bitlocker

I figured that since today is the official release date of Windows7 (I think?), I'd add an entry about one of its features.

Windows 7 now has drive encryption built in, in an application called bitlocker:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitLocker_Drive_Encryption

I've been using it for a short time, and I have to say, it's pretty slick. It's just about what you'd want it to be. I have my sd card encrypted and it requires a password to view it the first time, then, once opened, allows free access until the computer restarts or the card is removed and re-inserted.

In general, I haven't really found anything with Windows 7 I don't like. I've got occasional annoyances with Microsoft because they seem to like to move things. You look for something in a menu or control panel section and it's not there. But you find it in a new section -- same functionality, same look and feel, just randomly moved.

I think one of the things about Vista was that Microsoft wanted to make it more userfriendly to people who weren't used to computers. At least, that's what they told me at the presentation I went to on it. I think there are 2 funny things about that. First, what is their target market? the 2 people in the mountains of Colorado who haven't looked at a computer in 12 years? I mean, computers are so key to our culture now that schoolkids grow up on them. Why target the computer illiterate when there are so few left. (Perhaps their real target is in China or other places where PCs aren't so common?)

The other thing about this is that, while a few things have become easier, most haven't. In fact, (to the point) Windows7 is more closely tied to Server 2008 than anything else. So, depending on what you do, you may end up having to mess with user roles and group policies. Personally, I think this is great. I love having it broken down like that. But for the computer nubie, they'll get lost.

Still, 7 is an awesome product. It's fast, clean, visually impressive, feature rich -- it's the best OS Microsoft has every marketed. The integrated virtual machine is good (not awesome, but good), the bitlocker feature is pretty cool, the integration with Vista apps is cool -- and it actually *runs* them without crashing! All in all, it rocks.