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Windows 7 Brings Fun Back to Computing
Vista can be hard work to keep running smoothly; whereas Windows 7 is
proving to be a joy to use. My mission is
to persuade you that whereas
Vista led to an undercurrent of frustration, Windows 7 brings a
pleasurable glow. I have a selection of fun new features, which illustrate why Windows 7 is a smarter operating system than Vista, and a more up-to-date
alternative to XP.
Fun Tips for Microsoft Windows 7
My friend 'Mad' Mick and I each drew up a list of our favourite features in
Windows 7. We agreed that these lists would have only fun items, (a
more heavy-weight list of what's new in Windows 7 is at the end).
Guy's Fun Windows 7 Features
- Windows 7 has lots of enhancements for Laptops. One of the lesser
know examples of this smarter behaviour is: 'Change my default printer when I
change networks'. Launch the Control Panel, navigate to Devices
and Printers, then look for a heading called: 'Manage default printers'.
- Check your laptop's battery, in particular see if it's holding the
charge. Run the new command: PowerCfg -energy
- Aero Graphics now has Aero Shake
(Title bar) and Aero Snap (Side-by-side panes). [Mad
Mick thinks these 'features' are bugs, Guy believes they really are by design].
- PowerShell v2.0 is built-in. It makes command-line configuring
easier, especially when connecting to remote machines.
- In Event Viewer look for: 'Attach a task to this log'. It provides a
convenient way to be
updated when you're troubleshooting a specific problem.
Incidentally, Task manager has a Services tab.
- 'Perfmon /report'. This command is both useful and frightening.
See which drivers need updating. Incidentally, the WEI (Windows
Experience Index) has been extended from 4.9 to 7.9.
- Picture preview. This is another tiny feature, but makes it so
much easier to get just the right thumbnail size. Visit the
Picture Library, click the Preview icon, now resize the vertical bar by
getting the double-headed arrow - magic.
'Mad' Mick's Cool Window 7 Features
- Libraries. These provide a portal, or an index page for all
your documents, pictures and other stuff. You could say a library
hides a myriad of disparate locations, or you could say libraries group
like-minded folders.
- WinKey +x launches the Mobility Center, which makes it easier
to manage the projector for your PowerPoint Presentations, especially if
you have an external display.
- The Notification Area is easier to keep out bullying applications.
Also, the firewall is easier to configure.
- Common sense has returned to the built-in backup, Vista's restrictions
are removed, and once again, we have flexibility of what to backup.
- The new WordPad will open .docx files, thus you don't need Office
2007. In addition, the Snipping tool seems just that bit easier to
capture and save screenshots.
- The Calculator now has a view for converting inches to millimetres
and gallons to cubic centimetres.
- 'Open command window here'. This was formerly a 'Power Tool' and
now it available when you right-click any folder in Windows Explorer.
Clarification, you have to hold down the Shift key as you right-click in
order to see this Windows 7 new feature.
Guy's point is that everyone I meet enthuses about a different area of Windows 7. While
you may think that some of these items
are trivial,
you cannot deny the wealth of intelligent new features. Furthermore,
it's as though Microsoft has polished each component, the result is fewer
rough-edges and a return to a sense of fun sense when you compute on a
Windows 7 machine. This is in contrast to Vista where it seemed that each
person found a new source of discontent.
Litmus Test - The Windows 7 Taskbar
I accept that not everyone likes Windows 7. Some people are still shell-shocked
from dealing with Vista's glitches, and judging by my postbag, others just
hate Microsoft. After a little thought I have come up with a Litmus test to see
if Windows 7 is a must-have for you.
Key Question: Do you like the new Taskbar?
If after 30 minutes you appreciate the taskbar's new smarter behaviour,
then you are going to enjoy working with other aspects of this operating
system. However, if you cannot get along with the new organization of
program icons, and hanker for the old Quick Launch toolbar, then you will
never love Windows 7.
I see that Microsoft are offering a
free 90 day enterprise version of Windows 7, I recommend
that you take a test drive, and in particular run the new
Taskbar through its paces.
Guy Recommends: SolarWinds Engineer's Toolset v10
The Engineer's Toolset v10 provides a
comprehensive console of utilities for troubleshooting computer problems. Guy says
it helps me monitor what's occurring on the network, and the tools
teaches me more about how the system literally operates.
There are so many good gadgets, it's like having free rein of a
sweetshop. Thankfully the utilities are displayed logically: monitoring, discovery, diagnostic, and Cisco tools.
Download your copy of the Engineer's Toolset v 10
New Features in Windows 7
(As Recommended by Other
Reviewers)
Here are the hard-nosed, or headline reasons why you should upgrade from
Vista, or migrate from XP.
- BranchCache. One Windows 7 computer gets data from HQ, subsequent
Windows 7 users then get data from the local server.
- DirectAccess. Connects Window 7 to the office via internet.
- Faster WiFi network discovery on startup.
- AppLocker.
- BitLocker to go.
- Problem Steps Recorder (PSR). Also more and brainier troubleshooters.
- Windows Explorer's Search and Indexing seem faster than Vista.
- UAC (User Access Control) is now more like an English butler, than a
nagging mother-in-law.
- More Group Policies.
- Better support for dual-core and quad-core CPU.
- Smart Cards - Support for Windows Biometric Framework.
- The new Control Panel grouping. For example, a dedicated
Troubleshooting section, and also a Device Stage to see all hardware in
one place.
- HomeGroup. Like a Workgroup only a little smarter.
Summary of Windows 7
Whether you are network administrator or a power
user, I believe that you will only embrace an operating system when it not
only does its job, but also brings an element of fun-to-use
features. My thesis is that you will enjoy Windows 7 because of the
dozens of small improvement which bring joy to using this operating
system. However, don't just listen to me, if you hang out in forums then you cannot help notice the enthusiasm for
Windows 7 compared with the constant moaning about Vista.
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Will and Guy's Humour - Have Fun at Halloween
Here is our collection of
funny pictures and amusing jokes for Halloween.
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