I was reading some of the junk e-mail that Microsoft sends me and came across this article.  I wanted to save the shortcuts, a lot of which I knew (and use) but some of which are new to me:

http://www.windowsvistamagazine.com/UK/4352741765893343994/pc-heaven.html

Boost your productivity

Learn a few angelic Windows keyboard shortcuts

• Hold Shift when inserting a CD
  Prevent the CD from autoplaying
• F4 in Windows Explorer
  Display the address bar location list
• F5
  Refresh the screen
• Ctrl and Z
  Undo an action
• Ctrl and Y
  Redo an action, in case you’ve used undo incorrectly
• Shift and Delete
  Delete the selected file(s) without moving to the Recycle bin (be careful!)
• Shift and F10
  Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
• Alt and Tab
  Switch to the previously active window
• Alt and F4
  Close the active window
• Windows key and D
  Show the desktop
• Windows key and E
  Open Windows Explorer
• Windows key and F
  Open a Search window
• Windows key and G
  Cycle through Sidebar gadgets
• Windows key and R
  Open a Run window
• Windows key and T
  Cycle through and preview all the applications on the taskbar
• Windows key and 1
  Launch the first program on your Quick Launch toolbar
• Windows key and 2
  Launch the second program on your Quick Launch toolbar
• Windows key and Tab
  Use Flip 3D to cycle through all currently open applications
• Windows key and Spacebar
  Select the Windows Sidebar
• Ctrl and Mousewheel
  Changes the view of your current folder
• Left Alt and left Shift and Print Screen
  Toggles the highcontrast display

Windows Vista Magazine | PC Heaven

I have come across a few articles that talk about how Server 2008 is what Vista hoped to be.  Here is an article that a Microsoft person wrote about it:

The Way I See It : Using Windows Server 2008 as a SUPER workstation OS

Also, this article talks about some performance testing:

Windows "Workstation" 2008 - Vista Done Right?

And if you want to run Hyper-V on your laptop, you may want to see this article about how to get the Wireless to be available to the VMs:

Using Hyper-V with a Wireless Network Adapter 

or

Using Wireless with Hyper-V

In the past, I have used mstsc /console to get to "session 0" on remote machines.  With Vista and Windows Server 2008 that isn't the correct command though.  Instead it has been changed to mstsc /admin.

 I thought this was an interesting perspective on Vista.  He doesn't try to gloss over shortcoming, but he does point out that not all the pains are Microsoft's fault.  I mean really...  Do venders really think if they ignore Microsoft it will just go away?

Does Vista suck?

Though not without its warts, Microsoft's much maligned OS gets the job done for enterprise users

By Oliver Rist

August 22, 2007

Does Vista suck? | InfoWorld | Test Center | August 22, 2007 | By Oliver Rist

So I was flipping through TechNet Magazine (because it is one of the many magazines that slide across my desk into the stack of "if I ever get time" stuff) and came to the last article in the issue:  "Windows Explorer Doesn't Do Text". 

The article explains the reason that you can't just select a bunch of files and past the list to a text file, and then it explains how to do it in Vista.  It is terribly complicated...  you hold the shift key and right click your selection.  Choose "Copy as Path".  Paste where appropriate.

How cool is that?

I found this by accident when I was installing SQL tools on my Vista machine.  I think it gives a pretty good short explanation of User Account Control.

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy/windowsvistasupport.mspx

This paragraph starts the helpful explanation:

Microsoft Windows Vista includes a new feature, User Account Control (UAC), which helps administrators manage their use of elevated privileges. When running on Microsoft Windows Vista, administrators do not use their administrative privileges by default. They perform most actions as standard (non-administrative) users, temporarily assuming their administrative privileges only when necessary. This separation of privileges causes some known issues.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2048070,00.asp?kc=EWENTEMNL110306EOAD

In Windows Vista, Microsoft is making an effort to help you figure out where your weaknesses are when it comes to PC performance.  The Windows Experience Index is an evaluation of key components of your system.  When you want to know what to do to improve performace, you can take a look at it and decide what areas to concentrate on. 

I think this will be a good tool for companies looking to move to Vista from XP.  You can test your various machine types and look at the Experience Index to determine if you want to replace the machines, add memory, or just move to Vista as is.

Here is a related article: http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=86

I was looking around and found a blog entry that stipulates that Windows 3.1 is still alive.

http://bink.nu/photos/news_article_images/category1022/picture13552.aspx

Silliness prevails it seems.

So I was looking through the Services and noticed a couple of interesting items.  You probably have already seen this, but when I saw “ReadyBoost” I was a bit stumped as to what that could possibly be.  I noticed there are a LOT of new services with Vista, and decided to look it up.  (One of these days, I will actually look at some of the features of Vista.  I have been running it long enough that you would think I had a clue.)

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/features/foreveryone/performance.mspx

Here is the part about ReadyBoost:

Windows ReadyBoost

Adding system memory (RAM) is often the best way to improve your PC's performance. More memory means applications can run without needing to access the hard drive. However, upgrading memory is not always easy. You need to know what type of memory you need, purchase the memory, and open your computer to install the memory—which sometimes can invalidate your support agreement. Also, some machines have limited memory expansion capabilities, preventing you from adding RAM even if you are willing to do so.

Windows Vista introduces a new concept in adding memory to a system. Windows ReadyBoost lets users use a removable flash memory device, such as a USB thumb drive, to improve system performance without opening the box. Windows ReadyBoost can improve system performance because it can retrieve data kept on the flash memory more quickly than it can retrieve data kept on the hard disk, decreasing the time you need to wait for your PC to respond. Combined with SuperFetch technology, this can help drive impressive improvements in system responsiveness.

Windows ReadyBoost technology is reliable and provides protection of the data stored on your device. You can remove the memory device at any time without any loss of data or negative impact to the system; however, if you remove the device, your performance returns to the level you experienced without the device. Additionally, data on the removable memory device is encrypted to help prevent inappropriate access to data when the device is removed.

I was looking around for something else, but came across this and thought it was useful:

http://vistaforums.com/Forum/Topic562-12-1.aspx

There are some interesting tweaks there.

So, I have installed Windows Vista Beta 2.  I have Office 2007 Beta 2 installed as well.  So far, I have mostly been trying to figure out how to do the things that I don't have to think about with XP.

I am an admin on the machine of course, but with Vista, you have to "Run Elevated" to be able to update software.  (You might have already known that, but it took me a while to figure it out.  I forgive myself, because I get distracted easily and don't always get to concentrate on side issues.)

Another issue for me is the fact that Admin Tools aren't availible for Vista.  I have to log into some other machine to manage AD, DHCP, DNS, etc., etc...

Other things I have figured out?  The OS is kind of like Windows 2000 in that it is a bit of a resource hog.  I hope that will be leveled a bit as we get closer to release.  Lots of eye candy, but not sure if I like it.  It isn't too stable yet, at least with the currently availible drivers for my video card.  The walpaper doesn't show on one of my two monitors unless I have an application open that causes it to cease the Aero effects. Kind of annoying.

I am still trying to get accustomed to the IE7 tabs.  Some of the settings that I had on IE6 to get IE to behave the way I want it to behave, aren't in the same place in IE7 and/or the particulars that you have to do are different.  Plus the fact that I haven't quite figured out how I want the tabs to behave. 

Office 2007 has some of the same stability issues as earlier versions, things hand on occasion, or just don't do anything.  I am hoping for some updates to this soon...