Visual Studio 2010 RTM First Impressions

I downloaded Visual Studio 2010 RTM via my MSDN subscription a few days ago and here are my first impressions so far:

Overall, many improvements, few complains (but there are some).

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Test

Passed

Failed

Explain
Install on Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

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Install on Windows XP Pro 64 bit

 

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Install on Windows 2003 Server

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Editor Font Selection

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VS 2K10 uses WPF for its GUI and WPF doesn’t support bitmapped fonts.  FixedSys was my all time favorite and it’s no longer available, so smaller font selection than previous version.
Upgrade 2008 Winforms project to 2010

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Flawless conversion with zero problems.
Help Install

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My Windows server 2003 VM didn’t have enough disk space, so I chose to use online help, which doesn’t work quite rite and I can’t find in the GUI where to fix it.
C# 4.0 features

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Many improvements, but one really bad idea “dynamics”.  Overall, C# 4.0 is a VAST improvement.
User prefs

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In addition to losing bitmapped fonts, the MDI user interface is GONE!  You’re now FORCED into a tabbed only interface.  The FIRST thing I always do when installing Visual Studio is to switch it to MDI.  Sure, you can drag tabs out as floating windows, but they’re like toolbars and float over EVERYTHING, including the menus.  Opening other files opens them as full screen tabs BEHIND the broken-out windows.  REALLY bad design choice.
General UI Experience

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In spite of some unexcused flaws, overall, it’s a better experience (could have been better).  The change in standard color from tan to blue-ish is a nice change.

Those are my VERY EARLY impressions so far.  I’ll post more soon.