Microsoft released its new operating system Windows7 on October 22,2009, windows 7’s server counterpart, Windows Server 2008 R2, was released at the same time.The operating systems comes in six different flavors – Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate, but only the Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate editions are available for retail sale to consumers in most countries.
Windows 7 comes up with a lot of new features like redesigned Windows Shell with a new taskbar, (referred to as the Super bar), a home networking system called HomeGroup, a snipping tool and made performance improvements.But some features like Windows Calendar, Windows Mail, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Photo Gallery are missing.But users can download from Windows Live Essentials (7 programs can be installed using 1 free download).
Windows 7 system requirements (From Microsoft)
Additional requirements to use certain features: * Some games and programs might require a graphics card compatible with DirectX 10 or higher for optimal performance * For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required * Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware * HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7 * BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 * BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive * Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-Vturned on |
New features in Windows 7 ;
Windows Touch
Windows 7 aims for new devices with touch screen facility.Pair Windows 7 with a touch screen and you won’t always need a keyboard or mouse.
HomeGroup
Takes the headache out of sharing files and printers on a home network.
Jump Lists
Speedy access to your favorite pictures, songs, websites, and documents.Jumplist help us to view a list of recently accessed files by application, even when the application isn’t open, by simplyright-clickingon the application’s icon in the taskbar.So one can access a file easily.For example if you select Opera, you can see the Recent items on the right side.You can directly go to any of the pages by simply clicking on it.
Windows Search
Find virtually anything on your PC, instantly.This is one of the most loved feature in Windows7.You will wondered to find the search button in stat menu! But you can simply search by selecting a driver or folder and enter the keywords to the top right box.Windows will start to display results instantly as you type.
Snip
A quick way to take screenshot of your desktop and application.
Windows Taskbar
Better thumbnail previews,easier-to-seeicons, and more ways to customize.
Performance improvements
Designed to sleep and resume quicker, be less memory hungry, and spot USB devices faster.Windows 7 shutdown more faster and sleep functionality saves more battery power in laptops.
Desktop :-
The desktop is the main and most used feature in an operating system.In windows 7 Microsoft gives a new look to windows.One of the most loved functionality is the Shake function-InWindows 7, you can grab the top of the window and shake it about to scare away all of the other open windows! Another feature is all minimized windows can preview as pops ups which also gives the option to close a window (close button is within the preview pane).You can connect your computer to the external monitor or projector and using Win + P will help you to duplicating or extending your display to the other monitor.
Networking
Once a network printer is installed all group members can use it instantly Automatically gets driver so can print directly..In my previous Windows XP SP3 version the Bluetooth device was not working properly even after I installed my driver.But in Windows7 I can share files through Bluetooth just after installing the windows7.No need of additional drivers. It is amazing! It instantly detect plug and play devices.When inserting a pen drive it automatically displays an auto play menu with a list of options.
System Recovery
Repairfunctionality-Pressing[F8] Key while booting helps to reconstruct a system image.Action centre provides all security alerts.
Some tools like Paint, Calculator and WordPad got a new look.Paint has got a crop functionality and ribbon like interface.Now WordPad can open docx files.There are lot of other featureslike-sensors-detectbacklight, gps location etc.Device state helps to control device through standard interface.Ultimate users can enjoyBitLocker-Driveencryption.AppLocker-Administratorto control which process are to be allowed and ask for permission when try to write something in program files in the installation drive. and VHD support.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Win+Up => Maximize the current window
Win+Down => Restore / Minimize
Win+Left => Snap to left
Win+Right => Snap to right
Win+Shift+Left => Jump to left monitor
Win+Shift+Right => Jump to right monitor
Win+Home => Minimize / Restore all other windows
Win+Spacebar => Preview desktop (Make all open windows transparent)
Win+G => Bring gadgets to the top of the Z-order
Win+P => External display options (mirror, extend desktop, etc)
Win+X => Mobility Center
Win+T => Cycles through the items on the Taskbar.
Conclusion
From the experience we can assure you that windows 7 Rocks! Once you used it you never return back to windows vista and XP (now some applications didn’t work in windows7-so XP mode is handy at this time).There is no surprise to became the highest-grossingpre-orderin Amazon’s history, surpassing sales of the previous record holder, the seventh Harry Potter book.CNET gave Windows 7 Home Premium a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, PC Magazine rated it a 4 out of 5, Maximum PC gave Windows 7 a rating of 9 out of 10, and LAPTOP Magazine gave Windows 7 rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Now our score is :
{ Windows 7- Our rating 4.6 out of 5 }
Share your experience with windows 7, tell us your new finding in windows that most users don’t know and share tips and tricks to use windows 7 better.
Further Reading
