You can still use XP apps. If you need Windows 7 speeds but have applications that only run on eight-year-old Windows XP, XP Mode can save you. This free, downloadable add-on for the Pro, Enterprise, and Ultimate versions of Windows 7 lets your old programs run as if native to Windows 7. XP Mode does not require a separate, licensed copy of XP. Sure, you can accomplish the same thing with third-party software, but that’ll cost you.
bitlockerBetter search. If you’re an organizational pro, you never need to search your hard drive. But the chance that all your employees are equally gifted is about as likely as Steve Ballmer using an iPhone. Search is the killer app on the Web, and Windows 7 might finally have made it so in the OS. Vista integrated a search box throughout the interface; you’ll find one in the Start menu, the control panel, and Windows Explorer. In Windows 7, it’s the results that count. You can narrow the returns on the fly when you get too many. The search bar retains a history of what you’ve looked for, so you can quickly find things again. There’s a better preview available for search results, as well. Finally, you don’t have to worry about employees being organized when it comes to digital data.
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Your driver is here. Older systems had a hard time with Vista upgrades due to lack of driver support for the hardware. Heck, so did some newer systems. That’s unlikely to be the case with Windows 7. It has more in common with Vista than not, and Vista’s had lots of time to get all the hardware support it needs. Better yet, Windows 7 is designed to go directly to the driver download pages of major vendors if a compatible driver isn’t found.
DirectAccess may be the best access. DirectAccess is just that: direct access to your business network from anywhere, via secured tunneling using IPsec and IPv6— without the use of a trusted virtual private network (VPN). Don’t worry about IPv6 costs—Windows 7 comes with IPv6-to-IPv4 transition technology that integrates with current networks. It’s a whole new way for connecting securely. The catch: Your network has to run Windows Server 2008 R2, so this solution won’t work for offices without dedicated IT staff. If you do have Windows Server, it’ll only take you a few clicks to connect clients via the Web. It’s significantly easier than setting up a VPN server. Users can be authenticated with Active Directory, so the Windows 7 solution not only provides network permissions, but can push software updates to users as if they’re connected to the business intranet.
Better enterprise features. There’s a lot of good stuff in Windows 7 Enterprise (which is essentially Windows 7 Ultimate bundled on corporate OEM systems) besides DirectAccess, specifically for security and management. That includes Bit- Locker, which encrypts entire hard drives, and BitLocker to Go, which does the same on removable USB flash drives. AppLocker lets IT pros specify exactly what programs are run on Windows 7 systems, so users can’t bring in games from home. And more languages are supported. None of these features needs Windows Server 2008 R2 to function, but it is necessary to have Server 2008 if you want to use the Windows 7 Advance Group Policy Management 4.0 tools to control them from afar.
drive protectionLess user annoyance. This might be subjective, but anyone who used Vista at all to install a program knows the heart-stopping fear that hit when a screen went blank for a split second. But instead of a crash, it was a feature, not a bug, part of the User Account Control (UAC) that forced you to approve installation of programs (among other things). UAC is still in Windows 7, but it’s far less intrusive. Plus the control panel for it got infinitely simpler, with just a slider-bar to indicate just how much control it should have.
64 whole bits. Not that you couldn’t get a 64-bit version of Vista, but every box with Windows 7 comes with both the 32- and the 64-bit version inside. You’ll want the latter if your hardware can support it. The 64-bit version will work, for example, with more than 4GB of RAM; if you’ve got an older CPU and less RAM than that, don’t bother. You only get one activation key, however, even if it looks like there are two versions of the OS in the box. (Use the free utility to determine if your system can even handle a 64-bit OS. Microsoft also offers an Upgrade Advisor.)
Less useless bloatware. Say goodbye to unused extras like Windows Mail or Movie Maker. You’ll have to get them from Windows Live’s Web site in the future—if you even want them. (See below for more on MSPaint and WordPad, however.) That won’t stop system vendors from shoving some shovelware onto your company computers if you get them at retail; for that, use The PC Decrapifier for a pre-use cleanup.
More work time. In our tests in PC Labs, we found that Windows 7 boots up several seconds faster than Vista on identical hardware. That’s precious time during which your employees can be productive! Okay, that’ll last only a while, until installing new software and everyday use slow down start time, but with the right hardware, Windows 7 should zing along plenty fast in all uses.—Next: No, Keep Your Biz With XP >