RAW viewer from Microsoft and its free

[Matt. K]

This could be very useful. Put one on your laptop.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... layLang=en

[stubbsy]

Matt

Thanks - 4.77Mb for this - classic big Micro$oft app then! I'm guessing this is the RAW viewer they're building into Longhorn (the next version of Windows)

[leek]

Try 47Mb Stubbsy... Classic Microsoft bloatware...

I just installed it and had a brief play with it... It doesn't integrate very well with Explorer and is essentially an option on the right-click menu. It is also very SLOOOOOOWWWW....

I have now uninstalled it and will carry on using Adobe Bridge.

In my view, if you want a standalone RAW viewer like this, you would be better off with Faststone Viewer or RawShooter Essentials...

[SoCal Steve]

This is exactly why I chuckle every time I read about Bill Gates and Microsoft being such great programmers. Sorry, I just had to say that.

[Nnnnsic]

While I'm not one to defend either Bill or Microsoft, Bill Gates could very well be a good programmer (still), but he doesn't program for them anymore.

[gstark]

This is exactly why I chuckle every time I read about Bill Gates and Microsoft being such great programmers. Sorry, I just had to say that.

Over the last 15 years or so I've been to a number of conferences (usually as an invited speaker) where Bill's been one of the keynote speakers. So far I've successfully avoided every one of his keynotes. Something about me being a programmer, and to do with professional respect for one's peers.

[Greg B]

I don't understand why MS stuff is so damn big. I was looking at their new Picture file manager (or whatever), like ACDSee, and it was 474 Mb!!!!!!!!!!

Holy guacamole!!!!

[Nnnnsic]

Greg, that's probably all that extra programming you don't want and you don't need but Microsoft insists it's not harmful even though it's there to watch your every move.

[SoCal Steve]

While I'm not one to defend either Bill or Microsoft, Bill Gates could very well be a good programmer (still), but he doesn't program for them anymore.

Nnnnsic - Certainly I realize that Bill has no time for actual programming duties, but he understands programming and has an enormous staff of programmers under his control. When crummy products go out the door, they thus bear his stamp of approval. I'm sure that he guides the process in some way, maybe even micro-manages, and the buck stops with him.

[Nnnnsic]

I don't think he does.

I think he's now just a figurehead who enjoys the perks of being the one that started it all.

[stubbsy]

Try 47Mb Stubbsy... Classic Microsoft bloatware...

I just installed it and had a brief play with it... It doesn't integrate very well with Explorer and is essentially an option on the right-click menu. It is also very SLOOOOOOWWWW....

I have now uninstalled it and will carry on using Adobe Bridge.

In my view, if you want a standalone RAW viewer like this, you would be better off with Faststone Viewer or RawShooter Essentials...

yep - Typo. If it was only 4.77Mb I wouldn't have commented meant 47.7Mb

Here's an interesting comment which came up in a dialog during install:

"Setup has detected Nikon View software installed on your system. Nikon View may inhibit the correct operation of this software. Please see Section 7 of the Readme file for information on how to resolve this compatability issue."

Section 7 in the ReadMe says:
"If Nikon View software is installed, a system tray utility called NkvMon.exe’ may be installed in your Startup folder. This utility automatically resets the default application for NEF files to Nikon software each time the system is restarted or you log into the computer." It goes on to say this app needs to be removed from your startup folder.

This makes sense, but could be slightly confusing for some. Good that they actually check for this and provide instructions on the fix.

Finally - I had to chuckle at the opening statement in the readme file:

Thank you for choosing quality software from Microsoft.

[stubbsy]

Essentially this is a new version of Windows Picture and Fax Viewer which comes with Windows now - it even looks the same. Personally I think I'll stick with Nikon View.

[stubbsy]

Nothing like having a conversation with yourself!

This software requires the .Net framework 1.1 Many of us will already have that on our PCs. Adding it to an installer adds about 23Mb to the installer unnecessarily so most sensible developers have the .NET framework installer separate to the app since, if you already have the framework, you have a download that is 23Mb smaller.

Microsoft OTOH want us all to have the .NET framework on our machines as part of their World Domination Strategy.

Guess why the installer was so big

[Matt. K]

Thanks for your comments guys! Now I won't bother downloading it. You've saved me heaps of frustration!

[stubbsy]

Thanks for your comments guys! Now I won't bother downloading it. You've saved me heaps of frustration!

Very sneaky Matt. Gives us a link, wait for comment then decide if you'll download it

[Glen]

Stubbsy, that makes it almost miniscule at 24 mb!! Think I still have one of the first hard drives I ever sold, a big 5mb one, don't think I will get Bill's latest application to fit on. Funny, we used to fit an operating system, accounting package, word processing and spreadsheet on that 5mb machine with lots of room for data, wonder what went wrong since then?

[stubbsy]

Stubbsy, that makes it almost miniscule at 24 mb!! Think I still have one of the first hard drives I ever sold, a big 5mb one, don't think I will get Bill's latest application to fit on. Funny, we used to fit an operating system, accounting package, word processing and spreadsheet on that 5mb machine with lots of room for data, wonder what went wrong since then?

Well while we're being notsalgic. I bought my first PC in 1979 - an Apple II Plus. I paid $1500 in 1979 follars for it. It had 64 K (not a typo) of RAM and a 5.25" floppy drive. Running on that I had spreadsheet, database and word processing software. It even had games (space invaders, pong... )

My current mobile phone (a Nokia 7610) has 1,000 times the memory of that PC

[the foto fanatic]

Essentially this is a new version of Windows Picture and Fax Viewer which comes with Windows now - it even looks the same. Personally I think I'll stick with Nikon View.

Well, I have decided that I'm going to use this program.

I find it is really handy when looking through NEF thumbnails in Windows on my hard drive to see EXIF details just by hovering the mouse. If you want to see the pic enlarged, you can just double-click & it appears.
Very helpful for deciding on keepers v non-keepers straight off the card, and also for sorting into folders etc.

[Killakoala]

'In a world without walls and fences,
there'd be no need for Windows and Gates.'

[Nnnnsic]

Based on my recollection of Canada's unlocked doors from "Bowling For Columbine," Canada must be that place, Killa.

[nigels]

Whats wrong with you guys, where would we be without young Billy and his software.

Admittedly it is "bloatware", but I guess that may well be the price we have to pay for the excellent programs and operating systems most of us and the world uses, enjoys and a lot of us make our living from.

Like many others here, I too stay away from many of the bloated and inferior, (compared to other companies) programs produced by Microsoft. Believe it or not, our company still uses Novell 4.11 for our networking, extremely stable and certainly faster than the MS equivelant.

But in the end, you have to give it to Billy for producing some pretty damn good software.

Nige

[PiroStitch]

Admittedly, Microsoft has its pros and cons unfortunately more cons than pros



Found this quote on another forum:

The only time when Microsoft doesn't suck is when they start manufacturing vacuum cleaners