Windows 7 - Product Guide

Welcome to Windows 7 1 1 You told us what you wanted. We listened. This Windows 7 Product Guide highlights ® the new and improved features that will help deliver the one thing you said you wanted the most: Your PC, simplified. 3 3 Contents INTRODUCTION TO WINDOWS 7 DESIGNING WINDOWS 7 Market Trends that Inspired Windows 7 WINDOWS 7 EDITIONS Windows 7 Starter Windows 7 Home Basic Windows 7 Home Premium Windows 7 Professional Windows 7 Enterprise / Windows 7 Ultimate Windows Anytime Upgrade Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack Windows 7 Editions Comparison GETTING STARTED WITH WINDOWS 7 Upgrading a PC to Windows 7 WHAT’S NEW IN WINDOWS 7 Top Features for You Top Features for IT Professionals Application and Device Compatibility WINDOWS 7 FOR YOU 6 8 9 10 11 11 12 12 13 14 14 15 16 16 20 20 22 23 24 WINDOWS 7 FOR YOU: SIMPLIFIES EVERYDAY TASKS Simple to Navigate Easier to Find Things Easy to Browse the Web Easy to Connect PCs and Manage Devices Easy to Communicate and Share 28 28 35 38 41 47 WINDOWS 7 FOR YOU: WORKS THE WAY YOU WANT Speed, Reliability, and Responsiveness More Secure Compatible with You Better Troubleshooting and Problem Solving 50 50 55 62 66 WINDOWS 7 FOR YOU: MAKES NEW THINGS POSSIBLE Media the Way You Want It Work Anywhere New Ways to Engage 70 70 81 84 WINDOWS 7 FOR IT PROFESSIONALS WINDOWS 7 FOR IT PROFESSIONALS: MAKE PEOPLE PRODUCTIVE ANYWHERE Remove Barriers to Information Access Information from Anywhere 88 92 92 95 WINDOWS 7 FOR IT PROFESSIONALS: MANAGE RISK THROUGH ENHANCED SECURITY AND CONTROL Protect Data on PCs and Devices Protect Workers and Infrastructure Builds on Windows Vista Security Foundation 100 100 102 103 WINDOWS 7 FOR IT PROFESSIONALS: REDUCE COSTS BY STREAMLINING PC MANAGEMENT Easier Deployment Keep PCs Running Smoothly Better Support for Client Virtualization 106 107 110 115 WINDOWS 7 FOR IT PROFESSIONALS: MICROSOFT DESKTOP OPTIMIZATION PACK Microsoft Application Virtualization Microsoft Asset Inventory Service Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset Microsoft System Center Desktop Error Monitoring Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization 116 117 118 119 120 120 121 WINDOWS 7 HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE LOGO PROGRAMS Windows 7 Logo for PCs Windows Starter Logo Compatible with Windows 7 Logo 122 123 123 123 RECOMMENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows 7 System Requirements 124 124 HOW TO FIND MORE INFORMATION Resources for Everyone Resources for IT Pros Resources for Device Manufacturers Resources for Software Developers 126 126 127 127 127 APPENDIX A: EXPANDED EDITIONS FEATURE COMPARISON APPENDIX B: FEATURE COMPARISON CHART APPENDIX C: NEW KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS APPENDIX D: INSTALLATION OPTIONS FOR UPGRADING TO WINDOWS 7 INDEX DISCLAIMER 128 131 134 135 136 139 PCs are an integral part of the daily lives of billions of people around the world. They are used for more functions than anyone could have imagined just a few years ago, and as PCs become more deeply woven into our everyday lives, our expectations keep increasing. With Windows® 7, you told us what you expect from a PC. And we listened. In Windows 7 we’ve developed hundreds of little improvements an