5AM Ramblings

Windows 7 Install

16 January 2009 | Jason

I watch as my files copy over to the second computer.  12 megs a second.  Why won’t it go any faster?  I’m on gigabit ethernet!  Maybe I shouldn’t have used bittorrent to copy my files over.  As my files finish, I quickly restart my computer with my freshly burned Windows 7 beta, build 7000 DVD in my drive.  Crap!  I forgot to change the bios settings to boot off the disk drive.  Another restart later, I make it to the install screen.  This looks oddly like the Vista install screen.  Oh well, I guess they’ve been working on adding new features rather than another installer.  I wipe my entire harddrive and install what I hope to be a good Windows.  After about half an hour, I am able to play around.  It’s quite a beautiful setup and a good deal of my hardware works out of the box.  So far I think only my fingerprint reader doesn’t work.  My sound did get broken later though, but it did work.  A great deal snappier than the Vista I had just removed.  I play around a bit and have fun with the new titleless taskbar.  Visually, a lot of Windows 7 looks like Vista with many upgrades.  This next link will show you the new features and much of the eye candy.

Deep inside the Windows 7 Public Beta: an in-depth tour

I cleared my entire hard drive for Windows 7.  This means I removed my linux(es) and Vista partitions completely.  I wondered if I would regret my decision of not having linux running natively on my machine, but so far, Windows 7 has not disappointed (much).  The only problem so far has been getting internet working with VMware, but that has been partially solved.  I have also only had 1 BSoD so far.

Windows 7 as “Linux killer”? How times have changed!

Windows has finally released another good operating system, but that actually is pretty and I might use.  Everyone go get Windows 7 beta now, before the trial period closes.

Food in the North End and Mystery Hunt Practice

16 January 2009 | Jason

It was Meghan’s birthday on Friday so we went to a restaurant in the North end to celebrate.  Earlier in the day Kevin and I had gone to the Galleria so I could pick up a card and gift for her.  When it was time, I met Meghan in the Student Center with all her friends and we all walked to Kendall.  On the subway, we realized she had no idea how to get there and we might become hopelessly lost.  At least her other friends knew where we were going.  We make it to Haymarket and walk down the street to the restaurant.  Our group barely makes it there with a little time to spare before the reservation.  The maitre d’ seats us upstairs on a long table.  We had our pasta and paid.  As we were walking back, we went to Mike’s Pastry for, well, pastries.  I got myself a chocolate chip cannoli.  We made it back to campus and split up.

The next day, I woke up fairly late and realized it was about time to go join ATS and do a practice Mystery Hunt.  I went out to the Student Center and found Wei in the PDR.  I pulled out my computer and began working on the first puzzle.  I was invited to a Google Docs file where we were collaborating on answers.  I invited Vivian in to help out as well.  Even though she was still in Texas, it would be good to practice.  After a while, not many were focused on puzzle solving anymore, and were doing other things.  There were cards flying around everywhere and Nick finished folding his flower.

Free time is precious.  Abuse it.