Comparing Windows: XP vs. Vista vs. 7

	Windows XP	Windows Vista	Windows 7
Minimum hardware	--Processor: 300MHz --RAM: 128MB --Super VGA graphics device --HD: 4.2GB (for SP3)	--Processor: 1GHz --RAM: 1GB (32-bit), 2GB (64-bit) --Support for DirectX 9 graphics device with 128MB of memory --HD: 20GB (32-bit), 40GB (64-bit)	--Processor: 1 GHz --RAM: 1GB (32-bit), 2GB (64-bit) --Support for DirectX 9 graphics device with 128MB of memory --HD: 16GB (32-bit), 20GB (64-bit)
Interface	--Luna theme --Introduces task-based windows options --Skinning possible but difficult --Desktop Cleanup Wizard automates removing old icons	--Aero theme --Introduces transparent panes, window animations, live thumbnails of running programs --New desktop sidebar supports gadgets --Supports touch screens	--Aero theme --Supports slideshow backgrounds, RSS and theme packs --Introduces Aero Shake and Aero Snap --Desktop gadgets can be placed anywhere --Supports multitouch on touch screens
Explorer	--Replaces tree navigation by default with task pane --Improves image handling --Offers thumbnail previews and group views --Supports some metadata	--Task pane integrated into toolbar --New breadcrumb navigation --New metadata display --Improved icon resolution --Some documents can be edited from the preview pane	--Support for federated searches and libraries --Virtual folders aggregate content from local and networked drives
Start menu	--New layout --Devices and some Control Panel options appear in menu	--Added search box --All Programs folder changed to a nested format --Configurable power button --User profile picture	--Taskbar jumps appear in the Start menu and replace the right column when viewed --Documents, Pictures, Music buttons now link to their libraries --Control Panel options have been integrated into search results
Taskbar	--New look --Hideable icons in System Tray	--Refreshed look --Alt-Tab hot key now shows preview thumbnail of program	--Interactive mouse-over preview panes --Replacement of the Quick Launch bar with pinned programs --Program-specific jump lists based on pinned programs --Aero Peek for mouse-over desktop viewing --Revamped System Tray
Devices	--Introduces Universal Plug-n-Play --New driver library allows for downgrading drivers when necessary	--Debuts portable device API, designed to communicate with cell phones, PDAs, and portable media players --Introduces Sync Center for managing data synchronizations	--New Device Stage provides a centralized, unified window for managing all aspects of printers and portable devices
Misc.	--Introduces context-menu CD and DVD burning from Windows Explorer --Supports multiple versions of a single DLL to prevent programs from overwriting each other --Introduces Hibernate and Sleep modes --Remote Desktop for accessing a computer from another location --Fast user account switching	--Built-in drive partitioning --More powerful screen-capturing tool --Hybrid Sleep and better configuration options for more nuanced power management --User-based file-type associations --Previous Version automatically backs up changes to individual files	--Expands Windows Explorer disc burning to include ISOs --Introduces XP Mode --Expanded options for disabling components --Can search text in scanned TIFF --Additional power-saving features for laptops