As the hype and positive reviews for Windows 7 continues to build and build, you may be thinking: “How could Windows 7 get any better?” As the full release may soon be upon us, Microsoft has released the product names of the six different versions of Windows 7. Although similar to the releases of Windows Vista, each version will contain something for everyone, different features for your different needs. Each version will also be on a single disc, allowing you at anytime to upgrade to another version, providing you pay for the unlock code. Windows XP and Vista users will be able to upgrade their OS licenses to Windows 7 but with a catch: You’ll still need to perform a clean installation of Windows 7, bearing in mind that you’ll need to reinstall programs and back-up all of your files.

Windows 7 Starter Edition: Primarily for netbook users, the Starter Edition will allow users to run only three applications at once, have some networking capabilities, and benefit from the new task bar and Jump lists.

Windows 7 Home Basic: Home Basic will allow users to use an unlimited amount of applications at the same time. It will also bring forth some new implemented features, such as the live thumbnail previews. Home Basic will also enable Internet connection sharing, wired and wireless and will provide options for those with laptops.

Windows 7 Home Premium: If you’re a fan of Windows Media Center and Aero Glass, this version will be for you. Aside from those features being implemented from Vista, touch-screen features have also been added, such as handwriting and multi-touch support. Windows Media Center will also feature improved media support and streaming functions.

Windows 7 Professional Edition: Businesses of all sizes will benefit from the improved security features, such as the encrypted file system, advanced network back-up, and the ability to join managed networks. Location-aware printing will also be supported.

Windows 7 Enterprise & Ultimate Editions: Enterprise and Ultimate will have similar features as the other versions. However, software such as BitLocker will be implemented for internal and external hard drives. AppLocker will also be implemented, keeping unauthorized software from running.

A number of features, while prevalent in Windows Vista, have been removed in all versions of Windows 7.

1. Several shell features including:

- Classic Start menu user interface

- Floating Deskbands (was deprecated in Windows Vista, now deskband can be only pinned to taskbar)

- Windows Media Player Mini-player (replaced with the new Jump list feature)

- Pinning default Internet Browser and E-mail client software programs on Start menu by default (programs can be manually pinned)

- The ability to disable grouping (placing next to each other) similar taskbar buttons

- Combined taskbar buttons no longer numerically show how many windows are in their stack.

- The Taskbar network icon does not show network activity animation. (To be returned in RC)

- Advanced search builder UI.

- The ability to disable the taskbar’s “always on top” setting.

- Taskbar buttons’ context menus have been replaced with Jump Lists, which lack Restore, Move, Size, Minimize and Maximize buttons.

2. Some Windows Media Player features:

- Advanced Tag Editor

- Paste Album Art

- Recently added Auto playlist

3. Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Movie Maker, Windows Mail and Windows Calendar (in favor of downloading or using online the free respective Windows Live counterparts, which lack some features) although the Photo Viewer module of Windows Photo Gallery has been retained.

4. Software Explorer feature of Windows Defender

5. Removable Storage Manager (RSM) (applications dependent on it, such as NTBackup or the NTBackup Restore Tool, cannot run)

6. Windows Meeting Space

7. The ability to search contents of files using Windows Search.

8. InkBall, a game

9. The numeric keypad from On-Screen Keyboard

10. Microsoft Agent 2.0 Technology

11. Windows Sidebar (replaced with Desktop Gadget Gallery)

12. Windows Ultimate Extras in the Ultimate edition

So, how can Windows 7 get any better? You decide.

Removed features list provided by Wikipedia

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2. My Movies 2, you got to see this!
3. Windows 7: Microsoft Finally “Ante’s up” in the Desktop OS Game