Microsoft launches today its new operative system: Windows 7

As from today –and all over the world- Microsoft Windows 7 (or Seven) finally hits retail stores. For those –unhappy- users regarding Windows Vista, who actually rolled back to Windows XP due to performance issues and system crashes, Microsoft, the world leading company in operative systems, states that Windows 7 is the best Windows ever and this way, Microsoft is hoping its new system will perform as promised and avoid a repeat of the negative publicity associated with Windows Vista.

Windows 7 promises a streamlined interface, support for touch screens, and security features that, while robust, don’t interfere with users’ day-to-day interactions with their computers, the software maker claims. Windows 7 delivers on a simple premise: make it easier for customers to do the things they want on a PC through a streamlined user interface and several new features that make everyday tasks faster. This launch marks a significant milestone for Microsoft and is a result of extensive feedback from millions of customers and partners around the world.

The new Windows 7 is lighter and faster, even on virtual machines and mid-end systems. It features a less intrusive –and less annoying- UAC (User Account Control).security center. It also adds a new taskbar, bigger icons, thumbnails and other user-friendly features. The result is an easy to connect, easy to browse and simple to use operating system, requiring less waiting, less clicks, less hassle connecting to devices, less power consumption and less complexity for the consumers.

In spite of all the additions to the new operative system, many users still wonder if their rig can handle Windows 7, and for that purpose there is a tool called Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. In case your hardware doesn’t meet Windows 7 minimum system requirements, guess you´ll have to make do with Seven Transformation Pack, a Windows 7 theme for Windows XP.

In addition to media support in Vista, Windows 7 will add playback of media in MP4, MOV, 3GP, AVCHD, ADTS, M4A, and WTV multimedia containers, with native codecs for H.264, MPEG4-SP, ASP/DivX/Xvid, MJPEG, DV, AAC-LC, LPCM and AAC-HE. However, those are just a few filters and codecs. Windows 7 doesn’t include any codec package; therefore it is recommended that you install codec pack upon installing the new operative system. Another issue with Windows 7 is the lack of Windows Live Messenger 2009, the most popular instant messaging client, also from Microsoft.

Nevertheless, not everything is Windows 7 is a shortcoming. The new operative system features BitLocker, bringing encryption support to removable disks such as USB drives. Such devices can be protected by a passphrase, a recovery key, or be automatically unlocked on a computer. Windows 7 also features Solid State drives support in order to take advantage of the capabilities and unique performance characteristics of solid-state drives. Windows 7 will turn off Windows Disk Defragmenter and will make use of the new SSD TRIM command to physically erase logically deleted data more aggressively, so that it won’t need to be done later when new data is written to the same block.

As for security, The Windows Security Center has been renamed to Windows Action which encompasses both security and maintenance of the computer. A new User Account Control user interface has been introduced, which provides the ability to select four different levels of notifications. Though the Ultimate version of includes a sort of antivirus and spyware software, it´s always recommended to install a third-party antivirus.

In spite of the tips we herein provider, Windows 7 was built around users feedback, so you’ll see a lot of things you and many people around the asked for a –and complained. People wanted to make everyday tasks faster and easier, to make their PCs work the way you want them to, and to make it possible to do new things. And that’s exactly what Windows 7 promisses to do. Get ready to enjoy Microsoft´s new operative system, which according to their CEO, “Windows 7 is the best Windows ever”

Some developers have already released a new version of their software in order to support Windows 7:

• Windows 7 Manager
• Windows 7 Little Tweaker
• PDF Printer for Windows 7
• PDF Viewer for Windows 7
• PDF Converter for Windows 7
• Windows 7 TuneUpSuite
• Tweak-7 1.0 Build
• webcam 7 Beta