Windows 7

Windows 7 is the next release of Microsoft Windows. Windows 7 is scheduled to be released in January 2010. Microsoft distributed pre-beta Windows 7 build 6801 to PDC 2008 attendees which was held less than a month ago. This post summarizes some of these new features you can expect from this version of Windows.

Installation

We installed the pre-beta of Windows 7 (build 6801) on Microsoft Virtual PC 2007. Installation was a breeze, no problems encountered.

Windows 7 is still in the early stages of development. So the following features and screenshots below might differ from the final version of Windows 7. There is still a long way between this build and the public beta and the final RTM version! Another thing to take note is that we’re running this on a virtual PC. Thus, the glassy effects don’t seem to be there.

Desktop and Taskbar

The Windows 7 desktop! The most significant change in Windows 7 would probably be its interface. As you can see, Windows 7 has a different taskbar called the “Superbar”. By default, the Superbar is disabled in build 6801 as its probably incomplete. However, with a tool released by WithinWindows, beta-testers could unlock and experience the new taskbar! According to Microsoft, the new taskbar comes with “Destination List, Icon Overlays, Thumbnails for running windows, Thumbnail Toolbars, and Progress bars”. The QuickLaunch is still here in the screenshot, but will be removed in future builds of Windows 7. Also, the taskbar offers an option to pin applications for easy access.

If you have multiple Internet Explorer windows open, highlighting IE on the task bar will show all IE windows including each of the tabs. So no more searching through each IE window to find the tab you’re looking for!

Apart from that, Windows 7 also allows you to choose what icon you want to see in the taskbar.

One of the aims of Windows 7 is to reduce the number or redundant alerts which disturbs users from their work. Every been bothered by the “You must restart your computer for the updates to take effects ” prompt that bug you forever? You might find the image below somewhat familiar. Yes, its the prompt you will see in Windows Vista when an update requires a restart.

Gadgets are not turned on by default, but are still available from the Control Panel.

Windows Solution Center

To solve this problem, Windows 7 also introduced the “Windows Solution Center” so that all the system messages fall under 1 icon which appears in the taskbar. Annoyed by a message? Don’t worry! You have an option to “Turn off messages like this” so you’ll never see it again!

User Account Control

While we’re talking about being less annoying, Windows 7 has also relooked at the User Account Control which many found to be totally annoying! Many turned it off, others just clicked continue without even looking. The new UAC allows you to choose a notification level. It won’t bug you for every little bit of setting you’re making to your own computer. Hey, after all, its your computer! In the default installation of Windows 7, you won’t be notified when you make changes to Windows settings. Instead, UAC will only warn you if a programme tries to make changes to your computer.

HomeGroup

Sharing has also been made easy in Windows 7. Now, anybody can share files over a network! Say goodbye to complicated configurations for file sharing. Windows 7 calls this the “HomeGroup”. HomeGroup makes sharing files an easier task for those that are not technically inclined.

The context menu has been edited so that users share files by just clicking an option under the “Share with” menu.

Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer is somewhat similar to that of Windows Vista’s. I’ll let the screenshot below speak for itself about the look and layout. Windows 7 introduced a new location called the “Libraries”. This feature will list files of similar types located on your computer, connected external drives and even networked computers. An example of its use is to locate music or video files kept in different folders across multiple computers within a home network.

Tablet PC!

Windows 7 also promises a better experience for Tablet PC users.

There is now a feature that recognises Mathematics. Now you can write out fractions, all the symbols, etc with your pen!

Control Panel

The control panel only has minor changes from that of Vista’s, mostly in looks.

Credentials Manager

The Credentials Manager will manage all your stored passwords for servers, websites and programs. It even manages certificate-based credentials!

The Bundled Apps

Most bundled applications had new looks and functions added to it in Windows 7!

Notepad now has more formatting functions and have the ribbon look, like the one in Microsoft Office 2007.

Paint also took on the ribbon look. It now has brushes, more shapes, etc. Its nowhere compared to Photoshop or GIMP. But hey, at least its better than the old paint!

Windows Media Player also have a slightly different layout. It is also integrated to the taskbar so that you can control your music without opening the main window. Other than that, nothing else changed very much.

Not forgetting the calculator! It now comes with a new look and more functions than ever!

Sticky notes! Yes, Windows 7 will ship with sticky notes bundled with it. It does look like a gadget, but its actually an application.

Disk Defragmenter

Remember the defragmenter in Windows XP? It showed you a whole lot of information about the defragmentation state of your computer. Then in Windows Vista, all the information was suddenly hidden. You no longer know how fragmented your computer was. All you know is whether defragmenter is on or off. In Windows 7, we are now able to see some basic information under “Current status”.

Personalisation

Choose from a list of predefined themes or make your own! You can now select more than 1 wallpaper which will rotate on a regular basis.

Logon Screen

Last but not least, the Windows 7 logon screen. Its not a lot different from Windows Vista’s, but it certainly looks nicer with the change in background.

Conclusion

To conclude, I think Windows 7 is certainly a great improvement from Windows Vista. After listening to all the complaints and suggestions of the community, I believe the Windows Team will have a better idea of the Windows everyone wants! Windows 7 will be an OS for all users, be it novices or geeks!

I hope this gives you a brief overview of the upcoming Windows 7 Operating System. Of course, this is just a brief introduction and does not cover all the features! If you would like a screenshot of any part of Windows 7, or an introduction to any new feature not mentioned here, feel free to post a comment below and we’ll see if we can add it here!