If you are thinking about getting Windows 7 for your PC and upgrading from your current operating system, whether it's XP or Vista, then you will certainly want to know as much about it as possible so that you can make an informed decision. One of the things that Microsoft is pushing pretty hard when it comes to the Windows 7 release is its Aero desktop interface. Microsoft contends that Windows 7's Aero desktop interface will make using your desktop more useful and efficient, and that it also looks better while you are doing it. So what is Aero all about?

Windows 7's Aero desk

top's main hallmarks are its subtle animations and the translucent “glass” window effects, both of which are completely customizable to your tastes with new colors you can apply to your windows and more. The borders of these windows are where you will see the most constant of the “glass” effects in the Aero desktop. They are translucent, but not invisible – basically, you can see through them to the desktop below, giving the screen a more open look, but you can still see the outlines of the windows themselves, like an almost clear window frame. Microsoft says this feature will let you focus more on the contents of the window rather than the window itself. You can choose from a range of colors to tint your glass frames with, or even mix colors together to come up with your own custom and unique color for your desktop. You can also choose to tint the Start menu and the taskbar with those colors, as well.

 

Aero also changes the way you reposition, minimize and maximize your windows by using subtle animations that make it all look a lot more smooth and effortless. And it brings you a taskbar preview function that many users may find useful. Simply hover your mouse pointer over a button or icon on the taskbar, and you will be shown a live preview of the contents of that application, whether it is a webpage, a Word document, a picture or even a video that is currently playing, in a little window that will appear above the taskbar. You can also get these live preview windows if you are a person that likes to use the Alt + tab keyboard combo to switch between windows and applications. In the little area that using that keyboard combo brings up, you will get the same thumbnail previews, from pictures to running video to text documents, letting you see exactly what you are navigating to before you actually get there.

 

The Aero desktop theme is not found in all versions of Windows 7, and even if you do have a version of Windows 7 that has it, your particular system has to have the right specs and hardware requirements to run it correctly. If you have Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, or Windows 7 Ultimate, then you have the Aero theme included with your operating system. Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Starter, however, do not have the Aero desktop theme. If you already have Windows 7 installed, but you are not sure which version you are working with, you can find out by opening Control Panel and looking at System, or clicking on the Start button, then right clicking on Computer and choosing Properties. The edition of Windows 7 that your PC is using will show up under the “Windows edition” section there.

 

You can change Windows 7 desktop themes by clicking the Start button, then clicking on Control Panel and going to Appearance and Personalization. From there, click on Personalization, and click on Theme. Whatever theme is currently in use by Windows 7 will be highlighted, and you can change them here.