HSPA, WLAN or Ethernet? Every computer is somehow in a network. Especially, some network features and functions are very difficult to use for home users. Article Inspector wants to clear, if Windows 7 is better than Vista in Networking.

 

98 percent of personal computers are connected in a network and specialists believe that we won´t have any PC in 2012 which is not in a network. Because of that, Microsoft has to be ready for this important function. The reality looks unfortunately different: confusing menus and a detailed and difficult usage piss the home users off. Microsoft wants to clear the old failings with Windows 7.

HomeGroups

The most important network-improvement in Windows 7 is the HomeGroups. They should support the home users in home-networks. Technically speaking, it deals with a new structure of Workgroups.

A Home-Group makes sure that the computer under Windows 7 finds the network much faster, more reliable, and safer than ever before. The connection to the network is protected through an automatically generated password which can be change anytime after installation of Windows 7. With this password, you can enable the resources.

If Windows 7 doesn´t recognize any existing HomeGroup, it offers a setup to create one. After the pc user takes the Private Network, then Windows 7 shows a password in the dialog field which is required for the future computers that will be join the network. Per checkbox, the user can decide which libraries (folders) are shared in the created home-network. It is the same for the printers, scanners, and connected cameras. The configuration will be completed with this step.

Every computer will recognize the created homegroup automatically and it can be connected to the network with entering the password. You can change the configuration anytime. The new Windows Explore shows the Home-Group separated from other Network Sources. Because of that, the user is able to find the shared files and libraries faster. This new feature works reliable in Build 6801. The private-users will appreciate the Home-Group in Windows 7.  

Networkcenter

Microsoft has already Networkcenter in Windows Vista, but it is not user friendly. It is so confusing that 85 percent of home-users don´t want to touch it at all. In Windows 7, the Networkcenter has a new turn: the active Network is recognized much easier. The most important features and functions such as “Create a New Network and Connect to a Network” are easy to access in the first dialog field. Also the HomeGroups settings are accessible with only one click.

WLAN

Microsoft polished the WLAN-Functions in Windows 7. OS shows the available WLAN networks in a list with only one click in the taskbar. Windows 7 recognizes all WLAN in the area immediately, which can be seen in Windows Vista too but hidden in control panel.

Conclusion

The network improvements in Windows 7 are moving on the right road: the Laptop users will appreciate the new WLAN´s features and the integration of HSPA.

HomeGroups provide finally comfortable possibilities, which make creating and maintaining of Networks much easier and user friendlier. But Windows 7 was not able to find Windows XP so easy in our tested network.

Windows 7 provides a new Networkcenter with new features for corporations too, which we will report in a separate article.