1 – Windows Search Field.  No need to always browse the start menu to run programs.  Press start and begin typing the name of the program you want, and Vista/Windows 7 searches programs and files.  So if you click start and type paint then Paint runs.

2 – Built in ISO Recording.  This feature has finally made it into Windows in the Windows 7 beta.

3 – Automatic Defrag.  Vista includes built in automatic scheduling of disk defragmenting that is so smart, you don’t have to set it.  It automatically schedules periodic defrags on new disk volumes.  This feature previously required buying expensive third party defragmenters like “Diskeeper”.

4 – Windows Memory Diagnostic tool.  Located in the administrative tools folder, this tool lets you run a memory diagnostic (which is scheduled to run at boot time).  Previously, you had to have third party software such as memtest86, which required you to create a bootable disk and run the tool at boot.  The Vista tool handles the task natively, scheduling the test at boot, then reporting the results after you log into Windows.

5 - Better handling of media through the autoplay feature.  Tools like Windows Photo Gallery, and Windows Media player better integrate with the autoplay feature.  For example, when you plug in a memory card.

Honorable mention – Linux like ability to add favorite folders to file browsing dialogs.  You can drag a location you will use often to the left side of the file browser dialog to save it there for quick access.