It seems that with Windows 7 Beta 1 Microsoft has gone to great lengths to switch focus from Windows Vista, and the way it has gone about doing so is by including new features in Windows 7 and by making sure that users never tire of the way this OS looks. There are even plenty of new keyboard shortcuts to try out.

Now, before we move on to a detailed presentation of all the keyboard shortcuts available in Windows 7 Beta 1, there is one thing I need to mention to those of you that have downloaded and installed the OS onto your machines: right click everything during your tests. The reasoning behind this advice is quite simple: Microsoft has included features you may not be aware of that are quite handy. For example, if you right click on the screen, you will notice an entry that lets you set the monitor’s resolution (remember how annoying it was to do so in XP?)

Here is the list of keyboard shortcuts available in Windows 7 Beta 1:
- Windows + Up arrow will maximize the window
- Windows + Down arrow will minimize the window
- Windows + Left arrow will dock the window to the left
- Windows + Right arrow will dock the window to the right
- Windows + Shift + Left arrow will jump to left monitor
- Windows + Shift + Right arrow will jump to right monitor
- Windows + Home will minimize all windows. Alternatively it will restore all windows.
- Windows + T has the same effect as Alt + Tab and will bring the first taskbar entry to focus.
- Windows + Shift + T will bring the last taskbar entry into focus (the opposite as the one presented above).
- Windows + Space if you want to peek at the desktop.
- Windows + G will bring your Gadgets on top.
- Windows + [Num] will launch an app from the Super bar, according to what number said app has.
- Windows + P will switch from single monitor view to dual-display mode.
- Windows + X will launch the Mobility Center.
- Windows + +/- (plus and minus keys) will zoom in (+) and zoom out (-)
- Alt +P will hide the Preview Pane in Explorer. Alternatively it will bring it will “bring it out of hiding”.
- Windows + Tab is the Windows Aero Task Switcher
- Shift + Click on icon in the Taskbar will launch a second instance of that application
- Middle click on icon in the Taskbar will launch a second instance of that application
- Ctrl + Shift + Click on icon in the Taskbar will launch a second instance of that application with Admin privileges
- Shift + Right click on icon in the Taskbar will display the window menu, things like Restore, Minimize, Move.
- Shift + Right click on grouped icon in the Taskbar will display the menu that allows you to minimize all windows, restore all windows and close all windows.
- Ctrl + Click on grouped icon will allow you to go through the windows or tabs in said group.

If you are a Firefox user, perhaps you will be interested in some Firefox shortcuts.