Microsoft recently launched it's latest version of Operating system,known as WIndows 7 for the personal computers.This is after a time span of less than 3 years after Windows vista was launched.Initially named as Blackcomb and Vienna,it was due to release after the launch of Windows XP.It was released to manufacture on July 22,2009 and will be available in markets from october 22,2009.
WIndows 7 is more user friendly.While a lot of features have been added into its outlook,it has worked upon some features previouly existing in windows vista.Some Windows Vista features and components have been changed or removed,including the classic Start menu user interface, Windows Ultimate Extras, and Windows calendar. Three applications available with Windows Vista — WIndows Photo Gallery, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Mail have been exclude in Windows 7.User can avail them in a separate package for free,called Windows Live Essentials.
Windows 7 comes with a number of new features, such as advances in touch and handwriting recognition, support for virtual hard disks, improved performance on multi-core processors and kernel improvements. Windows 7 adds support for systems using multiple heterogeneous graphics cards from different vendors (Heterogeneous Multi-adapter), a new version of Windows Media Center,a Gadget for Windows Media Center, improved media features, the XPS Essentials Pack and Windows PowerShell being included.Many new items have been added to the Control Panel, including ClearType Text Tuner, Display Color Calibration Wizard, Gadgets, Recovery, Troubleshooting, Location and Other Sensors, Credential Manager, System Icons, and Display.Windows Security Center has been renamed to Windows Action Center (Windows Health Center in earlier OS) which provides both security and maintenance of the machine.
The taskbar comes with a new visual look.The Quick launch has been replaced with pinning applications.This is a new change in the outlook.The buttons for the pinned applications are integrated with the taskbar buttons.The two additional features in WIndows 7 are the Aero peek n Aero Snap.On taking the mouse over the Aero peek button,makes all the windows opened transparent n gives a look at the desktop.On reclicking it,all the windows are restored.Aero Snap automatically maximizes a window when it is dragged to either the top or left/right edges of the screen.This permits the users to snap documents or files on either side of the screen to compare them.This functionality is also accomplished with keyboard shortcuts.
Unlike in Windows Vista, window borders and the taskbar do not turn opaque when a window is maximized with Windows Aero applied. Instead, they remain transparent in Windows 7.
Hardware requirements are needed to be checked out before installing Windows 7 as 1 GHz 32-bit processor,1 GB of RAM,16 GB of available disk space,etc are some of the necessities that are to be supported by the hardware configuration of the pc.One can download the Windows upgrade advisor from the microsoft site to have a Windows 7 compatibility check on their personal computer.
Overall,although the look of Windows 7 may seem to be nothing more than some polished outlook, it has features which vary from driver support to multitouch groundwork for the future, from better battery management to the most user-friendly interface Microsoft has ever had.
Will the release of WIndows 7 see the end of WIndows XP????