The E7 team has posted an interesting blog post about the various Windows features that are available to turn on or off in the Windows 7 RC. Customers are now given more control, flexibility and choice in managing the features available in the RC of Windows 7.
Below are the list of extra features that are added to Windows 7 RC:
- Windows Media Player
- Windows Media Center
- Windows DVD Maker
- Internet Explorer 8
- Windows Search
- Handwriting Recognition (through the Tablet PC Components option)
- Windows Gadget Platform
- Fax and Scan
- XPS Viewer and Services (including the Virtual Print Driver)
Neowin had already reported about Internet Explorer 8 being an optional component in the latest Windows 7 build 7048, and so are the other features. Interesting features to note other than Internet Explorer 8 are the Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center.
However these options (turning Windows features on or off) are not made available during the Windows 7 installation and are available on the post-setup experience for Windows 7
"Finally, we know some have suggested that this set of choices be a "setup option". Some operating systems do provide this type of setup experience. As we balanced feedback, the vast majority of feedback we have received was to streamline setup and to reduce the amount of potential complexity in getting a PC running. We chose to focus this feature on the post-setup experience for Windows 7"
Deselecting a Windows feature makes that feature not available for use, which means that the files are not loaded by the operating system and are staged so that they can be easily added when the features are selected back again. Since these files are staged, users dont require the Windows 7 installation DVD to turn on the features again.
It would be interesting to see whether will there be an option for OEMs to streamline the Windows 7 post-setup experience where they could deselect/select some of the Windows features. This is also a great addition for Corporates where they would be able to streamline the Windows 7 setup for deployment (using the MDOP)
Windows Media Center
Windows DVD Maker
Internet Explorer 8
the people at Opera/google/etc etc will whine that this is monopolizing the market! and sue MS
I dont see it in the list (??)
Me either. I was agreeing with you :-)
ah..I get you now
Users said Windows is a bloatware and now when Microsoft gives options, you say there is no "out of the box experience"
Nope. Windows Live Messenger is now a part of Windows Live Essentials, which you can download from download.live.com
This should be shown on first boot/install
Edit: oh maybe I misunderstood a post here.. it didn't use a quote and maybe referred to this entire Live Essentials pack
They probably will be. I'm sure the Getting Started window will appear as part of the OOBE by release time and it includes the Live Essentials link.
I disagree that Windows Live Essentials is essential for a great "out of box experience." How I would classify a great out of box experience: everything is running, stable, and ready to load software on.
What effectively the complaing has done is mean that loads of comapies pre load the other Microsoft software anyway. So then to remove it you have to go through more than one remove option. If it was all included then you could just open up one panel and do it.
As many have said it hardly makes a difference removing the apps anyway. None of the programs are background or use considerable resources.
I'm happy that I can at least "remove" media center.
It's stupid to keep tablet stuff on a desktop PC just to keep a built-in screenshot tool.
I never use the start menu to get to programs anyways. I just press it and type "snipp" and press enter
It's a good Q!!!
Because I wanna live a life without walls and I wanna be out of the Box.
You really think you gain much space or even performance by taking out IE and WMP?
You really think you gain much space or even performance by taking out IE and WMP?
If you have to manage more then 500 machines the size of images becomes important to how much hard drive space and time is required to backup all those workstations.
Windows XP requires maybe 2-4 gigabytes per image while Vista needs 10-20 gigabytes per image. This requires a lot more space and takes a lot more time.
You really think you gain much space or even performance by taking out IE and WMP?
If you have to manage more then 500 machines the size of images becomes important to how much hard drive space and time is required to backup all those workstations.
Windows XP requires maybe 2-4 gigabytes per image while Vista needs 10-20 gigabytes per image. This requires a lot more space and takes a lot more time.
Using vLite in a corporate environment?
not smart
And the point still stands, taking out those apps in question won't save you gigs of space anyways.
vLite in corporate environments? You should consider using MDOP and move away from a product which is not supported by Microsoft. This is such a bad decision to use vLite in corporate!
Windows Media Player- OFF (I use Winamp and VLC)
Windows Media Center- OFF (I dont like it but my family loves it)
Windows DVD Maker- OFF (Already own Nero and Convert X to DVD)
Internet Explorer 8- OFF (No second thoughts since i am Firefox user)
Windows Search- Dont know whats exactly this. Is this Windows search service of Vista? If so, i'll turn it to OFF
Handwriting Recognition (through the Tablet PC Components option)- OFF ( I dont have a tablet PC)
Windows Gadget Platform- OFF ( Dont use gadgets )
Fax and Scan- OFF (Useless for me)
XPS Viewer and Services (including the Virtual Print Driver)- OFF (XPS is a big j/k)
Half of the features you're turning them off either because you don't want to explore them or you don't know what they are for.
I didn't get the point of your comment though.
That thing is EXTREMELY useful.
Especially if you have more applications than you can comfortably fit onto the start menu.
Half of the features you're turning them off either because you don't want to explore them or you don't know what they are for.
I didn't get the point of your comment though.
Only reason i use Winamp is because of plethora of support for different formats. and i regularly play FLAC
IE is needed to handle .asp pages well, don't say you don't access any asp pages. Rest you can compromise on.
LOL... You got it all wrong.
Pages with .asp extensions usually output HTML, so any webbrowser will work.
If you don't like high HD activity in the background while it's indexing everything and the kitchen sink, turn it off.
Yes, and it couldn't, because Explorer was integrated with it. But it is no more as of IE 7.
That's funny, because during the Vista beta, there was a lot of feedback saying the exact opposite, and begging for an advanced setup option where we can specify which bits are installed from the get-go. I don't think anyones asked for an advanced option for W7 because we got tired of our requests falling on deaf ears.
What's wrong with the way OS X handles this? At install, you have the option to hit a Customize button to pick and choose the features you want or need. If you don't hit the button, it proceeds with a default install. Why is it seeminly so difficult for Microsoft to adopt this idea?
Yes, that would be a good idea. Adding the option to hit a Customize button would be very simple indeed.
The point is that MS obviously doesn't want people to be able to choose what is installed, and what not.
Why not just decide on the defaults and then offer an 'Advanced...' button. Allow those who want a streamlined experience to just go Next > and take the defaults and allow the advanced users to hit Advanced and pick what they want?
Why not just decide on the defaults and then offer an 'Advanced...' button. Allow those who want a streamlined experience to just go Next > and take the defaults and allow the advanced users to hit Advanced and pick what they want?
quite simply because the defaults have been already chosen, if you want to change the options in the setup program then you have to goto the 9x style of OS installation which was slow and confusing for noobs, however this way it caters for everyone.
It is a rare thing when I agree with C_Guy, but in this case he is right (and amazingly, he is supporting exactly the way that Apple handles installs of OS X!). What is so hard for Microsoft about having a "customize" or "advanced options" button available during installation? If users want a simple install, they just hit "next", if they want to have options they can hit the "customize" or "advanced options" button and switch to the 9x style of installation. It doesn't have to be an either-or situation.
great work MS...
Not to this extent. Anyway, this should remove the need for nLite/vLite/(7Lite?) as well.
Last edited by artfuldodga on 08 Mar 2009 - 15:33
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