neowin.net — Create your very own personalized and unattended Windows installation CD, integrate your favorite software and make it install automatically during Windows setup. The best 200 freeware programs are available so that you can enjoy Firefox, CCleaner, Skype, WMP11, Java 6, etc. since the first boot of your operation system. Video tutorials!
Dec 21, 2006 View in Crawl 4
richwalkupDec 22, 2006
I just love how everyone jumps on one product and swears it's the best in the world for everyone. I choose Windows because I want to be productive without spending a fortune on software again. I love Linux but it's just not productive unless you're a whiz at vi and sit in a dark corner all day banging out Perl scripts for your Apache server - never needing real collaborative mail client. As for the mac, it's a great concept but I don't buy one for the same reason I still drive my old trusty truck - I don't need a Benz to get me down the street because it's safer, I just put on my seat belt, drive safely, and I've yet to see the difference between my truck and that Benz (other than the fact that it's prettier and the chicks like it more).I also use IE 7 over firefox. I tried firefox but it was a freakin resource hog and locked up at least twice a day and swept away some very valuable resources with it every time it decided to take a lunch. I remember several times watching FF eat my memory alive while I was debugging. It's a great browser for those who love it - but I hate it. We should all just learn to understand that there are reasons why each product exists and most of the time it's because of user preference - not functionality or security.That being said - it doesn't suck to have a one shot installation for all the crap you need on a day-to-day basis. Decent post.
werrismysDec 22, 2006
Please don't bundle Firefox as 'Freeware.' It's Free Software. "Freeware" as such is so 1980's and has only to do with PRICE, not freedom.
thesekeysDec 22, 2006
uh yea if you want the best programs, then switch to mac osx... dude.
slyerDec 22, 2006
Vista won't need to do this, as I understand the functionality is built in due to the way Vista installs, it actually unpacks a large file rather than installing a clean version. So you can install and have a play around, install your favourite programs and games, pack it all up again and make a bootable vista disc.See here:<a class="user" href="http://digg.com/tech_news/Inside_Vista_s_new_image_based_install_3">http://digg.com/tech_news/Inside_Vista_s_new_image_based_install_3</a>
Closed AccountDec 22, 2006
@DCoy:you might not, but PLENTY of people do. You should try reading a few Mac posts some time.
haroldxDec 22, 2006
Just google them.
hypnotiqDec 22, 2006
Um, no.With multiple PC's you need to use an app like sysprep + an imaging tool like Acronis or Ghost. Most organizations use a BASE IMAGE they create on their own, update periodically, etc. The base image is sysprep'd and mirrored to other machines, etc. The point behind nLite is not so much about preinstalling particular apps like Firefox, etc., but removing components that come automatically installed with the base configuration behind standard windows images. This is good for creating a quick install in a virtual environment for testing, etc. Last I checked, I am not aware that you can install an IMAGE to a virtual hard drive, therefore this tool is particular cool for quick installs of base configurations to a virtual machine.
shaunhealeyDec 23, 2006
Thanks for this guy ill have to try it sometime havent had chance yet.Rock on Neowin!
degustibusDec 24, 2006
I like my disks set up a certain way, with 4 partitions and the OS on E: Or F: -- been doing it for years. My quick and dirty installation is to use use drivecopy and copy my whole harddrive to another drive, OS (Win2K), apps and all. I just fixed two of my computers today using drivecopy'd harddrives -- always some modifications necessary, but everthing gets installed in the right place.