Windows 7 is Microsoft's most recent installment in its Windows line of operating systems for personal computers. Microsoft's last Windows installment was Windows Vista, which they released less than three years ago. Windows 7 is different from Windows Vista, in that while it does introduce many new features for its users, it does not release as many new features as Windows Vista did, which could be beneficial for anyone looking to make a switch. Microsoft intends Windows 7 to be a more focused and more incremental upgrade to a previous version of Windows – instead of radically changing everything, they have set the goal of letting everything like your programs and files

and other applications that already work with Windows Vista still work well and be compatible with Windows 7. In other words, this new version of Windows should be something that improves upon and fine tunes certain aspects, instead of completely changing the game again, as happened when you made the change from Windows XP to Windows Vista when Vista was released.

It is interesting to note that Windows 7 is somewhat pared down when compared to previous Microsoft operating system releases. Previously, when you got a new Windows operating system, such as Vista, you got a lot of add on components, applications and features automatically, like Windows Mail, Windows Movie Maker, Windows Calendar, and Windows Photo Gallery. These applications are NOT included with Windows 7. You can still get them, but if you want them, you need to get a hold of the free Windows Live Essentials suite, which is separate from the Windows 7 operating system.

 

Windows 7 introduces new features and interesting functions for its users. It also reportedly features better performance options for users, such as improved boot times and boot performance, and improved performance on multi core processors. It even adds support for users that use multiple graphics cards from different vendors, which may be a welcome addition for gamers and other users that rely on those multiple graphics cards.

 

The Windows taskbar sees the biggest changes, though. The Quick Launch toolbar that we previously used in older incarnations of Windows has been replaced with a bar that you “pin” applications and programs to. The taskbar now displays larger icons that are easier to see, though, by default, there are no text labels to tell you what they are. You can change that back to the more standard way of doing things by converting it to show you both the icons and the text labels, if you want, though, which is useful for people that will not be able to keep all of the different program and application icons straight in their heads.

 

Windows 7 also rolls out the new Aero desktop theme that incorporates new functionality with some flashy graphics and animations. Aero Shake is a function that allows you to minimize any open but non active windows, files, applications or programs on your desktop quickly and easily so you can focus on a single item instead by simply grabbing that item and “shaking it” with your mouse pointer briefly. Then you can shake it again to bring them all back. Aero Peek allows you to render all open windows on the desktop transparent at the click of a button, so you can see straight down to the desktop and access any icons there when necessary. Aero Snap lets you control your desktop set up quickly and easily just by nudging windows around. Nudge a window to the left and it will automatically jump that way and expand to fill that side of the screen. Nudge another one to the right, and the window will jump and expand to the right of the screen, letting you view two windows at once whenever you want. Nudge a window towards the top of the screen and it will expand to fill the entire screen instead.

 

With all of these new improvements and a pared down installation, Windows 7 seems to be a great answer for any user that is currently unhappy with Windows Vista or wants a change from Windows XP.