The Computer Buzz

July 30th, 2009

Nome and Paul Van Middlesworth - owners - The Computer Factory
 

Windows 7 To Upgrade or Not

A recent article listed seven reasons to upgrade to Windows 7. This article provides an excellent framework to discuss the impact of upgrading to Win 7 from Vista or XP. It's fully compatible with Win Vista - but runs better. That is very important to Vista users but means nothing to the 70% of users who still have Windows XP.

It has Win XP mode so that users can run XP programs that won't run in Vista. Since Vista users don't use programs that are incompatible with Vista and XP users already run programs that aren't Vista compatible, this feature is no upgrade incentive.

The wonderful new Windows 7 task bar, is unlike any previous Windows toolbar. Microsoft has enhanced the tool bar system for Win 7. Both Vista and XP users wanting to enjoy the "Bells and Whistles" will need to learn a new way of doing toolbars. Geeks will love it. Many users will resent having to learn new ways to do old things.

New "cool" Aero graphics features: Most of the features are more "Wow" than functional. Here again, the Geeks will like the new cool graphics features. Most users will not see significant benefit.

Less intrusive UAC (User Account Control). This annoying feature that bedeviled Vista users was not present in XP. Vista users will be happy that Win 7 tones it down; XP users will be annoyed that it is there at all.

You can de-Microsoft it. Thanks to a series of "unfair competition" rulings against Microsoft by courts in Europe and Asia, bundled applications like Mail, Outlook Express, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker and dozens of others that have long cluttered PCs are not in Win 7. They are optional free downloads. Dumping Internet Explorer as your default browser in favor of Google Chrome or Fire Fox has also been made much easier in Win 7. This is good news for all users.

Revamped Applications. The free applications like Paint, Word Pad and Calculator that have long been a part of Windows have been enhanced in Windows 7. For example the old four-function "calculator" has become a full function scientific calculator. Whoopee ding!

Windows 7 is essentially new, improved Vista. Unhappy Vista users will want to upgrade as soon as Windows 7 is available. We XP users are in no hurry. We'll hold out until 64 bit Win 7 is fully supported. We can upgrade our old Win XP PCs to any configuration available in any new PC and still retain our original XP Operating System. We'll adopt 64bit Win 7 when we're sure they've got it right.

Win 7 is not a "breakthrough," it is an "improvement." The breakthrough is in going from a 32 to 64bit OS. Win 7 will be available in 32 and 64bit versions (as were XP and Vista) on October 22nd. When you do buy Win 7, be sure to get 64bit this time around.