Windows 7 64-bit .... Eh

I got my Windows 7 OS installed recently, and my general impression comes out as.... Eh.   So, I'll get down to it:

The Pros: Enhanced security:  Like Vista, Windows 7 has great buffer-overflow exploit protection thanks to Address Space Layout Randomization(c).  It also has slightly better priveledge access control, still uses DEP (data execution prevention) like other windows, and does a bit better job at monitoring potential security issues.  It's somehow shed the bulk of the Vista Bloat(tm).  Not all of it though.  But this is the pros.  Let's see... it looks prettier, with Aero (which I don't use... see the part about bloat).  A lot of things make more sense with the GUI and are easier to get to... some are harder though.  See below for that.  Finally, it doesn't completely explode all the time, or randomly freeze or die, and I've rarely seen a blue screen (never on my own computer, but I have a lot of these installs at work).  So, that's got to be a good thing.   Like Vista, the task manager is more informative, and includes services.  Start-up and shutdown are both a lot faster than XP and Vista.

The Cons:  Want to customize your non-aero desktop?  Too bad.  You can either have bloaty aero prettify your desktop, or make your desktop look like windows 95.  That was the operating system that came out just before 1995.  That was 14 years ago, by the way, if you've missed the point I'm making here.  Some things are not actually easier to get to - they're harder.  Like network connections - that nice little windows folder/location/explorer shell I could get to with one-click-from-the-start-menu to enable/disable my network card (when I wanted to kill my firewall for gaming and still be safe from attacks).  Even though many of the settings and menus are now adopting a universal kind of access metaphor (the explorer window), there's still a lot of 'windows xp' shell stuff still there - advanced system settings, device manager properties, and the like.  There's as many background services running on start-up as any other windows.  And of course, lots of things are not really compatible with Windows 7 or 64-bit operating systems.  It seems that a lot of the world is still waiting for customers to bang their doors down before deciding that supporting either that latest operating system or 64-bit ones is really important.  And I'm talking about windows software companies, and peripheral component device driver makers that support other windows versions.  And then there's the user account control - which is just fine if you totally enjoy constant popup windows asking you if you're really, really sure you want that program to run.  The one you just used a minute ago, and use 20 times a day, and will continue to use 20 more times today.  Despite this, security is still a real problem.  You need to update several times a week.  Finally, it's not an issue for me (because I own windows, and I know which version I needed and bought), but what's with the multiple-versions marketing thing?  How many versions of windows 7 are there? Ultimate? Professional?  Home? Amateur?  Independent?  Pirate?  Bunny?  Spatula?  I don't really know. 

So there you have it... it's not bad, it's an improvement in many ways (especially over XP), but overall... eh.  If you use windows, I'd strongly recommend upgrading to Win 7, because it's the very best Windows yet.  If you're not completely entrenched in Microsoft OSes, however, might I suggest Linux Mint?  Or Ubuntu, if you're ready to jump right into a Linux OS.  If you have the cash, and you want a computer with zero fuss, nows a good time to check out Apple's OS (just be prepared to give yourself to apple - they're even more proprietary than Microsoft).

WonderCon 2010

I've just got back from the Nerdfest that is WonderCon 2010!  I've never been to a convention before, not even a Star Trek one.  I know.  I just lost some NerdCred.   Here's some of what was there:

<--- Yep, thats the famous 501st Legion Storm Troopers, keeping an eye on the civilian going-ons.  And making trouble for lurking Jedis.  A couple of Darth Vaders strolled about too.

 There were also lots of these -->

of various makes and models.

<----  Not to mention lots of these too.

But the coolest part was, I met Brent Spiner.  He signed a picture for me. See what it says? (It's signed to me - Data)

It was nerd fandom in it's purest form.  Signed autographs.

<--- Oh, and I also caught John Delancey (aka Q!!).



Actually, it was way keen.  I wanted to just hang around and visit with them all day, I'm sure that's just what they wanted too, having another grown man hang out and admire them, telling them what a big fan he is, that he's seen all their stuff, and hopes he gets to see them in more things... well, maybe not.  You could actually get your picture taken with them too, but they were done photographing for the day so I didn't have the opportunity for that.







It was a pretty good day.  We also saw tons of cool booths, including stuff from these guys (visit their sites!):

I heart guts stuff:

http://iheartguts.com/

And this guys site: 




http://www.ericjoyner.com/default.aspx





Yeah.  Oh, and Sarah and I got to listen to Peter S. Beagle talk about writing, and books, and life and stuff.  I thought it was a lot of fun.  Now, I'm totally pooped from all the walking and gawking and consumerating.  Gonna take a nap!