I'm still dubious that this is the proper RC build, I can't believe that this is going out for public testing with basically nothing new or changed since build 7077. I appreciate that public users that haven't entertained leaked builds will see many improvements since 7000, but still, I honestly thought we might get something a little more fetching and original than 'XP mode'.
IMHO Microsoft always seem to start off really well and then stumble at the final lap, with 7077 and 7100 being so nearly perfect stability and performance wise, I thought we'd end up seeing some new eye candy.
I've been waiting for a thorough icon change since the Vista beta, and whilst I appreciate it requires a fair bit of work, it's not like they haven't had the time, nor the money.
With the Vista debacle, including Ultimate Extras, I expected something fancy and original for RC+. Don't get me wrong, I think Windows 7 is wonderful and a marked improvement over Vista, and I wouldn't look back.
I just hoped with performance and stability sorted, we'd get some new screensavers, a new icon set, this supposed 'new theme' or UI, and plenty of new wallpapers.
I did wonder about this leaked RC as I had recently downloaded a supposed leaked set including new themes from the likes of Brazil and Turkey etc. Why aren't these in the RC build if it is to be feature complete?
I've seen several icon changes, but unfortunately we now have a mix of XP, Vista, and a few new ones from 7. Windows Media Player hasn't had any new skins or visualizations since XP, which is pretty awful as far as I am concerned. It does sound like I'm moaning about nothing but when you consider Vista, the price of Microsoft OS's and the time involved with these things, I just don't think they deliver where they should.
Having been a member of the Vista beta, Windows Early Feedback, and the 7 beta, I'm starting to get a bad feeling about where all this is going.
As tech beta testers we have simply been ignored and left out in the cold, all I have heard is postponed, will not fix, and not reproducible. The best one being test in a future build when we have had only one.
I'm still suffering from the 60 Hertz bug on one of my machines, with an ATI 2600 card.
The driver for my SoundMax audio is still bad in RC, and for the life of me Windows will not remember thumbnails (option is checked) and window customization.
Well that's my opinion anyway, Microsoft have come along way since Vista, but there's still a way to go yet.
BTW. Does anyone use Long Zheng's Windows 7 Taskforce site? If so, do you reckon MS check it out or care about it at all?