Windows 7 feels like a ground-up re-imagining of the way Windows works. Elements of Windows that have remained unchanged for years have received a rethinking, and the end result is an operating system that's easier than ever to work with. Michael "Doctor File Finder" Callahan leads us through

what's new in Windows 7

in this

Windows 7 video tour

.

The

Windows 7 default desktop

is a study in minimalism. No more desktop clutter (at least until you start saving all your files to said desktop). The only icon on the Windows 7 desktop by default is the Recycle Bin. Here's what you need to know about the new

Windows 7 desktop

.

The

Windows taskbar

hasn't changed much since it was first introduced. Windows 7 represents the first time the taskbar has received a full re-imagining. It works much better than previous iterations of the long-standing taskbar. Here's what you need to know.

With Windows 7, Microsoft clearly payed a lot of attention to the way we interact with open application and other windows. Snap is a cool new feature in Windows 7 that makes it easy to manipulate open windows. Minimize, maximize, compare side-by-side and much more with the new Aero Snap features of Windows 7.

Sharing files across the home network

has traditionally been a study in geekery. Now, with Windows 7 it's painfully simple to share files across your Windows home network. Simply choose what file types or you want to share in HomeGroup networking, get a password and input that password on any computer you want to give access to. Easy!

The new

Windows 7 taskbar

is easier than ever to use. You can pin programs to the taskbar, use jumplists to get quick access to the files and web sites you use most often and much more. The show desktop button has even been re-imagined. Here's what you need to know about the new

Windows 7 taskbar

with this video guided tour.

Hot colors

is a new feature in the

Windows 7 taskbar

. Mousing over a program lets you see at a glance whether or not it's running. The program icon changes color according to the program's status.

As you work with Windows 7, open application windows tend to pile up on the desktop. Check out the new

Aero Shake

feature in Windows 7 to quickly clear the desktop and focus in on the application you want to run. When you're done, restoring your open applications is equally simple... and dare we say, fun.

If you want to grab a quick clip of something on your desktop or web page, the new

Snipping Tool in Windows 7

is where you'll want to turn your attention. This tool lets you

grab quick clips and screenshots

, save them and share them via email.

Parents are offered a level of control over how kids use the computer in Windows 7.

Parental Control

features have been present in previous versions of Windows to allow parents to place restrictions on kids' computer use.

Parental Controls in Windows 7

have received something of an overhaul and are more powerful than ever before.