Microsoft windows 7 in depth review

Some other features have been stripped away like XP mode for example, and there has been a considerable amount of complaining when it comes to Windows 10's telemetry, and the amount of data the OS sends back to Microsoft's servers, as well as the lack of transparency on the privacy front in general. Of course, there are plenty of good things about Windows 10, all we're saying is that there are certainly reasons why some folks are still going with Windows 7 — legacy apps and driver compatibility worries being another couple of reasons to stick with an older operating system.

Current page: The latest updates on Microsoft's most popular OS. She's used every version of Windows and Office released, and every smartphone too, but she's still looking for the perfect tablet. Yes, she really does have USB earrings. North America. Home Reviews Computing. For Improved performance Pinned icons Live thumbnails Jump lists and window snaps make Aero useful as well as attractive New ways of organising files with libraries Improved backup Less annoying notifications.

Against XP Mode isn't an integrated option yet Microsoft backed down on libraries and Ctrl-E brings up My Computer instead You can't add NAS drives to libraries Ultimate edition is almost unnecessary except for adding BitLocker — which should be in the Professional Edition — and rather expensive as are the Anytime Upgrades Yes, it's what Vista should have been but it's more than that.

Cons - XP Mode isn't an integrated option yet - Microsoft backed down on libraries and Ctrl-E brings up My Computer instead - You can't add NAS drives to libraries - Ultimate edition is almost unnecessary except for adding BitLocker — which should be in the Professional Edition — and rather expensive as are the Anytime Upgrades - Yes, it's what Vista should have been but it's more than that.

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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Tags microsoft Windows Phone 7. Live Comment Your email address will not be published. You can create additional Libraries of your own from scratch, such as one that bundles up all folders that relate to your vacation plans. Libraries would be even more useful if Microsoft had integrated them with Saved Searches, the Windows feature introduced in Vista that lets you create virtual folders based on searches, such as one that tracks down every.

HomeGroups, Swee HomeGroups? Closely related to Libraries are HomeGroups, a new feature designed to simplify the notoriously tricky process of networking Windows PCs. HomeGroups can also stream media, enabling you to pipe music or a movie off the desktop in the den onto your notebook in the living room. To be fair, passwords made up of random characters provide excellent security, and the only time you need the password is when you first connect a new PC to a HomeGroup.

A version that also worked on XP, Vista, and Mac systems would have been cooler. Federated Search, a new Windows Explorer feature, feels incomplete, too. That capability allows you to search sites such as Flickr and YouTube from within Explorer. They are available on the Web, though. Use a search engine to track them down. UAC aimed to prevent rogue software from tampering with your PC by endlessly prompting you to approve running applications or changing settings.

The experience was so grating that many users preferred to turn UAC off and take their chances with Internet attackers. Those who left it active risked slipping into the habit of incautiously clicking through every prompt, defeating whatever value the feature might have had. Windows 7 gives you control over UAC, in the form of a slider containing four security settings. As before, you can accept the full-blown UAC or elect to disable it.

Windows Media Player 12 has a revised interface that divides operations into a Library view for media management and a Now Playing view for listening and watching stuff. Among its enhancements are a better program guide and support for more tuners. Though Microsoft corrects that deficiency in Windows 7, it deprives Windows 7 Starter Edition and Home Premium of the ability to back up to a network drive. But my regimen for preparing a new Windows PC for use will still include installing the impressive free image editor Paint.

The nearest thing Windows 7 has to a major new application has the intriguing moniker Windows XP Mode. Microsoft clearly means for the mode to serve as a security blanket for business types who rely on ancient, often proprietary programs that may never be rewritten for current OSs. Windows 7 offers you numerous ways to connect your PC to everything from tiny flash drives to hulking networked laser printers—USB, Wi-Fi, ethernet, slots, and more.

Earlier prerelease versions of Win 7 contained a handful of Device Stages, but Microsoft disabled them so that hardware manufacturers could finish up final ones before the OS hit store shelves in October. And Microsoft says that when no full-fledged Device Stage is available for a particular item, Windows 7 will still try to give you a more generic and basic one.

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