Windows 7 RC + Mac mini

Ok, I just downloaded the 32-bit version of the just-today-released Windows 7 Release Candidate (64-bit is coming down the webs as I type this), and I thought I'd blog about the install on a 1.83GHz Core2Duo Mac mini w/ 3GB RAM, hit-by-hit style. With the ISO burned and in the drive, here we go!

• Boot the Mac mini holding Option to get Startup Manager. "Windows" optical disc shows, as expected. Chosen, and booting begins.
• In Setup now. This lil' guy has a few partitions on it, so I'll wipe those. Interesting: the Setup disc manager sees the EFI partition, which is rare. It appears you can even delete it!
• Removed all partitions (except EFI), and attempt to create a new single partition for Windows 7. Notice my use of the word "attempt." Dissed. Stiffed. Stifled. No. "Windows cannot be installed on this partition because it resides on a GPT-style disc" (not exact verbiage, but that's the gist). Ooook... weak.
• Actually restoring Mac OS X Leopard on this guy so I can Boot Camp it and make sure the MBR "emulation" for the partition table is there. This should absolutely NOT be required, Microsoft... no excuses. Support for EFI and GPT should be flawless out of the box with this OS (heck, should have been back with Vista).
• Ok, back in Windows 7 Setup. MS really needs to get rid of the Spinning Doughnut of Light (the wait cursor). That thing is just lame.
  
• Setup will now allow installation on a newly-formatted NTFS partition. EFI partition appeared to have been turned into a 128MB "Unallocated Space" partition. I'd like a straight-up Windows installation, so I remove all partitions, save the initial mini-partition (assuming it's still EFI).
• Back to step 3. I'm glad I've got a NetRestore environment and the restores only take 5 minutes. I'm not sure if this is an Apple thing, but I'm assuming not... neither the Intel-based architecture, nor EFI, are Apple-specific.
  
• Restored Mac OS X, Boot Camp'd, etc. Back in Setup. Installing on a fresh NTFS volume. Didn't touch the other partitions. Movin' right along!
  
• Setup's finished, and just rebooted the machine. There's a new animated welcome screen: 4 colored lights swirl together to form the new Windows 7 logo. Looks decent.
• Set Up Windows has greeted me, and is prompting for information: User name, computer name, password and password hint. I hate how it requires a password hint to continue. I type "no." Other typical setup stuff such as time zone and product key.
  
• "Preparing your desktop..."

On to putzing around. General speed certainly feels faster than Vista, and the visuals of the OS certainly have more "polish" than Vista, but on the whole the UI is Vista. I applaud MS's efforts with Aero, but man, the translucent effects are just... visually confusing. I really don't need to see through those massive window borders. Yes, I know you can adjust the translucency, but it's pretty see-through out of the box, which is how most people leave it.

Of course, the first thing I do is snag the latest beta of Google Chrome, as I cannot stand IEx. Once installed, I head into my favorite Google apps, Gmail and Reader. Lightning quick. Reader cold-loads in under 3 seconds.

The included themes seem decent. There's an eccentric theme called "Characters" that's got some good colors going on, so I go with that.

I notice a pulsing flag icon in the system tray (which is now monochromatic, much like another OS I've used (::coughmacosxcough::), which is a welcome change.... MUCH less distracting. We'll see how long it takes the OEMs manage to ruin this. I click the flag, which informs me that I haven't an anti-virus package installed. Let's fix that. Symantec Antivirus Corporate 10.2 seems to install properly, and has self-updated flawlessly. Unfortunately, a look at the Action Center (which is invoked when you click the flag in the system tray) informs me that SAV 10.2 tells Windows 7 that it's no longer supported. Drats!

I head to Microsoft-recommended Kaspersky Labs, and download their Windows 7 Technical Preview AV app. Installation is a bit of a pain, but I won't hold it against MS (yet).

Tonight I'll be installing the 64-bit version on the MacBook Pro. I'll post with any interesting tidbits!