by
Tayyab Arif , IT Network Engineer , Huawei Technologies
1. Windows Media Center – Unless you had the Media Center Edition of XP, you probably missed out on this media-centric wonder. Standard with Windows 7, get more from your digital media with Window’s 7 Media Center.
2. Action Center – Unlike Windows XP that had features all over the place, Windows 7 groups everything you are looking for in the Action Center. Now, you don’t have to hunt around for a setting you don’t often change.
3. Less Intrusive Security – If Windows Vista’s User Account Control (UAC) settings were a bit too aggressive for you, you will love the less intrusive solution in Windows 7. The new operating system strikes an excellent balance between security and annoying features.
4. More Security – Compared to Windows 7, Windows XP is so full of security holes that it looks like Swiss cheese. Rather than patch a bunch of holes, why not start with an operating system that is more secure to begin with?
5. Problem Steps Recorder – Even get an error while using your computer but couldn’t replicate it when the computer technician was standing over your shoulder? With Windows 7’s Problem Steps Recorder, you can record everything you do from keyboard hits to mouse clicks to show a technician exactly what you did when the error occurred.
6. Better Searching – Microsoft finally got it right when it comes to searching. Unlike the seemingly useless search function in Windows XP, Windows 7 actually finds what you are looking for the first time.
7. Aero Peek – Windows XP gives you rectangle after rectangle of applications open on the task with truncated descriptions of what is running. With Aero Peek, you only need to hold the mouse over an open application on the task bar to peek at what’s inside.
8. Improved Taskbar – And speaking of the taskbar, Windows 7 finally let’s you move around open applications to arrange them anyway you want. If you typically have a lot of windows open at the same time, this feature is a must-have.
9. Networking through HomeGroup – If you have a simple network in your home or home office, HomeGroup will take the guesswork and headaches out of setting up your networked computers and devices.
10. Keep up with the Latest O/S – Let’s face it, Windows XP is now over 9 years old. If you want to keep up with the times and the latest technology, upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 is long overdue.
