Check out Brian's column in the latest issue of the Greater Lansing Business Monthly

Has Your Business Upgraded to Windows 7 Yet?

It would be safe to say Windows 7 came in like a lamb, rather than like a lion. Since its delivery October 22 of last year, and after much anticipation, Windows 7 came wrapped in a tiny proverbial package, where the focus was on functionality, rather than the pomp and circumstance Windows Vista offered.

Fixing what’s broken

When Microsoft released their controversial Vista operating system, some people refused to leave Windows XP, as Vista had its pitfalls—incompatibility, poor performance and an interface that was too flashy for some.

Many companies were tied to applications that would not work in the Vista world, and due to economy of scale, did not want to make the investment.

Windows 7 makes an attempt to fix all of this with a quieter, performance-driven approach. The highlights of Windows 7 are plenty, such as a new taskbar, which is less cluttered and has increased speediness to search. As far as taskbar previews, you can now look at your application’s windows, all at once, without the hassle of multiple clicks.

Compatibility

Of all the new features, compatibility might be the most important. Some have even called Windows 7 the safest operating system yet. Protecting your bottom line and assets is crucial for your business in this current economy, so Windows 7 has come out with authentication for login.

Popular features were expanded, while other familiar features were given a proper makeover. DirectAccess allows you to connect to your PC from your mobile device anytime Internet is available. This will allow you to stay in constant contact with your coworkers as new documents or policies become available. Alongside DirectAccess, there are group policy settings which distribute software updates whenever the mobile computer has Internet connectivity.

User friendly

Windows 7 also allows you to manage and resize windows as you’re opening or closing them. You’ll be able to search seamlessly with Windows Search, which allows you to find files and e-mails in just a matter of seconds.

Windows 7 also allows you to manage and resize windows as you’re opening or closing them. This is an awesome feature for when you need to compare two documents. You can drag one window to the left-hand side of the screen and it will fill the left half of the screen. You can then drag the second window to the right side of the screen, and it will fill the right half of the screen. You are now looking at two documents at once without the need for dual monitors.

You’ll be able to search seamlessly with Windows Search, which allows you to find files and e-mails in just a matter of seconds. If you open an Explorer window, you get a search box in the top right-hand corner, and once you start typing, it will instantly search all your drives for any files that match what you are searching for, making it easier to find files.

Another new feature is the alt-tab push button, which has been around for many versions of Windows and has now only gotten better.

New improvements allow users to speed up the sleep and resume time, while accelerating responsiveness, cutting down on priceless minutes when it comes down to crunch time.

Windows Media Center

Entertainment is, as always, an important feature to any operating system, and Windows 7 is no exception with the Windows Media Center. The Windows Media Center allows you to listen to music, watch live TV, which you can record or pause, and the WMC is compatible with most popular audio and video formats from your PC or laptop.

There are three different formats and price levels to buy Windows 7. There’s the Windows 7 Home Premium ($94.99 and up), Windows 7 Professional Upgrade ($99.59 and up), or the Windows 7 ($137.99 and up). Talk with your IT professional for more information.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the features within Windows 7, but rather a high-level look at a few of the improvements that make the move to Windows 7 a logical and safe choice. Talk to your IT professional or visit the Windows 7 website (Microsoft.com) to find the right version for you. Be sure to use the version comparison feature chart; it will help find what features and functions are right for you and your business.


Brian T. Tort is the president and owner of Central Solutions, Inc., a local IT consulting firm located in Mason. Find out more at www.centralsolutionsinc.org.