Windows 7: Up and Running:
A quick, hands-on introduction
By Wei-Meng Lee
Publisher: O’Reilly Media
Pages: 208
ISBN-10: 0596804040
ISBN-13: 978-0596804046
Reviewed by: Bill Coan, Word MVP
Suddenly, things have changed.
Up until now, there have been two main kinds of users of Windows: those willing to invest hours and hours and hours mastering all the nooks and crannies of the operating system and those preferring to just jump into Microsoft Office or onto the web and get their work done without thinking about the operating system.
Suddenly things have changed: Microsoft has released Windows 7, the most powerful, flexible, and easy-to-use version of Windows ever, and Wei-Meng Lee has produced a well organized, clearly written, and richly illustrated book of less than 200 pages that helps users harness the power of Windows 7 in minutes rather than hours.
In a hurry? Poke your nose into Chapter 2 (Getting Around Windows 7), and then flip to the back of the book and breeze through 30 pages of illustrated tips and tricks that will make scales fall from your eyes. Total investment: about thirty minutes, max, and you’ll start earning dividends on that investment immediately. (One tiny example: Troubleshooting Sleep Mode Problems on your laptop. Priceless!)
Want to find out what you can accomplish in Windows 7 without having to buy any additional software? Check out Chapter 5 (Essential Applications). You’ll be amazed at what you can do with Messenger, Mail, Photo Gallery, Writer, Movie Maker, and scads of utilities ranging from Sound Recorder to Math Input Panel to Sticky Notes to the new Statistics calculator and more.
Check out Chapter 6 (Internet Explorer 
and you’ll be further amazed, especially if you thought that you already knew how to browse the web safely and securely.
Power hungry? I’ve saved the best for last. Wei-Meng Lee shows you how to set up file sharing with other Windows 7 machines and also with machines running earlier versions of Windows and even with Macintoshes. He also explains file system security and shows how you can protect your files from both local and online threats. And here’s the very, very best: he shows you how to install and exploit “virtual” machines running Windows XP, Unix, or other operating systems.
Don’t forget: this is a book of less than 200 pages, and it is richly illustrated. You can probably complete it in about an hour and a half. In addition to changing the way you see Windows, it just might change the way you see yourself as a computer user.
James is the owner of WindowsTalk.org and has been a Microsoft Windows Consumer MVP since 2003.
Windows 7 has to potential to be the new XP or 95 in terms of longevity and consumer adoption. People will love the UI enhancement and subtle changes that make tasks easier and actually fun to do. Simple window management tricks itself are Godsend.
Microsoft is not any stranger to having companions galore within the phone enterprise, however its lineup of producers for the upcoming, surprisingly promising Windows Phone 7 launch is no less impressive. After plenty of rumoring, Microsoft has confirmed that Dell and HTC will probably be making Windows Cellphone 7 phones, along with ASUS, LG, and Samsung who had already been confirmed. All of these corporations ought to have their stamp on hardware by the tip of the yr, with the launch of the OS nonetheless vaguely slated for the “holidays” Now we have little question that each one five producers can build some compelling, sexy hardware, but we’re particularly enthused to see Dell actually entering into the game after the spectacular Streak and that drool worthy leak a little while back. read extra at http://www.wp7forum.com fans group.