Three Windows 7 Features That'll Boost Your Productivity

Sure, Windows 7 has some nice new eye candy, an overhauled taskbar, and those nifty Jump List thingies. But where are the features that'll actually improve your productivity?

According to TechRepublic, Windows 7's secret efficiency benefits can be found in its window-management tools: Aero Peek, Shake, and Snap. Here's an excerpt from the author's take on Snap, the tool that lets you rearrange windows just by dragging them to the edges of the screen:

For example, when you need to copy files from one folder to another, you can use Snap to position two Windows Explorer windows side by side and easily drag files from one to the next. If you're reading a long document in one window and want to keep an eye on a Desktop Gadget, you can use snap to stretch the document window from the top to the bottom of the screen. If you're using multiple monitors, you'll discover that Snap allows you to drag a maximized window from one monitor to the next.

I don't, however, see much value in Peek, which makes all your windows temporarily transparent (or minimizes them when you click the the Peek button). I relied heavily on the Show Desktop icon in XP and Vista, and I hate having to mouse to the opposite corner of the screen in 7.

Still, the author makes a valid point: Spend a little time mastering these new tools and you should find yourself working faster and more efficiently in Windows 7.

More on the new OS:

• Customize the Way the Windows 7 Taskbar Works
• Turn Any Windows 7 Computer into a HotSpot, Extend Wi-Fi to Other PCs and Devices for Free
• Search More Effectively in Windows 7 by Expanding Your Libraries