Los Angeles (CA) – Microsoft today delivered an impressive first demonstration of the Windows 7 feature set and the way how it improves key Vista shortcomings. There was enough information to keep every Windows user wondering whether Windows 7 will be just a patch or an entirely new operating system release. The fact, however, is that there are dozens of improvements that should make Windows much more useful to the average user - if Microsoft can deliver on its promises – and even if Windows 7 is not the entirely new software a layer that is being placed on top of an aging platform.
It is somewhat fascinating to see that with Bill Gates being in sort-of-retirement, that Microsoft has begun to aggressively pursue new ways and opportunities in a changing IT environment. Yesterday, we heard about Windows Azure – it may have been in development for years and not everyone may like it, but it is a sign of a new Microsoft. And today we heard about Windows 7 from a casually dressed senior vice president Steven Sinofsky, leading us through a content-packed and almost entertaining presentation. He is clearly someone who could become a much more visible face for Microsoft in the future.
Sinofsky’s baby is Windows 7 and the way he presented, described and approached Windows 7 is substantially different than his predecessor, Jim Allchin, did with Vista four years ago. There is an open approach we have rarely seen from Microsoft, an approach that admits mistakes made in the past and there is information changes that are being applied. Sinofsky even referred to Apple’s Mac vs. PC ads, describing them as part of the feedback Microsoft listened to. A likeable, much more approachable Microsoft. Imagine that.
New features in Windows 7
New features in Windows 7 can be separated into under-the-hood improvements and those that are immediately visible. Let’s start with these first.
Desktop
While Windows 7 resembles the look of Windows, there are critical differences. The quick launch area in the taskbar on the left has been thoroughly revised – you can change the order of the icons as well as their size. The area now holds icons to active applications and there is a new tab structure that allows users to hover over the icons and see previews of open Windows of those applications. A right click will reveal a the new “jump list” feature with additional options. Tabs are also integrated into applications themselves, which avoids the mess of tabs that is open in the taskbar. Application jumps and launches from anywhere require only a maximum of two clicks.
The desktop background offers many more configuration options. Besides color shades and a new preview, users can also organize a “flowing” and dynamic picture album in the background, resembling pictures on a table.
Libraries
Microsoft enables users and developers to create search libraries across multiple local drives, external drives and network drives. The search feature supports searching for certain types of files or content in files in a much cleaner way, offers a web-like preview and highlighting of the content that was searched for.
Read on the next page: Ribbon interface, Multi-touch, networking, Under the hood
Ribbon interface
The ribbon interface that was introduced for Office 2007 with Windows Vista is now deployed across a wider variety of Windows applications, including Paint.
Multi-touch
Touchscreen will be one of the big features in Windows 7, but it seems that even Microsoft sees a limited use, as not much presentation room was dedicated to this feature. It will be multi-touch capable and may appeal to specific touchscreen PCs and applications such as Multimedia and picture editing. Like Apple, the Microsoft touch approach also gestures, but they are a bit more complicated. For example, writing a “b” on the screen and using a “flick” will result in a browser going “back”.
There is a virtual keyboard which would allow users to create text content or at least browse the Internet. Since touch is embedded in mouse-commands, all applications running under Windows 7 (which includes Vista applications) are touch enabled by default.
In a multi-touch environment, Microsoft added 25% more spaces between menu lines to make it easier to select options even with larger fingers.
Networking
Wireless connectivity has been improved dramatically. New devices, such as a notebook used at work can be added to a home network and a “HomeGroup” instantly and without the need of figuring out configuration options. Network printers can be used from any network device just like a local printer. A device such as a work-notebook will be also be able to switch from a work to a home environment automatically and recognize the appropriate printer, depending on the network the computer is connected to. In effect, you won’t print your private documents on the printer at work anymore.
User will also be able to access content on another networked PC and stream via a new “lightweight” media player or send it to another device such as a connected home stereo system.
Notifications
One of most quoted annoyances in Windows 7 are those messages that are popping up from icons in the system tray on the right side of the taskbar. Users can now add or delete icons right from the desktop, reorder them and configure their behavior. A new Action Center collects all messages from these icons to make sure users aren’t missing any notifications.
Under the hood
Microsoft also discussed improvements that cannot be visualized, but will be apparent to Windows 7 users almost instantly.
Sinofsky said that that Windows 7 will have a reduced memory footprint and indicated that the operating system will run even on Netbooks with just 1 GB of memory – while about half will be still available in such a scenario.
Windows 7 falls short in terms of GPU acceleration, but Microsoft said that DirectX was extended to 2D apps and now leverages the GPU to display 2D animations and “extremely fine” text. In a demonstration, the company said this feature could be used, for example, for sophisticated animation effects in the ribbon interface – Microsoft showed off a “fluid” interface to demonstrate the capability.
Power efficiency was also stressed: There are less disk I/Os from the Registry and Indexer, DVD playback has been improved and code components have been enhanced to increase the power efficiency of Windows overall.
Sinofsky promised that Windows 7 will load faster than Vista and include much more responsiveness that its predecessor, especially within the menu structure.
Other interesting feature additions included a virtual hard drive manager that allows users to create native virtual hard drives – with fixed and dynamic sizes - on a PC in seconds.
Sinofsky closed with a not unexpected, but nevertheless surprising request that developers should move towards 64-bit with their development efforts. We have heard that request from Intel two years ago and it obviously did not work. We wonder if Microsoft will be more successful.
More: Microsoft promises Windows 7 beta for early 2009
Workout of the Day
