Windows Explorer

The most evident change from the Windows Vista Explorer is the addition of Libraries, and the default "Content" view style. This style looks like a combination of the old "Tiles" and "Details" view, showing only one item per line (Figure).

The concept of "libraries" is newly introduced in Windows 7. Libraries provide Windows with a way to aggregate multiple physical locations on a computer (this can also include network locations) into one unified view. This is a nice addition to the way you organize your data in Windows. For example, if you check the included locations for the Documents Library you will notice that by default it includes your \username\Documents folder and the \Public\Documents folder. You can add other folders to be included in a library (Figure). According to Microsoft the use of Libraries in combination with the "Homegroup" will make sharing files over a network easier.

In Windows 7 Microsoft also added a button to toggle the Preview pane, making it easier to toggle previews. In Vista you have to toggle the Preview pane from Explorer's "Organize" menu, and most users never realized the functionality was there.

Windows 7's Explorer has a "cleaner" look than its predecessor in Vista; have a look at the side-by-side screenshots below.

 
Windows Vista Windows Explorer

Windows 7 Windows Explorer

As you can see, there are five distinctive areas in Windows 7's folder pane: Favorites, Libraries, Homegroup, Computer and Network. If you expand any of these, explorer will now remember that setting, and next time you open explorer will show the item as you left it when you closed explorer last time (as opposed to Vista's explorer).

One gripe I have about the current implementation is that Windows Explorer won't allow you to open multiple windows to the same location. For example, I'm used to clicking the WIN-key+E twice if I want to copy files between hard drives, then change the directories one window at a time. The new implementation will mean that you must open one explorer window, change to the folder and then can open a 2nd explorer window. I know, just a new way of doing things, but why shouldn't I be allowed to just open multiple explorer windows showing the same view? I also don't like the fact that explorer opens the "Libraries" as default; I'd much prefer it open "Computer" like it does on Vista (or "My Computer" on XP).

According to Microsoft, Windows 7 includes an improved copy engine which is more reliable, displays fewer prompts, and shows the name of the file being copied (Figure).

Desktop

Microsoft even found a way to improve on the functionality of the desktop; it introduced a new feature called "Aero Snaps". This feature will let you "snap" open windows to screen borders: maximize a window by dragging its border to top of the screen, and return the window to its original size by dragging it away from the top of the screen. If you drag a window to the right or left edge of the screen, it will tile on that side and take up 50 percent of the screen width; again, dragging a window away from the edge of the screen returns the window to its original size.

Windows Touch

Windows 7 is touch-enabled; not just as an afterthought, but a comprehensive solution that works everywhere in Windows 7. The Start menu, Windows Taskbar, and Windows Explorer are touch-friendly, with larger icons that are easier to select with your finger. Browsing the Web with Internet Explorer 8 is easier too: just use your finger to scroll down a Web page or browse your favorite links. You can even use your finger to arrange the pictures in a photo album.

Windows 7 also introduces support for new multi-touch technology, enabling you to control what happens on the screen with more than one finger. For example, you can zoom in on an image by moving two fingers closer together, like you're pinching something, or zoom out by moving two fingers apart. You can rotate an image on the screen by rotating one finger around another, and can right-click by holding one finger on your target and tapping the screen with a second finger.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to test this; I don't own a touch-screen. Personally (again without having tried it) I'm not sure I would prefer touching my display instead of using a mouse, but since the younger generation is now growing up with iPhone & other "touch" phones, they might feel differently about exclusively using touch to interact with their computer.

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