Windows 7
Windows 7 is a major release of the Windows NT operating system developed by Microsoft. It was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009, and became generally available to the public on October 22, 2009. Windows 7 succeeded Windows Vista, which had been released nearly three years earlier. It is widely regarded for its improvements over its predecessor and its emphasis on a user-friendly experience.
Features
Windows 7 introduced several new features and enhancements designed to improve usability and performance. One of the most notable improvements was to the Windows Aero user interface, which now included a redesigned taskbar that allowed users to pin applications for quick access. The taskbar also integrated a feature called Jump Lists, which provided quick access to recently used files and common tasks for each program.
Other enhancements included:
- Libraries: A streamlined file management system that aggregated content from multiple locations into a single view.
- HomeGroup: A new file-sharing system that simplified the process of sharing files and printers on home networks.
- Multitouch input support: Part of the operating system's broader support for touch and handwriting recognition.
- Virtual Hard Disk support: Allowed users to mount and boot from virtual hard disks.
- Improved multi-core processor performance: Optimized performance for systems equipped with multi-core processors.
Development History
The development of Windows 7 followed the trajectory set by previous versions of Windows NT, emphasizing stability and performance. Originally, a version of Windows codenamed "Blackcomb" was envisioned as the successor to Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. However, due to various delays, Microsoft shifted focus and released Windows Vista first. Windows 7 was then developed as a streamlined version of Vista, with a greater focus on performance and usability.
The operating system was designed to support advances in technology, such as touchscreen devices and virtual environments, which were becoming more prevalent at the time. Microsoft also improved boot performance, enhanced security features, and introduced tools like DirectAccess, which improved connectivity for remote users.
Market Reception
Windows 7 was met with critical acclaim and commercial success. In fact, it set a record as the highest-grossing pre-order in Amazon's history, surpassing the sales of the previous record holder, the seventh Harry Potter book. In Japan, the 64-bit versions of Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate editions sold out within 36 hours of their release.
By April 23, 2010, more than 100 million copies of Windows 7 had been sold within six months, making it Microsoft's fastest-selling operating system at the time. By June 23, 2010, sales had reached 150 million copies, with seven copies sold every second. Its market share quickly surpassed that of Mac OS X Snow Leopard, which had been released two months earlier as the most recent update to Apple's Mac OS X operating system.