Development
Originally, a version of Windows codenamed Blackcomb was planned as the successor to Windows XP (codename Whistler) and Windows Server 2003. Major features were planned for Blackcomb, including an emphasis on searching and querying data and an advanced storage system named WinFS to enable such scenarios. However, an interim, minor release, codenamed "Longhorn" was announced for 2003, delaying the development of Blackcomb.[11] By the middle of 2003, however, Longhorn had acquired some of the features originally intended for Blackcomb. After three major viruses exploited flaws in Windows operating systems within a short time period in 2003, Microsoft changed its development priorities, putting some of Longhorn's major development work on hold while developing new service packs for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. Development of Longhorn (Windows Vista) was also restarted, and thus delayed, in August 2004. A number of features were cut from Longhorn.[12]
Blackcomb was renamed Vienna in early 2006,[13] and again to Windows 7 in 2007.[14] In 2008, it was announced that Windows 7 would also be the official name of the operating system.[15][16]
The first external release to select Microsoft partners came in January 2008 with Milestone 1, build 6519.[17] At PDC 2008, Microsoft demonstrated Windows 7 with its reworked taskbar. Copies of Windows 7 build 6801 were distributed at the end of the conference, however, the demonstrated taskbar was disabled in this build.
On December 27, 2008, Windows 7 Beta was leaked onto the Internet via BitTorrent.[18] According to a performance test by ZDNet,[19] Windows 7 Beta beat both Windows XP and Vista in several key areas, including boot and shut down time and working with files, such as loading documents. Other areas did not beat XP, including PC Pro benchmarks for typical office activities and video editing, which remain identical to Vista and slower than XP.[20] On January 7, 2009, the 64-bit version of the Windows 7 Beta (build 7000) was leaked onto the web, with some torrents being infected with a trojan.[21][22] At CES 2009, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced the Windows 7 Beta, build 7000, had been made available for download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers in the format of an ISO image.[23] The Beta was to be publicly released January 9, 2009, and Microsoft initially planned for the download to be made available to 2.5 million people on this date. However, access to the downloads was delayed because of high traffic.[24] The download limit was also extended, initially until January 24, then again to February 10. People who did not complete downloading the beta had two extra days to complete the download. After February 12, unfinished downloads became unable to complete. Users could still obtain product keys from Microsoft to activate their copy of Windows 7 Beta, which expired on August 1, 2009. The release candidate, build 7100, has been available for MSDN and TechNet subscribers and Connect Program participants since April 30 and became available to the general public on May 5, 2009. It has also been leaked onto the Internet via BitTorrent.[25] The release candidate is available in five languages and will expire on June 1, 2010, with shutdowns every two hours starting March 1, 2010.[26] Microsoft stated that Windows 7 would be released to the general public on October 22, 2009. Microsoft released Windows 7 to MSDN and Technet subscribers on August 6, 2009, at 10:00am PDT.[27] Microsoft announced that Windows 7, along with Windows Server 2008 R2 were released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009. Windows 7 RTM is build 7600.16385, which was compiled on July 13, 2009, and was declared the final RTM build after passing all Microsoft's tests internally.[4] "The launch of Windows 7 has superseded everyone’s expectations, storming ahead of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the biggest-grossing pre-order product of all-time, and demand is still going strong," claimed managing director Brian McBride, Amazon UK on October 22."[4]
[edit] Goals
Bill Gates, in an interview with Newsweek, suggested that this version of Windows would "be more user-centric".[28] Gates later said that Windows 7 will also focus on performance improvements.[29] Steven Sinofsky later expanded on this point, explaining in the Engineering Windows 7 blog that the company was using a variety of new tracing tools to measure the performance of many areas of the operating system on an ongoing basis, to help locate inefficient code paths and to help prevent performance regressions.[30]
Senior Vice President Bill Veghte stated that Windows Vista users migrating to Windows 7 would not find the kind of device compatibility issues they encountered migrating from Windows XP.[31] Speaking about Windows 7 on October 16, 2008, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer confirmed compatibility between Vista and Windows 7,[32] indicating that Windows 7 will be a refined version of Windows Vista.[32]
[edit] Features
[edit] New and changed features
Windows 7 includes a number of new features, such as advances in touch and handwriting recognition, support for virtual hard disks, improved performance on multi-core processors,[33][34][35][36] improved boot performance, DirectAccess, and kernel improvements. Windows 7 adds support for systems using multiple heterogeneous graphics cards from different vendors (Heterogeneous Multi-adapter), a new version of Windows Media Center,[37] a Gadget for Windows Media Center, improved media features, the XPS Essentials Pack and Windows PowerShell being included, and a redesigned Calculator with multiline capabilities including Programmer and Statistics modes along with unit conversion. Many new items have been added to the Control Panel, including ClearType Text Tuner, Display Color Calibration Wizard, Gadgets, Recovery, Troubleshooting, Workspaces Center, Location and Other Sensors, Credential Manager, Biometric Devices, System Icons, and Display.[38] Windows Security Center has been renamed to Windows Action Center (Windows Health Center and Windows Solution Center in earlier builds), which encompasses both security and maintenance of the computer. [39] Microsoft's Windows kernel engineer Mark Russinovich acknowledged the problem, but noted that there are other vulnerabilities that do not rely on the new setting.[40] Windows 7 also supports Mac-like RAW image viewing through the addition of WIC-enabled image decoders, which enables raw image thumbnails, previewing and metadata display in Windows Explorer, plus full-size viewing and slideshows in Windows Photo Viewer and Window Media Center.[41]
The taskbar has seen the biggest visual changes, where the Quick Launch toolbar has been replaced with pinning applications to the taskbar. Buttons for pinned applications are integrated with the task buttons. These buttons also enable the Jump Lists feature to allow easy access to common tasks.[42] The revamped taskbar also allows the reordering of taskbar buttons. To the far right of the system clock is a small rectangular button that serves as the Show desktop icon. This button is part of the new feature in Windows 7 called Aero Peek. Hovering over this button makes all visible windows transparent for a quick look at the desktop.[43] In touch-enabled displays such as touch screens, tablet PCs, etc., this button is slightly wider to accommodate being pressed with a finger.[44] Clicking this button minimizes all windows, and clicking it a second time restores them. Additionally, there is a feature named Aero Snap, that automatically maximizes a window when it is dragged to either the top or left/right edges of the screen.[45] This also allows users to snap documents or files on either side of the screen to compare them. When a user moves windows that are maximized, the system restores their previous state automatically. This functionality is also accomplished with keyboard shortcuts. Unlike in Windows Vista, window borders and the taskbar do not turn opaque when a window is maximized with Windows Aero applied. Instead, they remain transparent.
For developers, Windows 7 includes a new networking API with support for building SOAP-based web services in native code (as opposed to .NET-based WCF web services),[46] new features to shorten application install times, reduced UAC prompts, simplified development of installation packages,[47] and improved globalization support through a new Extended Linguistic Services API.[48] At WinHEC 2008 Microsoft announced that color depths of 30-bit and 48-bit would be supported in Windows 7 along with the wide color gamut scRGB (which for HDMI 1.3 can be converted and output as xvYCC). The video modes supported in Windows 7 are 16-bit sRGB, 24-bit sRGB, 30-bit sRGB, 30-bit with extended color gamut sRGB, and 48-bit scRGB.[49][50] Microsoft is also implementing better support for solid-state drives,[51] including the new TRIM command, and Windows 7 will be able to identify a solid-state drive uniquely. Microsoft is also planning to support USB 3.0 in a subsequent patch, although support was not included in the initial release because of delays in the finalization of the standard.[52]
Internet Spades, Internet Backgammon and Internet Checkers, which were removed from Windows Vista, were restored in Windows 7. Windows 7 includes Internet Explorer 8 and Windows Media Player 12.
 | Wikinews has related news: Windows 7 will allow users to disable Internet Explorer |
Users also are able to disable many more Windows components than was possible in Windows Vista. New additions to this list of components include Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, Windows Search, and the Windows Gadget Platform.[53] Windows 7 includes 13 additional sound schemes, titled Afternoon, Calligraphy, Characters, Cityscape, Delta, Festival, Garden, Heritage, Landscape, Quirky, Raga, Savanna, and Sonata.[54] A new version of Virtual PC, Windows Virtual PC Beta is available for Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions.[55] It allows multiple Windows environments, including Windows XP Mode, to run on the same machine, requiring the use of Intel VT-x or AMD-V. Windows XP Mode runs Windows XP in a virtual machine and redirects displayed applications running in Windows XP to the Windows 7 desktop.[56] Furthermore Windows 7 supports the mounting of a virtual hard disk (VHD) as a normal data storage, and the bootloader delivered with Windows 7 can boot the Windows system from a VHD.[57] The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) of Windows 7 is also enhanced to support real-time multimedia application including video playback and 3D games. That means that DirectX 10 can be used in a remote desktop environment.[58] The three application limit will be removed from Windows 7 Starter.[59]
[edit] Removed features
A number of capabilities and certain programs that were a part of Windows Vista are no longer present or have changed, resulting in the removal of certain functionality. Some notable Windows Vista features and components have been replaced or removed in Windows 7, including the classic Start Menu user interface, Windows Ultimate Extras, InkBall, and Windows Calendar. Four applications bundled with Windows Vista — Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Movie Maker, Windows Calendar[60] and Windows Mail — are not included with Windows 7, but are instead available for free in a separate package called Windows Live Essentials.
[edit] Antitrust regulatory attention
As with other Microsoft operating systems, Windows 7 is being studied by United States federal regulators who oversee the company's operations following the 2001 United States v. Microsoft settlement. According to status reports filed, the three-member panel began assessing prototypes of the new operating system in February 2008. Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Jupiter Research said that, "[Microsoft's] challenge for Windows 7 will be how can they continue to add features that consumers will want that also don't run afoul of regulators."[61]
[edit] Editions
To avoid running afoul of European antitrust regulations, Microsoft chose to ship Windows 7 without Internet Explorer in European Union member countries.[62] It was also announced that the upgrade versions of Windows 7 would also not be available in Europe because of the possibility of needing additional testing for how upgrades would react to the versions without Internet Explorer.[63]
Microsoft also proposed to the European Commission allowing users to download a competing browser from a "ballot" screen instead of providing a version of Windows completely without Internet Explorer installed at all.[64] In response to criticism involving Windows 7 E and concerns from manufacturers about possible consumer confusion if a version of Windows 7 with Internet Explorer were shipped later after one without Internet Explorer, Microsoft announced that it would scrap the separate version for Europe and ship the standard upgrade and full packages worldwide.[65]
However, in Europe, an N version, which does not come with Windows Media Player has been released, but only for sale directly from Microsoft sales websites and select others. Again, this is believed to have been done to please EU legislators under anti-trust reasoning. As it is priced at the same as the non-N versions, it is likely that sales will be low of this version, as the similar N-versions of Vista achieved.[66]
[edit] Reception
In only eight hours, Pre-orders of Windows 7 at Amazon.co.uk surpassed the demand Windows Vista had in its first 17 weeks.[67] It became the highest-grossing pre-order in Amazon's history, surpassing sales of the previous record holder, the seventh Harry Potter book.[68]
Reviews of Windows 7 were mostly positive, praising its usability when compared to its predecessor, Windows Vista. CNet gives Windows 7 Home Premium a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars,[69] stating that it "is more than what Vista should have been, [and] it's where Microsoft needed to go".
Some Vista Ultimate users have expressed concerns over Windows 7 pricing and upgrade options.[70][71] Windows Vista Ultimate users wanting to upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 must either pay $219.99[72] to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate or perform a clean install, which requires them to reinstall all of their programs.[73]
After the launch, 64-bit versions of Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate editions sold out in Japan.[74]
[edit] Editions
Windows 7 is available in six different editions, but only the Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate editions are available for retail sale in most countries.[75] The other editions are aimed at other markets, such as the developing world or enterprise use.[75] Each edition of Windows 7 includes all of the capabilities and features of the edition below it.[75][76][77][78][79] With the exception of Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic, all editions will support both 32-bit (IA-32) and 64-bit (x86-64) processor architectures.[80] The installation media is the same for all the consumer editions of Windows 7 that have the same processor architecture, with the license determing the features that are activated, and license upgrades permitting the subsequent unlocking of features without re-installation of the operating system.[81] This is the first time Microsoft distributes 2 DVDs (1 DVD for IA-32 processor architecture, the other DVD for x86-64 processor architecture) for each edition of Windows 7 (Except for Starter and Home Basic). Users who wish to upgrade to an edition of Windows 7 with more features can then use Windows Anytime Upgrade to purchase the upgrade, and unlock the features of those editions.[76][81][82] Some copies of Windows 7 have restrictions, in which it must be distributed (If not, sold or bought) and activated in the geographical region (One of the geographical regions can be either: Southeast Asia; India; or Latin America and the Caribbean) specified in its front cover box.
Microsoft is offering a family pack of Windows 7 Home Premium (in select markets) that will allow installation on up to 3 PCs.[83] The "Family Pack" will cost USD 149.99 in the United States.[83]
On September 18, 2009, Microsoft said they were to offer temporary student discounts for Windows 7. The offer will be running in the US and the United Kingdom, with similar schemes available in Canada, Australia, Korea, Mexico, France and Germany. Students with a valid .edu or .ac.uk email address can apply for either Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional, priced at $30 or £30.[84][85]
[edit] Windows 7 Launch Party video
Windows 7 Launch Party is a video advertisement designed to market Windows 7. It features a group of people in a kitchen explaining the concept of a party to launch the operating system in their own homes. The video received widespread criticism as a marketing effort,[86][87][88] and consideration was given as to whether it was intentionally bad, in order to generate content mocking it, or whether it was just poorly put together. Search Engine Watch commented "If you create something so bad that it goes viral, is it a public relations disaster or a video marketing triumph?"[89] Barbara Lippert, ad critic for Adweek magazine stated "This is so beyond-belief bad that I just cannot believe it’s for real ... the script is so fake, with all the sales messages in there… if this is what they think is hip, it’s just so sad — and poignant"[90] Rob Pegoraro of The Washington Post described the video by saying "by two minutes into the video, I could only hold my head in my hands, cringing and saying, “No, no, no, this can't possibly be real!”"[91] CNET described the video as looking "like the Food Network threw a cooking party only to have it geek out and go completely sideways", and came as part of a pattern of Microsoft advertising such as that for a previous piece of software that was such a "weird (to say the least) attempt to humanize software that failed so terribly I still find it hard to believe it was real."[92] Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist James Lileks said of the video: "If Microsoft had been put in charge of marketing sex, the human race would have ended long ago, because no one would be caught dead doing something that uncool."[93] However, about 5000 copies of Windows 7 Ultimate Signature Edition (containing both 32 bit and 64 bit DVDs) were sent to Windows 7 Launch Party Hosts through the House Party website in Australia, Canada, USA, UK, Japan, India, Mexico, Spain, Hong Kong, Germany, France, and Italy. The entire party package included 10 tote bags with new, Windows 7 desktop pictures printed on them, one puzzle, and one poster.
[edit] Hardware requirements
Microsoft has published their minimum specifications for a system running Windows 7.[94] Requirements for the 32-bit version are much the same as recommendations for premium editions of Vista, but the 64-bit versions are higher. Microsoft has released an upgrade advisor that scans a computer to see if it is compatible with Windows 7.
| Architecture | 32-bit | 64-bit |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz 32-bit processor | 1 GHz 64-bit processor |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 GB of RAM | 2 GB of RAM |
| Graphics Card | DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM driver model 1.0 (For Aero) | |
| HDD free space | 16 GB of available disk space | 20 GB of available disk space |
| Optical drive | DVD drive (only to install from DVD/CD Media) | |
Additional requirements to use certain features:[94]
- BitLocker requires a USB flash drive to use BitLocker To Go.
- Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V enabled.
- Windows Media Center (included with Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate), requires a TV-tuner to receive and record TV.
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