Windows 7 Features, Benefits and Testing

On Thursday, October 22, Windows 7 wasWindows 7 Home Basic: The Home Basic edition is
released to consumers. Windows 7 was designedavailable in emerging markets, such as Brazil,
from inception to be an upgrade to the WindowsChina, India, Mexico, Pakistan and Thailand. Aero
line of operating systems while at the same timeoptions and some other new features are not
remaining compatible with the hardware andincluded in this edition.
applications Windows Vista was compatible with.Windows 7 Home Premium: Home Premium is
The new Windows 7 interface is more intuitivedesigned for personal users and includes features
and user friendly than its predecessors. Thesuch as the Windows Media Center, Windows
design of Windows 7 is clean and sleek, and itsAero and Multi-touch. Microsoft touts the
taskbars and windows look somewhat similar toentertainment experience of using Home Premium
those of a Mac. One key feature of Windows 7 isand emphasizes the simplicity of creating a home
the built-in multi-touch mapping application, whichnetwork with Home Premium to share photos,
allows users to interact with graphical applicationsvideos and music.
with a touch of a finger. A primary benefit of theWindows 7 Professional: Windows 7 Professional is
Windows 7 operating system is performancedesigned for power users and small business
improvement over its predecessor Windowsusers. It includes all of the Windows 7 Home
Vista. Microsoft has even created a "Starter"Premium features and also includes the ability to
version of Windows 7 that is compatible withparticipate in a Windows Server domain and
netbooks - mobile computers with limitedoperate as a remote desktop server. Additional
hardware performance and capabilities.features include location aware printing, encrypting
Technologies Benefiting from Windows 7file system, presentation mode and the ability to
Graphics chips, such as those from ATI andrun many Windows XP productivity programs in
NVIDIA, benefit greatly from Windows 7. DirectXWindows XP Mode.
11, a software technology that provides the APIsWindows 7 Enterprise: Enterprise is designed for
necessary for detailed graphics and audio, willbusiness PCs and includes a feature called
enable the next generation of graphics technology.BitLocker Drive Encryption, designed to help
It is the perfect technology for the detail-orientedprotect data against loss or theft and allows users
PC gamer or game developer interested in fluidto work in the language of their choice and switch
game play and more realistic worlds andbetween 35 languages.
characters.Windows 7 Ultimate: Ultimate includes all the
The new Intel Core i7 processor can also takefeatures that Enterprise offers, but is designed
advantage of the Windows 7 operating systemfor individual use. Windows 7 Professional users
to provide unmatched speed and optimizedhave the option to upgrade to Windows 7
performance to PCs. With Intel Core i7, runningUltimate for a fee using Windows Anytime
multiple applications and creating digital mediaUpgrade.
without sacrificing computer performance areWindows 7 Testing
possible. Windows 7 developers focused heavilyWhen creating Windows 7, Microsoft focused
on ensuring the operating system was fullyefforts on creating the highest performing,
compatible with and could take advantage of thefeature rich and bug free PC operating system to
multiple cores offered on modern processors suchdate. Accomplishing this goal in the modern PC
as the Intel i7 chip.market means that the operating system and
32 bit vs. 64 bit Architecturesoftware on the operating system, such as music,
Windows 7 is available in both 32 bit and 64 bitmovie or photo programs, must interoperate and
versions. The 32 or 64 bit architecture refers towork with millions of devices in the consumer
the memory address length that the processorelectronics ecosystem. To achieve this goal,
can reference and impacts the amount ofMicrosoft relies on testing, certification and
memory that can be used. Most likely, a PC thatstringent logo guidelines, all aimed to achieve the
is more than a couple years old will only bebest possible experience for users of Windows 7.
capable of running the 32 bit version. A PC with aFor many devices, using a Windows Logo requires
modern processor has the ability to run the 64 bitmore than just a Windows certification. To
version.receive a Windows logo for a Bluetooth device,
The amount of memory that can be used for athe device must first achieve Bluetooth
32 bit CPU is 4 GB. To experience the speedcertification, and to use a Windows logo for an
improvements of a 64 bit operating system,IEEE 1394 (FireWire) device, the product must
software optimized for 64 bit processing isfirst be certified with the 1394 Trade Association.
required.A new requirement asserts that manufacturers
Windows 7 Versionsseeking Windows 7 certification for their products
Consumers, IT managers and other IT decisionmust first achieve USB certification from the USB
makers will need to evaluate Windows 7 toImplementers Forum. USB certification helps
determine which version of the software is rightensure that a device will function properly with
for them. Microsoft offers Windows 7 in a varietythe Windows OS. This certification ensures
of packages. Each package contains features andcompliance to the USB standard and
benefits targeted at a specific group of users.interoperability between the USB host and device.
This evaluation should be made carefully as theThere are many tests required at various levels
versions range in price, and not all features will beof the software and hardware ecosystem to
applicable to all users. The six versions ofprovide a coherent and smooth computing
Windows 7 are outlined below.experience. Consumers benefit from these
Windows 7 Editionsrequirements as they reassure that devices
Windows 7 Starter: Windows 7 Starter is thebearing the Windows and Bluetooth, FireWire and
most basic edition. It does not include thecertified USB logos will work with PCs also bearing
Windows Aero theme, and is offered in 32-bitthe respective logos.
only.