

Another nifty plus is that you can put other files that you use often on the Jump List so that they are only a click or two away. For example, clicking on the Word icon will show Word documents. Right clicking on a program that you used recently will show your most recent documents. Jump List is another new feature on the taskbar. You simply mouse over an icon to get a full screen preview that disappears when you move the mouse, and the icons can be rearranged by click and drag. Instead of those little icons on the bottom right corner of Vista, you can decide which ones you want displayed. You'll also find that the taskbar on Win 7 is greatly improved. Microsoft has heard your cries, felt your pain, and has removed many of the annoying UAC prompts in Windows 7 UAC, making it quicker and easier to make system changes. Windows Vista had a huge User Account Control (UAC) problem, making it annoying to install any program or change a setting. BitLocker To Go adds data encryption to USB flash drives and other removable storage devices. DirectAccess will be helpful to telecommuters, since it provides a seamless and secure connection to the office network. But there are also some new security features in Windows 7, most notably DirectAccess and BitLocker To Go. It goes without saying that Windows 7 builds upon all the security improvements that have been rolled into XP and Vista, as exploits are discovered and patched on an ongoing basis. And speaking of laptops, you can expect improved battery life in Windows 7. I could definitely feel the difference on my 4-year-old Sony VAIO laptop. If you normally run with a bunch of programs active, you should notice better performance.

In Windows 7, only visible apps consume video memory. In Windows XP and Vista, every application that's open ties up video memory, even when minimized. The main reason for this is improved memory management. And once you've booted up, you should notice that Windows 7 just feels a lot faster than Vista. Windows 7 should launch faster, since it has fewer start-up services and those will run in parallel. Windows 7 Performance and Security Improvements Many Vista users have experienced problems in these areas, and Windows 7 goes a long way to address and improve each one. When comparing Vista to Windows 7, the most important things to consider are performance, security, usability, compatibility issues. Should you upgrade or stick with Vista? Let's explore the differences in the two Windows operating systems. So you finally got comfortable with Windows Vista, but now Windows 7 is on the horizon. Should You Upgrade from Vista to Windows 7?
