Spring Break
The Daily OrangeWindows 7 gives PCs quite the view with release of new operating software
By Matthew Bellezza
Posted: 11/18/08, 1:03 AM EST Section: Feature
Now here come the fun parts.
If you're a power user, you tend to have tons of windows open at one time. The desktop can get fairly cluttered. Microsoft even says that, on average, a user has between 7 and 10 windows open at a time. Windows 7 now takes this idea of hot keys into a new visual usability standpoint.
Enter the shake and hide feature.
Grab whichever window you want to remain open with the mouse, shake it around, and presto! All the other windows get minimized. If all you need is a quick look at one of the windows in the back, there is also rumored to be a feature in later releases that lets you peak at windows by simply mousing over the window desired, turning all other windows into glassy outlines and allowing you to see through them.
So some of you are probably wondering why Microsoft doesn't just add these features as another service pack to Vista. Well, for one that's too predictable; they have to keep us on the edge of our seats. Secondly, most of the work being done is "under the hood," so to speak. For example, the entire install file for Windows Vista Ultimate is close to 7GB in size, while the Windows 7 install as of now is only 2GB and supposedly will get smaller.
It's designed to run on some of the lowest-end computers at extraordinary speeds while saving large amounts of energy (that means less money, people). At the press conference, the OS was demoed on tiny netbook laptop computers called EEE PC's, which tote 1GHZ processors and very little system memory. Apparently they ran it flawlessly, according to reporters who attended the conference.
Who knows, it might be that Microsoft needs to release an ME (Vista) before an XP (Windows 7). Or maybe they just throw their technicians into a vat full of poisonous snakes and whichever one survives gets to make the next OS. Either way, so far so good.
Matthew Bellezza is a senior information technology major who plays way too many video games. He can be reached at mlbellez@syr.edu.
If you're a power user, you tend to have tons of windows open at one time. The desktop can get fairly cluttered. Microsoft even says that, on average, a user has between 7 and 10 windows open at a time. Windows 7 now takes this idea of hot keys into a new visual usability standpoint.
Enter the shake and hide feature.
Grab whichever window you want to remain open with the mouse, shake it around, and presto! All the other windows get minimized. If all you need is a quick look at one of the windows in the back, there is also rumored to be a feature in later releases that lets you peak at windows by simply mousing over the window desired, turning all other windows into glassy outlines and allowing you to see through them.
So some of you are probably wondering why Microsoft doesn't just add these features as another service pack to Vista. Well, for one that's too predictable; they have to keep us on the edge of our seats. Secondly, most of the work being done is "under the hood," so to speak. For example, the entire install file for Windows Vista Ultimate is close to 7GB in size, while the Windows 7 install as of now is only 2GB and supposedly will get smaller.
It's designed to run on some of the lowest-end computers at extraordinary speeds while saving large amounts of energy (that means less money, people). At the press conference, the OS was demoed on tiny netbook laptop computers called EEE PC's, which tote 1GHZ processors and very little system memory. Apparently they ran it flawlessly, according to reporters who attended the conference.
Who knows, it might be that Microsoft needs to release an ME (Vista) before an XP (Windows 7). Or maybe they just throw their technicians into a vat full of poisonous snakes and whichever one survives gets to make the next OS. Either way, so far so good.
Matthew Bellezza is a senior information technology major who plays way too many video games. He can be reached at mlbellez@syr.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Kaylen Thorpe
posted 11/18/08 @ 9:06 AM EST
The problem is still that Vista and 7 do not have any "killer apps" that make them 'better' than XP. Newer does not mean better; frankly, older does. XP has proven itself year after year to be a stable, compatible, fast OS. (Continued…)
Al
posted 11/18/08 @ 9:23 PM EST
I've always been a diehard Mac fanatic, but after having to take my MacBook Pro to the repair shop zillions of times, I've been very tempted to switch over to PCs. (Continued…)
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