by Kirk Hayes, Trinity Worldwide
Microsoft has recently released their new Windows 7 operating system. Many people, including me, have been running Windows XP for a long time. There has been no reason to upgrade because things have been working well. Now that XP is two generations behind and many of us are looking to replace our old computers with newer ones, we are left with a decision: do we continue using an older operating system that has been working or do we upgrade to the new operating system? Considering all of the features in Windows 7 to enhance productivity enhancing, plus its speed, there isn’t any reason not to upgrade. I recently switched to Windows 7 and will outline some of the key productivity enhancing features I have found.
1. Improved Taskbar
If you have been using Windows XP for any amount of time you are familiar with its plain taskbar and the fact that it doesn’t have many uses. When you first boot up Windows 7 you will notice a huge difference in the taskbar. While it may look like the Vista taskbar, in fact it is much better.
First, you will notice that there are no longer any differences between the Quick Launch area and the Running Programs area. They have combined the two areas, giving you more room on the taskbar. You can tell which programs are running by the glass outline over the icon. You can place any program on the taskbar just by dragging the icon to it, or if you have the program running you can right-click on it and select “pin this program to taskbar”.
This is not the only change: in the notification area (the part of the taskbar near the clock) you will see that Windows 7 also hides the running programs. This makes it easy to manage what is hidden and what is showing for each program. The last major difference between Windows 7 and XP: taskbar previews. By putting the mouse on the icon for the open program and moving it over the preview, you can bring that window to the front of the screen.
2. Jump List
If you are like most people, you want easier access to files and folders. In the past, you placed lots of items on your desktop to create that access, and it probably has become very cluttered with files, folders, and shortcuts. That method certainly worked for a long time because there wasn’t a better option.
In Windows 7, there is: the operating system includes a feature that will not only clean up your desktop, but it will also make accessing folders and files quicker. On the taskbar there is an icon of a folder for Windows Explorer; in order to access the Jump List, all you have to do is right-click on this icon. Not only will you see the folders that you frequently visit, but you can also “pin” folders to the Jump List for easy access any time. All of those shortcuts on your desktop for the folders that you frequently access can now be pinned to the Jump List simply by dragging the folder to the Windows Explorer icon on the taskbar.
The Jump List feature goes beyond managing your shortcuts; if you have a Word or Excel file you frequently use, you can also pin that to a Jump List as well. Just pin the Word or Excel program to the taskbar, and then pin the document or spreadsheet to that program’s icon like you did with the folders. Anytime you need to access that document, right-click the program on the taskbar, select your file, and it will open right away.
3. Improved Search
In previous versions of Windows, searching for files was always a hassle. You had to open the Search Companion and then define your search according to what you were looking for. Microsoft tried to make this better with the Search Indexer, but it was slow and took up a lot of CPU horsepower. In Windows 7, Microsoft has refined the Search Indexer by building it into the operating system. Everything is included in the index, even emails so there’s no more clicking around to get to the search feature; you click the Start button, and start typing.
4. Automatic Recognition of many devices
In the previous versions of Windows, it was a challenge to install printers, cameras, and other devices. Generally, you needed to load the manufacturer’s software in order to get the equipment to work, and then your computer would run more slowly because of the all the extra software it was running. With Windows 7, many drivers are built in, and the ones that aren’t automatically download from the internet. Just by plugging in a printer or another device, Windows will recognize the device and install it for you. This makes installing devices much faster and keeps your computer running like new.
5. Aero Interface
Probably one of the most exciting features of Windows 7 is the Aero Interface. Microsoft introduced the Aero Interface in Windows Vista, but has greatly improved it in Windows 7. Although it may not be the most productive feature, Aero Interface is very useful, and it is really fun to play with.
So what is the Aero Interface? Aero looks like glass, and even allows you to see through parts of the taskbar onto the desktop. Why is this interface in this list? Well there are times when it comes in handy. On the far right side of the taskbar there is an area called the Show Desktop icon (it is just to the right of the clock). Previously there was an icon in the Quick Launch for Show Desktop. When clicked, all the open windows would fall down into the taskbar showing the desktop. With Windows 7, put the mouse over the Show Desktop and all the open windows will clear out; this gives you a glass-like look that allows you to see through to the desktop. Move your mouse off Show Desktop, and all your open windows return where they were.
A new feature in Windows 7, and possibly one of the most productive, is called Aero Snap. Just drag an open window to the top of the screen and let go, and the window will go full screen. Drag the window to the right or left and get a half screen snap. This is extremely useful when you are comparing documents.
In conclusion, switching to a new operating system is often a scary thing to do, but the upgrade to Microsoft 7 is worth the effort because of all the productivity enhancements. Windows 7 will improve your efficiency, and it is also fun to use!
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