[South Florida DX Association] Windows 7 info

[n8pr]

>From the estpark Radiops Newsletter:
DIFFERENCES YOU WILL SEE IN
WINDOWS 7...
If you are considering upgrading from XP to Windows 7, be
prepared for these changes. 
  -No e-mail Client.
Outlook Express (OE) has been removed from Windows.
But it was replaced by Windows Mail.  Or you can use other
email clients such as Outlook (costs), Windows Live Mail, a
free one such as Mozilla Thunderbird.
- 32-bit vs. 64-bit
You will have to decide whether to load the 32-bit version
(x86) or the 64-bit version (x64). Which you choose largely
depends on your computer’s hardware and the availability of
drivers and other software to make everything work in your
PC.  You can't load x64 in a single-core 32-bit machine!
-  Aero Desktop A  a collection of window and desktop
behaviors that make Windows 7 have a new “wet” look.
Features such as Aero Snap let you quickly organize open
windows and a new transparency makes it easy to see what’s
underneath 
   - Documents and Settings 
The Documents and Settings folder,  has been
replaced with a simple Users folders. 
-  Start Menu 
The Start menu in Windows 7 has been completely reworked
and has  had many criticisms. You will need to relearn how to
get things going and are forced to have a simpler  folder
system that uses a scroll bar to access shortcuts that can’t be
displayed because you’ve reached the maximum number that
can be shown at one time. Luckily, if you really like the
Windows XP Start menu, there is a way to make Windows 7
Start menu act like XP. 
  - Ribbon Introduced in Office
  The Ribbon interface replaces the more familiar drop-down
menu and toolbar approach to using programs. 
- Libraries
Collections of similar files, allegedly makes finding files
easier. But you can choose to use/not use Libraries depending
or modify the organization a bit to suit your types of files.
  - DirectX 11 basically for games
  - HomeGroup
takes   the   guesswork   and   troubleshooting   out   of   home
networking on any scale. 
- Touch Support  new for  touch-screen  laptops, where you
can skip using a mouse to steer your way around the screen.
----- 
   For amateur radio, you might be disappointed.  Gone is the
ability to run certain older 16-bit applications from the Win
95/98 era.  Certain programs that need XP support can be
set up in “XP Mode” in all higher editions  BUT NOT IN
THE TWO HOME EDITIONS.    The   bad   news   is  that
Microsoft’s products “don't care” about amateur radio needs