October 22, 2009 marks the official release of Windows 7. There are hundreds of reviews of this anticipated product floating around on the Internet, but we want this review to be a valuable addition to your understanding of what Microsoft’s latest operating system has to offer. Read on to learn more how well Windows 7 succeeds in achieving its goals and how it can help you get more out of your computer, your media, and your life. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send us an email; we’ve been using Windows 7 in Beta, RC, and RTM form for over eight months, and are glad to answer any questions you might have.

(continue reading…)

One of the most recent additions to Windows 7 is the heavily hyped “Windows XP Mode.”  Through the use of a brand new version of Microsoft’s VirtualPC technology, it allows users to seamlessly run legacy Windows XP compatible programs alongside newer products.  It’s especially targeted towards businesses that don’t want to upgrade older software.  Does it deliver?  Absolutely.  But there are a few factors to consider before banking on XP Mode to solve all of your problems.

Installation of XP Mode was a breeze.  Simply go to Microsoft’s website, download the Virtual PC update, and then install Virtual Windows XP.  This 445MB download finished quickly and installed in a surprisingly short period of time on our test PC.  Both steps required a reboot, but after that was out of the way, it was time to test it out.

(continue reading…)

Well, the Windows 7 Release Candidate has arrived-and a day ahead of schedule, at that.

After a quick, painless installation, it’s immediatly clear that Microsoft has been hard at work since the Beta release from several months ago.  Enhanced speed and visual refinement are immediately evident.  And full screen resolution is automatically detected upon installation, something Windows Vista couldn’t do.

Overall, the feature set is similar to the Beta, just with more refinement.  New enhanced “Jump Lists” offer more easy-to-access options for various programs.  Additionally, Internet Explorer has been updated to a new release of Version 8 with a new Welcome wizard and enhanced touch performance and security.

(continue reading…)

We’ve been using Windows 7 Beta build 7000 for several months, and it’s been tested on various hardware from SciencePro Tech.

So far, the Beta has been faster, more stable, and far more intuitive than Vista, addressing many complaints that have plauged the OS since its launch in January 2007.  Billed as a “better Vista” by Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s newest release takes a more Apple-like approach to an OS upgrade, focusing on smaller changes and performance optimizations instead of a complete overhaul.  So far, the strategies have worked:  Microsoft has shown that it is still at the top of the OS heap, producing a Beta OS that is nearly as polished as Vista itself after over 2 years.

(continue reading…)