| | | | | HomeGroup. This enables easy sharing of files and |
| Windows 7 Review | | | | devices. One downside is that HomeGroup is only |
| | | | supported between Windows 7 systems. File transfer |
| Here comes Windows 7, nearly three years after | | | | performance between computers has been vastly |
| Windows Vista and eight years after Windows XP. | | | | improved and connecting to a wireless network has |
| By most accounts, Windows 7 is what Vista should | | | | never been easier on a Windows machine. |
| have been. Do we finally have a worthy successor to | | | | SECURITY |
| XP? | | | | Security in Windows 7 is good and comes with |
| PROS: | | | | Windows Firewall and Defender. Still, you'll probably |
| - Fast startup and performance | | | | want to invest in a more comprehensive Internet |
| - Stable | | | | security suite, like Norton Internet Security 2010 or |
| - Nice aesthetic and functional changes to the desktop | | | | Kaspersky Internet Security. User Account Control |
| - Improved networking, power management & | | | | (UAC) has been tweaked in order to give user |
| security | | | | accounts more flexibility in controlling their own security |
| - 32-bit & 64-bit versions included | | | | as well as providing more detailed information so the |
| - Windows Media Center | | | | user can make better decisions about whether to |
| - Windows XP Mode (Professional & Ultimate | | | | allow certain actions. Coming from XP however, it is |
| only) | | | | still annoying and I choose to turn it off. Also, in |
| CONS: | | | | Windows 7 Ultimate, you can encrypt entire hard |
| - User Account Control still annoying | | | | drives as well as external portable storage devices, |
| - Upgrade can be challenging | | | | like USB thumb drives. Though this is a welcome |
| - Expensive | | | | integrated feature, much of the functionality can be |
| There are only two Microsoft operating systems I've | | | | found in a popular open-source program called |
| personally skipped since DOS 6.x-- Windows ME and | | | | TrueCrypt. If you want encryption but not |
| Windows Vista. Windows ME was so terrible that PC | | | | multi-language support, you could just get Windows 7 |
| World coined it the "Mistake Edition." Vista, when initially | | | | Home Premium and use TrueCrypt. |
| released, was considered to be bloated, relying on | | | | POWER MANAGEMENT |
| higher hardware requirements than XP, while being | | | | Power management has been improved overall and |
| outperformed by XP on identical hardware. With | | | | you should be able to squeeze more battery life out of |
| Microsoft fast-tracking Windows 7, I decided to skip | | | | your laptop, even when using your DVD drive. Sleep |
| Vista altogether and upgrade to 7. This review briefly | | | | and resume has also been improved. XP wasn't |
| touches upon some of the key features and | | | | always consistent when entering or resuming from |
| enhancements of Microsoft's latest OS. | | | | sleep mode, but Windows 7 has been perfect. |
| PERFORMANCE & STABILITY | | | | WINDOWS MEDIA CENTER |
| One of the welcome enhancements Microsoft made | | | | I've only briefly played around with WMC but it looks |
| was start-up time. The shutdown time has been | | | | promising. It has some fun options for media, especially |
| improved as well. Also, in my non-benchmarked | | | | when you're connected to the Internet. It may even be |
| experience, Windows 7 has been at least as fast as | | | | an adequate replacement for component DVR's |
| XP if not faster. The kernel changes and ability to run | | | | should you choose to use it as the centerpiece to your |
| the 64-bit version probably has a lot to do with that. | | | | entertainment center. The biggest advantage for me is |
| Most benchmarks from around the Internet seem to | | | | that Windows 7 now includes a DVD decoder. This |
| support my observations. | | | | means that I can now watch DVD's natively. WMC is |
| 64-BIT | | | | available in all Windows 7 editions except Starter. |
| I am elated to finally upgrade to a 64-bit operating | | | | WINDOWS XP MODE |
| system in order to take advantage of more memory | | | | For applications that ran in XP, but won't on 7, there is |
| support and modern processors. I have Intel Core 2 | | | | now XP Mode. It isn't perfect and your system has to |
| Duo processors in both my systems with 4GB of | | | | have virtualization support and turned on. Go to your |
| physical RAM but XP only allowed 3.25GB for system | | | | system BIOS to check. If supported, then install |
| use. | | | | Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode. Check |
| DESKTOP | | | | your hardware if you intend to use XP Mode. XP |
| At first login, you'll notice the changes to the taskbar. | | | | Mode is only available in Windows 7 Professional and |
| The taskbar is no longer just a place to store quick | | | | Windows 7 Ultimate editions. |
| launch icons and view open windows. It now provides | | | | RECOMMENDATIONS |
| functionality in the form of Jump Lists, which allow you | | | | If you're an XP holdout, like I was, I recommend |
| to select your most frequently opened files or links | | | | upgrading. Vista SP2 users may have less reason to |
| from the apps you have "pinned" on the taskbar. The | | | | upgrade but might want to just for the changes to the |
| clock and calendar are improved and the Show | | | | taskbar and the UAC improvements. For users who |
| Desktop icon is now integrated in the far right corner. | | | | don't need to use their computers in a corporate |
| Other desktop enhancements include Aero Peek, | | | | environment, then Windows 7 Home Premium edition is |
| Aero Shake, Snap, new themes and wallpapers. You | | | | a good choice. I'm guessing most power users will |
| also get gadget support. All of these features combine | | | | choose Professional, which adds XP Mode and |
| to create a much improved and enjoyable desktop | | | | Domain Join. Ultimate also adds drive encryption and |
| experience. | | | | multi-language support. I suggest a clean install for best |
| LIBRARIES | | | | results. If you're a Mac OS X user, there is probably |
| Windows 7 introduces a new feature called libraries. | | | | nothing in Windows 7 compelling enough for you to |
| Previously, your system had shortcuts to My | | | | consider switching. |
| Documents, My Music, My Pictures, etc. which had files | | | | Windows 7 Review |
| residing in only those specific folders. Files can now | | | | SUMMARY |
| reside anywhere on your system and be organized | | | | Windows 7 is the premium Microsoft OS that |
| inside libraries. It's similar to how many music and photo | | | | Windows users have been waiting for. It's fast, secure, |
| applications organize files. | | | | stable, visually appealing and fun to use. Windows 7 will |
| NETWORKING | | | | make your old system feel fresh and new again. New |
| Even as good as XP was, networking was | | | | system owners with Windows 7 pre-loaded can feel |
| cumbersome. Windows 7 makes connecting two or | | | | confident that they're getting the best Windows OS |
| more Windows 7 systems together easy, using | | | | ever produced. |