The day has finally arrived, and Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system is now available at all major retail outlets. I’ve already had a few days to work with the operating system (having received Windows 7 Ultimate Signature Edition at an earlier date) and I have noticed a large amount of features that have not been included with previous versions of Windows. As a matter of fact, I have discovered so many new features that I couldn’t possibly publish them all here (not without boring you to death, anyhow). Instead, I have decided to publish a top-ten list of my favorite new features.

1. Burn backup copies of your favorite DVDs. In the past, you would have to search Google and download a program called Free ISO Burner to  burn those pesky ISO files (most commonly used in a BitTorrent environment) to a CD or DVD. Now, thanks to Windows 7’s included ISO burning software, this is no longer the case. And, thanks to the increased speed and function of the operating system, you can burn ISO’s in half the time. To burn an ISO, all you have to do is load a CD or DVD into your computer’s DVD burner.
2. Make sure your kids don’t “overload” your computer. Anyone who has children (I have three nephews and two nieces) will tell you that children can put a major strain on your computer system. Thankfully, Microsoft has heard your cries of agony and has implemented a new feature called AppLocker, which lets you control who can access certain applications on your computer system.
3. Make your photos and videos appear consistent on all monitors. If you’re into graphics editing or video of any kind, then you’ll definitely take interest in the monitor calibration feature, which automatically sets up the contrast, brightness, and color settings of your monitor to make sure that what you see on your monitor is the exact same as it would appear on another Windows user’s monitor.
4. Create a desktop slideshow. If you’re anything like me, you get bored of your desktop wallpaper fairly quickly. Windows 7 has followed in the footsteps of third-party software applications like Desktoptopia and made it possible to create customizable slideshows that appear on your computer’s desktop. You can also set the time intervals closer or further apart, depending on how quickly you get bored of your desktop.
5. Turn off the damn User Account Control! One thing I always hated about Windows Vista was the UAC dialog box that popped up every single time you tried to install a program or run a installed program in Administrator mode. Fortunately, Microsoft learned their lesson from this and decided to make the UAC customizable, letting users decide just how secure they want their Windows PC to be.
6. Search online from your desktop. If you have ever used the Windows Search function (located in the Start menu of Windows Vista), then you know that it’s a highly useful tool. What it wasn’t able to do, however, was perform web searches like Google, Yahoo, and even Microsoft’s own Bing search engine. With the help of online search connectors (some of which can be downloaded at WindowsClub), you can get results from online resources straight to your desktop.
7. Organize your application windows. I’ve never had a problem with the Windows operating system, except that I could never seem to get enough screen space to house every single one of my application windows. That’s no longer a problem, however, since Windows allows you to dock windows on the top, bottom, left, and right side of the screen. All you have to do is drag the window to the side of the screen you want to place it on and a blue outline will appear, showing you the drop location.
8. Move application windows across multiple monitors. For the average computer geek, one computer monitor is never enough. Thankfully, Windows 7 simplifies this process. How simple, you ask? All you have to do is press the Windows key (the key with the Windows logo on it) and the Shift key. After that, all you have to do is tell the computer which direction you want the application window to move (using the left and right keys).
9. Encrypt your USB flash drive. If you’re into security (and who isn’t), then I would highly recommend this feature. Usually, this would involve third-party software but, in the case of Windows 7, all you have to do is insert your USB flash drive, right click it in the My Computer application window, and click “Turn on BitLocker”.
10. Create realistic paintings with Microsoft Paint. In the past, images created with Microsoft Paint tended to look more like Nintendo Entertainment System graphics than actual paintings. Due to recent innovations in touchscreen and modeling technologies, however, you can create far more realistic images, as strokes created with each move of the mouse respond and appear like that of the medium being simulated (crayon, marker, spray paint, pencil, etc.).

Have you purchased Windows 7 yet and, if so, what are some of your favorite features? Feel free to leave your thoughts and insights in the comments below! If you’re looking for more Windows 7 tips, then look no further than technology expert Chris Pirillo: