The Seventh Window

Something marvelous occurred Sunday, and it wasn't just the spectacle that was this week in the NFL.

I woke up.  And that wasn't the marvelous part, just the beginning.

I traveled down the stairs, and luckily I wore PJ's that night (the marvelous part).

I headed towards the door and looked down at the floor.

What did I see to my surprise?

Yeah that's it people.   Microsoft Windows 7, home premium to be exact.

Although I haven't had the time yet to install, to which I post to you still from Vista; I did break the packaging and here's what I found out thus far.

Apparently this is my PC..."simplified."  Great, after 16 years of figuring these complex operating systems out, they've finally cared to simplify things.

*Here is a glimpse of the new CD layout, don't mind the blur, those are my serial numbers*

"Enjoy.  It's designed for you."  And for once!  They thought about us instead of them?  Precious

But despite the marketing rhetoric, Microsoft really smoked a joint on this one, but it doesn't appear to stink like a skunk.

Finally moving away from it's ever present aroma of an office cubicle, Windows has added some cool new features not yet experienced to any intergrated aspect of it's user-interface (the menu bars, minimize buttons, windows, taskbars, start buttons, etc).

Aero Background

It lets you select a number of photos to rotate as a slideshow for your desktop background.

Aero Shake

Simply grab the top of a certain window with a left-click, hold it and shake.  All other open windows will minimize.

Aero Peek

Get a glimpse of your desktop hidden behind your open windows by turning them all completely opaque.

Glass Color

The option allows you to tint the hue of your monitor to appear as your favorite shade of glass, for the ocular-ly inclined. (PS you see more greens in the dark, but during the day yellow dims the intensity of the monitor which strains your eyes, that and blue just looks cool, perhaps some white to see better in dark video games, who knows what you could do with it, do you?)

The taskbar got a face-lift.

• The program boxes are more boxed in shape, still a rectangle but much skinnier (previously the rectangle shape was longer, about 1 measure up 5 measures across), allowing for many more programs on a single-spaced taskbar.  
• A blended background indicates that program is "inactive" with the "active" program at the time being highlighted in orange.  
• You may also "pin" programs to the taskbar, much like the latest Mac interface, simply drag a program onto the taskbar for quick access.  Thus it would appear "quickbar" has become an obsolete Windows feature.  
  
• Thumbnail previews of programs have become even more integrated into the taskbar.
• Jump Lists options have been added to reduce desktop clutter. 
• Rather than having your favorite songs on your desktop for easy and quick access, you may set a list of "Frequent" songs within the Windows Media Player icon on the taskbar, or perhaps a website for Internet Explorer.
• Previous tasks can also be set.

The shortcuts got a boost as well

• Windows key + up arrow = Maximize window
• Windows key + down arrow = Minimize window
• Windows key + arrow left or right = Snap window to left or right of screen (allows you to easily compare to windows side-by-side)
• Windows key + Home = Max / Min all windows
• Windows key + Spacebar (held) = Aero Peek
• Windows key + # = Active program at given numbered slot on the taskbar (if Internet explorer is 1 and you hit WK + 1, IE shall open)

Either way you add up the new stuff, its a boiler of excitement and curiosity waiting to blow.  I can't wait to play with these new features.  

But for now!  Time for some sleep, some class, then some installation instructions.