The following article was selected as the winner of a contest held by Christina Penner in her technical writing for computer scientists course, which teaches students how to write relevant and understandable papers directed at a general audience. Samuel Pauls’ article was chosen by Penner as a well-written example of concise and easy to understand writing on a technology-based subject.
The user interface
The Windows 7 taskbar is a great example of Vista’s beautiful user interface reworked in a way that makes using a computer more enjoyable. Both sport the “aero” theme, with all its graphical effects, but 7 takes the functionality in a whole new direction. Program titles and quick launch shortcuts have been removed from the taskbar. What’s left are a bunch of icons you can arrange. Frequently used programs can be pinned to the taskbar, which replaces the quick launch functionality of earlier Windows releases. Jump lists, activated by dragging taskbar icons upward, reveal lists of commonly used functionality within the respective programs.
As another example, suppose you have just arrived on campus and want to establish a wireless Internet connection. Simply click the network icon in the taskbar and choose your network from the list. Vista buried this list of available connections in its own window, needlessly far from the user.
Similar improvements are found throughout Windows 7. Together they make using a Windows computer the most unobtrusive and enjoyable experience so far.
Under the hood
Windows 7 requires the same hardware as Vista. Thus, it runs just fine on computers purchased three years ago. Even netbooks, low powered laptops solely created for browsing the Internet, will not need the “light on resources” Windows XP for much longer thanks to Window’s 7.
The optimizations of Windows 7 lead to power saving. Background services, such as those required to pair with Bluetooth enabled peripherals, are only run as long as they are needed. DVD playback relies on a larger memory buffer than in previous versions of Windows Media Player, allowing the optical drive to reduce speed for greater periods of time. Improvements such as these translate to longer battery life during class, whether you are taking notes or not!
Purchasing an upgrade
For $129.95, the upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium can be yours. It is even cheaper for university and college students, at $39.99. Those who want advanced networking, backup, encryption and other features may be comfortable with spending a little more on the “professional” edition. Finally, international students may even wish to upgrade all the way to the “ultimate” edition, which supports 35 languages on the fly. Whichever edition you prefer, Windows 7 is definitely worth the upgrade.
If you have an article you would like published, or an opinion on something science or technology based, email Science@themanitoban.com with your pitch.
