A very important aspect for Windows users, security, has also beenaddressed in many ways, and while most of the technologies were presentin Vista, they have been improved in Windows 7. The UAC (User AccessControl) dialogs are less frequent and not so annoying, executables arescanned for digital signatures of their vendor, you are notified aboutfiles downloaded from the internet as well as an improved firewall andnotification center. DEP (Data Execution Prevention) is enabled bydefault, we still have the KPP (Kernel Patch Protection) and asignificantly improved Autorun.

Also, the privilege level of youraccount is not root, which would grant you unlimited access to systemresources, but a member of the Administrators group. To affect changesthat may affect system integrity and security you have to accept an UACprompt. In addition to this, all start-up items that access criticalsystem areas are also required to be manually approved via an UACprompt. Checks and flags are implemented all around, to the point thatyou would have to ignore multiple security warnings in order to getinfected. These are all significant changes from Windows XP. Allaround, you can see that the engineers have dedicated a significantamount of time to securing the operating system.

From such an important aspect as security,we go on to examine theimprovements in the user interface department. The taskbar, part Mac OSX dock, part Start menu is an elegant and comprehensive UI element. Thefunctionality offered is simply amazing; We have quick access tocommonly used applications, an amazing way to find the window you’relooking for with Quick Look, a streamlined notification area which isclean yet retains usability and instant search from the Start menu. I’msorry to disappoint the Linux and Mac OS fans, but Windows 7, as it istoday, has the most advanced and usable UI.

With Windows 7 Microsoft has changed the game. I for one was savingmoney for a MacBook, which from a Windows XP viewpoint is an incredibleupgrade. But compared to Windows 7, not so much. We have performance,stability, a not too shabby security model, an incredible selection ofhardware and software. If lastly, we consider the price – free untilJune next year – we have an incredibly attractive offer. The ball is atApple and the pitch is going down at WWDC. Unless something amazingcomes out, it’s going to be a homerun for Windows 7.