[PHOTO: Courtesy of Microsoft]
Just two months before the release of Windows 7, Microsoft has sent its final version to computer makers. I just got a copy, took a test drive, and found that—no surprise—Windows 7 is a better operating system than Vista. It was more stable, more efficient, and took up less space on my hard drive, with fewer overbearing annoyances like the infamous User Account Controls. Here are some of the features I liked:
Cleaner taskbar. The taskbar has been around awhile, but Windows 7 takes a whole new approach to this handy tool. Instead of text descriptions, its icons that represent the apps running, resulting in a cleaner look. You click a button to indicate where on the screen you want the taskbar to appear, and another tiny button on the end of the taskbar brings you directly to the Desktop.
Easier preview. Have you ever had three or four Word docs open but minimized, and been unable to tell which you want to work on? A preview function solves that problem. Just hover your mouse over a Word icon in the taskbar and a thumbnail preview big enough to read pops up. Move your mouse to a thumbnail, and the full task window opens, but only temporarily until you click it.
Jump Lists. Another feature that makes navigation more convenient is the jump list. Right-click on, say, the Excel icon in your taskbar, and you’ll get a list of the most recent Excel documents you had opened. You can also “pin” to the taskbar a document you frequently use, such as a form letter. Every time you open a Jump List, that document will be on it.
File Libraries. There’s also has a new way to organize your files, called Libraries, particularly handy with photo and music files. For example, once you’ve set it up, the Libraries feature will automatically show all the music files on your computer in a Music folder, even when you tell Windows 7 to store some in a different folder called Heavy Metal. As a result, you’ll be able to get to the song from both the Heavy Metal folder and the Music folder. You can create your own libraries as well.
User Account Controls (UAC). These are windows that pop up with a warning against risky activity when you’re installing new software, for example, or changing a Windows setting. The comparable controls in Vista were notorious for being a waste of time, and many users would simply turn off the feature, reducing security. The warnings were also virtually useless because they used the same level of caution whether there was a danger or not. With Windows 7, the default setting is for UAC to alert you only if software, not your own action, is going to change something. That way, when you get a warning, you know it’s for a good reason.
We’ll be taking a closer look at Windows 7 as its release approaches.
In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you Vista users: Do these new Windows 7 features sound like big enough improvements to merit an entirely new version of Windows? Do you plan to upgrade to Windows 7 when it’s released? Weigh in with your comments below. —Donna Tapellini
