Seven things to love and hate about Windows 7

As per NetworkWorld testing team.

Love first:

1. Improved GUI include application search bar
2. Running applications view is revamped & resizing applications on screen is a snap
3. The wonders of ‘One-click’ WiFi
4. The easy-to-understand, unified user-maintenance application (Action Center)
5. Better Backup will be a blessing & policy-based Auditing Enhancements
6. The Ability dial down system screams (a.k.a UAC)
7. A Firewall with a brain

and now 7 hates:

1.Windows Explorer still needs work
2. An insecure Windows Credential Manager
3. Having to track down “essential” apps
4. It’s still Windows Device Configuration, stupid
5. Obscure SMB/CIFS support
6. Library Indexing requirement limits sources
7. Resource and Performance Monitor need a face lift

Take a look at this slideshow

Windows 7 Guides for IT Professsionals

Microsoft, recently published two white papers outlining the new features in Windows 7 operating system. Some of the features worth looking at are:

• Direct Cache (Allows remote users to access their corporate network without using traditional VPN solutions)
• Branch Cache (Now you can cache web and file server data, reducing network bandwidth)
• App locker (Control what applications, the users can or cannot run on their workstations)
• VHD Boot (Now, it’s possible to make a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 VHD file and boot the computer from it)
• Native Biometric Support
• And a host of other technical features which I think will be very useful for IT Admins to manage their windows 7 client base.

These guides are available for download here

Handy Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows 7, the upcoming Microsoft desktop operating system has a several keyboards shortcuts, which I think the keyboard junkies will like. Below is the list.

General
Win+Up Maximize
Win+Down Restore / Minimize
Win+Left Snap to left
Win+Right Snap to right
Win+Shift+Left Jump to left monitor
Win+Shift+Right Jump to right monitor
Win+Home Minimize / Restore all other windows
Win+T Focus the first taskbar entry (Pressing again will cycle through them, you can can arrow around.)
Win+Shift+T Cycles backwards.
Win+Space Peek at the desktop
Win+G Bring gadgets to the top of the Z-order
Win+P External display options (mirror, extend desktop, etc)
Win+X Mobility Center (same as Vista, but still handy!)
Win+# Launches a new instance of the application in the Nth slot on the taskbar.
(# = a number key) Example: Win+1 launches first pinned app, Win+2 launches second, etc.
Win + + Zoom in
Win + – Zoom in or out.

Explorer
Alt+P Show/hide Preview Pane

Taskbar modifiers
Shift + Click on icon Open a new instance
Middle click on icon Open a new instance
Ctrl + Shift + Click on icon Open a new instance with Admin privileges
Shift + Right-click on icon Show window menu (Restore / Minimize / Move / etc) Note: Normally you can just right-click on the window thumbnail to get this menu
Shift + Right-click On grouped icon Menu with Restore All / Minimize All / Close All, etc.
Ctrl + Click On grouped icon Cycle between the windows (or tabs) in the group