Windows 7: Comparison   

By Patrick Nelson

Microsoft’s Windows 7 simplifies tasks, is more customizable and enhances the media experience over Windows Vista.

Media has been significantly improved.

Windows Media Center now uses HomeGroups —Windows 7’s open-door networking--for easier sharing and streaming.

Remote Media Streaming is now supported for accessing digital media libraries outside the home. It requires another PC running Windows 7.

More tuners and global TV standards are supported in this version of Windows Media Center.

ATSC and QAM cable standards, Japan’s ISDB standards (ISDB-T and ISDB-S), European DVB TV standards (DVB-T, DVB-S), and Pay TV standards, including High definition (HD) are supported.

Internet TV is improved but retains the old program guide idea.

3GP, AAC, AVCHD, DivX, MOV, and Xvid formats are supported in the new version. Most most iTunes non-digital rights managed content (including audio and video podcasts) is supported.

Syncing with portable devices is improved and Windows 7 now converts the files automatically to useable formats for portable media players.

The User Interface (UI) has been enhanced. There’s a new Turbo Scroll feature for rapidly getting to media assets.

There’s a new slide-show maker for creating collages with background music; and a new slide-show screen saver.

Plus, there’s now a mini-guide that can be seen on top of the show you’re watching. Other UI improvements include better minimization; and better content filtering for content which can’t be played—which still includes Apple’s Lossless .M4A or H.263 MPEG-4 content.

Those files will no longer appear in the music or video library.

The HomeGroup is new and geared towards media. The default settings in a HomeGroup in Windows 7 are to share media, files and printers within the home, unlike in previous versions of Windows where the sharing had to be elaborately configured.

Streaming media is simplified. Libraries can be browsed across the network PCs and Media Servers are added easily. Windows Search which was introduced in Vista is improved with better results.

There’s a new “Play To” function which lets you control a classic-style stereo music system from the PC.

You can stream digital media to a supported device like an Xbox 360 video game system. Power saving for laptops is improved when playing a DVD.

There’s also a new Media Center gadget for slideshows and video skimming.

Items introduced in Windows Vista have been carried over to Windows 7. Windows Live Movie Maker and DirectX 11 are still included in Windows 7.

Here's Part 2