Windows Vista was way better at power management than Windows XP, and it looks like Windows 7 will be better still. CNET's Green Tech blog offers The skinny on power management in Windows 7, which spotlights the advantages for both end users and IT managers.

For starters, power settings are a lot more accessible: Hovering over the battery meter in the System Tray reveals not only the current settings, but also a one-click choice of power plans. (No more delving into the Control Panel just to switch between, say, "balanced" and "power saver.")

On the IT side, one of the newly enhanced tools for centralized power management is a command-line diagnostic that identifies problems like driver conflicts. Here's a bit more from the article:

Windows Vista added 30 new features for energy efficiency and Windows 7 enhances some of those. For example, Windows 7 has a "wake-up LAN" feature so that Wi-Fi-connected PCs can get roused out of sleep mode to get software updates.

"We tried to make it so you don't have to change anything but if you have a specific-use case, you can make changes through group policies," said Jason Leznek, group project manager for Windows 7.

It's heartening to see such a strong focus on power management and optimization. Businesses can save a small fortune (and possibly a large one) just by actively managing PC power consumption.

Indeed, the article cites Continental Airlines, which saved a reported $1.5-2 million annually just by leveraging the power-management features found in Vista. That could more than cover the costs of deploying a new operating system. And you get the warm fuzzy feeling of being "green" to boot. Food for thought!

Don't miss our previous Windows 7 spotlights on App Locker and BranchCache.

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