All about Windows 7

Windows 7, the latest buzz word making headlines in world's technology fields, is finally out following a substantial hype and hoopla.

Many are considering the much-awaited Windows Operating System to be the only significant release after the much-successful Windows XP. The all but maligned Windows Vista being a flop among most of the PC users has substantially damaged the credibility of a pioneering technology bigwig Microsoft.


Windows Vista, when released, faced a lot of heat due to having many issues like slowing down the system and being incompatible with a slew of applications. Since then Microsoft has tried to undo the damage by taking efforts to make it compatible with an increased number of apps by releasing patches and improved Service Packs.

But even after about a decade of its release, Windows XP scores way high than Vista and enjoys the status of being the most widely used operating system in the world with a market share of a whopping 66.2%.

Now Microsoft has eventually come up with a brand new OS which is touted to be an effective weapon for Microsoft to steer ahead of its ever-increasing competition and gain back its sheen.

Experts are considering Microsoft's flagship OS Windows 7 to be a "polishing release of Windows Vista."

Here is a quick checklist why you may consider to go for

Windows 7 :-

• Windows 7 is less bulky than its predecessor Windows Vista, hence takes up less resources and delivers more.
• There is an even lighter version for netbooks. (Netbooks being the rage might have captured the attention of the folks at Microsoft)
• It supports virtual hard drives which is where things will be headed in future anyway.
• It has improved speech and handwriting recognition.
• Improved boot performance.
• Windows Aero User Interface with few nice features like Aero Snap, Aero Peek and Aero Shake.
• An interactive touch interface (given you have the supported hardware)

If you are ready to take a plunge in the world of Windows 7, your system should have the following specifications :

• 1 GHz or faster 32 bit (x86) or 64 bit (x64) Processor
• 1 GB RAM for 32-bit or 2 GB RAM for 64-bit
• 16 GB free Hard Disk space for 32 bit or 20 GB for 64 bit
• DirectX 9 Graphics Device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Considering the huge popularity of Windows XP among PC users the world over, Microsoft has given Windows 7 a feature that lets the users use their older Windows XP business software right on Windows 7 desktop, simply called "Windows XP mode". It has been designed keeping in mind a large user base of Windows XP and small and medium sized businesses. "Windows XP mode" which can be used only with Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate editions and requires a likewise free of cost virtualization software such as Windows Virtual PC, comes as a separate download available on Microsoft website.

Windows 7 comes in both x64 and x32 installation disks. Roughly speaking, x64 (64-bit) OSes can handle greater amounts of RAM e.g. 4GB etc. However, all computers dont suppport 64-bit technology.

Some other features are:

• Aero Snap feature: allows placing two windows side by side for easy viewing and copy-paste task.
• Aero Peek feature: for viewing the desktop just press windows key+spacebar, it will make all the open application windows transparent, hence making the desktop easily visible.
• Aero Shake feature: minimise all the open windows with a shake of the mouse.
• Watching TV on PC just got easier, with Windows Media Centre now comes with the Sky Player. So live TV can be watched but for a fee (not for free).

In a nutshell, Windows 7 has a number of modifications and architectural novelties, it will take its own time for people in general to get a feel of it and be comfortable enough working on it. Now be it Tom, Dick & Harry or Om, Deep & Hari.

Watch the YouTube video and try your hands on the newest OS around. ( Well, not literally! )

Have your say!