Although most of the hype around Windows 7 revolves around its ability to make your daily activities more intuitive (like making it much easier to search for documents, giving you the ability to manage multiple screens, or helping you to switch more quickly between multiple open programs), Windows 7’s biggest benefits may come from its security features.

     Since it allows you to create different accounts with different permissions, you have the ability to set specific times of day that the computer can be used, how long it can be used for, and what games you will allow each family member to play (based on game ratings).

     This means you can prevent your kids from downloading or installing inappropriate games or staying on their computer until midnight. Simply set the system to automatically shut down after a few hours of use. You can also set up filters so they’ll get an error message if they attempt to access an “adult” rated game.