Microsoft will release its next version of the Windows operating system on Oct. 22 to a plethora of high expectations.
The company has been under scrutiny since the worldwide release of Windows Vista in 2007. The move left users wondering, what was Microsoft thinking?
My experience with Vista started off positive but my fondness has decreased consistently over time. It was released when I was in high school and I would have done anything to get my hands on it.
By that time, Apple had already released a number of updates for its popular OS X, and I was just beginning to build my loyalty to Microsoft, and resistance to Apple.
When I finally obtained my new laptop with Vista, I could not put it down. I was impressed with its novelty and myriad of new features. It seemed to be working great and the interface looked even better.
Soon after, however, it started to slow down and caused me to start reconsidering my initial happiness.
I knew I needed a fast working personal computer for all of the multimedia editing that I do as a graphic designer.
So I tweaked it to be able to only support the programs i most often use.
Simultaneously, critics said Vista was Microsoft’s biggest mistake yet. Apple was putting out ads flaunting how easy-to-use their software is–that they work “right out of the box.”
And who can forget the popular, “I’m a Mac vs. I’m a PC” ads where a young, casual and relaxed male played the Mac to an old, fat and always worried PC counterpart?
With the release of Windows 7, Microsoft fixed everything that was wrong with Vista and included impressive additions even the most technologically savvy would appreciate.
I started reviewing it when they released the beta candidates early this summer. The best thing about Windows 7 is that it offers speed.
The taskbar changed both in appearance and functionality. It doesn’t just house your running applications and the start menu anymore. To the far right is a bar for a new feature called, aero screen.
Drag your mouse over this to expose the outlines of all running programs, this allows you to multi-task more efficiantly.
It also offers a cleaner desktop while using more than one program.
Simply click and hold the top bar of the current window and give it a shake, this automatically minimizes all other windows making everything more organized and consequently allowing one to do more.
To bring back those minimized windows, just shake that front window one more time.
There are many more features included in the release of Windows 7, like the fact that one can preview a window before it opens from the taskbar by hovering over it with the mouse.
The wallpaper can be set to change within certain time intervals at the users preference.
To find out more about this release of Windows 7 and how to retrieve a copy for just $30 as a college student. For more info, visit the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com.