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Windows 7 - Big Fix to Windows Vista?
In my opinion, Windows 7 is the best version of Windows yet. Windows 7 has made doing more with your computer possible. Windows 7 is loaded with new features; with all the features of Windows Vista, and previous versions of Windows. Let's go over some of the new features.
Windows 7 has the same old interface of Windows Vista, including the Aero interface, which is more of an eye candy than anything. But, of course, it wouldn't be Windows without all the extra, unnecessary stuff would it? First off, let me just say that Windows 7 is surprisingly really fast... possibly faster than XP. Windows Vista, as we all know, may as well have been a rock, because of its instability. Let's face it, with all the crashing in Vista, you weren't getting much done anyways, even if you don't want to admit it. The first interesting feature in Windows 7 is a new feature integrated into the Aero interface called Aero Snap. Basically, this feature allows you to "snap" different applications or windows you have open to either side of the screen, or the top (fullscreen). You might be asking yourself, "Why would anyone want to do that?". Well, actually, it can be very useful. For example, let's say you wanted to compare two webpages, images, or documents side by side. Unlike older versions of Windows where you would have to resize manually and try and make each window even, Aero Snap has made this really simple. Simply drag each application to the side you want it to "snap" onto, and let go. It will now fill exactly half the screen while you can do the same on the other side of the application. Or hey, if you're feeling lazy, and don't feel like clicking the "Restore" button to make your application fullscreen, just drag it to the top and let go.
That annoying "User Account Control" that popped up all the time in Windows Vista can now be turned off in any version of Windows 7. Let's face it, User Account Control can start getting really annoying when it starts asking you if you're sure you want to do simple tasks. That is why in Windows 7, Microsoft has added the ability for system administrators to turn UAC off if they want to. There are also different levels of UAC that can be set, such as only warning when a program is installing, to warning when opening certain programs.
Gadgets can now float freely on the desktop without having that black sidebar staying there, like in Windows Vista. In Windows 7, desktop gadgets are part of the UI (or Windows Explorer), instead of a seperate program like in Windows Vista. They are now put on the desktop by right clicking the desktop. But yet, the gadgets can still be snapped to the right side, left side, top or bottom of the screen by dragging them there.
Gadgets floating around the desktop without that annoying black sidebar.
The last feature that I think worth mentioning is the overflow dock in the notification area on the taskbar. If you're like me, I always have a bunch of programs open that have notification area icons, and they take up quite a bit of space. Now icons can be put in the overflow dock to maximize space in the notification area, and these icons can conveniently be accessed by the simplicity of a mouse click. 
This snapshot shows the overflow dock with icons in it.
During rumors of Windows 7 development, it was originally thought that Windows 7 would look more like an operating system you would find in the year 2050. Of course, with all the "shazam" and "wow" Microsoft was trying, it was more likely to bring your computer to a crawl than to actually make the user interface more user friendly. It always resorts back to the old fashioned Start menu with Microsoft.
Of course, my opinion on Windows 7 will be different from other people's, but in my opinion, Windows 7 is less of a resourse hogging operating system. It runs really smoothly for all its features. Vista was a disappointment, but 7 is a whole new world for the geeks.
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