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Topic: Operating Systems

What to look for in Windows 7

Summary: In this gallery and the accompanying blog post, Ed Bott walks you through the main features in Windows 7 and explains the best ways for you to evaluate the changes.

Ed Bott

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By Ed Bott

What's the best way to approach Windows 7? Start by throwing away preconceptions from earlier Windows versions and approach the new OS with an open mind. That's the best way to decide whether to incorporate Windows 7 into your home or business PCs. In this gallery, I highlight some features you'll want to pay special attention to.

This gallery is a companion piece for my in-depth review of Windows 7 based on the final release candidate. Be sure to read "What to expect from Windows 7" to get the full story.
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Topics: Operating Systems, Browser, Microsoft, Software, Windows

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17 comments
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  • contents view

    as i pointed out during the beta, full row select is not for people that use single click. this view just exacerbates the problem, as there is not a hell of a lot room to click in the window to set the focus so the scroll wheel is functional.
    g_keramidas@...
    Reply Vote

    • Hmmm...

      My scroll wheel is active without any clicking required. All I have to do is move it over the contents pane to begin scrolling. Maybe that was a bug that got fixed?
      Ed Bott
      Reply Vote

  • Interface needs more perceptual ergonomics less data base presentation -NT

    NT
    raycote
    Reply Vote

    • What are you talking about?

      ...
      Ed Bott
      Reply Vote

  • Looks very much like the Mac app bar to me!!

    Just needs to get bigger when you browse your mouse over each program icon...!
    jon@...
    Reply Vote

    • Coattail riding

      "App bar" or officially, the Dock. This is just another case of MS riding Apple's coattails. Now where did I put that Zune player...
      psudeke1@...
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Contents view is new (What to look for in Windows 7)

    I can't even get IE8 to work and now you push 7 on us.
    robnjuli@...
    Reply Vote

  • How do I get rid of XP from off my computer, so that I can take full advan?

    getting rid of of OS
    hhguy
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Contents view is new (What to look for in Windows 7)

    If I already have the beta(not installed) , will this automatically upgrade or update to RC after installing from beta?
    Unemployed Telecom Guy / Full Time Student Guy
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Contents view is new (What to look for in Windows 7)

    Will it be possible to add a Windows 7 RC to a home network with XP Pro's and OSX's? If so, How please?....Somehow networking on Windows 7 implies that it is only supported on other Windows 7 machines. Thanks
    grivera47@...
    Reply Vote

    • Install it and play around

      How else do you figure out how something new works?
      hoffmancarl
      Reply Vote

      • Thats perfectly fine

        Yeah installing it and playing around is the best option, I personally can't wait to test drive it. But reading on the Microsoft Win 7 site, something bothered me. March 2010, You will get a message from Windows saying that it will begin to shut down your system every 2 hours until June 2010, unless you buy and install a retail version. That I'm not looking forward to
        barker225
        Reply Vote

        • Windows 7

          What else would you expect from Microsoft?

          As far as I'm concerned, Windows 7 is just an upgrade from Windows XP.
          DaveFeign
          Reply Vote

  • RE: Contents view is new (What to look for in Windows 7)

    I'm not sure? Can I download it to DVD-R
    tripm69
    tripm69
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Contents view is new (What to look for in Windows 7)

    Having played around with the Beta version for a month and now running the RC 1 Ultimate 64 version, I think Microsoft finally got it right.
    wds21921@...
    Reply Vote

  • What I really like...

    is how much MS took from Apple OS-X. Of course, since so much of
    OS-X is now ring fenced by patents, there is less than it would have
    been.

    Kudos to MS for being such slavish thieves.

    Then again, they have decades of experience!
    Jeremy W
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Contents view is new (What to look for in Windows 7)

    It's funny how the Mac fanboys are always some of the quickest to speak out when there is something new with MS.

    Thank you MS for not including the bouncing icons on PC's.
    dmandvm
    Reply Vote
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