Windows 7

Product summary The good: Strong design and Microsoft don’t always go together, but they do in Windows 7. Users might take a while to get used to the new taskbar and Aero Peek, but they’re a pleasure to use. The bad: Performance is still hit-or-miss in Windows 7. At the ripe age of seven, Windows XP still performs better in some categories. The bottom line: Windows 7 is more than what Vista should have been, it’s where Microsoft needed to go. How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP are questions that nobody has the answers to right now.

Comparing Windows: XP vs. Vista vs. 7

	Windows XP	Windows Vista	Windows 7
Minimum hardware	–Processor: 300MHz –RAM: 128MB –Super VGA graphics device –HD: 4.2 GB (for SP3)	–Processor: 1GHz –RAM: 1 GB (32-bit), 2 GB (64-bit) –Support for DirectX 9 graphics device with 128MB of memory –HD: 20 GB (32-bit), 40 GB (64-bit)	–Processor: 1 GHz –RAM: 1 GB (32-bit), 2 GB (64-bit) –Support for DirectX 9 graphics device with 128MB of memory –HD: 16 GB (32-bit), 20 GB (64-bit)
Interface	–Luna theme –Introduces task-based windows options –Skinning possible but difficult –Desktop Cleanup Wizard automates removing old icons	–Aero theme –Introduces transparent panes, window animations, live thumbnails of running programs –New desktop sidebar supports gadgets –Supports touch screens	–Aero theme –Supports slideshow backgrounds, RSS and theme packs –Introduces Aero Shake and Aero Snap –Desktop gadgets can be placed anywhere –Supports multitouch on touch screens
Explorer	–Replaces tree navigation by default with task pane –Improves image handling –Offers thumbnail previews and group views –Supports some metadata	–Task pane integrated into toolbar –New breadcrumb navigation –New metadata display –Improved icon resolution –Some documents can be edited from the preview pane	–Support for federated searches and libraries –Virtual folders aggregate content from local and networked drives
Start menu	–New layout –Devices and some Control Panel options appear in menu	–Added search box –All Programs folder changed to a nested format –Configurable power button –User profile picture	–Taskbar jumps appear in the Start menu and replace the right column when viewed –Documents, Pictures, Music buttons now link to their libraries –Control Panel options have been integrated into search results
Taskbar	–New look –Hideable icons in System Tray	–Refreshed look –Alt-Tab hot key now shows preview thumbnail of program	–Interactive mouse-over preview panes –Replacement of the Quick Launch bar with pinned programs –Program-specific jump lists based on pinned programs –Aero Peek for mouse-over desktop viewing –Revamped System Tray
Devices	–Introduces Universal Plug-n-Play –New driver library allows for downgrading drivers when necessary	–Debuts portable device API, designed to communicate with cell phones, PDAs, and portable media players –Introduces Sync Center for managing data synchronizations	–New Device Stage provides a centralized, unified window for managing all aspects of printers and portable devices
Misc.	–Introduces context-menu CD and DVD burning from Windows Explorer –Supports multiple versions of a single DLL to prevent programs from overwriting each other –Introduces Hibernate and Sleep modes –Remote Desktop for accessing a computer from another location –Fast user account switching	–Built-in drive partitioning –More powerful screen-capturing tool –Hybrid Sleep and better configuration options for more nuanced power management –User-based file-type associations –Previous Version automatically backs up changes to individual files	–Expands Windows Explorer disc burning to include ISOs –Introduces XP Mode –Expanded options for disabling components –Can search text in scanned TIFF –Additional power-saving features for laptops

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