Microsoft has finally launched its latest operating system, Windows 7, from Microsoft Windows family. The successor of Windows Vista has been launched on 22^nd October.

Microsoft hopes that this latest operating system will do well, as compared to the previous one, Windows Vista, which didn’t do well.

Windows 7, formerly codenamed as Blackcomb, which was later renamed to Vienna in early 2006, is being released less than three years after the launch of Windows Vista.

The operating system will be released in six separate editions. The versions PC users are most likely to see on shop shelves are the Home Premium and Professional editions.

Other versions are aimed at users in developing nations and corporate customers. All but the most basic edition of the software will be available in 32 and 64 bit versions.

Those buying a family pack of Windows 7 will be able to install the software on up to three PCs. Its Home Premium edition is available in the markets for US$ 149.99 ( ± PKR 12,500).

Windows 7 includes various improvements, like, having greater support for multi-touch interfaces, handwriting recognition and improvements to its ability to work with multi-core processors. Changes have also been made to the familiar task bar that most users have at the bottom of the screen.

Some of the features of this latest OS will be familiar to Apple Mac users as similar functions have been rolled out in Mac operating systems.

For developers, Windows 7 includes a new networking API with support for building SOAP-based web services in native code (as opposed to .NET-based WCF web services), new features to shorten application install times, reduced UAC prompts, simplified development of installation packages, and improved globalization support through a new Extended Linguistic Services API.

Some features have been removed or modified in Windows 7, like, the classic Start Menu user interface, Windows Ultimate Extras, InkBall, and Windows Calendar.

Windows 7 boots up more quickly and is designed to work on low cost portable machines known as netbooks.

Hardware requirements for Windows 7 are;

• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)

• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

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