Microsoft is hoping that its new operating system, Windows 7 will be more appreciated than Vista was.
Some of the criticism surrounding Vista focused on its heavy use of pop-ups by the User Account Control (UAC) security component in their effort to render Vista more secure than previous operating system versions the company had released.
While the UAC feature in Windows 7 is not quite as intrusive, its default settings right off-the-shelf are also not exactly the most secure.
Finding the right balance between usability and security continues to be a challenge both software manufacturers such as Microsoft and users like you and me are faced with.
Even though Microsoft managed to fix the majority of Vista’s flaws, this did not happen in time to repair the operating system’s badly damaged reputation.
As such, Windows 7’s promises of faster boots and fewer clicks to get common tasks taken care of, as well as the fact that it is considerably less “noisy” than its predecessor (meaning, it features fewer pop-ups, warning, notifications and “are you sure …” messages), are likely to entice both users looking for a new computer system as well as those who own a reasonable new one but would prefer a better user experience.
As InformationWeek reminds us, “Microsoft needs the product to be a hit, as Windows sales have slumped badly in recent quarters. The fall of is partly due to the economy and partly as a result of Vista’s unpopularity and inability to run on smaller devices such as netbooks. Given its smaller footprint, Windows 7 fits nicely on most netbooks, according to Microsoft.”
A detailed look at Windows 7, based on the version of the operating system that was released to manufacturing (RTM release), is available here.
If you would like our help in selecting a new computer system, performing an upgrade to Windows 7 and/or assuring that your security measures and settings properly meet your needs, contact us today.
