After Microsoft’s blunder with the clunky release of Windows Vista in 2007, the software giant is ready to win back one of its most important demographics, college students. On September 17, Microsoft launched a special promotional deal for students, selling Windows 7, Microsoft’s brand new operating system (OS), in two editions: Home Premium ($99 retail price) and Professional ($199 retail price) for the discounted price of $30 at http://www.win741.com/. The promotion is seen by many analysts as a direct response to the $30 price tag of Apple’s new OS, Snow Leopard, which has received critical acclaim from web sites like Engadget, CNET and Ars Technica. Students with a valid .edu e-mail address will be able to pre-order one copy of either Home Premium or Professional for $30 until Jan. 3, 2010 at noontime. Windows 7 will be available on Oct. 22.
For those who haven’t followed the media hype behind Windows 7, here are some important things to know:
Sleeker, faster
Windows 7 is a direct-follow up to Windows Vista. Aesthetically, there are many similarities, but the design for Windows 7 is sleeker and more optimized, meaning that it will run better on lower-end systems.
Task master
The Windows Taskbar has a brand new design. While retaining the round Windows Start Menu icon, the task bar is now comprised of large, square icons that represent programs. These icons can be pinned to the task bar for convenience and accessibility. When the mouse hovers over an icon of an opened program, a small preview of the program’s window will pop open. This is a great way to navigate through windows without actually having to maximize them. For some programs, the preview slides have increased functionality, such as iTunes, which allows users to play/pause/skip tracks without having to bring up the window. There is also a new “Show Desktop” button on the right side of the task bar.
Return of the Aero
The Windows Aero theme is coming back from Vista with major functionality improvements including the Aero Peek, Aero Shake and Aero Snap features. Aero Peek allows users to mouse over the “Show Desktop” button and see a preview of the desktop, without having to minimize any windows. Aero Shake allows users to de-clutter a screen of multiple windows by “shaking” one window, causing all other windows to minimize. Aero Snap, which is easily the best new feature, allows users to create a split-screen of two windows by dragging one window to the right and the other to the left. This feature is great for people who need to compare documents or watch an online video and write about it at the same time. There are many possibilities for this feature, and it can vastly improve productivity.
An important note for XP users is that the Windows Aero theme looks very slick. Instead of using solid colors, the Windows Aero interface has a glassy, transparent look. A new addition to the Windows Aero theme is the ability to create a slideshow for the background wallpaper. Windows 7 comes bundled with several new themes, one of which is a beautiful collection of landscapes.
There are countless other features that create a better Windows experience, like improved file browsing and searching, a DVD codec for Windows Media Player and helpful gadgets such as Sticky Notes and the Snipping Tool.
While most XP applications are compatible with Windows 7, the Professional edition comes with a Windows XP emulator, which will allow users to run older programs. Professional also allows users to connect to a network domain and backup their data to those network domains.
For more information on Windows 7, and to find out if your computer will be compatible, go to http://www.windows7.com.
This is superb! A great detail and to know especially for those who haven’t followed the media hype behind Windows 7. It’s really important that we know the compatibility of the windows we’re using.