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PC Virtualization plus Windows 7

At this month's meeting, Marty Roth will give a live demonstration of PC "virtualization" -- that is, running one operating system inside another. He'll show how Windows 7 (Professional and Ultimate editions) can run applications designed specifically for Windows XP by seamlessly launching them in a virtual Windows XP environment, without the need to shut down Windows 7 and reboot into XP. The demo will include an unusual twist, so pay close attention! Marty is a long time CTPC member and runs his own computer consultancy business, Incon Research.

Then CPTC Pres. Walt Graham will have some suggestions about migrating to Windows 7 from the perspective of customizing it to look and work the way you want. He says it's actually easier to add, remove or configure features than in previous versions -- but you need to know where to look. New file "libraries" and search features can help you find things easily on a disorganized hard drive, but the trade-off is a somewhat dizzying collection of folders that appear to contain files but actually just point to other folders where the files really reside. "It's a little like looking into a mirror and seeing the reflection of another mirror that reflects back to the first mirror, etc. You know what you're looking at but it's difficult to tell exactly where it really is!" Microsoft likes to provide pre-structured system folders for documents, pictures, music, videos, etc. but if you're a stickler for saving and organizing your files where you think they belong (on a D:\ drive, for example) Windows 7 makes that fairly easy too -- it's just not so obvious. Windows 7 is probably Microsoft's best consumer OS yet and, with a little tweaking, the user experience can be even better.

The meeting begins with "Random Access," a discussion of all things digital hosted by Richard Frisch, and concludes with our traditional Pizza SIG at Uncle Joe's.

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