7/13/11

The New and Ultimate User Interface in Win 7


The idea behind Windows 7 is to get user applications to work well without the support of a developer. Of course, if you purchase newer applications you can extend the level of support for those applications to a higher degree in Windows 7. The navigation interface has changed quite a bit, but it’s easier to get used to once you’ve tried Vista. So, let’s dive in to this new virtual Window of possibilities.

New Home for Gadgets

The first thing you’ll notice right off the bat with Windows 7 is that gadgets populate the desktop. Gadgets may include items such as your clock, calendar, and weather forecast. With some new functionality programmed into the Windows 7 operating system, you’ll be able to see these gadgets even if you have several windows open at one time.

Navigate Your Entire Computer with the Wave of a Mouse

Navigate between windows by mouse-over is absolute simplicity in the design of Windows 7. Point your mouse to an icon located on the taskbar at the base of the Windows interface. A series of thumbnails will display on the Windows screen. Select a thumbnail by clicking on it with your mouse to open an application.
Remember, you can still view the gadgets on your desktop with any number of application windows open by using the peeking method. Peeking is a new term for viewing a window passively (not interacting with the window). To peek at your gadgets, or to view other applications without making any changes to the applications, simply move your mouse over the thumbnails housed in the taskbar. As you move your mouse over each thumbnail, the windows on your screen change so that the outline of each window is transparent. The only exception is the window that has the current set focus (whichever application you’re currently interacting with). Move the mouse away from the taskbar to reset the windows back to their natural states.

Jump Lists

Another nice way to get around the Windows interface in a jiffy is to use the Jump list. The Jump list displays recently used files on a floating window that resembled the old side bar in earlier versions of Windows. You will use this program to jump straight to the file you want to access by clicking on the file in the jump list. In Windows 7, you can see why the side bar just isn’t necessary anymore. Trigger the jump list by right-clicking on any icon in the taskbar.

Libraries

Truly, one of the more impressive changes made to the Windows experience is a program called Libraries. Libraries is the new construct in Windows 7 that will be replacing Windows Explorer as a better, more intuitive way of locating documents, files, and media.
Search through random areas of the file system. The organization for files is intuitive, and doesn’t really focus on the location of the files. Find it easier and faster with Windows 7. When you look for documents in the Libraries on Win 7, you’ll see a graphical interface similar to Vista and other key features. Libraries tells you how many locations on your computer house your documents, files, and media.
The entire layout is much easier to read than Windows Explorer. Also, the actions you can take are clearly displayed at the top of the Libraries layout. These actions include Organize, Open, Print, and Burn. This is a much more convenient way to execute an action than to pull down a list of options from the old File menu.

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