The Future of Windows

What’s New: Taskbar The quick launch area is gone

Application icons can be “docked”

You can drag-and-drop application icons to this area but running apps will appear here as well.

Functions much like the MAC OSX dock

What’s New: Jump Lists

“Jump Lists” is a new feature that groups related tasks surrounding an application

In the taskbar, a right-click to display this list

What’s New: Jump Lists

Here, you’ll find common tasks, recently opened files, favorites, or whatever else may be relevant to that particular app

What’s New: Jump Lists Jump lists are found

in the Start Menu, too.

What’s New: Desktop Features You can maximize a

window by dragging the title bar to the top of the screen

Shake window to minimize all open windows

What’s New: Desktop Features “Snap to docking”: This

new feature will automatically resize the windows for you as you drag them to the sides of your screen

Your Windows Sidebar Gadgets can now be placed anywhere

What’s New: Peek

When you “peek” at a window you can turn the other windows to glass to make it easier to see the window you’re viewing.

You can peek at the desktop

What’s New: Wi-Fi Connection When Wi-Fi is available,

the wireless icon lights up in the system tray. Click it to display a pop-up list of wireless networks then click the one you want to connect to. If you have to enter a passphrase, you’ll be prompted to do so, otherwise, you’re connected immediately.

What’s New: Wi-Fi Connection

Windows 7 switches your default printer depending on where you are – work or home, etc.

Remains the same as Vista layout

Network And Sharing Center

What’s New: XP Mode

Ability to install applications that will only run in XP

Applications run in Windows 7 as if they were installed natively

What’s New: XP Mode

XP mode:

requires CPU virtualization

Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate editions

Requires 2GB of RAM

What’s New: Various

UAC is less annoying! Now there’s a new slider control that lets you adjust how much the UAC pop-up is allowed to bug you. Adjusting the UAC settings no longer requires a reboot

Problem Steps Recorder

Great help tool when dealing with user issues

Allows user to take screenshots with the option to add comments

When finished, Windows 7 automatically zips the file

Easy to send email or share with helpdesk

What’s New: Various

Overall, the system is faster. The boot time has also been reduced

The new “Action Center” lets you control the messages delivered through things like Windows Firewall, Windows Updates, etc

What’s New: Various

System Tray: You have complete control over your system tray. You can remove, change, and even move around the different applications that reside there

Better power management in Windows 7 means longer battery life for notebooks

Start Menu Search

Extremely fast search of indexed locations

Will find most user created files and system files/programs

Huge improvement over Windows XP search

Windows 7 Versions 3 versions that ITS will most likely encounter are:

Windows 7 Home Premium

Aero Glass and advanced windows navigation, improved media format support, enhancements to Windows Media Center and media streaming, including Play To, multi-touch and improved handwriting recognition

Windows 7 Professional

Ability to join a managed network with Domain Join, data protection with advanced network backup and Encrypting File System, and print to the right printer at home or work with Location Aware Printing

Windows 7 Versions

Windows 7 Ultimate

BitLocker data protection on internal and external drives, DirectAccess for seamless connectivity to corporate networks based on Windows Server 2008 R2, and lock unauthorized software from running with AppLocker.

System Health Good collection of tools

to monitor and report on various system state

System Health Report, disk defragmenter, task manager, performance/resource monitor, event log

System Restore

System restore is not only available from inside Windows but from the OS CD as well

Startup repair, memory test and command prompt are accessible as well

Windows Backup

Ability to select where, when and type of backup

Can create a system image for easy backup

Fast as well as excellent compression

Allows you to work on machine while it’s running

Remote Assistance

Ability to share your Windows 7 Desktop with another user

Allows user to chat with helpdesk

Invite help through email or with the use of a file

Remote Assistance makes the troubleshooting experience on the PC seamless

University Software

Most of our standard software runs without problems in Windows 7

1 OfficeScan issue is that it will not run with UAC turned on

Internet Security crashed when loading, will not work at all

All Windows Vista compatible software should run without concern

Wireless USB Adapter

The current adapter suggestion to students operates without issues

Recommended Requirements 1 GHz processor (32- or 64-bit)

1 GB of RAM (32-bit); 2 GB of RAM (64-bit)

16 GB of available disk space (32-bit); 20 GB of avaiable disk space (64-bit)

DirectX 9 graphics device

Though in reality I would recommend no less then 2GB of RAM and a 2GHZ processor

64 Bit Vs. 32 Bit As with earlier versions of Windows, the 32 bit version

can only access around 3.23GB of RAM

64 bit can access a vast amount of memory

If application is not written for the 64 bit architecture, it is not fully taking advantage of the hardware.

64 Bit did run noticeably faster during my tests on identical hardware

Industry Adoption

A survey conducted by ScriptLogic has stated that 6 in 10 companies will skip Windows 7

43% state the reason is due to lack of funds and resources, compatibility was the next biggest issue

The rest are waiting until next year, mainly for the arrival of Service Pack 1 before deploying

Waterloo University

Only Canadian university to acknowledge Windows 7

Have begun testing using the RC build

Track successes and problems that have been discovered thus far

Have stated they most likely will not deploy Windows 7 until Service Pack 1 is released.

Penn State

One US school to acknowledge Windows 7

Have begun testing using the RC build

Store an online log of successes and problems that have been discovered thus far

Have stated they most likely will not deploy Windows 7 until Service Pack 1 is released.