Then a week ago, sitting in my little tech lab (the Garage workbench), I looked at a Computer I used to use as a Web Server and thought "hey, that PC has decent specs.. wonder if it could run Windows 7"

So I went to the Windows Download site, and downloaded Windows 7.  2.4GIGABYTES, burnt it to a DVD, ripped apart the Computer, got it going again, powered it up and put the DVD in the drive.

What seemed to be a VERY short time later, PRESTO, Windows 7.

I was shocked at how easy this was.

This version of Windows will work for me until August, at which time a new Beta will come out, OR Microsoft will be close to Launching it for Sale.

So, what do I think? Excellent.

I never upgraded to Vista, XP is far too stable, and Vista was just too much of a change.

First reaction is that it seems some of the new looks and styles are 'borrowed' from Apple, the new Libraries program (basically the old Windows Explorer) is very Macish, but in a good way.

Wallpapers can randomly rotate and just bits and peices make me feel like im on a Microsoft Mac.

That's limited though.

Aside from that, and having never done much Vista work, I found configuration, setup and all those things remarkably easy.

I've installed Adobe Photoshop CS4 and used it, works a treat, and no lag for me, and my Machine only has 2Gig of Ram (Windows 7 asks for 1+ so that's good).

For the most part, when the time comes later this year to release it, there won't be the drama over NEW HARDWARE that Vista suffered from, because a LOT of people have upgraded in the last 2-3 years to Vista, OR to a new machine with XP so those machines will all run 7.

I'll post some more details, screenshots and thoughts over the coming weeks.. 

First impressions though are that it's fast, smooth and a refreshing upgrade to XP (we'll forget that Vista ever happend shall we)