We explain what Windows 7 is, how it was developed and the editions that were created. In addition, we explain its features, advantages and disadvantages.
What is Windows?
Windows, MS Windows or Microsoft Windows is called a family of operating systems designed for personal computers (PC), smartphones and other computing devices. These pieces of operating software are created and marketed by the North American company Microsoft.
Windows is actually more than just an operating system. It’s about a series of distributions of the MicroSoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS) or Windows NT, two old Microsoft operating systems, inserted in a visual-type operating environment.
Virtually reproduce a desktop and, through icons, the folders, files and even running processes of the system. More simply put, it is a kind of representation or friendly mask for other previous operating systems.
The first version of Windows was released in 1985., as a form of modernization of MS-DOS, which lacked the advantages of graphical user environments (GUI). Since then, Windows has become the most popular operating system in the world, taking over almost the entire available market (90%) for years.
See also: Windows 10.
History of Windows 7
Windows 7 is one of the most recent versions of Windowswas released commercially on October 22, 2009, in versions for personal computers, laptops, tablets, PCs and media centers.
Its development took place since the launch of its previous version, Windows Vista, and the criteria for this aimed at simplification, friendliness and intuitiveness.
The beta version was released on January 7, 2009. (test) and two days later the download of the operating system from the official website was allowed, but the demand was such that the company’s servers could not cope and a time limit had to be set for the automatic update.
On May 5 of the same year version was released Release Candidate in 5 different languagesleaving it open until August 20. Its final version, RTM, was announced on July 24 of the same year.
Windows 7 Editions
Windows 7 has six different editions, developed one on top of the other in a successive and incremental manner, improving or adapting the program to new needs. These editions are:
- Starter. It was the initial edition, with the fewest features of all. It had an incomplete version of the interface, few customization options and, therefore, being also the lightest, it was suitable for netbooks or personal computers with low performance level.
- HomeBasic. Although with a still incomplete interface, similar to that of the starter, this edition for home computers has greater connectivity and customization functions.
- Home Premium. It is an improved version of the Home Basic, with greater customization and interface capabilities, with Windows Media Center and multiple codecs to play multimedia files.
- Professional. Equivalent to Vista Business, that is, the option for business or work computers, which brings all the functions of Home Premium and also data backup capabilities, online protection and file encryption, to defend the privacy of the data handled.
- Enterprise. It adds to the Professional edition a multilingual package and a comprehensive suite of online defense, work and data protection software, making it ideal for business and networked computers. It was sold only under a business contract with Microsoft.
- Ultimate. The definitive version that features the full potential of the operating system, available for sale to the general public.
Advantages of Windows 7
Windows 7 featured the following list of advantages over previous versions of the program:
- Greater synchronization between the user and the computer, taking advantage of tools such as the touch screen and voice recognition.
- It takes up less space and requires less kernel.
- Supports 32-bit and 64-bit architectures.
- Save energy by using fewer machine components.
Disadvantages of Windows 7
Similarly, this version had some drawbacks compared to other versions of Windows:
- It does not have support or compatibility with drivers and technologies considered “obsolete”, marking a before and after.
- A new and fresh installation of the operating system is mandatory for users of previous versions.
- It is a more expensive version than the previous ones.
- Popular Windows tools such as Movie Maker, Live Essentials, and more were removed.
- There is less user control over Windows updates and remote management by the company.
Service Pack 1
Shortly after Windows 7 was released, Microsoft announced the release of Service Pack 1 (SP1), a complex package of updates intended to fix core system errors and significantly improve their performance.
This is a common mechanism in companies, which releases these types of updates on the Internet or schedules them automatically through Windows Update.
Furthermore, according to Microsoft, This major update adds improvements to the operating system that were not in the original, such as greater reliability in handling HDMI, XPS viewers or support for RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory.
Windows 7 versions
Windows 7 had a number of updates in addition to SP1, which were carried out through downloaded packages from the Internet automatically.
Major Updates led to new versions of the program: v1.1, v.1.2 and v.1.3in which successive details involving Windows Update and mouse and keyboard frequencies, among other things, were corrected.
Features removed from Windows 7
Since Windows 7 emerged, among others, cwith the purpose of removing Windows XP from the marketits appearance suppressed certain traditional features of the operating system, or significantly modified them.
In general terms, these modifications They had to do with the operation of Windows Shell elements such as Windows Explorer, Taskbar, Start Menu, and Windows Search; as well as Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer, Windows Live, and certain customization options.
Critical reception of Windows 7
Windows 7 It was much better received than its previous versionWindows Vista. In fact, companies such as Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo and Packard Bell launched their new computers with touch keyboards directly with the operating system.
Some websites like CNET called it “more of what Windows Vista should have been, where Microsoft needed to go” and They gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Other sources They claimed loss of user control regarding his private information, which led to the “Windows 7 sins” (“The 7 sins of Windows”) campaign to denounce him.
Windows 7 requirements
To work on a computer, Windows 7 requires:
- 32-bit or 64-bit computer architecture
- Minimum 1 GHz processor
- Minimum 1GB or 2GB RAM
- Graphic card
- DirectX9 graphics device with WDDN 1.0 driver support
- DVD-R/RW optical drive
- 16 – 20 Gigabytes available hard disk
- Touch monitor (optional)
Successor to Windows 7
Windows 7 It had a successor, which was Windows 8a version that introduced much more radical changes in terms of visual presentation, design for touch screens and decisions as daring as eliminating the Start menu (they would later return it to its place in 2015).
The transition to Windows 8.1 was free via Windows Update.
References
- “Windows 7” on Wikipedia.
- “Windows 7” on EcuRed.
- “What is Windows 7?” in GCF Learn.
- “What you need to know about Windows 7 Service Pack 1” In Cybernautas.es.
- “Windows 7, Microsoft’s penultimate chance” in Público.es.