Tell them, my song.

Since yesterday, I have 64-Bit Windows 7 Ultimate RC on my company notebook.

It’s a LOT faster than 64-Bit Vista on this machine, it’s stable, responsive and does not get as much in the way as Vista does. I also thinks it’s easier to find system settings than it is in Vista, and I especially like the overhauled taskbar. (But I’m used to the dock of OS X, that probably explains it.)

Upgrading to Windows 7 from Vista feels a bit like the upgrade from Windows 2000 to XP: Everything looks fancier, but ultimately it’s also easier to use the system.

I think Windows 7 actually is what Vista was originally supposed to be, but what Microsoft could not deliver within the given time frame. After all the years of development, they finally had to ship something and so they – unfortunately – decided to ship an unready – and slow – system.

Windows 7 will fix this. However, I think Microsoft should give away this upgrade for free to all existing Vista customers. Or at least for a strongly reduced price, like Apple does it with Snow Leopard for existing Leopard customers. (After all, Leopard had very similar issues as Vista had them when it was launched: Slow and buggy.)

Short and simple: Upgrade to Windows 7 when it is released. It is definitely worth it.

As of today, we have a new member in our family: Gustav, a four months old shepherd-labrador mix puppy.

Gustav is an intelligent, good-tempered, relaxed and friendly dog – the perfect friend-of-man. Only that man, once more, was not a friend to the dog. Gustav comes from Greece, and he and his brothers were saved and brought to Germany by those wonderful people:

www.streunerhilfe-nordgriechenland.de

If you want a dog for yourself and your family, never go to or buy from a breeder! There is an unbelievable number of animals in need of help, home and shelter. Contact a local animal welfare group. They will help you find the right dog for you, and they will also give you advice and support throughout the lifetime of your four-legged friend.

I’ll post more pictures of Gustav later.