So it took several hours to download and install beta 2 of Windows Vista on a brand new Dell Optiplex GX 620.
When Vista finally boots, the first thing I get is a message telling me that an unknown program (netfx?) is trying to access the network, and asking if I want it to have that access or not. I tell Windows no, even though I have no idea what that program is.
Next it tells me that I’m successfully connected to Network, and asks me to choose between a public network (“Use for networks in public places where you don’t want people to access your computer”) or a private network “Use for your home or personal network where you want to share files and devices”). I have no idea which to choose – I don’t want random people accessing my computer, but I do want to share files between my PC and my Mac. There’s no real information here about what I’m choosing. I randomly pick public network, figuring I can change things later (I hope) if I need to.
Now I get a Windows Security Alert telling me that Windows Firewall has blocked some features of the googledesktopindex program. I think Dell installed Google Desktop on the box when shipped (I know I didn’t put it there), so I tell Windows to unblock it. I immediately get a User Account Control telling me “A program needs your permission to continue” and blocks the desktop until I hit “Continue” – when Zephyr comes in to chat. While we’re chatting, the desktop suddenly clears itself up with no input from me. What’s up with that?
Vista detects my two monitor display situation just fine and takes me automatically to the control panel to set that up.
The first task I undertake in Vista is setting up the new Windows Mail program. So far it looks a lot like Outlook Express. The Remember Password box is still checked by default in the setup wizard – that doesn’t smack of enhanced security. Somehow while working through the configuration I manage to lock up the Mail program, but restarting after killing it in the Task Manager I mange to get it configured.
When I finish configuring the Mail program it asks me if I want to download a list of my IMAP mail folders – I tell it yes and immediately get a message saying “The server your are connected to is using a security certificate that could not be verified. The target principal name is incorrect. Do you want to continue using this server?” I assume that’s because it doesn’t like the wild-card certificates we use, so I tell it Yes. The download of folders is blazingly fast, and the following collection of my over 3,000 message Inbox doesn’t take very long either.
More later…
Oren Sreebny 