[nfbcs] Windows XP to Windows 7?

[Joe Orozco]

This was most helpful.  Thanks for sharing!  I hate change, and even little
things like My Documents going away will be something to adjust to once I
make the switch.  What, if any, difference is there when using the XP mode?

Best,

Joe

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves,
some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org 
[mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 2:50 AM
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbcs] Windows XP to Windows 7?

Curtis Chong posted this piece to gui-talk concerning differences 
using Windows XP and moving to Windows 7.  I thought some might 
find it useful.

Dave


>From: "Curtis Chong" <curtischong at earthlink.net>
>To: "'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Date: Sun, 31 Oct 2010 12:32:15 -0500



>Mike:
>
>Here are some radnom thoughts that I can share with you regarding my
>transition to Windows 7 from Windows XP.  I hope they will 
provide you with
>some helpful information.
>
>1.      In Windows 7, you will notice some differences in the 
behavior of
>Windows Explorer.  For one thing, the title bar will not, by 
default, show
>you the full file path.  If you want to find out which folder 
you are in,
>the best way to do this is to press ALT+D to move your focus 
to the address
>box.  Then, you'll have to hit Shift Tab Twice to get back to 
the list of
>files and folders.  In Windows Explorer, you will notice some 
things like
>the "name split" button.  Don't press it unless you intend to have your
>files sorted in a difference sequence<smile>.  There is an advantage to
>using the new Windows Explorer.  If you are looking at a list 
of files, you
>can press the right arrow key to move between columns.  This 
way, you can
>quickly jump to a column showing when the file was created, when it was
>modified, and how big it is.  In my opinion, this different 
and better than
>the Windows Explorer that runs under Windows XP.
>
>2.      The Start Menu is vastly different.  When you press 
the Windows Key,
>you are put into a search box.  Many people seem to like the 
Search box,
>because from there, you can type what you are looking for, and 
Windows will
>quickly try to find it.  For example, if you are trying to 
start Word, just
>type Word, and entries in the Start menu containing Word will 
show up fairly
>quickly.  I myself don't like this as much because I have this 
crazy notion
>that I like to know where in the menu structures programs and files are
>located before I actually start to use them<smile>.
>
>3.      Avoid 64-bit processors.  I find that the transition 
to Windows 7 is
>made much simpler if you can avoid buying a computer with a 64-bit
>processor.  Alas, the default in most big box stores is the 
64-bit computer.
>So, you'll have to go to some lengths to get a 32-bit machine. 
 What, you
>say, is the problem?  Mostly, not much if you are tech savvy.  
You have to
>be sure to use the right version of JAWS, you have to get the correct
>drivers for scanners, Braille displays, and the like, and you 
have to be
>sure that your security software (i.e., antivirus and 
anti-spyware programs)
>support 64-bit processors.  If you can do all of that, then perhaps the
>64-bit processor will not be that much of a problem for you.  
The cool thing
>from a technical perspective is that with a 64-bit processor, 
Windows will
>be able to take advantage of all 4 gigabytes and more of 
available memory.
>
>4.      At work, I am running Office 2010 and Windows 7.  I 
noticed right
>away that the "My Documents" folder has gone away.  Windows 7 
now likes to
>use libraries which are essentially collections of pointers to 
files and
>folders.  Beware of the library if you like to know where 
things are located
>on your hard drive or on a network drive.  I find myself doing 
more copying
>and pasting of paths in Windows 7 than in previous versions 
because of the
>absence of the My Documents shortcut.
>
>5.      In Windows 7, Outlook Express no longer exists.  If 
you are already
>using Microsoft Outlook or some other non-Microsoft email 
client, then this
>should not be a problem for you.  If, however, you have been 
using Outlook
>Express, you will have to decide whether you want to switch to 
Outlook, use
>Windows Live Mail, or get another email program.  Since I was 
already using
>Outlook both at work and at home, this was not an issue for 
me, but I can
>understand why it would be an issue for those people who have 
been using
>Outlook Express.  Alas, I do not have much personal 
acquaintance with the
>replacement to Outlook Express.
>
>6.      Shutting down Windows in Windows 7 is a snap.  Just press the
>Windows key, press Right Arrow once, and then press Enter.  It's reqlly
>quite simple<smile>.
>
>Well, that's pretty much all I can share at this point.  Bear 
in mind that I
>have had only three weeks of experience with Windows 7 and 
Office 2010.  I
>am sure that over time, I will learn a lot more.
>
>Cordially,
>
>Curtis Chong

                         David Andrews:  dandrews at visi.com
Follow me on Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920


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