Switching to a new operating system is a pretty major step to take as a PC owner. Microsoft is not really known for releasing flawless operating systems – in fact, it's actually quite the opposite – so before you go ahead and buy Windows 7, you need to have as much information about it under your belt as possible. This will let you determine whether or not Windows 7 will actually benefit you. After all, there is no reason to upgrade from your current operating system (as long as you are happy with it, of course) if the new features are not goi
With that in mind, we have been compiling a series of helpful articles focusing on Windows 7 and its new features and upgrades, and in this installment, we are going to take a look at the new Desktop features you will encounter in Windows 7. These features are intended to maximize your use of time and make using Windows much easier than it has been before.
The Windows 7 Desktop
Windows 7 brings you a new feature that Microsoft has dubbed “Aero Peek.” Aero Peek is a feature that, when activated, renders all of the maximized windows on your Desktop transparent. This lets you see straight down to the Desktop and locate icons and shortcuts that would otherwise be covered up by those windows. Instead of minimizing a bunch of windows in order to see your Desktop, now all you have to do is hover your mouse pointer over a little area on your Taskbar, and all of the windows will be rendered transparent.
If you click on that little area, then all of those transparent windows will move themselves out of the way so that you can access those icons, shortcuts and and of the other items you can find on the Desktop. This is similar to the Show Desktop feature we found in other Windows operating systems that featured the Quick Launch function.
Another new Desktop change that you will find in Windows 7 is the absence of the Sidebar that we got with Windows Vista. In the Windows Vista operating system, the Sidebar was an area of your Desktop that housed your Gadgets – little programs and applets that made accessing certain things you use often easier by putting them right there on the Desktop. In Windows 7, however, the Gadgets are no longer found in a Sidebar. Instead, they live directly on your Desktop and no longer compete for space with other apps and Gadgets on your screen. If you are a Vista user that really enjoys your Gadgets but does not like the way they have to be set up, then this feature may solve that problem for you. You still get to have your Gadgets, but you do not have to sacrifice precious space for them!
All in all, these are two features to be found in Windows 7 that may really ramp up your ability to use your computer more efficiently. This is particularly useful for those of us that use our PCs for work purposes. The more efficient your computer is, the more efficient you will be. You will get a lot more work done in a shorter amount of time, and that is something we can all really get behind. While it remains to be seen if these reported features will actually be as beneficial during regular use, the ideas appear to be very solid and a step in the right direction!
