Windows 98 introduced the back and forward navigation buttons and the address bar in Windows Explorer, among other things. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of the Windows Driver Model for computer components and accessories — one driver to support all future versions of Windows. Released in September , it was the consumer-aimed operating system twined with Windows aimed at the enterprise market. It introduced some important concepts to consumers, including more automated system recovery tools.
Autocomplete also appeared in Windows Explorer, but the operating system was notorious for being buggy, failing to install properly and being generally poor. The Start menu and task bar got a visual overhaul, bringing the familiar green Start button, blue task bar and vista wallpaper, along with various shadow and other visual effects.
ClearType, which was designed to make text easier to read on LCD screens, was introduced, as were built-in CD burning, autoplay from CDs and other media, plus various automated update and recovery tools, that unlike Windows ME actually worked.
Windows XP was the longest running Microsoft operating system, seeing three major updates and support up until April — 13 years from its original release date. Windows XP was still used on an estimated m PCs when it was discontinued. Its biggest problem was security: though it had a firewall built in, it was turned off by default. Windows XP stayed the course for close to six years before being replaced by Windows Vista in January Vista updated the look and feel of Windows with more focus on transparent elements, search and security.
Later a version of Windows Vista without Windows Media Player was created in response to anti-trust investigations. A lightweight edition for netbook computers. Netbooks are low-powered computers specifically designed for lightweight tasks such as web browsing and emailing.
In this edition, Windows 7 will lack more advanced features such as Media Center, Aero Glass, fast user switching, multiple-monitor support, DVD playback, and multitouch support. This edition is geared toward replacing Windows XP on inexpensive computers such as netbooks, a market that is currently dominated by Windows XP.
This edition will likely be available only as a preinstallation by OEMs. In the early beta days of Windows 7, Microsoft announced that Windows 7 Starter Edition would have a three-application limit. That is, no more than three applications could run at the same time. Apparently, this did not go over well with the public, and Microsoft reversed the decision. Some restrictions remain. Microsoft has disabled the Personalize option in the context menu that is shown when you right-click the desktop.
This limitation might be to allow OEMs to provide their own custom-branded wallpapers. At press time, it is unclear whether Microsoft will lift this limitation as well. This edition is designated for emerging markets only; it is for customers who are looking for an inexpensive entry-level Windows experience limited Aero support, no features such as Windows Media Center or multitouch support.
This edition is designed for home users and will include features like Media Center, multitouch support, the Aero Glass UI, and so on. This edition is designed for home workers and small businesses, and will include features like advanced network backup and the Encrypting File System. Includes everything that Professional includes and adds BitLocker protection. It will have the option to encrypt USB flash drives and external hard disks. It also includes DirectAccess, which allows remote workers to access a company network securely without using a VPN, and federated search.
Includes all the features available in Windows 7. Windows 7 Ultimate edition is really the same as the Enterprise edition. The key difference is that the Enterprise edition will be sold through volume licensing to companies, as well as through the Software Assurance program. The Ultimate edition, however, will be available to retail customers. One key thing to note about the different editions of Windows 7 is that each higher edition is a superset of its lower edition. That is, all the features available in Starter Edition will be available on the Home Basic edition, and the Home Premium edition will include all the features of Home Basic, and so on.
This is different from Vista, where Media Center was included in the Home Premium edition but not available in the Business edition. Though there are six different editions of Windows 7, Microsoft will focus its marketing effort on just the Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate editions. As a quick rule of thumb, Windows 7 Home Premium is targeted at consumers and Professional is targeted at small businesses.
If you are currently running Windows Vista, the good news is that you are ready for Windows 7. Tests performed by various parties have consistently confirmed that Windows 7 outperformed Windows Vista on a similar hardware configuration. If you are coming from previous versions of Windows pre-Vista , take note of the following suggested hardware requirements:.
The suggested requirements are necessary to experience all the features of Windows 7 such as Aero Glass effects , but Windows 7 will still function on lesser hardware.
If you are currently running Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 , you can upgrade to Windows 7 directly from within Vista.
Windows XP users will need to install a fresh copy of Windows 7. Double-click migwiz. Follow the instructions on the screen to save the settings to another computer via a cable or network, or save them to a hard disk or USB drive. Follow the online instructions to copy the saved settings onto the new Windows 7 installation.
The following steps will walk you through the process of installing Windows 7 on a fresh computer. When the installer has booted up, you will be greeted with the screen shown in Figure the upgrade screen is slightly different; you will have an option to check the compatibility of your system or start the installation.
Microsoft notes that the Windows 8 picture password feature keeps you safer than regular passwords. Ensure that your computer meets minimum system requirements before upgrading to Windows 8. After majoring in physics, Kevin Lee began writing professionally in when, as a software developer, he also created technical articles for the Johnson Space Center.
Today this urban Texas cowboy continues to crank out high-quality software as well as non-technical articles covering a multitude of diverse topics ranging from gaming to current affairs. By Kevin Lee. Windows 7 Features Over time, Microsoft released additional operating systems, such as Vista and Windows 7. It just works. Windows 10, on the other hand, has been plagued by one update failure after another. ESUs will provide you security support through January As for Office , its supported life ends on Oct.
There will be no extended plan for it. After that, Microsoft really wants you to switch to Office Your best option is to finally bid Windows adieu and try another operating system.
Before you reject that idea out of hand, take a long, hard look at your work. Do you do all your essential work online? Then any operating system with a browser will do.
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