Although I prefer OS X to Windows I still have to work with Micr0soft's OS everyday. Luckily I use Windows 7, which is a great operating system overall - especially when compared to its predecessor Vista. The only problem is that it has quite high system requirements, and if I try to use it on my virtual machine it gets really sluggish.

If you too are having performance problems with your Windows 7 machine, here's a trick that can help you improve it. The trick implies giving up on some of Windows 7 graphical beauty, but it's a little sacrifice compared to a noticeable improvement in system's responsiveness. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Start menu, right-click on Computer and select Properties.

2. A window with information about your system will open up on the desktop. Click on the Advanced system settings options in the sidebar.

3. In the System Properties window, select the Advanced tab. This will display a list of all the visual effects you can easily turn off to improve Windows 7 performance. These visual effects are not a core part of the system - just eye candy.

There are four ways you can adjust these settings: you can let Windows decide what's best for your computer based on your configuration, select the elements you want to turn off by yourself, or choose between two adjustment templates: one for best appearance and one for best performance. My advice is to either turn all of them off, or manually pick a few essential items. After all, a fast, responsive computer is preferable to one that looks gorgeous but takes ages to open a window!