The Tekblog

Windows 7 is supposed to address most of Windows Vista’s shortcomings. From what I’ve seen, it looks like Windows 7 is going to be all the things that Windows Vista was supposed to be. I’ve got it installed on a few different systems now and I’m pleased with what I’m seeing.

1.) Windows 7 is faster – Microsoft has recognized that one of the many reasons Vista has flopped so hard was that Vista performed more slowly and required more memory and graphics horsepower to run than Windows XP. Microsoft has been hard at work getting Windows 7 to be streamlined and run well, even on older hardware – even low-powered “netbooks”. Here is a great ZDNet article illustrating just how much of a performance improvement we are talking http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3236&page=2

2.) Improved User Account Control – Anyone who has used Vista has seen the infamous “Cancel or Allow” window that is created by the User Account Control feature. This is a security mechanism that is supposed to protect the user from unintended malicious changes to their computer. The problem was that the message was so ubiquitous that you would start to click “allow” almost instinctually – thusly negating any added security benefit. The notifications tend to get very annoying, very fast.  Windows 7 has redesigned the UAC to be less obtrusive and can be set in different levels ranging from bug-me-all-the-time to bug-me-seldom.

3.) More compatible – Now this has to be my favorite one. This is a feature I have been hard at work exploring. Windows 7 can  launch legacy applications in “XP Mode”. That is, it can actually run an application under Windows XP inside Windows 7 using virtualization technology. I’ve run into more than one poorly written legacy application that a client uses for a mission critical piece of their business that simply wont run under Vista. Replacing this application is often too costly or time-intensive to be an option and we have been forced to stick with Windows XP Downgrades when purchasing new machines. Not any more – we can run the application under Windows 7’s “XP Mode”. This will allow companies to buy into current technology and still retain their legacy applications!

Microsoft is offering six versions of Windows 7: Starter, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, OEM and Enterprise. The three versions that Redmond will be promoting most heavily are Home Premium, Professional and Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, although Starter will also be available to consumers and is designed specifically for Netbook computers.

look for Windows 7 to be available in the last weeks of August.