Microsoft has announced that Windows 7 will be made publicly available on October 22. However, if you can't wait that long, we're offering a sneaky peek at the operating system's 10 coolest features.
10 things you'll love about Windows 7
Aero Peek
Aero Peek expands on Windows Vista's Aero graphical interface. If you have many windows open, Peek brings the window you want to focus on to the front, while turning all other open windows into transparent 'glass sheets'.
Peek also works on the desktop. If you hover over the 'Show Desktop' control at the far right of the taskbar all windows on the desktop turn to glass, allowing the entire desktop to be seen.
Sharing with HomeGroup
HomeGroups let you easily link Windows 7 computers on your home network to share pictures, music, videos, documents and devices such as a printer.
In order to set up a HomeGroup, a user's Network Location needs to be set as 'Home' in the Network and Sharing Center. When you create a HomeGroup, you specify which media files, folders and devices you want to share, and create a password so that only people with that password can join the HomeGroup.
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Comments
Rotten apple said: most of you read above probably came from an overdriven apple fan doing their work It feels to me these comments were written by only one or two of those people desperate need to be someone that they need a brand just like fashion victims do
Jake said: I run several computers in my household and it is a necessity to have a network to grab files from each other This home feature isnt new at all I have it working between 2 XPs and three Vistas Ive learned its way easy to securely connect Vistas with Vistas XPs with XPs and now Windows 7 with Windows 7So if you want to upgrade to Windows 7 for an easy home network setup is that even possible you better upgrade all of the computers
meg said: Mac OS X is more elegant and sophisticated Win 7 looks cheap
Bond said: Well having a somewhat slow 5 year old Advent 7079 Laptop decided to try RC7 32bit Ultimate before scrapping the old lass in and to my amazement its like having a much faster brand new machine Media Centre even works a treat Thanks MS
Mike said: Whats wrong with Vista It is far more stable than XP and better looking Even 98SE2 was better than XP This is not opinion it is based on experience with three desktops and two laptopsIncidentallyif Windows 7 is based on Vista is it as hardware hungry as Vista If it is there are going to be an awful lot of redundant computers when Microsoft finally drop XP
welshlion said: In 6 years time when households may have several PCs running Windows7 the Homegroup feature will come into its own until then it is a totally useless feature Unless of course Microsoft decide to refine it to be compatable with Vista Even better would be to make it compatable with XP as well but I cant see that happeningFortunately setting Windows7 to join an existing network with machines running Vista and XP is fairly straightforward
flowerpotman said: I have been testing Windows 7 X64 now for quite some time and I have been using the release candidate as my main OS now since its release My prior OS was Vista Ultimate X64 Windows 7 is a significant improvement on Vista in most areas and the better themes are breathtaking Only a fool judges that which they have not tried personally and condemns it If you dont like Windows either buy a Mac to or switch to Linux but please stop the whining
skidz said: HOORAYYY a thread full of common sense Well done posters
Anthony O'Brien said: What a load of rubbish I really dont understand why Vista is considered to be crap and 7 is the OS we have all been waiting for Apart from nonsense like this 7 is exactly the same as VIsta but for some reason everybody is falling over themselves to get at it
Incony said: When one runs out of ideas does one invent somePut some tinsel on it make it glow anything just grab interest curiosity maybe something will come from doing thatI have nothing against that principle if the purpose is just to create sales and therefore continuity of finance and ability but do not tell me that purpose is one of the best 10 its not on my list and if i do not count as any kind of rating contributor in that initial evaluation that defined the best 10 smiles intentional Then the best 10 is what a something a nothing an anything i think just like me
Dave said: Oh - But where is the aricle on the touch-screen interface - that no one will ever use - just like the features in this article
drmors said: What awful sickly colors I hope theres a better choice on what youve shown
philw said: well if that is the best of windows 7 think Ill wait for the next but one version
John said: To be honest I dont like these features in fact I dont like Windows
DieSse said: How to make simple things really complicatedYuk
Skidz said: Apart from the snap feature being somewhat handy nothing else really grabbed me in this article but thank you anyway