Technical Differences between Win7 vs Vista SP1 and XP SP3

Microsoft Windows 7 (Professional)By Seth Rosenblatt on 18 August 2009

“Windows 7 is more than just spin. It's stable, smooth and highly polished”Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7

Minimum hardware

•Processor: 300MHz•RAM: 128MB•Super VGA graphics device•HD: 4.2GB (for SP3)

•Processor: 1GHz•RAM: 1GB (32-bit), 2GB (64-bit)•Support for DirectX 9 graphics device with 128MB of memory•HD: 20GB (32-bit), 40GB (64-bit)

•Processor: 1GHz•RAM: 1GB (32-bit), 2GB (64-bit)•Support for DirectX 9 graphics device with 128MB of memory•HD: 16GB (32-bit), 20GB (64-bit)

Interface

• theme•Introduces task-based windows options•Skinning possible but difficult•Desktop Cleanup Wizard automates removing old icons

•Aero theme•Introduces transparent panes, window animations, live thumbnails of running programs•New desktop sidebar supports gadgets•Supports touchscreens

•Aero theme •Supports slideshow backgrounds, RSS and theme packs•Introduces Aero Shake and Aero Snap•Desktop gadgets can be placed anywhere•Supports multi-touch on touchscreens

Explorer

•Replaces tree navigation by default with task pane•Improves image handling•Offers thumbnail previews and group views•Supports some metadata

•Task pane integrated into toolbar•New breadcrumb navigation•New metadata display•Improved icon resolution•Some documents can be edited from the preview pane

•Support for federated searches and libraries•Virtual folders aggregate content from local and networked drives

Start menu

•New layout•Devices and some Control Panel options appear in menu

•Added search box•All Programs folder changed to a nested format•Configurable power button•User profile picture

•Taskbar jumps appear in the Start menu and replace the right column when viewed•Documents, Pictures, Music buttons now link to their libraries•Control Panel options have been integrated into search results

Taskbar •New look•Icons can be hidden in the System Tray

•Refreshed look•Alt-Tab hot key now shows preview thumbnail of program

•Interactive mouse-over preview panes•Replacement of the Quick Launch bar with pinned programs•Program-specific jump lists based on pinned programs•Aero Peek for mouse-over desktop viewing•Revamped System Tray

Devices•Introduces Universal Plug-n-Play •New driver library allows for downgrading drivers when necessary

•Debuts portable device API, designed to communicate with mobile phones, PDAs and portable media players •Introduces Sync Center for managing data synchronisations

•New Device Stage provides a centralised, unified window for managing all aspects of printers and portable devices

Misc

•Introduces context-menu CD and DVD burning from Windows Explorer•Supports multiple versions of a single DLL to prevent programs from overwriting each other•Introduces Hibernate and Sleep modes•Remote Desktop for accessing a computer from another location•Fast user account switching

•Built-in drive partitioning•More powerful screen-capturing tool•Hybrid Sleep and better configuration options for more nuanced power management•User-based file-type associations•Previous Version automatically backs up changes to individual files

•Expands Windows Explorer disc burning to include ISOs•Introduces XP Mode•Expanded options for disabling components•Can search text in scanned TIFF•Additional power-saving features for laptops

Same or Less Resources Needed

Enhanced Interface

Enhanced File System / Search

Enhanced Taskbar and Start Menu

Enhanced Device Management / Device Certification

Enhanced Security, Management, Deployment, Mobility, Energy, Performance, Stability, Print,

Remote, etc etc

Major Differences between Windows 7 and Windows Vista

Security ImprovementsWindows BitLocker Improvements, Bitlocker To Go, and Group Policy enforcementMultiple Active Firewall profilesInternet Protocol security (IPSec) improvementsEncrypting File System

Group PolicyGroup Policy PreferencesStarter Group Policy ObjectsGroup Policy PowerShell cmdletsRoaming User Profile ImprovementsDomain Join with Group Policy Control

PrintPrint experience improvementsLocation Aware printingPrinter driver isolation

Resource, Diagnostic and Compatibility Improvements

Fault Tolerant Application Memory HeapProgram Compatibility TroubleshooterWindows System Assessment (WinSAT)DiagnosticsRemote Assistance Easy ConnectUser Account Control (UAC) ImprovementsApplication CompatibilitySystem Restore ImprovementsWindows Recovery EnvironmentWindows Troubleshooting PlatformResource MonitorWindows PowerShell remote troubleshootingAdvanced and customized troubleshootingReliability MonitorProblem Step RecorderProcess ReflectionPerformance MonitorDevice Stage and other device experience improvements

Deployment ImprovementsDynamic Driver ProvisioningMulticast Multi Stream TransferMicrosoft Deployment Toolkit 2010Windows Automated Installation Kit 2.0Windows PE 3.0Deployment Image Servicing and Management ToolUser State Migration Tool, enables offline migration as well as Volume Shadow Copy

Mobility ImprovementsImproved Battery LiveAdaptive Display BrightnessOffline File improvements

Other ImprovementsSupport for Solid State DrivesWindows PowerShell 2.0Advanced BackupComplete PC BackupWindows ApplockerVHD BootHomeGroupsInternet Explorer Protected ModeLibrariesWindows ReadyBoost ImprovementsUsing Powercfg to evaluate energy efficiencySearch ImprovementsSearch FederationEnhanced DVD Code SupportWindows XP ModePresentation Settings

AMONG MANY OTHER IMPROVEMETS, since this list is not meant o be comprehensive.

Networking ImprovementsUniform Resource Locator (URL) based on Quality of Services (QoS)Unified TracingSmart Network PowerWake on wireless LANDomain Name System security (DNSsec)Network Management ImprovementsBranch CacheVirtual Private network (VPN) ReconnectDirectAccessBranchCacheRemoted Desktop Protocol 7.0IPv6 changesView Available Networks

InterfaceJump ListsThumbnail ToolbarAero SnapAero ShakeAero PeekImproved GadgetsOverlay Icons, Progress Bar on Icons

Tablet Interface improvementsMulti-touchImproved handwriting recognition, and support for more languagesMath Input Panel

Remote DesktopRemote Desktop HostMulti monitor supportRemote applications can run directly from the start menuEnhanced Multimedia supportSupport for VPN ReconnectPerformance enhancement to the RDP protocol Support for more encryption protocolsDirectAccess, and BranchCache support

Source: “Windows 7 Resource Kit”, Mitch Tulloch, Tony Northrup, Jerry Honeycutt, Ed Wilson, and the Microsoft Windows 7 Team, 2010, Microsoft Press

Key Features Windows® 7 Starter Windows® 7 Home Basic (EM only)

Windows® 7 Home Premium

Windows ® 7 Professional

Windows® 7 Enterprise/ Windows®

7 Ultimate Windows® Taskbar & Jump Lists √ √ √ √ √

Windows® Search √ √ √ √ √

Join a HomeGroup √ √ √ √ √

Windows Media® Player √ √ √ √ √

Back-up & Restore √ √ √ √ √

Action Center √ √ √ √ √

Device Stage™ √ √ √ √ √

Home media streaming, including Play To √ √ √ √ √

Live Taskbar Thumbnails   √ √ √ √

Switch between users without having to log in and out

  √ √ √ √

Connect to other PCs in your vicinity without a network access device

  √ √ √ √

Use your PC’s internet connection to allow the other PCs in your home to connect without a router

  √ √ √ √

Aero® Glass and Easier Window Mgmt     √ √ √

Windows® Touch     √ √ √

Create a HomeGroup     √ √ √

Windows® Media Center     √ √ √

Create and play DVDs     √ √ √

Windows XP Mode: Run many older productivity programs for Windows XP on Windows 7

√ √

Location Aware Printing       √ √

Join a Domain & Group Policy Settings       √ √

Remote Desktop Host       √ √

Advanced Backup and Restore (Network & Group Policy)

      √ √

Encrypting File System       √ √

BitLocker™ & BitLocker To Go™         √

AppLocker™         √

DirectAccess         √

BranchCache™         √

Multilingual User Interface Packs         √

Summary of Major Features

Key Reasons To Upgrade to

More Secure and Dependable1. User Account Protection, more secure

boot, anti-spyware and anti-phishing

2. Restart Manager (fewer reboots)

3. Instant-on and quick-launch/open

Deployable and Manageable4. Image creation and migration tools

5. Enhanced software distribution, management tools and instrumentation

Search, Organize and Share6. Fast search and new ways to visualize

and organize - lists, virtual folders and filters

7. Easy sharing and ad hoc meetings

Mobile and Connected8. Anywhere, anytime access

9. Synchronization manager, mobile transitions

Next Generation Platform10. Smart, connected applications

Current Platform Key Reasons

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34 Strong ReasonsTo consider Windows 7

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The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after

the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.