Today is the day Windows 7 officially launches!  As an IT person I’ve had access to it for a couple months already and have been running it on my primary system to learn some of the ins-and-outs of it.  If you’re in the market for a new system of purchased one in the last couple months I’d recommend the upgrade (computers purchased since June 26th are eligible for a free upgrade).  Hit the READ MORE link for some tips, tricks and links that will help make Windows 7 a smooth upgrade for you.

New user interface refinements:

If you drag a window to the top of your screen it maximizes, drag it to the left or right it resizes to take up half of the screen, and if you click and hold a window and shake it (no, really) all other open windows minimize.  Repeat to restore all the other windows.

There’s are a host of new keyboard shortcuts built into Windows 7 focused around the unloved little windows key. Hold down windows and press the right or left arrow and the active window snaps to the right or left of the screen.  Hold windows and press 1 through 9 and it will launch the first through ninth application pinned to your taskbar.

Alt-Tab still works (like it has since at least Windows 95) but now if you hit alt-tab to cycle through open programs and pause for a second (still holding down alt) all other windows will become transparent allowing you to more easily see the window you’re looking for.

Free Windows 7 Upgrade:

Here’s a great roundup of links to the major manufacturers Windows 7 upgrade offers:

Download Squad’s Windows 7 Upgrade

Microsoft is Launching an online store:

Ok, this one isn’t too useful right now, but maybe in time Microsoft will have more than one desktop available for purchase

At least you can go there and order Microsoft products.  No more trips to the office supply store for you!

Microsoft online store

Windows 7 Whopper:

And if you happen to be in Japan you can get the Windows 7 Whopper for the next 7 days:

The Whopper

oof

For those of you already running Windows 7, what other things have you discovered?  Let us know in the comments below