Take a look at Windows 7

Windows within Windows: Virtual XP runs an instance of Windows XP within Windows 7 Photograph: Public domain

XP Mode publishes applications installed within a virtual instance of Windows XP so that they appear in the Windows 7 Start menu Photograph: Public domain

Something you cannot normally do: run Internet Explorer 6 and IE8 side by side. IE6 is running in Windows 7 XP Mode Photograph: Public domain

It can be confusing when Virtual XP throws up dialogs on the Windows 7 desktop, like this Windows XP Security Center. Users may not realise which machine they are managing Photograph: Public domain

Windows 7 comes with numerous new desktop backgrounds, including six specifically for the UK. This is Tal-y-Llyn Lake in North Wales Photograph: Public domain

The Windows 7 taskbar lets you both launch favourite applications and switch between those that are running. Lit up icons represent running applications and display previews when you hover over them with the mouse Photograph: Public domain

The Notifications dialog lets you control which background applications are allowed to display icons and pop-up balloons Photograph: Public Domain

The Libraries feature combines several folders into one view. This music folder includes songs from four separate folders Photograph: Public Domain

A Jump List is a list of actions or recent documents invoked by right-clicking a taskbar icon Photograph: Public Domain

A homegroup enables sharing of files, documents and multimedia in a home network Photograph: Public Domain

If you pause as you cycle through available windows with Alt+Tab, the selected window is previewed in the background, while other windows fade to outlines Photograph: Public Domain

This dialog controls in what circumstances User Account Control will prompt for confirmation of system changes Photograph: Public Domain

The Windows 7 Magnifier utility has a Lens mode which enlarges a small section of the screen Photograph: Public Domain

Updated versions of the WordPad and Paint utilities sport new Ribbon-style controls, similar to those in Office 2007 Photograph: Public Domain