Core Windows Features

Windows Search  -    Helps searching of local files, programs and Control panel items.

Ease of Access Features - High-contrast themes, Ease of Access Center, Narrator, On-Screen Keyboard and Magnifier.

Device Stage - Simplified interface for managing and configuring user installed devices such as printers, phones and cameras.    

Windows shell enhancements - Window arrangement with mouse gestures, jump list and windows flip (Alt + Tab).  

Power Management - Helps on creating default power schemes and create custom schemes.

Desktop Gadgets - Can choose default gadgets in Desktop gadget gallery and also can download and install third-party gadgets.

Windows ReadyBoost - Use external flash drive memory to boost PC performance.

Sync Center - Manages synchronization with mobile devices.

Windows Speech Recognition - Enter and edit text and issue voice commands using a microphone.

Windows Easy Transfer - Transfer files and settings from an old computer or previous Windows installation to a new one.

Virtual Hard Drive Support - Do more with virtual hard drive such as create a new one, attach or mount an existing VHD.

Included Applications

Basic Productivity applications - Basic productivity applications such as Paint, Wordpad, Notepad, Calculator.

Internet Explorer 8 - As a defualt web browser 

Windows Fax and Scan - Scan documents, send and receive faxes. Requires properly configured Scanner, Fax modem or both.

Games - Basic games such as Freecell, Hearts, Purble Place, Minesweeper, Solitaire and Spider Solitaire.

XPS Documents Writer and Viewer - Provides capability to create and view documents using XML paper specification.

Windows PowerShell and Integrated Scripting Environment - Command-line shell and graphical host application for scripting administrative tasks.

Digital Media

Windows Photo Viewer - With Windows Photo Viewer you can not only view the photos but can import photos from digital cameras, rotate photos, send them via e-mail, burn them to CD/DVD or print them.

 Windows Media Player 12 - Default media player.

Photo slide shows - Basic features only.

DVD playback Capability - Requires MPEG-2 decoder, which is included in premium editions but must be installed separately in Starter and Home Basic editions.

Sound Recorder - Basic sound-recording capabilities.

Networking

Server Message Block (SMB) network connections - Maximum of 20 simultaneous connections. Because each PC or device requires two SMB connections, 10 PCs or devices can be connected at once.

Remote Desktop Client - Connect via a network to a Remote Desktop host.

Ability to join a homegroup - Share local resources and access shared resources on other Windows 7 machines that are part of the same homegroup.

Security and Reliability

Windows Defender - Antispyware protection.

Parental Controls - Set time limits on computer usage, and block access to specific games and programs.

Windows Backup - Can perform manual or scheduled backups by file type or location also includes ability to create a system image.

Windows Firewall - Blocks unsolicited inbound network connections; includes Advanced Security interface to manage inbound and outbound connections.

Windows Update - Automatic and manual updates for windows.

Action Center - Messages and updates about security and maintenance issues.

User Account Control - Enhance features and also includes protected mode in IE8.

Windows Remote Assistance - Allows direct network connections between two windows PCs for torubleshooting and repair.

System Repair Disc/Windows Recovery Environment - Provides ability to access troubleshooting/repair environment at startup without requiring original installation media.