Here are some of the major changes in Windows 7 from its predecessors:

• More Advanced Taskbar: Windows 7's version of the Taskbar is less cluttered than Vista's, and it handles both running and nonrunning apps with equal aplomb.

• Taskbar Previews: Now they show you all of an application's open windows, all at once.

• Convenient Jump Lists: These context-sensitive Taskbar menus let you start accomplishing things in applications before you even open them.

• Better Optimized System Tray: New controls prevent the System Tray from overflowing with unwanted apps and distracting you with unhelpful, irrelevant messages.

• Less Interrupting Alerts: Windows 7's version of Vista's Security Center queues up system messages so that you can respond to them on your schedule--it doesnt interrupt you every now and then.

• Arrange folders in Libraries: You can bundle folders from locations all across your hard drive into Libraries designed to provide one-click access from the left pane of Windows Explorer to related files.

• Windows Media Player 12: In Windows 7 Media Player can play back unprotected audio and video files from Apple's iTunes Store.