, error free, simple, reliable, efficient tools to accomplish our tasks and leave the crapware off my computer.

The possibility exists that I may never use an operating system other than XP (unless I get an Apple...do they still use one button mice?).

DWD

@CyRu5: Those other versions you speak of were small with little features with the exception of XP... MS don't play like dat no mo.

Cliff_Dangers

Yawn.

lillian27

Funny how people will bash microsoft for multitouch, yet if Apple announced a new iMac with multitouch, you fags would think it's incredibly awesome.

CyRu5

touch screens are great on mobiles... but do you really want one on your desktop? Do you really want finger prints and smears all over your screen?

Cliff_Dangers

I'm not sure these features, on their own, warrant an entirely new OS release.

Or am I just being too harsh?

Kanyamagufa

Just because Vista took a while doesn't mean every version will. Remember how quickly they were throwing out new versions before?
Win98. Win98Se. Win2k. WinME. WinXP. All within a few short years.

The touch s