Q. I’ve heard a lot about Windows 7. But I don’t know much about it. What’s new in Windows 7? Can I upgrade my machine without losing my data and programs?

A. Yes, Microsoft’s marketing machine has been working overtime. But many are still confused about Windows 7. Let’s get that cleared right up!

Windows 7 certainly does offer new features. But, it also improves on Vista. It offers better boot times. And it performs better on machines with multi-core processors. And, User Account Control can be tweaked. You can make it less intrusive than in Vista.

Its tools will help you fine-tune type and calibrate your monitor.

Moreover, Windows 7 improves the way you interact with your computer. Support for speech and handwriting recognition is improved.

Touch screen support is also improved. For example, Windows now boasts multitouch. The iPhone popularized multitouch. You can use your fingers to resize photos and the like. You’ll need a track pad that supports multitouch.

The most noticeable changes have been made to the taskbar. You can pin programs to it. Drag and drop to rearrange the programs.

When you mouse over program buttons, you’ll see thumbnail previews. Hold your mouse over one of these thumbnails for a full-screen preview.