User Accounts Control
Alright, UAC is not a new feature, but it has been completely overhauled to be entirely less annoying. The default UAC level now throws a warning only if something is attempting to make changes to your PC. We figure it’s probably worth knowing if your PC is being tinkered with, so we let UAC go about its business these days.
Live Taskbar Previews
Power users know that it can be a nuisance to find the right instance of an application when you have half a dozen copies of the same app sitting on your taskbar. Windows 7 makes it a little easier with Live Taskbar Previews which display a thumbnail of the actual program. If multiple instances of the same app are open, Live Taskbar Previews will show you thumbnails for all the instances. Applications can be closed from their thumbnail, too.
Windows Update
Windows Update is older than dirt, but never before has it actually offered useful drivers. We know–your mind is blown, but it’s true. Microsoft put a lot of effort into revamping Windows Update’s driver database, and the usefulness of the drivers in that database. For example, WUAU on Windows 7 offers the newest GPU drivers for NVIDIA and ATI adapters within a few days of their release. Windows Update also picked up a staffer’s BlackBerry Bold, and provided a newer driver than D-Link’s own website for an 802.11n card.
Aero Shake
Sometimes window clutter simply gets out of control, so Microsoft cooked a feature called Aero Shake into Windows 7. Shake allows users to give one application focus by minimizing the rest with a brief jiggle of the wanted app.