Please include the ability to mount an ISO as a virtual DVD drive in SP2. A lot of modern computers don't have physical drives any more.
I know there are 3rd party apps out there but this should be a built in part of the OS - especially as software provided by MS usually comes on .ISO files anyway.
This facility is built in to the new Windows 8 and works great. (Pity not everything else does -- that HORRID metro UI for example).
There are many many businesses and individuals who for all sorts of reasons will be staying with Windows 7 for the foreseeable future so surely this feature could be built in to SP2.
It's not always easy or desirable for end users to install 3rd party apps on company laptops but reading iso's from a central server is so much easier than shipping physical DVD's all over the place.
Laptops could also be physically smaller if they didn't have a physical dvd device either.
cheers
jimbo
My Computer
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom built, several laptops HP/ASUS
OS
Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
I'm not so fond of Virtual CloneDrive that much since I run a pair of optical drives already! But a 3rd party app no longer being a need for various projects would be a plus!
As for the Metro UI in the upcoming W8 that's the way MS is introducing the increased support for touchscreens on desktops as well as other portable devices like Tablet PC. 7 was to see an initial increase of support for large projection screens using that technology. Some more recent tv shows like NCIS LA will show someone opening and moving, resizing windows in front of a group of people making it ideal for presentations while the final end result for the retail product is yet to be seen.
Ever have a VM project where you have to burn an iso to disk in order to get it to boot? When burned to disk or written to flash drives no problem! Yet they simply won't work when adding them as a cd/dvd drive on a VM at times.
W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 975 Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 2nd remote pc
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4-Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H remote pc
Memory
Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 1.5v 16gb - Hyper X Fury 8gb 2nd
Graphics Card(s)
MSI HD Radeon 5750 1gb - MSI HD Radeon 6450 on mini tower
Sound Card
Creative Labs X-Fi Xtreme Audio P - Realtek onooard 2nd case
Monitor(s) Displays
ASUS VW199T-P 19" HP 2082a Main-HP 2082a 20" remote pc
Screen Resolution
Asus 1440x900 - HP 1600x900
Hard Drives
WD Black 1TB HD per OS W7, W10, and pending W11 presently on 500gb OS Drive - Pending Triple 1TB HDs for Spanned Storage/backup volume
Single 2TB external USB enclosure, single 1TB System 7 Host/Boot drive, Pending 8TB external HD for system image b
PSU
Corsair 750TX - primary / Corsair CX600 - second
Case
Antec 900-2 - SSD compatible / NZXT Vulcan mini tower
Hi there
on the W8 Forum there's loads of discussion about touch screen UI technology -- and for presentations etc -- it's already been used in loads of Hollywood movies -- can't remember the exact title but Tom Cruise in something like Future Crime used it all over the place.
However there's a HUGE difference in showing a presentation and doing "Traditional type work" such as translating documents, preparing large spread sheets , CAD stuff etc.
This stuff is best done with a keyboard and mouse.
What people don't seem to have come out with yet --but could combine the BEST of current keyboard and touch technology are for A4 tablet size thingy's where I could either type or WRITE with a decent stylus device HORIZONTALLY (i.e the tablet size thingy would be like a traditional notepad) -- would save paper too I'd really get a lot of work done very quickly like that --fror Enginerring drawing having a real FREE HAND drawing tool -- Magnifico !! Especially with a USB connection to retrieve data from external HDD etc.
This thingy could also work in "Tablet" mode when not connected to a computer -- small amount of internal storage and built in stand alone office app could be an "Ipad killer" on its own.
Most of these "writing pads" have so far been dismal failures --difficult to use and certainly not fit for purpose.
The whole metro stuff for SERIOUS work fails when you have to work 100% in FULL SCREEN MODE and switch between screens (or windows).
I don't know ANY serious Office type worker who only ever uses full screen mode.
Even mundane things like HR checking consultants hours billed sometimes want to say --what did he bill last month and compare the two pieces of data side by side. Mundane and trivial but often required on a serious desktop os.
Cheers
jimbo
My Computer
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom built, several laptops HP/ASUS
OS
Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
It just goes to show MS should have stayed with what works for the desktop OS since they do far better with it! As far as the service packs you no longer need the MS Virtual PC to run the XP Mode which is another virtual environment if SP1 comes included with the disk or you already have it on.
The problem with MS however is now thinking since there are all these 3rd party apps available they don't really need to include much in their OS as they had been doing. That's the trend they seem to be taking lately.
As far as the Metro in the upcoming version I think we all need to wait to see what the finish will bring in. Having only the Metro in the DP, CP, and RP builds for the next version seems to the way they want to present it without word on whether the retail disk you see sold in stores for upgrading or for custom builds will include other options.
Besides SP2 for 7 you now have to wonder if Vista and 7 will both be seeing any SP3 over time since support was extended for them as well as for XP with the old version seeing it's 3rd SP. If not seen in SP2 you might have to wait for the SP3 where then that adds in the support for virtual optical drives, mounting iso images.
W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 975 Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 2nd remote pc
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4-Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H remote pc
Memory
Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 1.5v 16gb - Hyper X Fury 8gb 2nd
Graphics Card(s)
MSI HD Radeon 5750 1gb - MSI HD Radeon 6450 on mini tower
Sound Card
Creative Labs X-Fi Xtreme Audio P - Realtek onooard 2nd case
Monitor(s) Displays
ASUS VW199T-P 19" HP 2082a Main-HP 2082a 20" remote pc
Screen Resolution
Asus 1440x900 - HP 1600x900
Hard Drives
WD Black 1TB HD per OS W7, W10, and pending W11 presently on 500gb OS Drive - Pending Triple 1TB HDs for Spanned Storage/backup volume
Single 2TB external USB enclosure, single 1TB System 7 Host/Boot drive, Pending 8TB external HD for system image b
PSU
Corsair 750TX - primary / Corsair CX600 - second
Case
Antec 900-2 - SSD compatible / NZXT Vulcan mini tower