"I can't imagine starting programs from the shell works much differently from any other version of windows "

Imagine.

M$'s "User Account Control"(s), UAC, create a good many new issues for users of Win7-- especially for Win7 users who seek to execute non-MS, non-mainstream (read: high market penetration), non-GUI programs and I have yet to find documentation of satisfactory, global workarounds. Yes, there are some reasonably effective ones, but so far, I've found most have to be applied at the retail level.

Granted, I tend to be both iggerant and biased... so take the above as a possible starting point but not as gospel.