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Tech. Tip 4: Windows 7: High Hopes for Microsoft's Newest Operating System

Posted 10/22/2009

Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 7, overcomes many of the deficiencies pointed to by critics of Microsoft’s much-maligned Vista system.


Windows 7 reportedly runs faster than Vista (launched in January, 2007) or its predecessor, Windows XP (released October, 2001), and Windows starts up and shuts down more quickly.  Files are easier to organize, clean up and find.  And the files can be permanently “pinned” to the task bar at the bottom of the screen.  Another improvement:  By grabbing the title bar of a window and shaking it (with your mouse, of course), you can minimize all windows at once.  You can now “Aero Peek”, “Aero Shake” and “Aero Snap” to more efficiently handle files and applications.  Non-essential programs and those annoying alerts are dramatically reduced.


Unlike Vista, which introduced many new features, Windows 7 is a more user-friendly, incremental upgrade to other Windows systems, and it promises to be more fully compatible with other software applications and hardware.  However, some applications which were included with prior releases of Windows (Windows Movie Maker, Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Calendar and Mail), will not be included in this newest version.  Some of these applications may be offered separately via the free Windows Life Essentials suite.


The new operating system also makes possible the use of iPhone-like multi-touch screens.  If you have a multi-touch, touch-sensitive screen, which can detect more than one finger-press at a time, you can use your fingers to pinch, stroke and swipe files, much as you do on an iPhone.  Might this be the end of keyboards and your mouse?  Expect the major PC makers to roll out various touch-sensitive monitors in the months ahead to take advantage of Windows’ latest feature.


Windows 7 is available in various editions: Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate.  To see Windows 7 in action and to see one retailer’s suggested prices, click here:  www.samsclub.com


If you wish to purchase an upgrade from your previous system, be sure your PC meets system requirements.  One way to check is to download the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (go to www.microsoft.com/downloads), which will let you know in minutes if there are any compatibility problems.

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