One of the great things about living at the bottom of the world here in New Zealand, is our time zone. We’re ahead of pretty much everybody else, with the exception of a few small pacific islands, so while it’s 7.30am on Tuesday October 22nd here it’s 7.30pm on Monday in the UK and 11.30am Monday in California!
So with that said, and today being October 22nd (well here at least) it’s Windows 7 release day! This actually doesn’t mean much to me as I’ve been running Windows 7 on all three of my machines since the first beta’s (and it’s been incredibly stable).
I’ve read both good and bad reviews in the mainstream non-tech media over the past couple of weeks but I can tell you right here, right now: Window’s 7 is quite simply the best Windows yet… and, unlike so many it seems, I never had a problem with Vista! (don’t even get me started on all the Vista FUD BS).
Windows 7 is more of an evolution over Vista than a completely new OS. To most users it will look and feel very familier but there are heaps of small and not so small changes to both the user experience and under the hood that make this a BIG evolution.
Things I’m lovin’ about Windows 7:
- Desktop Slideshows
7 has native support for desktop background slide shows. Great when you have kids and you just can’t decide which picture of your favourite little person(s) to plaster all over your computer desktop. - Window Snapping
Simply drag your windows to the left or right of the screen to create perfectly tiled windows, or to the top of the screen to maximise. You can also use the Windows key and the arrow keys to cycle through the snapped positions for the active window. - Taskbar Pinning
Rather than the QuickLaunch toolbar from XP/Vista (that is still available if you want it) 7 uses taskbar pinning. Every application that is running will show up on the new taskbar but you can selectivle “Pin” applications so they remain available in the taskbar when not running. Applications can be pinned from anywhere, Start menu, Windows Explorer etc. and draged around to order on the taskbar itself. Active applications are highlighted and, depending on your settings will expand to show the applications label/name. - Taskbar Jump Lists
Right click an icon on the taskbar, running or not, and you are presented with a list of actions/recent files etc. that relate to that application. - Start Menu Search
When you open the start menu simply start typing the name of the application you want to run and the list filters and shows only what your after, then hit enter and it launches. - Windows Explorer
A heavily improved local search system and new “Libraries” make for far simpler organisation and finding everything is a breeze.
Of course I can’t possibly do all the new or improved features in Windows 7 justice, so if you have the time and fancy an in depth read on what’s hot and what’s not with Windows 7 rock on over to the Win Super Site and read Paul Thurott’s 12 part Windows 7 Review… without spoiling the suprise he sums it up perfectly in part 12:
“Windows 7 is so good, in fact, that users are clamoring for it. Individuals want it at home, and they are asking for it at work. And after a half decade of putting the brakes on OS upgrades, businesses seem to be rallying around Windows 7 as well…”
“…Microsoft has an OS in Windows 7 that is simply better than anything Apple offers. And a more relevant (and true) correlation between the Mac and Windows worlds is that the vast majority of Mac users also run Windows, either in dual boot or virtualized. And the percentage of Mac users who do run Windows–already north of 80 percent–will only increase with Windows 7.”
“Wrapping up, it looks to me like the future just got a whole lot brighter. Rejoice, PC users. Windows 7 is here.”
So I’m loving Windows 7 and you should too!
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