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A classic and solid version of the world's most popular PC operating system

A classic and solid version of the world's most popular PC operating system

Vote: (7,302 votes)

Program license: Paid

Developer: Microsoft

Version: SP1-6.1.7601

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(7,302 votes)

Paid

Developer

Version

Microsoft

SP1-6.1.7601

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Clean, pretty, and easy to navigate Aero design
  • Boost to Windows Media Player lets it stream media across multiple devices on a network

Cons

  • Missing many of the quality of life features brought on with Windows 10
  • Still experiences some performance issues

While Windows 7 may not be the latest version of one of the world's most popular operating systems, it's still regarded as one of the best iterations, and it's combination of ease of use and traditional design make it worth investing in for those who are using older machines or aren't enamored with the changes made in the intervening years. While Windows 10 dominates in America, Windows 7 is still the most bought in ecosystem for large swaths of the world, and a number of its design sensibilities still hold up very well. When it first released in 2009, it was a breath of fresh air for Windows users largely turned off by the changes made to Vista, and Windows 7 largely delivered what they were looking for. Some of this meant making changes to keep up with the progressive Mac OS operating system, but some additions were boldly unique changes for the platform.

While many of the features that Windows 7 added could only be accomplished with the added accessibility of more powerful hardware, you shouldn't have to worry about it running on any newer machine. Windows 7 has been operating for nearly a decade now, and any machine bought in the past decade or so should offer quality performance with few if any hitches. It draws from the well regarded Aero theme introduced in Vista, but this is more than simply an adaptation of an old skin. The battery management system offers more customization than any earlier version of Windows, and it offers both support for the newest drivers of the time and some limited capabilities for touchscreen support that means it can even hang with newer models designed to be operated primarily or largely with your fingers. The biggest step up, at least in terms of interactivity, is the Windows 7 task bar which can give even the Mac OS dock a run for its money. The pinned programs are large and easy to read, a big step up from the more workmanlike design of earlier visions of Windows, and exploiting the real advantages that come from the potential of a graphical user interface. The translucent design of the Aero skin only enhances it in a way that's both more aesthetically pleasing than earlier Windows operating systems and more practical to navigate through multiple windows at a time. Hovering over any icon gives you a quick pop-up of the contents, so it's a lot easier to sort through your open programs and documents even, for instance, when you're juggling between multiple Word files at a time. Items can be easily dragged into or around the task bar to put together a workflow that matches your unique needs.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for an operating system that serves as a unified ecosystem. While it can't necessarily hold its own with 10, it serves as an important bridge between the old and new Microsoft philosophies, providing a wealth of options that are easily navigable and unified across your platform.

Pros

  • Clean, pretty, and easy to navigate Aero design
  • Boost to Windows Media Player lets it stream media across multiple devices on a network

Cons

  • Missing many of the quality of life features brought on with Windows 10
  • Still experiences some performance issues