There is no doubt that you have heard some of the many consumer complaints over Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system, and the launch of their new operating system, Windows 7 in response to these complaints. So what features does the new Windows 7 offer that makes it a superior operating system to Vista, and is it worth upgrading to 7 if you are an existing Vista or even Windows XP user. Here is a breakdown of some the new feature of Windows 7 and how they stack up to Vista and XP.

What makes Windows 7 Different?

1. Will Work on Your Computer!

Most new Windows operating systems that have come out in recent history have required most users to make significant upgrades to the hardware of their computer. The great thing about Windows 7 is that it has been designed to be more accessible, and if you are currently using Vista then you definitely can download 7 with no necessary upgrades.

2. Smart Start Button Search

Have you ever wanted help for various tasks on your PC, but hate having to open the program itself to get the info or having to search through the control panel to find the answer? The new Windows 7 has a smart start button search that not only searches files name like the older versions of Windows, but also searches the control panel’s help for common related searches. This can certainly be a time saver and is handy for users that are not familiar with the control panel and its functions.

3. Less Warnings more Functioning

One of the biggest criticisms of Windows Vista was that it had a pop-up warning for virtually every function that it performed, particularly during the start up process. From wireless network connections, to antivirus updates the start up for Vista seemed to take forever. The new 7 has simplified the process by having a Start-up Systems Tray which appears as a lighthouse icon on the taskbar. While this definitely makes the start up of 7 more refined, for those have gotten use to the heads up about everything the new simplified version could mean you may over look things like needed updates.

4. New Taskbar and Jumplists

The new and improved Taskbar now functions more like its major competitor the Macintosh OS. It features larger icons, which are great for the new touch screens that are hitting the market, and also offers useful Jumplists, which include shortcuts to often used features of that program. For example, recently opened files for programs such as Word appear in the Jumplist of the Word Taskbar Icon. This change, however may take some users a bit of time to get use to, and doesn’t really offer any benefit to users that still use the traditional monitor and mouse combo.

5. iTunes Compatible

Ok, let’s face it: in the land of digital music, Apple is leading the way with iPod, and if you own one then you are aware that you need the Apple Media Software iTunes. In the past Windows Media Player could not store or play the iTunes file format, but the latest version, 12 designed for use with Windows 7 is fully compatible with the iPod format. This means that you can use the much more intuitive and Windows friendly Media Player, while still having an iPod.

These are just a few of the many features that makes Windows 7 more user friendly than Vista. Overall, if you are happy with Vista, there are not really any immediate reasons to switch, but it is definitely worth a look if you like to keep up to date with technology, and it does offer some great new features that make it worth the purchase price.