Welcome Windows 7 to the World
After months (or does it seem like years?) it's finally here; Windows 7, the new Microsoft Operating System, delivered on October 22! If you have heard the hype, you might be wondering, "What is the big deal?" Well, Windows 7 fixes security issues, resolves Vista issues, and most importantly, moves Microsoft upward in the never resting computing world.
The majority of computers today run the Windows XP operating system, while a few still cling to Windows 2000/98/NT, etc. Windows XP is 8 years old, and while familiar and stable, has many security holes and is just… well… old. For any piece of software to survive so many years says a lot for XP ("old reliable"), but only so many holes can be patched in a leaky boat before a new ship is launched. Window XP's successor – Vista – has more-or-less been a flop. The operating system is too intrusive with its User Account Control (the pop-up that asks for permission to run a program, then asks if OK, then asks again if it is OK to click OK– you get the point). Furthermore, Vista takes more hardware to run – such as RAM – but doesn't use it to its advantage. Finally, Vista is NOT Windows XP, which people are familiar with.
Windows 7 fixes most of these issues! Being far more secure than XP and Vista, it outperforms both previous operating systems, takes less hardware to run than Vista, and even runs on little "Netbooks"! Now you ask, "Should I upgrade to Windows 7?"
The answer is comprehensive and depends on various factors. First, here's the minimum required for hardware:
- 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
- 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
- DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
If the above made sense to you– great! If it was a foreign language, then rest assured; Microsoft provides a small download which assesses your PC's compatibility. And of course, we are always more than happy to advise!
So what version of Windows 7 will suit you best? Well, it comes in 4 "flavors": Starter (the basic version, good for little NetBooks), Home Premium (for home users), Professional (for businesses and conveniently has an "XP Mode" so older software can still run), and Ultimate (for those who just want it all). All versions come in either 32-bit or 64-bit. Simplified, 32-bit can use 4 GB of RAM and 64-bit can use more.
So, how to get it? If you're buying a new computer, lucky you, it will be preinstalled! If you bought a PC in the past few months, you may have a free upgrade option. For all others, the upgrade options vary and can be complicated. If you are currently running Vista, you can get the upgrade and install Windows 7 – the upgrade process is reportedly easy. If you have Windows XP, the process is a little more complicated. For any upgrade, ALWAYS backup your data (Documents, Photos, Videos, Music, etc). But if converting from XP to 7(brace yourself) you will have to backup your data, do a complete install from scratch, and then reinstall your applications and files from the backup. Sounds daunting, but don't worry, that's what we're here for! We can help you in the process.
Now you still may be wondering…Do I really need to upgrade to Windows 7? If you are running Vista – YES. If running "Old Reliable" (XP), the answer is less clear (like the old saying goes – "if it aint broke – don't fix it"). The bottom line is this: the computing world continues to grow and evolve and other operating systems are evolving as well. Soon a time will come when Microsoft will stop supporting Windows XP and, more importantly, software companies will stop writing XP compatible software and we will all be forced to adapt to change. Changing things is not always easy, but "change is good" and is inevitable. Windows 7 is here – time for change!?
Whatever you decide, please keep in mind that, at Core PC, we're here to advise, help and assist!!!
By Chris Eng, Chief Technician |
"For any piece of software to survive so many years says a lot for XP (“old reliable”), but only so many holes can be patched in a leaky boat before a new ship is launched."
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