Topic: Windows 7 THREAD - Update: W7 RC disables StarForce, Tages DRM games (Reply 59)

[MysterD]

Looks like Microsoft wants to focus on making a good OS, actually....

Maybe they're release the M$ apps later via a download.
Or hell, just bundle the Windows Seven w/ Email and photo apps from other companies or something...

Windows 7 to Dump E-Mail, Photo Editing Software
By Scott Gilbertson September 23, 2008 Categories: Operating Systems, Software & Tools

Win7Microsoft is planning to remove e-mail, photo editing, movie making and other secondary software offerings from the upcoming Windows 7. Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Mail, and Windows Movie Maker were all part of Vista, but, in an effort to cut down on development time of future OS updates, Microsoft plans to give them the heave-ho.

Instead users will be directed to download the Windows Live programs that replace each of those apps. In fact, Microsoft has already been encouraging users to replace the Vista versions with the Windows Live equivalents.

Although fans of Microsoft’s free add-on apps will no doubt be disappointed to see them go, the move isn’t that surprising; Microsoft has been stripping apps out of Windows for some time. For instance, Vista didn’t ship with an instant messenger app.

Of course there’s no telling whether a new PC will actually be free of any add-on apps. Microsoft’s hardware partners can (and often do) include their own photo-editing, video-editing and other applications with their Windows installations.

What remains to be seen is how Microsoft plans to distribute the Windows Live apps — perhaps already bundled through OEMs, though it may opt to simply include a download link on a fresh Windows 7 install.

[via CNet]

[Quemaqua]

It's about damned time.  We've been dealing with bloat for long enough.

[Ghandi]

I have no clue what Windows Seven is, and I don't give a shit. That there aren't more legitimate players in this industry as of yet amazes me. We're all sitting here using shitty software because of it.

But I'm sure they will release some great commercial with their next OS and everyone will eat it up. Assuming they have learned their lesson with these shitty Vista commercials, that is.

[gpw11]

I don't think it's an issue where people see a commercial and jump onboard with the new windows, I think it's really just a lack of choice, people sticking with what they always use, and the desire to have the newest shit.  It's a shame because OSX is a great alternative, but you have to take the whole Mac package and it comes at a steep price.  I can't really say I've ever had a real desire to switch from windows anyways.

As for the news here, I don't really care.  I've never viewed Outlook express as bloat, but if you can still get it for free than whatever.

[Pugnate]

That's insane. No outlook? No photo apps? And how is that bloat? It won't slow your OS down.

[Cools!]

in an effort to cut down on development time of future OS updates, Microsoft plans to give them the heave-ho.

You kidding me right? The biggest OS developer in the world doesn't have enough resources to create a good OS and associated applications?

I almost feel bad bringing this up, but Apple is a minuscule company compared to Microsoft, yet manages to perform major upgrades to it's OS on an almost annual basis and keep improving all the extra applications that come with it (Mail, iPhoto, etc.) at the same time.

I understand that you'll be able to use the Live versions or download them later on, but that just means users have to wait and won't have a "complete" and easy to use OS from the start. I also get that that all the extra applications can be bloat, but Mail, photo editing, etc. fullfil such basic computer needs that it's almost stupid not to include them at this point.

[Pugnate]

In other news:

We at BMW are proud to announce that our vehicles will no longer be sold with air-conditioners or seat belts. This is a good thing, as it will allow us to concentrate even more on making an excellent engine!

[ren]

This seems kind of crappy. If their was no built-in photo viewer app, people like my parents would never figure out how to view pictures. If they're going to have the apps ready for download, why not just put them in their anyways with the option to uninstall?

[Pugnate]

people like my parents would never figure out how to view pictures

[Cools!]

Why not create a separate version that does include all the extra applications? It's not like it's going to confusing things even more...

[Pugnate]

MS: WINDOWS 7 NOW IN SEVEN EXCITING BUNDLES! NONE OF WHICH YOU ACTUALLY WANT, BUT WE WILL SHOVE DOWN YOUR THROAT ANYWAY!

[Quemaqua]

You guys sort of have a point now that I think about it.

[scottws]

This seems kind of crappy. If their was no built-in photo viewer app, people like my parents would never figure out how to view pictures. If they're going to have the apps ready for download, why not just put them in their anyways with the option to uninstall?

I could be wrong but I don't think they are referring to the image viewer thing.  I think they are talking about some basic photo editor.  I didn't even know Vista had one.

Edit:  Yep.  It has a photo gallery program with very basic image editing features.

[WindAndConfusion]

Evidently I'm the only one who thinks this is a good idea.

[gpw11]

I always like more stuff for the same price.  Fuck em.

[WindAndConfusion]

The old apps will still be available for free. You'll just have to download them, presumably through a Synaptic-like interface.

My opinion is that it's about fucking time Windows got a package manager, hence this story is good news.

[scottws]

Are we sure there is going to be a package manager of some sort?

You know what I wish Windows had?  Some sort of utility that told you what KB updates there have been since the last service pack.  I try to keep an install disc handy with at least the latest service pack but there was a huge amount of updates beyond XP SP2 before SP3 came out.  It'd be nice to know which ones came out after an update so I could grab them and also include them in the disc so I didn't have to update so much after an install.  Yes I do this constantly in virtual machines for school.

[Pugnate]

I could be wrong but I don't think they are referring to the image viewer thing.  I think they are talking about some basic photo editor.  I didn't even know Vista had one.

Edit:  Yep.  It has a photo gallery program with very basic image editing features.

I use that a lot because it is highly convenient. You can resize entire thousands of pics at the same time when you are in a hurry.

[MysterD]

I'm glad Windows is tossing out the apps, for now. Maybe, we'll have a stable OS, upon release.

Once that OS is set, then they can toss out the app's for free release to DL. Fine with me.

And hell, it's not like I use Microsoft Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live (for Games), or Outlook very much at all....
 

[Ghandi]

I use that a lot because it is highly convenient. You can resize entire thousands of pics at the same time when you are in a hurry.

Pug...I thought you got over your goat porn addiction...

THOUSANDS?!?!?! GET A GRIP, MAN!

[Xessive]

I never really saw the point in having the e-mail app.. People who want one already have one or will get the one they prefer.

I think it's a good idea for any OS should at least have a basic image viewer. I personally love IrfanView but I appreciate the Windows Preview app. No big whoop though if W7 doesn't come with it. The less bloat the better. Google will convert everyone to Picasa by then anyway.

I remember a while back people were going off about "M$ forces IE on people by bundling it with Windows!!" and all I could think of was if you don't have a browser how will you surf the net to get the one you really want? I know it's possible with Linux, but not everyone is Linux-capable.

[Pugnate]

Pug...I thought you got over your goat porn addiction...

THOUSANDS?!?!?! GET A GRIP, MAN!

My cousin caught in a bad situation:

[Ghandi]

Ah, so that's your source...

For some reason the goats head halfway in the other one's ass seems a little more disturbing to me than the guy behind him. But I'm not really into the whole scene...

[W7RE]

I don't mind this idea at all. Hell the only windows apps I use that aren't integrated into the OS are Image and Fax Viewer, Calculator, and Notepad. I'm sure there are simple (and better) alternatives to even those, but since they come with Windows I haven't bothered looking.

Though I do agree that this could alienate the newer PC users, or people who just never learn stuff. My mom, for example, who's been comuting for 15+ years, still uses the screenname Nu2me (because computing was "new2her"), and still doesn't know the difference between RAM and hard drive space. She once told me "I don't do anything that could get my spyware, all I do on the net is email, some file sharing program a new online friend gave me, and Real Arcade games". Wasn't Real Arcade (at least at some point) notorious for being packed with spyware?

[MysterD]

Most Windows names go by a code name, but the final version is...something else.

Windows Seven is not just the codename anymore; it's also gonna be the final name of the OS.

[Xessive]

I'm kinda glad. It was getting pretty arbitrary.

Wasn't Windows Seven called Windows Fiji for a while? Then there was something about the actual country being ticked off about that?

[gpw11]

I thought it was Blackcomb, just because I remember three in a row being Whistler (XP), Blackcomb, and Longhorn (Vista)....all places I frequent fairly often.  I suppose Blackcomb could have been NT or 2000 though.

[Xessive]

I thought it was Blackcomb, just because I remember three in a row being Whistler (XP), Blackcomb, and Longhorn (Vista)....all places I frequent fairly often.  I suppose Blackcomb could have been NT or 2000 though.

Hmm, according to Wikipedia WIndows 7 was codenamed Blackcomb and then Vienna.

Windows 7 (formerly codenamed Blackcomb and Vienna) is the next version of Microsoft Windows and the successor to Windows Vista.

[Cobra951]

95 was Chicago.  I worked on betas of that for like a year before release.

[MysterD]

I still think they should call the next one Windows Beta-In-A-Box.

[gpw11]

How long have you been thinking that one over for?

[MysterD]

I typed it as I thought it.

[gpw11]

Well, how long did it take you to type it?

[Pugnate]

gpw11...

[Ghandi]

Haha...

[WindAndConfusion]

Are we sure there is going to be a package manager of some sort?

I've never heard of an online repository that didn't use package management, so yeah, I'm pretty sure.

[scottws]

I've never heard of an online repository that didn't use package management, so yeah, I'm pretty sure.

Isn't download.microsoft.com an online repository?  I mean yeah I guess you could stretch and consider Windows and Microsoft Update as "package managers," but you can't remove things and Windows and Microsoft Update don't allow you to get everything available on download.microsoft.com.

[WindAndConfusion]

Isn't download.microsoft.com an online repository? 

I suppose an English major might call it that, but any educated person would say otherwise.

[scottws]

You can return to planet Cocksucker any time you wish.  Go fuck yourself.  In the ass.

[WindAndConfusion]

Why, are you an English major or something?