And now, it’s the moment of truth — We bring you our verdict after spending more than a month with this final version of the successor to Vista (as well as XP, which many users have not given up despite its age). While it’s clear a lot of effort has gone into making sure old mistakes are not repeated, there is a lot more to consider than just the hype.

Improving all the basics

Windows 7 is satisfied with fewer resources than those required by Vista: Microsoft recommends a 1 GHz CPU and 1 GB of RAM. The company has learned a lot from the mistakes made during the Vista launch: many teams of developers sat in their laboratories with everyday PC users and kept a close watch on them while they were working, as described in several blog posts that they have published. With this knowledge, they have tried to optimize Windows’ handling. A few annoying things that users have had to struggle with for a long time have been eliminated, and new integrated functions like Aero Snap and Aero Shake on the desktop allow for entirely new ways of window management. You can now minimize windows and call them up again with mouse gestures, e.g. a simple shake movement, or can also tile windows to half the screen with a familiar drag and drop.

Installation: The goal of making Windows 7’s installation quicker and easier has largely been met. The process is entirely graphical and doesn’t need much user intervention. You can set up your network during the process so you’re ready to download the latest updates as soon as installation is done.

Taskbar: The new taskbar is the most obvious change, designed to make window management faster. It’s more powerful, since it lets you launch programs and see previews of open windows, but the changes will take some time to get used to. Text labels are gone by default, and the bar shows only an icon even if you have opened multiple copies of one application. When you hover the cursor over this icon, Windows 7 shows a live preview of the window contents complete with trendy Aero glass effects. Multiple open windows are shown as individual thumbnails in a horizontal bar, and programs can use their button space to show notifications such as file copy progress or error messages.

The former Quick Launch bar is therefore merged into the taskbar, which unfortunately makes it confusing to see which programs are actually running and which are not. Applications can be pinned so they are always on the taskbar whether running or not. Moreover, the familiar positions of your icons can sometimes change without the user realizing it. And you cannot just drag documents or media files onto the icons of applications to make them open instantly in those applications anymore. Luckily, the customization options let you turn on text labels, but you can’t disable all the new modifications.

Desktop: The ‘Show Desktop’ icon in the Quick Launch area, which has been a familiar fixture, is no longer there. Instead of that you can call up the Aero Peek function using a new button at the end of the taskbar, even beyond the clock. If you hover over the button with the mouse, transparent outlines of all open windows are displayed, so you can see the desktop through them. This kind of transparency effect does not necessarily consume your CPU power, since Windows 7 can accelerate it completely on the graphics card.

Aero also includes a snapping effect which lets you drag windows to the top or edges of the screen to maximize or tile them respectively (and the [Win] key can be used for loads of new shortcut combinations, including all the Aero Snap features). There is no demarcated sidebar for gadgets, which are still there, and can just be dropped anywhere on the desktop. Themes make it easy to group settings for wallpaper, sounds, and Aero glass color and opacity. And the OS finally includes the ability to rotate the wallpaper at adjustable intervals like a slide show.

Notification area: This has also been cleaned up; the most important change is it will show only system icons by default, i.e. the battery status, volume, network, and security alerts. All others are lumped into a flyout menu unless you specifically allow them to be displayed.

Jump lists: One of our favorite new innovations is the introduction of Jump Lists, which are program-specific context menus that replace the usual right-click context menus for icons in the taskbar and entries in the Start menu. They display lists of files frequently (or in some cases recently) opened with that application, but you can also pin your favorite files onto program icons, such as songs on your media player or bookmarks on the Web browser. Once you have done this, the Jump List becomes a practical feature that saves time and clicks. Applications such as media players can include playback control buttons, and future software releases will incorporate more such functionality to allow for quick controls and manipulations.

Libraries: Designed to help you cope with the ever-increasing mess of files, libraries act as virtual folders which aggregate your default ‘My Documents’ contents with any other locations on your hard drive(s). For example the ‘Videos’ library can show the contents of the ‘Videos’ folder as well as your movie collection on another hard drive and your shared home videos on an external storage device or networked PC.

You can even sort and organize libraries by file metadata including the date they were created, the artist, album, genre, length, etc. This makes it possible to manage and share all media files centrally. Libraries aren’t just virtual though, you can save files to them and they will be placed in the default folder for that file type. As an added advantage, Windows Search indexes the libraries automatically. If you are searching for files that are stored there, Windows 7 shows you the results in a split second.

Source : tech2.in

so far, the only gripe i have with windows 7, other than the stupid and non-functioning sleep/wake feature (which i fixed by changing power settings

Sep 10, A breath of fresh air!
I have switched from windows vista which came bundled with my acer laptop to windows xp and now am trying windows 7. I just love the look and feel

Aug 29, Listening to my music in Windows 7
I have had windows 7 for about 3 days and so far its going pretty good until i wanted to play some music. i have close to 20,000 songs and i have

Sep 2, I have a question about windows 7 games
Well I obtained a version of windows 7 pro through my university and when I installed it on my laptop I noticed that I didn’t have any of the games

Common versions of XP and Vista are listed down the left side, and the three versions of Windows 7 are listed across the top.

Note that ONLY those combinations that intersect in a green box saying “In-Place Upgrade” can be upgraded in a simple way that, in Microsoft’s words, “Keeps your files, settings, and programs intact from your current version of Windows.”

All of the others, denoted by blue boxes, will require what Microsoft calls a “Custom Install,” also known as a “clean install”–a procedure Microsoft doesn’t even refer to as an “upgrade.” For most average, nontechie consumers whose PCs have a single hard disk, that will require a tedious, painful process with the following steps: Temporarily relocating your personal files to an external drive or other computer, wiping your hard drive clean, then installing Windows 7, then moving your personal files back, then re-installing all of your programs from their original disks or download files, then reinstalling all of their updates and patches that may have been issued since the original installation files were released.

Microsoft will provide a free “Easy Transfer” program to assist in this process, but this software won’t transfer your programs, only your personal files and settings.

Microsoft made some mistakes while making this chart. Like there is nothing like Windows vista started edition 64 bit !! Is microsoft going to launch that as well with windows 7
Also according to chart you can options are given for going to 64 bit to 32 bit and vice verca, which is also not possible as far as i know..

You can upgrade to windows 7 for free of charge if you have bought the computer with windows vista in specific time frame shown below and received a “windows 7 upgrade option” offer form. If you have not received any offer form then contact your computer manufacturer. May be your manufaturer have some other way of providing windows 7 upgrade option or they do not provide this offer. Offer form is displayed in the image below. Some manufacture may provide windows 7 upgade by this https://windows7upgradeoption.com site while some might have their own way to provide upgrage.

Offer form

Computer manufacture might have included offer card shown above if you have bought your vista computer after 26th June. This offer card is valid up to 28th Feb 2010. Computers bought between 26th June 2009 to 31st Jan 2010 are eligible for this offer. If you participate in this offer then microsoft wil dispatch the upgrade DVD from 22nd Oct 2009.

Only Windows Vista Home Premium, Window Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate edition is eligible for upgrade to windows 7. Windows Vista Home basic (I have this ), or Starter edition can not be upgraded to by this offer.

The offer form has 14 digit key which is to be submitted to https://windows7upgradeoption.com site for ordering the upgrade. They site will automatically identify the upgrade you can have.

Here are the steps described in https://windows7upgradeoption.com site,

1.Locate the Microsoft Offer Form that was provided with each computer you plan to upgrade.
2.Navigate to the Order Your Upgrade page within this website.
3.Enter the applicable Microsoft Offer Form Code and click the Submit button. For the Microsoft Offer Form Code entered, the website will display the Windows Vista edition and platform (32-bit or 64-bit) for the computer that shipped with that Offer Form.
4.To ensure you receive the proper product, please verify that the Windows Vista edition and platform displayed on the screen is correct for the computer you will be upgrading.
?If the displayed edition and platform is correct, click the This edition is correct button. Proceed to step 5 below.
?If the displayed edition and platform is NOT correct, click the This edition is NOT correct button. You will be prompted to contact the Program Team.
?For instructions on how to check the Windows Vista edition and platform, click the How do I find my Windows Vista edition? link.
5.From the Select Language drop-down list, choose the language of the Windows Vista product to be upgraded.
?If the correct language is displayed on the list, select it and then click the Order the Selected Upgrade button. Proceed to step 6 below.
?If the correct language is not displayed on the list, click the DO NOT Order the Upgrade button. You will be prompted to contact the Program Team.
6.If you have no additional Microsoft Offer Forms to add to this order, click the Proceed to Shipping Details button. If you have Microsoft Offer Forms for additional eligible computers, click the Enter Another Offer Form Code button and repeat steps 3-5 above.
?Note that up to five Microsoft Offer Form Codes may be submitted for one shipping address and/or e-mail address per each visit to the website. No more than 25 Microsoft Offer Form Codes in total may be submitted for each shipping address and/or e-mail address.
7.On the Shipping Details page, use the Country drop-down list to select the shipment destination country.
?Note that the shipping information fields will vary depending on the selected country.
8.Enter all required shipping information indicated with and any optional fields as desired. When finished, click the Proceed to Order Review button.
9.On the Order Review page, verify the correctness of all information and then click the Submit Order button. You will have the option to click the Back to Shipping Details button to edit any previously provided information.
10.The Order Confirmation page will display your Order ID.
?Print this page for your records as you will need the Order ID to check your order status on this website. An Order Confirmation e-mail will be sent to the e-mail account entered in the Shipping Details. It will include the Order ID, estimated shipment date, and other order information.
?Prior to order processing, you can change your shipping address by navigating to the Track/Edit Your Order tab on this website.
?If you need to cancel your order, contact the Program Team.
11.If you have any issues submitting your order, consult the Help & How-to information within this website. If the answer cannot be found, please contact the Program Team.
If you have any issues using this website, a Program Team representative can assist you with placing the Upgrade order

Once you have ordered your upgrade then you will receive a confirmation mail regarding this. You can check the status of your order at https://windows7upgradeoption.com in “Track/Edit your order” page.

Check the FAQs related to upgrade at here
or contact microsoft at here.

Hope this post is helpful..

Windows 7 will be release in 6 flavours (as of I know) as Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate. Compare the versions here. Prices for Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate are,

Even though the prices are lesser then windows vista, people are disappointed in price tag as they were expecting more cheap copies. Thankfully, retail pricing is typically used as a starting point; most users will not be buying retail versions anyway. Retail sales account for less than 5 percent of Windows sales, the rest of sales are via OEM. Some consumers will either grab an OEM copy via an online or in-store purchase, but most will be getting a copy of Windows 7 with the next purchase of their PC.

Windows XP users will have to perform a clean installation of windows 7 even if they buy full or upgrade version. There is no upgrade available for window xp users which ever edition they are currently using.

Windows Vista users can upgrade their existing vista operating system to windows 7 system. If the user is moving to lower windows 7 edition from current higher vista edition then they have to do the clean installation. and if the user is moving to higher windows 7 edition from lower windows vista edition then they can perform the upgrade.

Microsoft had offered to give windows Home premium and Proffessional edition in very low price in its Pre-Order program. Home Premium was availble at 50$ and Professional was available at 100$. People who are commited to buy windows 7 could have avail this offer and get the benifit. This reduced priced pre-order was only available to US and Canada. This offer is now ENDED. Pre-order offer for UK, Germany and france will last from 15th July to 14th August.

Microsoft has also revealed another interesting aspect of the launch of Windows 7 in Europe. You may have heard that Microsoft is going to offer Windows 7 without internet explorer in Europe. Windows 7 E will be sold exclusively in Europe and one of the side-effects is that Europeans will not be able to upgrade to Windows 7. That’s right, no Windows 7 upgrades will be sold in Europe. But that’s good news apparently as Microsoft has made the decision to sell Windows 7 full versions with the upgrade price tag in Europe.

Still the price is yet to be release for India. Hope microsoft will take wise move by cheaper pricing otherwise piracy will increase . But dont give stupid edition like starter edition in cheaper rate ..