Windows 7 Beta Users… No new IE8 for you!
Like many other Windows 7 Beta users, I am frustrated with the build of IE8 that was included. I was so frustrated with it not loading sites and doing the most simple tasks (like logging into Netflix) that I installed Firefox.
This afternoon I was able to successfully upgrade my Lenovo ThinkPad T60 to Windows 7 Beta (build 7000).
The upgrade took forever (about 2 hours). This was contrary to my experience installing a clean copy of Windows 7 on a virtual machine.
My ThinkPad T60 is my production laptop. I use it about 30% of the time during any given week – mostly at when I am away from the office.
So far, all of my applications that I had installed previously are working. All of the drivers I had installed previously are also working (no red X’s in device manager).
I decided to do an in-place upgrade to save me the trouble of downloading and installing drivers. I may try a clean install in the coming weeks if I feel that my system is acting up because of the upgrade.
For the record – I never recommend doing an in place upgrade of an OS – clean installs are the way to go. But I am making an exception here simply because things like driver compatibility with a beta is sketchy at best. If there were published Windows 7 drivers – I would have gone directly to a clean install.
As I have more time to play with this I’ll keep you updated.
Yesterday I met with Bill Lambert at ArcSpecs. He asked how my experience with the Storm has been and I thought I would share my comments with all of you.
Three or so weeks into using the Blackberry I’d have to say that I am about 70% happy with it. If Verizon released a new windows mobile phone today, I would probably run out and buy it.
Since my last update – attachments are now working on my phone. I am not sure how this problem was solved as the only changes I’ve made to the phone is that I removed the BES Mailbox and HTML Email Viewer applications (they expired and I was not sure I wanted to pay the asking price for them ($20 for BES Mailbox, $10 for HTML Viewer).
The reason that Windows Mobile OS is so appealing to me is that it is a breeze to setup and administer. ActiveSync is THE best mobile sync platform out right now – hands down. In addition, although I have gotten better at using the touch screen/keyboard of the storm I still prefer the standard keyboard. I discovered that the touch screen on the storm does not respond when you have leather gloves on. I need to use my phone in the cold! I wonder if iPhone users have this same problem.
So for now, I will limp along with the Storm. I love the screen, it has a nice camera. I think that the “click” screen is nicer then a touch only screen (like the one on the iPhone). At CES 2009 Microsoft talked about mobile devices being a focus for them in the coming year (I’ve heard that before). I hope that means more phones, specifically, phones that will work on Verizon’s CDMA network.
In a perfect world – I would like the Treo Pro to work with Verizon. Or the Storm (form factor) with a pull out keyboard and running Windows OS.
Here are my other Blackberry Stom posts:
A week with the BlackBerry Storm: Day 1
A week with the Blackberry Storm: Day 2
A week with the Blackberry Storm: Day 3
A week with the Blackberry Storm: Day 4
A Week with the Blackberry Storm: Wrap Up
After 24 hours – I’ve made some progress!
I’ve figured out, that for one reason or another, I cannot seem to open any attachments I receive via email. Nothing. Even .jpg and .gif files. I’ve also tried wav, wmv, pdf, doc, xls, and ppt files. Nothing works. I’ve found a few possible causes/solutions. First of which involves using the Enterprise Redirector so I am going to install that tomorrow. Second, Involves installing the Music Management software (which I didn’t want to do). And third, to view pdf files, you have to use a 3rd party application (I don’t understand WHY Adobe doesn’t make a mobile reader).
Last week I stopped into my local Verizon Wireless store to purchase a BlackBerry Storm. I’ve been waiting for a “new” phone for a while and it seems that for the last couple of years, AT&T has cornered the market when it came to having the latest and greatest selection of phones (e.g. the iPhone).
