Windows 7

I've been running Windows 7 on my computer ever since last summer, and one of the biggest changes to the operating system is in the user interface. In my opinion, Microsoft has done a great job at transitioning the user interface from one operating system to the next. When I first used Vista, I felt that it wasn't too different from XP. It still had the start button, toolbar and taskbar that I was familiar with, so I did not have any difficulty adjusting to the new interface. At the same time, it added the search bar after clicking the start button that allows you to search for programs rather than navigating through a menu system. Windows 7 provides a more drastic change than Vista did, but it still has a very familiar feeling that did not take much time to adjust to. Once again, it did not take much time to get used to the simple but useful changes they made to the user interface.



The start button is still there, and the search functionality is still in place, but the emphasis is now on tabs that are located in the taskbar. Mousing over the tabs even gives you a preview of what the window looks like, giving you an easy way to know what each of your minimized windows is doing and fast navigation between them. Interestingly enough, the tabs were actually in Windows 1.0 (pictured below) and were updated and brought back for the latest operating system.



It is only when I go back to using Windows XP that I realize how good of a job Microsoft actually did. The changes from operating system to operating system have been subtle enough to cause for a smooth transition, but when I use XP now that I have gotten used to Windows 7, it feels so primitive. Going back to XP from Vista caused no such feeling, so it is clear to me that Microsoft has drastically changed its user interface after just two generations, but they have done so in a smooth way without jarring old users with an unfamiliar interface. Of course, those who transition straight from XP to Windows 7 may feel differently, but I imagine the transition up will be a lot smoother than my experience when I move back down to XP.