Since upgrading to Windows 7 I was finally about to try out Windows Live Movie Maker Beta.

Summary: I hate it.

This software is awful. I have tried hard to find anything good about this app, but the XP version was just so, so much better than this.

The only saving grace of this app is that it’s in beta, so I am praying when out of beta this software changes drastically.

Here are the problems I’m talking about with Movie Maker Live Beta:

1. Where’s my timeline?

I have no timeline at all and couldn’t find any way to get it.

iMovie tried this too and Mac users griped about it loudly, so I’ll say it loudly as well for Windows users – KEEP THE TIMELINE IN YOUR VIDEO EDITING SOFTWARE. This is required stuff, guys.

2. Ribbon interface will confuse the crap out of people.

I can see the ribbon interface being easy to use in WLMM, but only if it has a complete revamp. In its present state it’s just bad.

When you have a drastic change in the way the software works, it should greet you with, "Hi! Here’s how to use me!" No such instruction exists. And the help section is Spartan and terrible.

Again, yes I know this is beta software.

3. Lack of features.

Three transition effects, six "color change" effects, a text box and a trim feature. That’s it.

And that’s not enough. XP’s old Movie Maker had way more than this.

Windows Live Movie Maker beta gets a huge thumbs down from me.

It’s a good thing this wasn’t included with Windows 7 as it’s definitely not finished. Not by a long shot.