windows 7

Windows 7

Peter Schepers, ISTDecember 8, 2009

It’s not Vista!

WatITis | Strengthening Collaboration | December 8, 2009 | Windows 7

What’s covered?

1. Desktop & Aero changes2. Applications3. Network4. Miscellaneous5. IST deployment schedule6. Deployment methods


Opening Quote

“Microsoft may be hoping that it can finally dismissWindows Vista as an unsuccessful experiment thatpaved the way for something better… entice usersback into the Microsoft fold and finally put WindowsXP to rest.”

Frank J. Ohlhorst, IT World Canada


Introduction

This presentation is mainly comparing XP to 7 On Win7 exclusively since May 5 Very fast & stable, much like XP Had a long shake-down time in beta & RC Corporate app compatibility issues essentially the

same as Vista, esp with IE8


Installation Notes

I’ve test installed on old and new systems Dell Latitude D800 1.7Ghz Celeron, 512Mb Vault P4 2.8Ghz HT, 1Gb Apple MB Pro 15” dual-core 2.2Ghz, 2Gb Lenovo M57 dual 3Ghz, 2Gb

Very quick install, about 20 minutes Very few questions

Only sets up one administrative account Administrator account is disabled

Only a few drivers needed (video, audio) Still no password rules or screensaver enabled


Usability Quote

“Windows 7 is the biggest step forward in usabilitysince Windows 95. In fact, over half of what makes itbetter than Vista boils down to user interfaceimprovements and enhancements, not so muchactual new features.”

Matt Buchanan, Gizmodo


Windows XP Desktop


Windows Vista Desktop


Windows 7 Desktop


Aero Changes

Aero Peek (new) View desktop behind windows On the Show Desktop icon at bottom-right

Aero Snap (new) Drag right or left for 50% display Drag window up for full screen Drag top or bottom border up/down to expand vertical

Aero Shake (new) Shake the window and the others disappear/re-appear

Alt-Tab and Windows-Tab window flipping (Vista)


Taskbar Changes (1)

Known by some as the Superbar Larger icons, by default only shows icons

Can view taskbar icons differently It’s a launch bar for pinned and active applications

Shows a shaded box around the icon when its active Shows multiple boxes when more than one window is active Like the Mac OSX Dock

Those apps not pinned have the option to pin Can re-arrange icons No more Quick Launch area. It’s available, but hidden


Taskbar Changes (2)

Graphic thumbnails of active applications (not Aero Basic) Can close apps from here Can see & switch between multiple windows by hovering

Applications can use the taskbar icon to show application details like a progress bar (IMGBurn, WinImage, IE downloads)

Try pinning a document to the taskbar


Jump Lists

No more Recent Documents link Each application shows a list of frequently-

accessed & pinned documents, commands, etc Exist on both the Start Menu and Taskbar An application on the Start Menu shows > symbol

beside it when there’s something in the Jump List Start Menu only shows the pinned and recent docs Task Bar shows more options

Windows Explorer shows the recent folders opened


System Tray

Much more condensed, only 6 system icons Action Center Network Volume Clock Power (laptop) Hidden Icons area

No more clutter from too many icons, like XP Non-system icons go under Hidden Icons

Can move icons in/out of hidden area, but why?


Action Center

Consolidation of alerts & balloon notifications from Security Center Windows Defender UAC Network Access Protection etc.

Shown by a FLAG icon in the System Tray This reduces the number of annoying and intrusive

alerts displayed on the desktop


Start Menu (XP)

Note the simple Log Off and Turn Off options

My Recent Documents

Start Menu (Vista)

Note the icon-based buttons rather than text

The Shut Down button (power button) doesn’t do what you expect

Recent Items



Start Menu (Win7)

Note the simple layout, just a Shut Down (which does work) and the arrow for more options

No Recent Documents, they are in Jump Lists

No more Classic start menu

Pinning icons Re-arranging will also pin


Windows Explorer

Left-hand pane shows Favorites locations, Libraries, all computer drives, HomeGroup & network shares

Search box always in top-right Preview Pane & Change View icons Thumbnail view of supported documents in folders

Pictures, PDF, XPS, etc Clicking a portion of the folder path brings you there,

can browse using the > beside each portion USB drives come up almost immediately after first use


Libraries

Containers, like folders, to group folders that contain similar content (like pictures or music) together

Comes with Music, Documents, Pictures, Videos You can create your own

Meant to organize files across folders, drives and even shares from other computers

Can right-click on any folder and include in a Library


Slide Show

Changes the desktop background while working Easy to add your own picture folder Better options for displaying than XP (tile, center,

etc) Can force switch the next desktop picture Can store them in the default Windows location for

Wallpaper (c:\windows\web\wallpaper) so no need to browse for them


Gadgets

No more Vista sidebar Gadgets now reside directly on the desktop and are

resizable Aero Peek lets you see gadgets, and anything else,

underneath active windows Right-click on desktop to select (or...) Comes with 10 gadgets


File Copy (1)

The old XP way...


File Copy (2)

The new way...


Searching

Search now available from every window and Start Menu

Start Menu is a more condensed search Click on More Results to open the larger window

Shows results in groups (libraries) Shows search text highlighted in results Searches are live, results refine as you type Finds search parameters inside of supported files Search Federation add-ons


Other Features

First Windows to have built-in multi-touch support for touch screens

Tablet PC improvements in handwriting recognition, hand-written math expressions

Accessibility improvements in speech recognition, desktop magnifier


Applications (1)

Internet Explorer 8 Faster & more stable Better compliance with web standards Compatibility View, emulates IE7 even the ver string Automatic crash recovery, will try to reload crashed page InPrivate browsing, can’t track history Accelerators (not used by me) SmartScreen Filtering (Phishing filter)


Applications (2)

Windows XP Compatibility mode Pro & Ultimate only Almost 500Mb download Can leverage this for our corporate apps

Bitlocker Simplified deployment, automatic repartitioning On Enterprise & Ultimate only

Bitlocker To Go Encrypt portable devices like USB keys and drives Supported read-only under Vista & XP with patch Must use strong passwords On Enterprise & Ultimate only


Applications (3)

System Restore Now shows a list of programs that will be removed or added with

each restore point Windows Media Player

Support for 3GP, AAC, AVCHD, DivX, XVid, MOV Readyboost (not as useful now) Improved battery life on laptops Removed Windows Mail (Outlook Express), Movie Maker

and Photo Gallery HomeGroup – Sharing docs at home (only Win7) Much more...


Networking (1)

Mobility Center Control laptop functions From Power Options (right-click) or Windows -X


Networking (2)

Presentation mode Used to control your

laptop while giving presentations

Can disable screensaver, audio and set different wallpaper


Networking (3)

View Available Networks One-click access to all available

networks Allow you to switch on the fly

Location-aware Printing


Networking (4)

Direct Access A VPN-like remote connection to your corporate network Connection automatically established when internet available Requires Server 2008R2, IPV6, IPSEC, AD, etc

Offline Files Now files are synced in the background after you login

RDP improved Multi-monitor support for virtual desktops Bi-directional audio, use of microphones for VOIP Can use local printer Aero Glass support


Administration

New imaging & deployment method from XP ImageX & WIM images, copies files not sectors Complex XML files DiskPart for partitioning disks All command-line tools (!), no GUI yet

Virtual Hard Disks (VHD) Used in VirtualPC Can mount & boot to VHD files in Windows Windows XP Mode is a VHD


XP GUI is very dated compared to 7 Thumbnail view when viewing a folder of pictures UAC is much less intrusive from Vista Legacy device support problems

Scanners Printers Video cards Audio drivers

Miscellaneous Comments


Issues

IE8 support Network drive access Login to blank/black profile Printing Others?


The Final Word

“One thing is certain: Windows 7 will prove to be much more than just a rehash of Windows Vista. It seems Microsoft has learned a lot from the failures of Vista and has created Windows 7 as a new operating system that looks to change people's perceptions about Microsoft's products.”

Frank J. Ohlhorst, IT World Canada


Windows 7 Deployment in Academic Support and Training

IST training lab, MC 1078, will have Windows 7 installed in the Winter 2010 term Windows 7 Tutorial will be offered Handout

Deployment will probably take place in Fall 2010, as IST rolls over 400 workstations after the IOI 2010 contest.

Some Windows 7 deployment as machines are replaced. Testing of corporate apps and special purpose applications needs to take place.

https://sharepoint.uwaterloo.ca/sites/IST/CS/SEW%20Handouts/Windows%207/Windows7%20-%20client%20perspective.docx

http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/istweb/windows7.html


Deployment Questions

How are you deploying Windows 7? FOG (network only, free) Microsoft ImageX/Diskpart (CD, free) Microsoft WDS (network, $$$?) Symantec Ghost (CD/network, license per machine) PQ DeployCenter (CD, dead product) Acronis True Image (CD, license) CloneZilla (CD, free) Macrium Reflect (CD, license)

Issues with sysprep, unattend, WAIK?

windows 7

Documents

multiple windows

template windows

usabilitysince windows

windows vista desktop

windowstab window

windows xp desktop watitis

desktop icon

taskbar changes