Adjusting Windows 7 brightness - what's the best way?

I've recently got a new computer laptop with Windows 7 and the first thing I noticed that the screen is much brighter (and maybe more saturated) than my previous laptop (with Windows XP). First I thought it was my laptop, but then I saw an other computer with Windows 7, and the screen there is very bright too. I searched the net and I see that there are more people complaining about the brightness on Windows 7.
I understand that I can set the screen brightness, but it seems like a fact that the "default" brightness on Windows 7 is way brighter than on Windows XP. Some people are probably accustomed to this, but to me it's too much. I can decrease the brightness with the laptopl's controls on the keyboard, but I think that's not the way to go - I think I should look at the Windows 7 configuration. I could go to the ATI Catalyst, but is there an other way? Is the Calibration tool the only option?

And the second question, if this is a common problem, maybe there are some known settings that would take Windows 7 brightness closer to Windows XP and earlier versions?

Okay, thank you for the explanation! Could you please tell me whether it's only the brightness or something more that these newer displays increase? I mean, I could reduce the brightness to make make the screen look like it looked with an older display - but maybe I have to adjust more than just the brightness? Maybe contrast or something else too?

Yes, but what I meant was: to get the LCD display with newer technology look like the older displays, what settings should I look at: brightness alone or something else too?
When I start configuring those type of things, I lose the perspective and no longer see whether it's really good or no. It's really easy to go too much in some direction, and then it's not right. It's hard to get the right settings. If it's the brightness alone, then okay, but if it's also a contrast or some sort of color in addition, then you have to try to play with all three settings, so it's even more complicated, because there are more combinations.

The way I see it, the new technology has some specifications, and those who know them, probably know how these specifications differ from the older ones and what effect they have on the way the devices work. In that way if a newer LCD is brighter, those who know the technical details know WHY it's brighter and what exactly should be adjusted to make it look like an older version of that technology.

Alright, thanks.