What's new in Windows 7?
While Windows 7 has many new features, this document highlights a few that will impact you the most. For a more complete explanation of the new features in Windows 7, see Microsoft's Windows 7 page.
The improved taskbar
You can launch programs and switch between them when they're open. Holding your cursor over each icon shows thumbnails of the open files or windows, and hovering over those thumbnails gives a full-screen preview. You also can rearrange icons by clicking and dragging them.
Internet Explorer 8
The latest version of the Internet Explorer browser, IE8, is standard with Windows 7.
Note: Internet Explorer 8 is also available through Automatic Updates in Windows Vista. For more, see Microsoft's Automatic Updates page.Jump lists
This new feature allows you to quickly access files you have recently used. Simply right-click the taskbar icon to show what files have been used recently. If you right-click the Internet Explorer icon, you'll see the most recently visited websites; in Word, if you right-click you'll see the most recently edited document. You'll also be able to "pin" items to the Jump List, for quick access.
View Available Network (VAN)
Windows 7 now consolidates all your available network connections into a single window. You may choose available networks that are on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.
HomeGroup
Similar to a Workgroup, the HomeGroup allows multiple PCs on a home network to easily share their files and printers. With HomeGroup, you can browse through shared documents and media as if they were on your own hard drive. When you install a printer on one computer in the HomeGroup, it is automatically installed on all other computers joined to the group.
In addition, HomeGroup's new "Play To" feature lets you play media from your computer on other devices. With a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance)-compatible device, you can push and pull media from one device to another, so you can play music from your computer on the speakers in your home theater system, or play a video file on your TV. Windows 7 will convert any unsupported media format on the fly so that it plays on the DLNA device.
Last modified on October 23, 2009.
