Windows 7 is Microsoft’s latest member in the operating system family. Windows 7 introduces new and innovative features while delivering increased performance in 3 flavors: Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate.
Windows 7 has made some genuine steps over its predecessors by introducing a revamped GUI. The taskbar now stacks multiple windows for open programs, meaning less clutter for the everyday multi-tasker. It also shows the icon of an open program rather than displaying the full name, Security is another aspect that Windows 7 puts emphasis on. The UAC (User Access Control) is now optimized and more sophisticated compared to its predecessor; it will now prompt you should any critical changes be made to the computer by any applications. Device management has also seen a refresher course. It now has native touch-screen support for any tablet PCs or touch-capable monitors, eliminating the need to go online and search for drivers manually.
Featured in the Professional and Ultimate of Windows 7 is Windows XP Mode. Windows XP Mode is the newest innovation that premiered with Windows 7. XP-Mode allows you to emulate an installation of Windows XP. It is fully functional and it provides compatibility with older games or software. XP-mode is a form of operating system virtualization.
Benefits of Windows 7
Reliability –Windows 7 is fast and responsive due to improvements in the operating system’s core files. These improvements lead to a quicker boot-up thanks to reduced background services and boot-up prompts.
Scalability -Windows 7 makes use of tomorrow’s hardware while scaling back on yesterdays. Got a piece of legacy hardware that wouldn’t work with previous versions of Windows? 7 will utilize its new driver architecture and identify the hardware for functionality.
Interactivity– Windows 7’s new Aero Shake, Snap and Peek interface allows the user to “shake” off any unwanted program windows in the background. Aero snap is another feature that allows you to control how you want your program windows to appear when maximized. Aero Peek is useful to the user as it allows for quick viewing without actually opening up a single window. Just point and you’ll get a real-time preview of what’s running in the background.
Security—Featuring an enhanced File System Encryption, Windows 7 will offer strong data protection for your business’s confidential information such as credit card numbers or employees. Online browsing is also safer with Internet Explorer 8 and Windows Defender working together. Businesses will have peace of mind knowing that their web browsing will be secured thanks to IE8 and Windows Defender constantly updating their database regarding malicious software and internet threats.
Productivity-Under Windows 7, you can forget about the conventional method of setting up a network system. Through the use of the Home Group feature, you will be able to share multiple files such as music, pictures or documents throughout different connected PCs and even send print jobs to a shared printer.
If you’re in the market for a new operating system, Windows 7 is hard to pass up. It introduces new features that involve virtualization thanks to Virtual XP mode and a sleek new interface that is sure to please new users. Small businesses with or without servers will benefit from the new Home Group networking feature as it allows for easy sharing of files between several computers without compromising security. Windows 7 delivers snappy performance and a nifty feature-set without the need for demanding hardware requirements.
