Since my hard drive died this week and I needed to re-install Windows XP I figured I would leave a little space for the newest edition of Windows. After an entire day and a few restarts I managed to grab the Windows 7 beta from Microsoft.

To start with I am impressed to say the least. The installation was a breeze, it installed all of the drivers except those for the built in card reader, but that is not the end of the world. And it installed the default Microsoft drivers for my Intel graphics chip, which does not allow me to use the TV out, but again this is a beta. The install went faster then my install of XP and was simple in asking me where I wanted it to live and it went about it's business.

On the first boot it loaded in a snap. Of course, the first thing I did was reconfigure the desktop and install Firefox. All of my regular applications installed like a charm.

The only thing I noticed right off that will take some getting used to is the new task bar. I have only been using it for an afternoon, so far it is a little akward, but I expect it will grow on me.

I originally got this Toshiba Satellite with Vista Home Premium and it chugged out of the gate, after 8 months I broke down and bought an XP license, now I am pondering a Windows 7 license when it is released. Since this machine was a steal at 800.00 plus an XP license 150.00 and a new hard drive this week 90.00 and a Windows 7 license at least 185.00 I am looking at the potential of a 1225.00 laptop with 3 different Windows licenses on it. I am starting to think Microsoft planned Vista this way on purpose.

I love it so far and fear for Ubuntu's grand future since Microsoft may have a new contenter.

I was already running Hardy Heron (8.04), but did not feel like working the other night so I thought I would waste that time upgrading to Intrepid Ibex. With a little help from TorrentFreak I was quickly on my way. It took about 3 hours over my wireless connection, but it was worth not having to reinstall applications and reconfigure every aspect of the OS to get it the way I like it.

My only complaint about the upgrade (and this is minor) is that it lost my saved wireless keys. Not a big deal for my home network, but a few of the other networks I visit on a regular basis use a ASCII Hex password which is a pain to re-enter.

According to BootChart I am booting at 38 seconds which is an improvement over not only Hardy Heron, but my XP install as well.

If you are looking for a cheap Windows alternative Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex is a good place to start.