Microsoft's upcoming Windows 7 Operating System will include, for Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate Editions, an integrated Virtual Machine (of which details are still unknown – perhaps similar to Virtual PC 2007) with a fully licensed copy of Windows XP SP3. Contrary to typical virtualization methods used by Virtual PC, Windows 7 will support Hardware Virtualization, and will be able to launch windows in an XP environment alongside others running natively in Windows 7.

This feature, dubbed XPM (XP mode), will allow programs installed under the XP environment to be accessible under Windows 7 via an Application Compatibility Layer. With this feature, Windows 7 will not only have 100% compatibility with Windows Vista legacy programs due to implementing the same Kernel, but will have potentially 100% compatibility with Windows XP legacy programs too. More information can be found in the Windows Team Blog.

Since the end of the Windows 7 BETA, Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 has been released, with a multitude of new features, including InPrivate Browsing, Accelerators and Web Slices. Speed has greatly enhanced since Internet Explorer 7, and I advise people to upgrade and start exploring and enjoying the new features as I've done.

Alex Kara