如果您像许多其他人一样跳过了Windows Vista ，那么当您从(Windows Vista)Windows XP升级到Windows 7时，您可能会感到震惊。微软最新的操作系统在可用性、便利性和整体计算方面与以前版本的Windows相比发生了重大转变。
尽管并非所有变化都是惊天动地的变化，但下面列出的是Windows XP和Windows 7之间的 10 大差异。其中许多更改可能看起来很重要，因为您已经习惯了 XP 中的工作方式。如果您正在考虑从 XP 升级到Windows 7，请为这些变化做好准备。
1.没有邮件客户端(1. No e-mail Client)
Outlook Express (OE) 自(Outlook Express)Windows 95以来一直是值得信赖的朋友，以至于许多人从未使用过其他电子邮件客户端。OE 已从Windows Vista中删除，但已替换为Windows Mail。奇怪的是，Windows根本没有附带任何电子邮件客户端。用户必须购买诸如Outlook(Outlook)之类的电子邮件客户端，使用诸如Windows Live Mail或Outlook.com之类的免费服务，或者下载诸如(Outlook.com)Thunderbird之类的开源电子邮件客户端。
2. 32 位与 64 位(2. 32-bit vs. 64-bit)
尽管Windows XP确实有 64 位版本（Windows XP x64），但许多人甚至不知道它的存在。从 XP 升级到Windows 7时，您必须决定是需要 32 位版本 (x86) 还是 64 位版本 (x64)。您选择哪一种(Which)在很大程度上取决于您的计算机硬件以及驱动程序和其他软件的可用性，以使一切都在您的 PC 中运行。
您可以从Microsoft下载(Microsoft)Windows 7 升级顾问工具(Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor tool)，该工具将检查您的硬件并为您提供是否升级的建议。
3.航空桌面(3. Aero Desktop)
Aero 桌面(Aero Desktop)实际上只不过是一组窗口和桌面行为，它们使 Windows 7 成为迄今为止最漂亮的操作系统版本。Aero Snap(Aero Snap let you quickly organize open windows)等功能可让您快速组织打开的窗口，而透明度可让您轻松查看其他窗口下方的内容。在Windows XP中，认为是不透明的，在Windows 7中，认为是半透明的。
4. 文件和设置(4. Documents and Settings)
Documents and Settings文件夹（所有受保护的个人文件和文件夹的位置）已替换为简单的用户(Users)文件夹。没什么大不了的，但是许多技术支持人员已经花费了数百小时来回答一个简单的问题，即Windows 7中的(Windows 7)Documents and Settings文件夹在哪里。
5.开始菜单(5. Start Menu)
Windows 7中的“开始(Start)”菜单已完全重新设计，并遭到了一些批评。“开始(Start)”菜单不再使用飞出和滚动来向您显示计算机上的程序和文件夹的快捷方式。
现在您必须使用更保守的文件夹系统，强制您使用滚动条来访问无法显示的快捷方式，因为您已经达到了一次可以显示的最大数量。但是，如果您真的喜欢Windows XP 的“开始(Windows XP Start)”菜单，有一些方法可以让Windows 7的“(Windows 7) 开始(Start)”菜单表现得像 XP。
6. 丝带(6. Ribbon)
在Office 2007(Office 2007)中引入，很明显微软(Microsoft)将继续推动功能区(Ribbon)界面，而不是更熟悉的下拉菜单和工具栏使用程序的方法。如果您想体验一下功能区，请在运行(Ribbon)Windows 7的计算机上启动Microsoft Paint或写字板(WordPad)，您可以自己查看功能区(Ribbon)是否有用，或者只是另一种强加给您的技术。
7. 图书馆(7. Libraries)
Windows 7 库只不过是相似文件的集合。位于计算机多个区域的类似内容被汇集到图书馆(Library)系统中，使查找文件更加容易。
当然，您可以选择使用或不使用库(Libraries)，具体取决于您是否觉得它们有用。但是，如果您在计算机上存储了大量媒体，例如音乐或视频，并且您希望访问它们而无需将它们物理移动到相同的位置或文件夹，那么库(Libraries)可能适合您。
8. DirectX 11
如果您是游戏玩家，您就会知道必须跟上硬件和软件技术的进步，才能充分利用您的游戏。Windows XP将不支持超过 9.0c 的DirectX版本，因此如果您的游戏需要更高的版本，例如 10 或 11，您别无选择，只能移动更新的Windows版本。
随着越来越多的人转向Windows 7，游戏开发商和发行商可能会充分利用最新的DirectX版本。坚持(Stick)使用 XP 太久，您可能会被最新游戏拒之门外。
9. 家庭组(9. HomeGroup)
无论您的家庭网络是简单的还是复杂的，您都知道，我们始终欢迎您为简化管理而获得的任何帮助。HomeGroup是家庭网络简单性的重大转变，它使旧的范式显得过时。
自Windows NT 4(Windows NT 4)以来，家庭网络的设置并没有太大变化， Windows NT 4是您可能从未听说过的Windows 95之前的操作系统。HomeGroup(Marrying)结合了简单性、易于设置和稳定的连接，在任何规模的家庭网络中都无需进行猜测和故障排除。(HomeGroup)
10. 触控支持(10. Touch Support)
尽管触摸界面已经存在了十年的大部分时间，但触摸还没有取代熟悉的键盘/鼠标导航个人电脑组合。尽管如此，Windows 7仍然是这家软件巨头推出的第一个原生支持触控作为计算机界面的操作系统。
如果您认为自己想站在这种新兴界面范式的前沿，那么如果您想运行Microsoft操作系统，那么Windows 7是您唯一真正的选择。(Windows 7)
结论(Conclusion)
有些人已经习惯了使用Windows XP，以至于他们避免升级到 Microsoft 的最新操作系统。Windows Vista的惨败并没有解决问题，迫使一些 XP 的死忠粉降级以使他们的 PC 再次正常工作。
如果您正在考虑从Windows XP升级到Windows 7，请为一些新事物、一些缺失事物以及介于两者之间的一些事物做好准备。另外，请阅读我关于哪个版本的 Windows 7(version of Windows 7)适合您的帖子。尽管如此，Windows 7的稳定性和可用性或多或少已经确立，因此您可以放心，将 XP 抛在后面，您正在朝着正确的方向迈出一步。享受！
Top 10 Differences between Windows XP and Windows 7
If you skipped ovеr Windows Vista like so many others have, you may be in fоr a shock when you upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7. Microsoft’ѕ newest operating system is а major shift in usability, convenience, and overall computing from prеvious versions of Windows.
Although not all are earth-shattering changes, listed below are the Top 10 differences between Windows XP and Windows 7. Many of these changes may seem like a big deal because you’ve gotten so used to how things work in XP. If you are considering upgrading from XP to Windows 7, be prepared for these changes.
1. No e-mail Client
Outlook Express (OE) has been a trusted friend since Windows 95, so much so that many people have never used another e-mail client. OE was removed from Windows Vista but was replaced with Windows Mail. Strangely, Windows does not ship with any email client at all. Users must either purchase an e-mail client such as Outlook, use a free service such as Windows Live Mail or Outlook.com, or download an open source email client such as Thunderbird.
2. 32-bit vs. 64-bit
Although Windows XP did have a 64-bit version (Windows XP x64), many people are unaware that it even existed. When upgrading from XP to Windows 7, you will have to decide whether you want 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 download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor tool from Microsoft, which will check your hardware and give you a recommendation on whether or not to upgrade.
3. Aero Desktop
The Aero Desktop is really nothing more than a collection of window and desktop behaviors that make Windows 7 the prettiest version of the operating system to date. Features such as Aero Snap let you quickly organize open windows and transparency makes it easy to see what’s underneath other windows. With Windows XP, think opaque, with Windows 7, think translucent.
4. Documents and Settings
The Documents and Settings folder, the location for all protected personal files and folders, has been replaced with a simple Users folders. Not a big deal, but many tech support personnel have spent hundreds of hours answering the simple question of where the Documents and Settings folder went in Windows 7.
5. Start Menu
The Start menu in Windows 7 has been completely reworked and has been met with several criticisms. No longer does the Start menu use fly-outs and scroll-outs to show you what shortcuts to programs and folders you have on your computer.
Now you must use a more conservative folder system that forces you to use 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. However, if you really like the Windows XP Start menu, there are ways to make the Windows 7 Start menu behave like XP.
6. Ribbon
Introduced in Office 2007, it is clear that Microsoft will continue to push the Ribbon interface over the more familiar drop-down menu and toolbar approach to using programs. If you want to get a taste of the Ribbon, start up Microsoft Paint or WordPad on a computer running Windows 7 and you can see for yourself whether the Ribbon is going to be useful or just another technology forced upon you.
7. Libraries
Windows 7 Libraries are nothing more than collections of files that are similar. Similar content that is located in multiple areas of your computer are brought together into the Library system to make finding files easier.
Of course, you can choose to use or not use Libraries depending on whether you find them useful. However, if you store a lot of media on your computer such as music or video and you want access to them without having to physically move them the same location or folder, Libraries may be for you.
8. DirectX 11
If you are a gamer, you know that you must keep up with advances in both hardware and software technology to get the most from your games. Windows XP will not support DirectX versions beyond 9.0c, so if your games require a higher version such as 10 or 11, you have no choice but to move a more recent version of Windows.
As more and more people make the switch to Windows 7, the game developers and publishers are likely to take full advantage of more recent DirectX versions. Stick with XP too long, and you may be shut out of the newest games.
9. HomeGroup
Whether you have a simple or complicated home network, you know that any help you can get to make administration easier is always welcomed. HomeGroup is a major shift in home networking simplicity that makes older paradigms seem archaic.
Not much has changed in setting up a home network since Windows NT 4, an operating system from before Windows 95 that you may never have heard of. Marrying simplicity, easy setup, and stable connections, HomeGroup takes the guesswork and troubleshooting out of home networking on any scale.
10. Touch Support
Although touch interfaces have been around for a better part of a decade, touch has not yet replaced the familiar keyboard/mouse combination of navigating personal computers. Still, Windows 7 is the first operating system from the software giant to natively support touch as a computer interface.
If you think that you would like to be on the frontier of this emerging interface paradigm, Windows 7 is your only real choice if you want to run a Microsoft operating system.
Conclusion
Some people have become so comfortable working with Windows XP that they have avoided upgrading to Microsoft’s newest operating system. The Windows Vista fiasco didn’t help matters, forcing some diehard fans of XP to downgrade to make their PCs functional again.
If you are considering upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7, be prepared for some new things, some missing things, and a few things in between. Also, read my post on which version of Windows 7 is right for you. Still, the stability and usability of Windows 7 has been more or less established, so you can rest assured that you are taking a step in the right direction by leaving XP behind. Enjoy!
