Less than three years after the release of Microsoft Vista, a new and improved Microsoft Windows version, called the Windows 7, is finally made available for public.

Windows 7 features new innovations that are intended to improve its predecessor’s performance with such innovations as multi-touch capabilities, faster boot, better hardware installations, and a new interface. Noticeably, the new system has focused on function and easier navigation but still remains to be user friendly.

The most obvious change has been the taskbar, now called the Superbar. The new taskbar features both visual and function changes. The Quick Launch is gone and has been replaced with taller buttons that users can even rearrange. The buttons can also be clicked to open its Jump Lists feature to show the filenames in an application or, be hovered over to preview a document. Other added useful features are the Aero Peek and Aero Snap, tools that will make navigation through different windows and applications in the desktop easier.

There is also a new entry at Explorer windows, called Library, which allows users to organize texts, audios and video clips, and photo folders according to type or content and, even by date or tags. They can be stored in four different default libraries (Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos) but users could also create their own.

The new Device Stage is Microsoft’s intended answer to complicated driver and compatibility problems, especially with users who like to connect devices like cell phones and digital cameras to their PCs. Instead of choosing only a particular application the users prefer, the Device Stage will show a series of icons representing the device and its capabilities.

Another revolutionary feature is the system’s multi-touch capabilities. With the use of fingers as the substitute mouse pointer, users can move or resize pictures, draw in the Paint application, type using a virtual keyboard, navigate the Globe application, and play games. This feature is not available upon installation though. A driver still needs to be downloaded and installed along with a touch-capable PC that is, unfortunately, still not available for public.

Along with these new features, other minor but useful changes were added to address Vista’s shortcomings and improve XP’s performance. Dissatisfied Vista and XP users will definitely see an upgrade to Windows 7 a better move.