 | | | Vol. 1, # 7 - Oct 22, 2009 - Issue # 7 | |  | Graphics Gone Wild: Windows 7 and New Video Technologies |
| - Editor's Corner
- Graphics Gone Wild: Windows 7 and New Video Technologies
- Follow-up: Touching Windows 7
- Quotes of the Week
- Cool Tools
- News, Hints, Tips and Tricks
- Gearing up for the Windows 7 launch
- Breaking News: Mac OS performs better than Windows - on a Mac
- Review: Microsoft wireless keyboard made with Windows 7 in mind
- Getting the Most from IE 8
- How to: Using the New Win7 Features
- Windows Security
- Windows 7 Security Slideshow
- Guide to Windows 7 Security
- How do I share files between XP mode and Windows 7?
- Win7 Question Corner
- How do I share files between XP mode and Windows 7?
- Win7 Configuration and Troubleshooting
- Configure automatic printer switching in Windows 7
- Fav Links
- This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff
- Product of the Week
- ICUII: The Best Video Chat on the Planet!
|
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| Editor's Corner | |
Graphics Gone Wild: Windows 7 and New Video Technologies
I'm a visual type of person. When I'm browsing the shelves at the electronics superstore, I love looking at all the computers and parts and peripherals, but it's the monitors that tend to really catch my eye. I'm a sucker for a pretty display; I once almost bought an Apple just to get the 30 inch Cinema monitor. I could manage without a sound card, but I'll fight anyone who tries to take away even one of my three monitors.
Given all that, I guess it's no surprise that one of the more interesting aspects of Windows 7, to me, is the improved graphics capability. That includes the new version of DirectX (11) that it introduces and the devices that graphics hardware vendors are coming out with to take advantage of its capabilities. One of those is Eyefinity from ATI, which the company likens to "surround sight." At first glance, it doesn't seem like anything new. We've been extending our desktops across multiple monitors for over a decade, first with Matrox's dual and triple head video cards for NT and then by installing multiple separate video cards to work with Windows built-in multi-monitor support that was introduced with XP.
One problem that we sometimes ran into, though, was a lack of slots for those cards. During the reign of AGP, most motherboards had only one AGP slot (although you could have an AGP card and a PCI card). Until recently, it was hard to find motherboards with more than one slot for PCIe 2.0 x16 cards - currently the most popular graphics card interface. However, most video cards today have at least two outputs, so it's easy to have dual monitors with only one card.
Still, you were limited in the number of monitors you could have and how you could configure them. Windows let you set up your monitors as mirror images of one another, with identical displays (useful in certain situations, such as classroom or presentation environments) or you could extend your desktop across your monitors to create the effect of one larger monitor. But you couldn't easily do both at the same time, or combine landscape and portrait orientations.
That's where Eyefinity comes in. Even if you're a truly dedicated multi-monitor junkie, no worries. With ATI's new display adapters, you can connect up to six monitors to a single Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), and each of the displays operates and can be configured independently, so you can have some in landscape mode, some in portrait mode, some grouped and some extended. You can read more about it and see the various usage scenarios here:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Surround-Sight
The good news is that all this doesn't come at a premium price. Eyefinity is supported by the ATI 5700 series cards, which sell for under $200. You can find out more about them here:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-ATI-Radeon-HD
To make the best of this technology, AMD (owner of ATI) is working with Samsung, which will be offering monitors with ultra thin bezels so you can line up multiple monitors with almost no break in the display picture. Check out their six-monitor array here:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Eyefinity
AMD/ATI isn't limiting its graphics focus to the multi-monitor scene, either. They've also created a new "ultrathin" platform for Windows 7 notebook computers that supports 1080p high definition video playback in a super compact form factor:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Ultrathin-Notebook
Not to be outdone, NVIDIA has designed a new line of graphics processors to take advantage of Windows 7, too. New GeForce and Ion GPUs are optimized to provide a smooth, fast response for new Windows 7 Aero features and touchscreen use, with drag and drop video conversion and more realistic gaming effects, including support for 3D gaming. High end Quadro cards are targeted at the professional graphics designer or artist. Read more about their new cards here:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Release-of-Windows7
A number of improvements have been made to the graphics performance in Windows 7. The 2D engine is accelerated by the WDDM 1.1 driver model, decreasing the memory requirements for Aero. The Desktop Windows Manager (DWM) introduces support for Direct3D 11, and there are improvements that standardize playback of HD content and improve the security of graphics data. For more details about these improvements, see:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Win7-Graphics
Going back to the multi-monitor scenario, Windows 7 makes it easier for you to switch multiple display options. Before, it took a few clicks to get into the display settings and set up your system the way you wanted it when you were doing presentations. Now with a keyboard shortcut (Windows Logo + P), you bring up a simple interface to quickly switch between duplicate displays, extending the desktop, displaying on an external display only or displaying on a laptop's screen only.
Another interesting new graphics feature in Windows 7 is called DirectCompute. With this technology, which is part of the DirectX 11 API and is also supported by some DirectX 10 GPUs, the GPU can do more than just process graphics; it can actually accelerate applications. The GPU and CPU can work together to make the PC more responsive. Because modern GPUs use parallel processing, they can perform many tasks simultaneously, whereas a CPU processes tasks sequentially. DirectCompute leverages the GPU's power and creates a "co-processing" environment. You can read more about that here:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-GPU-Computing
Note that unlike with DirectX 10, which required an upgrade to Vista, DirectX 11 doesn't require Windows 7. It will also run on Vista SP2. But if you're not a gamer, does any of this matter? Actually, it does. DirectCompute, in particular, can speed up everything - from a virus scan to the speed at which you transfer pictures from your camera to your computer or music from your computer to your MP3 player:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Graphics-Powerhouse
Graphics performance is important to the kind of user experience you have when moving or resizing windows, scrolling through a document, loading a photo-laden web site, and so forth. But desktop performance requirements are different from the requirements for gaming and 3D business applications such as CAD. That's the reason the Windows Experience Index (WEI) gives your graphics card separate scores for these different types of tasks (one called Graphics and one called Gaming Graphics). In fact, the graphics scores are often the lowest in the list, comprising the bottleneck that brings down the overall WEI score. On my secondary desktop (an aging but still powerful Dell XPS), the processor, RAM and hard disk all score in the high 5s, and Aero desktop performance scores a respectable 4.7, but the Gaming Graphics score brings my base score down to an embarrassing 3.9. That's because I have a pair of Radeon X1550 cards installed. However, they work fine for what I do with the computer, including lots of photo editing, which just goes to show that the WEI score may not be all that important in terms of actual performance. It all depends on the applications you use.
If you're buying a new computer for gaming, by all means check out the Gaming Graphics score first. In Windows 7, WEI scores can go up to 7.9 (Vista scores topped out at 5.9) and you'll want the highest you can get if you're a dedicated gamer. That will probably mean buying a high end multi-GPU DirectX 11 video card.
Tell us what you think. Are the graphics improvements in Windows 7 an important factor in your decision to try out or move to the new operating system, or are you happy with Vista's graphics performance? Do you want or need support for high end 3D applications and games, or are your graphics needs more modest? Are you excited about the possibility of using six monitors with one graphics card, or do you think that's overkill? Are you an ATI or an NVIDIA loyalist, or does it matter? We invite you to discuss this topic in the forum at
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Forum-Discussion
Follow-up: Touching Windows 7
Last week, I wrote about our new HP multi-touch enabled TouchSmart computer and the experience of installing Windows 7 on it. After another week of using it, I have a few additional comments and observations. First, it's far nicer than the old IQ775 in many ways. The touch screen is definitely more responsive - but it's just as hard to keep clean. Hang onto that cleaning cloth that comes with it; you'll be using it a lot. According to the literature, you can use mild glass cleaner on it, but I've not had to do more than wipe it with the cloth. However, be sure to turn it off first, or you'll be opening programs and moving icons as you clean it. Also, beware of long-tailed cats who may start or close applications as they walk by the screen - it's that sensitive.
A few days ago, HP announced their new line of TouchSmart computers that will come preinstalled with Windows 7. Of course, this was expected - we knew the reason for the deep price cut on the IQ800 series was to make way for the new models. Interestingly, the new IQ300 and IQ600 TouchSmarts with Windows 7 have smaller screen sizes (20 or 23 inch) and the processor and RAM are the same as the IQ804 and IQ816. There's no IEEE 1394 (Firewire) port, either, and unfortunately they didn't see fit to replace it with an eSATA port. Oh, there are a couple of nice improvements: the web cam on the new models can be tilted and there's a swivel stand. And to be fair, the price is slightly less for the new models than for the previous generation. The 600t series starts at $1049 for a system with a 2.1 GHz Core 2 Duo, 4 GB of RAM and a 320 GB hard drive. On the other hand, that base price doesn't include a TV tuner (you'll have to add $60 for that).
The most compelling new feature is the revamped TouchSmart software. It includes a number of new applications such as touch-enabled interfaces for Netflix, Hulu and social networking sites, and a new "recipe box" application for those of us who use the TouchSmart as a kitchen computer. The good news is that HP offers the new software to owners of its older TouchSmart computers, along with a free Windows 7 upgrade for those who bought their older models between the summer of 2009 and January 2010. Here's a review of the new IQ600 model:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-TouchSmart-600
Thanks to all of you who wrote this week!
'Til next week,
Deb Shinder, Editor
feedback@win7news.net
PS: Did you know this newsletter has a sister publication for XP users called WXPnews? You can subscribe here, and tell your friends:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-WXPNews
And for IT pros, there's our "big sister," WServer News, at
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-WServerNews
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Quotes of the Week
Technology makes it possible for people to gain control over everything, except technology - John Tudor
Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant. - Mitchell Kapor
The future has already arrived. It's just not evenly distributed yet. - William Gibson |
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| Cool Tools |
| News, Hints, Tips and Tricks | |
Gearing up for the Windows 7 launch
By the time you read this, the Windows 7 launch will be right on top of us. The official launch party takes place in New York City this Thursday, October 22. Yes, I got an invitation - but since I would have had to pay my own travel expenses, I'm not going to be able to make it. No problem - Tom and I are hosting our own Win7 Launch Party here at the house on Saturday, the 24th. Steve Ballmer won't be at this one, but I'm determined to make it just as good as his big bash. Meanwhile, the major retailers are gearing up for launch day, too. Amazon already has a number of Windows 7 machines available for pre-order, and Best Buy has promised that anyone who orders a Windows 7 computer by 11 a.m. Wednesday will receive it on Thursday. But will the best deals be available at launch, or should you wait for the Black Friday promotions? Read more about retailers readying for the launch here:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Windows7-Launch
Breaking News: Mac OS performs better than Windows - on a Mac
This week, CNET published a "performance showdown" that appears to show that OS X Snow Leopard is faster than Windows 7 in many areas. Of course, the test (which was performed on only one computer) was done on a MacBook Pro using BootCamp. Now, does it really surprise anyone that the Mac OS outperformed Windows (in some areas) on a computer that was made and optimized for it? Oh, and the tests were run using such software as iTunes and QuickTime - Apple software. Nonetheless, Windows 7 handily outdid Snow Leopard in 3D rendering. The kicker here, of course, is that while Windows performs pretty well on a Mac, Snow Leopard won't perform at all on a PC.
Review: Microsoft wireless keyboard made with Windows 7 in mind
Last week, Microsoft's hardware division sent me one of their new Wireless Comfort 5000 keyboard/mouse combos to test with Windows 7. It was designed for the new OS and will be released in the same time frame. I'm always searching for the perfect keyboard, so I was eager to get my hands on it (literally). Is it the perfect keyboard? No, but it has some nice features to recommend it. You can read my full review over on the Amazon End User blog:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Win7-Wireless-Keyboard
Getting the Most from IE 8
Internet Explorer 8 is available for download to install on Windows XP and Vista, but if you haven't gotten around to upgrading yet, you'll find that it comes with Windows 7. IE 8 introduces some great new features such as Accelerators and Web Slices, as well as the ability to browse "in private" (without leaving history and cached files, saved searches or cookies) and more. To find out how to get the most out of IE 8, check out this article in ComputerWorld, titled 8 Quick Tips for Getting the Most from IE8."
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-IE8
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| How to: Using the New Win7 Features | |
How to find the path for a file or folder in Windows 7 Explorer I love the "breadcrumbs" view in that was introduced in Vista, by which you can click at any level in the hierarchy and go there. Sometimes, though, I need to see the old fashioned path with the backslashes. Folks who are moving to Windows 7 from Vista will probably already be familiar with the procedure to do that, but if you've switched from XP, it might not be obvious. Here's how: - Right click the breadcrumbs path
- Click "Edit address."
- The view changes to the traditional path format.
You can also copy the path to clipboard from the right context menu by selecting "Copy Address" or "Copy Address as Text." |
| Windows Security | |
Windows 7 Security Slideshow
The Action Center in Windows 7 replaces Vista's Security Center. See the new and improved features in this set of screenshots from Windows 7 Insider:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Security-in-Pictures
Guide to Windows 7 Security
For a broader look at what's new in security for Windows 7, see this article in PC World's Business Center, which discusses core system security, the enhanced UAC, integrated biometrics support, BitLocker to Go and more.
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Windows-7-Security
How do I share files between XP mode and Windows 7?
QUESTION:
I am using the Windows 7 RC and I installed the XP Mode so I could run some old programs. My problem is that I want to be able to move a file from my Windows 7 desktop to the XP program but I noticed you can't drag and drop to an XP Mode program. So for example, is there a way that I can get a graphics file from the Windows 7 desktop to the graphics program that's running on XP Mode? Thanks - Jack M.
ANSWER:
It's true that you can't use drag and drop to move data between the virtual environment in which XP Mode runs and the Windows 7 operating system, but the applications do share the clipboard. That means you can use copy and paste to transfer data between the two. In addition, when you're in the VM, the virtual hard disk used by the XP operating system will appear as drive C: and the Windows 7 resources are identified in the VM as drive D: so you can navigate to that drive and access files that way from within the virtual machine. |
| Win7 Question Corner | |
How do I share files between XP mode and Windows 7?
QUESTION:
I am using the Windows 7 RC and I installed the XP Mode so I could run some old programs. My problem is that I want to be able to move a file from my Windows 7 desktop to the XP program but I noticed you can't drag and drop to an XP Mode program. So for example, is there a way that I can get a graphics file from the Windows 7 desktop to the graphics program that's running on XP Mode? Thanks - Jack M.
ANSWER:
It's true that you can't use drag and drop to move data between the virtual environment in which XP Mode runs and the Windows 7 operating system, but the applications do share the clipboard. That means you can use copy and paste to transfer data between the two. In addition, when you're in the VM, the virtual hard disk used by the XP operating system will appear as drive C: and the Windows 7 resources are identified in the VM as drive D: so you can navigate to that drive and access files that way from within the virtual machine. |
| Win7 Configuration and Troubleshooting | |
Configure automatic printer switching in Windows 7
In XP and Vista, you could only set one default printer for your computer. Windows 7 allows you to switch default printers based on your location. This is particularly handy for laptop/notebook users who move their computers between office and home. Windows 7 detects where you are based on your network connection and switches the default printer to the appropriate one for that location. This article tells you how to configure automatic default printer switching:
http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-Auto-Printer-Switching
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| Fav Links | |
This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff
Disclaimer: VistaNews does not assume and cannot be responsible for any liability related to you clicking any of these linked Web sites. |
| Product of the Week | |
ICUII: The Best Video Chat on the Planet!
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http://www.win7news.net/O52HI2/091022-ICUII
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| About Win7News | |
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