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From Windows 3.1 to Windows Vista,
the Windows operating system has taken many giant leaps. And while Vista
received a lukewarm reception from some users, Windows 7 is likely to be
remembered for addressing those criticisms.
In fact, there aren't many changes
to the overall look of Windows 7 when compared to Windows Vista. Instead,
Microsoft seems to have paid attention to the feedback it received and created
an OS that is not only stable, but also very capable.
So what is new in Windows 7? Here
are 12 cool things Windows 7 does that Vista doesn't. (Nor is Windows XP
capable of doing)
1. SHAKE 'EM AWAY
Ever had 10 Notepad, two PowerPoint
and 50 Outlook windows open? Want to mi5nimise all of them except the most
important one? In Windows 7, you can grab the top of the window and shake it
about to scare away all of the other open windows. Simple.
2. JUMPLISTS
Jumplists are a new feature that
give you the option to view a list of recently accessed files by application,
even when the application isn't open, by right-clicking on the application's
icon in the taskbar. It also allows you to quickly access a favourite playlist
without opening your media player. Jumplists can also be found integrated into
the Start Menu.
3. A STEP FORWARD IN PREVIEWING
In Vista, hovering over a minimised
window on the taskbar would provide a preview of the window. In Windows 7, a
similar preview pops up which also gives the option to close a window (within
the preview), along with a full-size 'peek'. You can also press Win + T to
scroll along previews in the taskbar.
4. SNAP INTO PLACE
Simply drag your window to the left
or right edge of the desktop to snap and resize the window to one half of the
screen. Drag the window to the top to maximise it. A pretty neat idea made
neater by the use of the keyboard shortcuts (Win + respective arrow keys). No
longer do you have to frustratingly position the mouse at the edge of the
window to resize it.
5. XP MODE
This time, you do not have to slap
your head that same way when Vista would not run an XP application. For those
XP applications that do not work under Windows 7, you can download XP Mode free from the Microsoft
website and run XP applications in an emulated XP environment in Windows 7.
Imagine Parallels on Mac OS X without the need to fish out money on an extra
OS.
6. PROBLEM STEPS RECORDER
The 'Problem Steps Recorder' letsyou record a particular problem you are having with your PC so you can send it
to someone who may be able to help. Click 'Record', and a screenshot is taken
with every mouse click, allowing comments to be added in between if required.
These screenshots (and comments, if any) are placed in a well-formatted HTML
document that is placed inside a zipped folder on your desktop - ideal to be
attached to an email.
7. A NEW WAY TO PREVIEW YOUR MUSIC
FILES
Opening and listening to an MP3 is a
lot more snappier with Windows 7 due to its new smaller preview player,
presenting you with album art, basic music functionality and a link to the
full-blown Windows Media Player. This is an obvious attempt to mimic the
preview feature of Mac OS X, but it is very well executed.
8. HOMEGROUP NETWORKING
In Vista (or, frankly, any Windows
OS), creating a shared folder over a network at home could be a bit of a pain.
In Windows 7, using the 'Homegroup' wizard, check the default folders you would
like to share. This will give you a passcode that will have to be entered in
another computer on the same network to share the files. Sounds too good to be
true? There is a catch: only a Windows 7 computer can join a Homegroup.
9. STREAM MUSIC DIRECTLY TO ANOTHER
If you do create a Homegroup,
Windows Media Player allows you to stream music directly to another computer.
So, instead of listening to music through your measly laptop speakers, you can
wirelessly stream to the 7.1 Surround Sound Speakers of your PC in your living
room, without stepping away from your laptop. Sweet.
10. PIN JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO THE
NEW WINDOWS
Imagine a blank Mac OS X Dock with
the start menu, the notifications bar and the improved 'Show Desktop' button
added to it. Drag just about anything on to it and the associated application
will place itself on the translucent taskbar, with an option to open the file
in the Jumplist.
11. NATIVE ISO BURNER
There are those times when you
inevitably have to burn an ISO file (such as when you have to copy a downloaded
Windows 7 beta or RC) to a DVD. With Windows 7 you do not need to download
third-party software (some of which are pretty confusing to use).
Double-clicking on an ISO file will take you to a window that allows you to
change the disc burner drive. Click 'Burn'. After a while, your disc is ready.
Simple.
12. NATIVE CALIBRATION TOOLS
If you tend to hook up your computer
to an HDTV or care about getting the highest quality from your monitor, then
the in-built basic and easy-to-use calibration tools built into Windows 7 will
please you.
Now
I would believe that next time you plan for a new laptop or ask to recommend
which OS is preferable, you will not have to rack your brain or call that IT
friend of yours so as to know which one to choose.
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