So What's All The Fuss About Windows 7 ?

This article takes a brief look at the background to the creation of Windows 7 and summarises some of it's main features. Microsoft brought forward the launch date of Windows 7 to October 2009 following relatively poor sales levels of Windows Vista. So much is expected of its latest operating system.

This article takes a brief look at the background to the creation of Windows 7 and summarises some of it's main features. Microsoft brought forward the launch date of Windows 7 to October 2009 following relatively poor sales levels of Windows Vista. So much is expected of its latest operating system.

Windows computer users might ask - what is wrong with staying with Windows XP? This is a very popular operating system which is well supported by device manufacturers and applications software. However technology moves on at a pace and Microsoft's strategy has always been to create software to take advantage of the latest technology. Since XP's launch in 2001 we have seen the emergence of multi core processors, several Gigs RAM commonplace in computers, much more network and internet usage and large screen high definition displays to name but a few developments.

Windows Vista was launched in Jan 2007 to take advantage of developments like these but has always struggled to become the natural successor to XP. Initial Vista user feedback reported some issues concerning hardware stability, general performance, network performances and non availability of some device drivers. (To be fair there have been device drivers issues following the launch of each Microsoft operating system since Windows 95, but these have been resolved in time).

In addition many users did not welcome the new User Account Control (UAC) and the seemingly never ending prompts to confirm user actions whenever something needed to be changed on their system. Windows 7 launched date was brought forward three months to October 2009 in response to users experiences of Vista. Windows 7 is based on Vista but with a major rework of the problem areas, with much more device driver support and with significant new features added.

So what are the main features of Windows 7?

Perhaps the biggest improvement, first introduced with Vista, is the new taskbar with larger icons and improved search capability. There is no quick launch area but users can now drag applications to the taskbar where they will appear as icons. Hover over a taskbar icon and you will see a thumbnail which can increase to near full screen size. Click the thumbnail and the application opens. You can switch applications by simply clicking on a different taskbar icon.

Users can now customise the User Access Control (UAC) alert settings using a slider, from "Always notify" to "Never notify", although user opinion is divided regarding whether it is wise to allow such wide ranging user control.


Gadgets, first introduced with Vista, are now integrated with the desktop so can be placed anywhere. The Vista type sidebar is gone. You can access gadgets via a right click on the desktop.

Networking has been improved, including easier home network setup and a one click wifi connection option. Default printers can change automatically if you change locations, for example moving a laptop from home to a work location.

Windows 7 has a really useful application called BitLocker which allows you to encrypt a hard drive. Some versions will also include Bitlocker to Go which will allow you to encrypt external devices such as USB memory sticks.

Window 7 users can download a free XP version of its popular Virtual PC application from Microsoft. Once installed this allows users to run Windows XP as a virtual PC from within Windows 7. You can install applications on XP just as you would normally do, within the Virtual PC. To use the virtual PC just click on its desktop icon. To leave XP just close or minimise the Virtual PC window. This gives users the benefit of still working with XP, for example to access older printers or scanners which do not have Windows 7 device drivers, all from within Windows 7.

There are other important Windows 7 features including touch screen support, large screen support, a library features which lets you categorise files stored in different locations, an enhanced media player and improved power saving options.

By the way, most users will be happy to hear that the minimum system requirements for Windows 7 remain the same as Windows Vista, with the exception of HD space. Windows 7 requirements include: a 1 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, support for a DirectX 9 graphics device with 128 MB of memory, and t least 16G of HD space.

Interested in learning more about Windows 7? Many of the good computer training organisations are now offering Windows 7 courses. Best be prepared!