History: Back in 2015, Windows 7 was superior to Windows 10 but not by a wide margin. Back then, Windows 7 was a mature operating system that ran software well, and in a predictable manner.
It is now in 2018. Now Windows 10 is overall better than Windows 7. Yes, Windows 10 does have some distinct flaws but they are no longer show-stopping flaws.
Many have held back from updating to Windows 10 because they"re afraid of technical problems, don"t like the Windows 10 user interface, or are concerned some features may be missing. In this article, we can compare some of the main features of Windows 7 along with their Windows 10 equivalents.
One of the biggest complaints from those upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is the overall look and feel.
[How to make Windows 10 look and feel a little more like Windows 7]
The overall design of Windows 10 is the most striking difference to Windows 7. Everything has become flat, colorful, and squared, unlike Windows 7 which was a bit glassy, rounded, and used some gradients.
Icons have also been simplified, but not beyond the point of recognition – again swapping the rounded look for something flat.
It may be a shock to the system at first, but you’ll quickly get used to the design. There are ways to bring a taste of Windows 7 to Windows 10.
Windows 7 had a terrific search function built in the Start Menu, finding files and folders on network shares as well as those stored locally.
It is now in 2018. Now Windows 10 is overall better than Windows 7. Yes, Windows 10 does have some distinct flaws but they are no longer show-stopping flaws.
Many have held back from updating to Windows 10 because they"re afraid of technical problems, don"t like the Windows 10 user interface, or are concerned some features may be missing. In this article, we can compare some of the main features of Windows 7 along with their Windows 10 equivalents.
The following summary of core features is what makes Windows 10 what it is:
- Cortana is Microsoft"s version of a digital assistant. It will set reminders, give information, and help you write text messages and emails.
- Windows Hello is a biometric security system that uses facial recognition or a fingerprint scan to log you into Windows 10 and authenticate Store purchases.
- Virtual Desktop allows you to create multiple desktops that you can switch between with the click of a button. You can move windows between desktops and easily keep track of multiple ongoing projects.
- Windows Ink has a growing number of compatible apps that let you edit, annotate, and doodle with a digital pen. It"s incredibly easy to take notes, and you can even create works of art.
- Edge is Microsoft"s signature web browser and its Internet Explorer replacement. It"s designed for the modern internet user. Options are an e-reader function and new extensions.
- Windows Defender is software that protects your computer from viruses and malware. It runs full-time and will let you know if anything suspicious is happening or if it thinks you"re about to do something unsafe. It also receives constant updates to ensure it"s protecting as well as possible.
- Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) offers the merging of real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualizations where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real-time.
More like Windows 7
One of the biggest complaints from those upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is the overall look and feel.
[How to make Windows 10 look and feel a little more like Windows 7]
Windows 10 design vs Windows 7 design
The overall design of Windows 10 is the most striking difference to Windows 7. Everything has become flat, colorful, and squared, unlike Windows 7 which was a bit glassy, rounded, and used some gradients.
Icons have also been simplified, but not beyond the point of recognition – again swapping the rounded look for something flat.
It may be a shock to the system at first, but you’ll quickly get used to the design. There are ways to bring a taste of Windows 7 to Windows 10.
Windows 10 search vs Windows 7 search
Search has become ever more important in operating systems, as file and folder hierarchies have become less important, and searching for a specific filename has become a popular way of finding important files – especially amidst messy desktops and haphazardly organized Documents folders.Windows 7 had a terrific search function built in the Start Menu, finding files and folders on network shares as well as those stored locally.
Windows 10 searches still hook into the Bing search engine and also look for apps in the Windows Store. Even more annoyingly these results are placed ahead of search results for installed apps, files, and folders with no option to change this order. Amazingly, the ability to search your computer and network shares simultaneously is still missing.
However, you can at least easily perform more advanced searches from the Start Menu by clicking on the My Stuff button. This lets you filter by relevance or date, and can also narrow down your search to specific file types including documents, photos, music, and settings.
Windows 10 also includes Cortana, the personal assistant feature from Windows Phone.
On Windows 7 you’ll be used to clicking the Start Button and searching for content on your PC that way.
You cannot miss noticing Cortana – it’s right next to the Start Button. And it does much more than search your PC, it also searches the web. As previously stated, Cortana is principally a digital assistant though so on top of handling all your searches; it’ll keep track of your dates and events with alerts.
Cortana first appeared on Windows Phone, where it used sophisticated speech recognition via the built-in microphone. Cortana in Windows 10 works with a microphone.
This has become a major part of Windows 10 doing double duty as a web search and a Start Menu/Windows search. Plus the ability to search by voice is both impressive in its accurate transcription and in its usefulness for those less abled.
Cortana can search your PC for files, applications, and settings, just like the search tool in earlier versions of Windows, but you can also ask it more general questions and even use it to search the web — just ask it a question, as you would a person. You can also give Cortana commands — try asking it to send an email, or make an appointment for something on a certain date.
Typing is not the only way to interact with Cortana, if your computer has a microphone, you can use your voice, too. Click the microphone icon to the right of the Search box and follow the on-screen instructions to get things working — you’ll need to read a short sentence aloud as part of the set-up. Now, you can then click the microphone icon to talk to Cortana, rather than type. Other than speaking clearly, you don’t need to talk in a certain way to use Cortana — just talk as you normally do.
The Start Menu is a staple of Windows that people have strongly defended after it was replaced with a Start Screen back in Windows 8.
Microsoft realized the error of its ways and brought the Start Menu back for Windows 10. However, it’s a lot more interactive than what we had on Windows 7.
You can still see lists of software and files, but alongside them are Live Tiles of apps. These can be changed for apps you use more frequently, making life a little easier than in Windows 7. However, these changes haven’t stopped gremlins from causing issues on some machines but it’s not a universal problem.
The Action Center in Windows 10 is quite different from the one we know of in Windows 7. It basically keeps hold of your notifications, whether it’s about your connectivity or an email. Unless you’re running software for email such as Outlook on Windows 7 you won’t get an email alert.
The system alerts for things like security popup on Windows 7 and disappears after several seconds – at least with Windows 10, you can open the Action Center to get it back before they’re gone.
When you open the Action Center you also get a load of options you never had before, such as battery saver mode and tablet mode – the latter probably isn’t useful if you’re upgrading from Windows 7 as it’s likely that you’re using a standard desktop PC or laptop.
Launch the Action Center by clicking the square box with three lines in the taskbar. A number will be displayed next to it if you have any unopened alerts.
It’s split into two, with notifications at the top and quick actions at the bottom.
When you get a notification, click the down arrow to view it or click the X to dismiss. Alternatively to remove them click Clear all.
With Windows 10 Microsoft introduced a brand new browser "Edge", promoting it as being better suited to the modern web.
Edge recently we certainly agree, as it is fast, elegantly designed, and features a variety of advanced capabilities including being able to annotate web pages and then send the image to friends or colleagues, Cortana integration, a new simplified reading mode that clears out the clutter on a screen, and a number of under the hood improvements.
In the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Microsoft has added extensions, web notifications, and the option to clear your browsing history on exit, making it a more modern web browser over Internet Explorer.
Edge is set to take over from Internet Explorer completely in the future with support ending on most versions of Internet Explorer, but for now, you can have access to both on Windows 10.
You can’t get Edge on older versions of Windows either, so you’ll have to go for Windows 10 if you want it. It features a clean new look, as well as a tidy area for downloads, history, favorites, and a reading list.
One key feature which has finally reached Windows is the Windows Defender Application Guard, a sort of browser “super sandbox” which was restricted to enterprise versions of Windows, but has now been added to Windows 10 Pro in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update.
Windows 10’s “Windows Defender Application Guard” feature runs the Microsoft Edge browser in an isolated, virtualized container. Even if a malicious website exploited a flaw in Edge, it cannot compromise your PC.
Note: Application Guard is disabled by default.
WDAG creates a virtual sandbox for your Edge browser, although you"ll need to turn on the feature within the Control Panel (Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows Features On and Off). If you"re browsing the risky "dark depths" of the Web within Edge, do it with WDAG enabled.
Microsoft praises its Windows 10 as being the most secure operating system that it has ever created. It seems that statistics performed by various analytic companies have reached the same conclusion as well.
Windows 7 has been the most successful and ubiquitous operating system in Microsoft history. While it has served us well for the last five years, the
reality is that it doesn’t offer the level of protection you need to deal with the new security threats that we’re all facing. Although you can add layers of
defense with 3rd party products, keep in mind that all of the organizations we’ve been reading about in the news already did that and it wasn’t enough.
These modern challenges require a new platform. Here are some of the ways in which Windows 10 provides that platform.
However, you can at least easily perform more advanced searches from the Start Menu by clicking on the My Stuff button. This lets you filter by relevance or date, and can also narrow down your search to specific file types including documents, photos, music, and settings.
Windows 10 also includes Cortana, the personal assistant feature from Windows Phone.
On Windows 7 you’ll be used to clicking the Start Button and searching for content on your PC that way.
Cortana
On Windows 10, it’s all about Cortana – Microsoft’s digital assistant which began life on Windows Phone.You cannot miss noticing Cortana – it’s right next to the Start Button. And it does much more than search your PC, it also searches the web. As previously stated, Cortana is principally a digital assistant though so on top of handling all your searches; it’ll keep track of your dates and events with alerts.
Cortana first appeared on Windows Phone, where it used sophisticated speech recognition via the built-in microphone. Cortana in Windows 10 works with a microphone.
This has become a major part of Windows 10 doing double duty as a web search and a Start Menu/Windows search. Plus the ability to search by voice is both impressive in its accurate transcription and in its usefulness for those less abled.
Cortana can search your PC for files, applications, and settings, just like the search tool in earlier versions of Windows, but you can also ask it more general questions and even use it to search the web — just ask it a question, as you would a person. You can also give Cortana commands — try asking it to send an email, or make an appointment for something on a certain date.
Speak
Typing is not the only way to interact with Cortana, if your computer has a microphone, you can use your voice, too. Click the microphone icon to the right of the Search box and follow the on-screen instructions to get things working — you’ll need to read a short sentence aloud as part of the set-up. Now, you can then click the microphone icon to talk to Cortana, rather than type. Other than speaking clearly, you don’t need to talk in a certain way to use Cortana — just talk as you normally do.
Windows 10 Start Menu vs Windows 7 Start Menu
The Start Menu is a staple of Windows that people have strongly defended after it was replaced with a Start Screen back in Windows 8.
Microsoft realized the error of its ways and brought the Start Menu back for Windows 10. However, it’s a lot more interactive than what we had on Windows 7.
You can still see lists of software and files, but alongside them are Live Tiles of apps. These can be changed for apps you use more frequently, making life a little easier than in Windows 7. However, these changes haven’t stopped gremlins from causing issues on some machines but it’s not a universal problem.
Windows 10 Action Center vs Windows 7 Action Center
The Action Center in Windows 10 is quite different from the one we know of in Windows 7. It basically keeps hold of your notifications, whether it’s about your connectivity or an email. Unless you’re running software for email such as Outlook on Windows 7 you won’t get an email alert.
The system alerts for things like security popup on Windows 7 and disappears after several seconds – at least with Windows 10, you can open the Action Center to get it back before they’re gone.
When you open the Action Center you also get a load of options you never had before, such as battery saver mode and tablet mode – the latter probably isn’t useful if you’re upgrading from Windows 7 as it’s likely that you’re using a standard desktop PC or laptop.
Launch the Action Center by clicking the square box with three lines in the taskbar. A number will be displayed next to it if you have any unopened alerts.
It’s split into two, with notifications at the top and quick actions at the bottom.
When you get a notification, click the down arrow to view it or click the X to dismiss. Alternatively to remove them click Clear all.
Internet Explorer vs Edge
With Windows 10 Microsoft introduced a brand new browser "Edge", promoting it as being better suited to the modern web.
Edge recently we certainly agree, as it is fast, elegantly designed, and features a variety of advanced capabilities including being able to annotate web pages and then send the image to friends or colleagues, Cortana integration, a new simplified reading mode that clears out the clutter on a screen, and a number of under the hood improvements.
In the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Microsoft has added extensions, web notifications, and the option to clear your browsing history on exit, making it a more modern web browser over Internet Explorer.
Edge is set to take over from Internet Explorer completely in the future with support ending on most versions of Internet Explorer, but for now, you can have access to both on Windows 10.
You can’t get Edge on older versions of Windows either, so you’ll have to go for Windows 10 if you want it. It features a clean new look, as well as a tidy area for downloads, history, favorites, and a reading list.
Edge"s security blanket: WDAG
One key feature which has finally reached Windows is the Windows Defender Application Guard, a sort of browser “super sandbox” which was restricted to enterprise versions of Windows, but has now been added to Windows 10 Pro in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update.
Windows 10’s “Windows Defender Application Guard” feature runs the Microsoft Edge browser in an isolated, virtualized container. Even if a malicious website exploited a flaw in Edge, it cannot compromise your PC.
Note: Application Guard is disabled by default.WDAG creates a virtual sandbox for your Edge browser, although you"ll need to turn on the feature within the Control Panel (Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows Features On and Off). If you"re browsing the risky "dark depths" of the Web within Edge, do it with WDAG enabled.
SECURITY FEATURES: Comparing Windows 7 to Windows 10
Microsoft praises its Windows 10 as being the most secure operating system that it has ever created. It seems that statistics performed by various analytic companies have reached the same conclusion as well.
Windows 7 has been the most successful and ubiquitous operating system in Microsoft history. While it has served us well for the last five years, the
reality is that it doesn’t offer the level of protection you need to deal with the new security threats that we’re all facing. Although you can add layers of
defense with 3rd party products, keep in mind that all of the organizations we’ve been reading about in the news already did that and it wasn’t enough.
These modern challenges require a new platform. Here are some of the ways in which Windows 10 provides that platform.
Windows 10 has moved both home and enterprise security along significantly, both in terms of local device security and the security of your online services, too.
Webroot reported that only 15 percent of the total known malware files in 2017 were found on Windows 10 systems, while 63 percent of the known malicious files were found on Windows 7 systems.
There are a number of reasons for this pronounced imbalance, but a major difference is that Windows 10 forces automatic updates, while Windows 7 allows users to fully control when updates are installed.
There’s no doubt that Microsoft attempted to “harden” Windows 10 against many of the known exploit strategies used by malicious code writers, which is also a likely contributor. A great example of this was seen during the WannaCry ransomware attacks last year, as the vast majority of victims were running Windows 7, and Windows 10 users were completely unaffected.
Malware occurrence statistics at 2017
Malware occurrence for Home users was 0.07% for Windows 10 users, 0.16% for Windows 7 users, and 0.17% for Windows XP. Webroot’s conclusion is that Windows 10 on business devices is more than 50% more secure compared to Windows 7 on Home devices.It’s always up to date
Much has been made of the way in which users can’t opt-out of Windows Updates with Windows 10, but that’s hardly a bad thing. While a rogue update can certainly cause problems, these are minor when compared to the benefits this new approach brings.With Windows 10, it’s no longer possible to forget to run Windows Update, which means you’re much less likely to miss a critical operating system patch that fixes a serious security problem.
Even if you’re on the ball with security, it is likely other Windows users won’t be. People who switch off Windows Update in Windows 7 because they find it ‘annoying’, for example, pose a major security threat.
By forcing all Windows 10 users to stay up to date, everyone’s online safety is improved, since it reduces the risk of a PC being compromised by a hacker and becoming part of a botnet that could be used to attack your PC.
Performance
Performance tests have shown that Windows 10 is faster across the board than earlier versions of Windows. Windows 10 boots, goes to sleep and wakes from sleep marginally faster than Windows 10 on a PC of the same specification, which means less waiting around when you want to do something.Application performance is more of a mixed bag, with tests showing Windows 10 to be faster than Windows 7 with some apps and slower with others. Bear in mind that Microsoft will update Windows 10 regularly, though, while Windows 7 is now essentially frozen in its current state after ‘mainstream’ support ended in January 2015.
Most of the newer CPUs and chipsets are not supported by Windows 7 or Microsoft updates anymore.
Microsoft cautions that Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 have limited support when running on new processes and chipsets from manufacturers like Intel, AMD, NVidia, and Qualcomm. Users should be aware of the original equipment manufacturer"s (OEM) support period, as this can hinder performance.
The "Unsupported Hardware" error message that people are starting to see is shown above.
Skylake CPU home-build PC users will face a similar problem in 15 months' time if they are running Windows 7 or 8.1. From 17th July 2018 Microsoft will stop providing OS updates to such PCs, "likely" (seen) accompanied by an error message like the one above.
More important is the addition of DirectX 12 support, a low-level graphics API designed to increase 3D graphics performance with lower overheads while giving developers more control over how hardware is used.
Further, Windows 10 provides better built-in support for newer types of hardware including secure boot capabilities with UEFI, USB 3.0, Bluetooth adapters, high-definition screens (ie better scaling), and solid-state drives (eg NVMe).
With UEFI, Windows 10 machines boot up and resume from sleep dramatically faster than Windows 7. Almost instant-on was needed for smartphone and tablet use, of course, but it still benefits PC users.
Windows 10 apps vs Windows 7 apps
Apps came about for smartphones and tablets as smaller versions of the larger applications we use on desktop PCs, but since Windows 8 we’ve been able to use them on desktops too.
For Windows 7 users upgrading to Windows 10, this is all a bit new. There’s a Windows Store available on Windows 10 where you can download an array of apps.
The apps are great for using things like Facebook because it makes accessing the social network quicker and easier. There are so many apps to choose from too, whether you’re looking for news or games – many of which are free.
On Windows 7 you’re confined to the standard applications available on all Windows platforms – which aren’t necessarily bad but lack the convenience of apps from the Windows Store.
There are some glaring software losses with Windows 10 however, such as lack of DVD playback support.
Why has Microsoft removed DVD support on Windows 10?
The exact reason is unknown but it may be a licensing issue. By having no DVD support, the company can save money on certain permissions required to play DVDs. Instead, Microsoft is offering an app that allows users to play DVDs called Windows DVD Player.According to Microsoft, you are eligible for the free Windows DVD Player app if you upgraded from Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate, and Windows 8/8.1 Pro with Media Center.
Windows 10 Versions
There are now three different versions of Windows 10 for buyers to consider: Home, Pro, and the newer 10 S.Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Home is the basic variant of Windows 10. It comes with a number of new features including the revamped Start Menu. Windows 10 Home offers a full-fledged version of Cortana, the digital voice assistant formerly exclusively available on Windows Phone. Other than that, the Home edition also gets you features like Battery Saver, TPM support, and company"s new biometrics security feature called Windows Hello. Windows 10 Hello will allow users to sign in to a device without a password by using biometrics, including facial recognition. This means "using your face, iris, or fingerprint to unlock your devices.
Home users will also be able to utilize the all-new Virtual Desktops option and Snap assist feature with up to 4 apps on one screen. Furthermore, they can also give a whirl to Continuum, a flagship feature of Windows 10 that lets you quickly switch from desktop mode to tablet mode. You are also bestowed with Microsoft Edge, the brand new browser in town.
The Home edition also supports Windows Updates (automatic updates from Microsoft) - and also provides security measures such as Microsoft Passport.
The Home edition also supports Windows Updates (automatic updates from Microsoft) - and also provides security measures such as Microsoft Passport.
Windows 10 Pro
The Pro edition of Windows 10, in addition to all of Home edition"s features, offers sophisticated connectivity and privacy tools such as Domain Join, Group Policy Management, Bitlocker, Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer (EMIE), Assigned Access 8.1, Remote Desktop, Client Hyper-V, and Direct Access.Windows 10 S
Windows 10 S is a new version of Windows that Microsoft designed to run on lighter devices: That ‘S’ doesn’t have a specific designation, but Microsoft generally surrounds it with words like security, streamlined, superior performance … you get the idea. This is a version of Windows 10 with a lighter footprint, which allows it to work faster on cheaper laptops (thus competing more directly with Chromebooks, a key purpose of Windows 10 S). This makes 10 S an alternative for individuals and companies that can’t afford to spend a lot on expensive laptops or tablets but still need Windows 10.Windows 10 Version Feature Summary
| Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 S | |
| Cortana | Yes | Yes (including O365 integration) | Yes |
| Windows Hello Sign-In | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bitlocker Encryption | No | Yes | No |
| Xbox Gaming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization Services | No | Remote Desktop, Client Hyper-V, Shared PC | No |
| App Availability | Windows Store and Third Party | Windows Store and Third Party (subject to administrator control) | Windows Store |
| Browsers | All available, including Edge, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Safari | All available | Edge |