Windows 7 Unleashed
by Cate Eales
Appeared October 22, 2009 on castanet.net
October 22, 2009 is the official launch date for Windows
7. Some of you are excited about that. Others, not so much. Either way,
you’re going to be hearing a lot about Windows 7. I am here to help you
sort through the clutter and decide what’s right for you.
What is Windows 7 and why should I care?
If you are reading this column Thursday, October 22, I hope you weren’t
awakened by the commotion for Windows 7. (If you
subscribe to this column and are
reading it before
October 22, you’re a master of time travel, so please email me the winning
Lotto numbers!)
Windows 7 is the shiny new operating system from Microsoft. It’s the
replacement for Vista, which in turn was the replacement for Windows XP.
The operating system is the core software component of a computer. It
makes everything else go. Without a functioning operating system, you have
an expensive pile of non-functional junk.
While I have not yet tested it myself, by all accounts Windows 7 is “what
Vista was supposed to be.” That is, in comparison to Vista, Windows 7 is
said to be faster, easier on the processor and RAM requirements, and
boasting less intrusive User Account Control pop ups.
In comparison to XP, it will require more powerful hardware and more RAM
than older, XP-capable computers. It will look and feel different from XP.
(It looks like Vista.) Read more about Windows 7 and view some videos
here.
Should I upgrade?
That depends on a few things. Are you happy with your computer? Does it do
what you need it to at a reasonable speed? If so, you will probably be
fine for the present.
If not, you should decide whether to upgrade your computer or buy a new
one. Will your computer (and your printer, and your webcam, and your mp3
player...) work under Windows 7?
In general, if you have a computer running Vista Home Premium or better
now, you should have no problem running the comparable version of Windows
7. However, if you are running XP, especially on a computer that is more
than two years old, you are likely to encounter major, insurmountable
issues if you want to upgrade that computer.
Let me be very clear about this. The very best way for an XP user to get
Windows 7 running is to buy a new computer with Windows 7 on it. This is
due in part to the beefier system requirements. Beyond that, while there
is a reasonably straightforward upgrade procedure to go from Vista to
Windows 7, there just quite simply isn’t an easy way to get to Windows 7
directly from XP. There ARE ways; they are just not straightforward.
That said, whether your computer is presently running XP or Vista, you
should
visit the Windows Compatibility Center to see first if your computer
is Windows 7 capable, and then if your applications and devices are going
to function properly under Windows 7.
Here is another piece of advice for you: Microsoft consistently
understates the RAM requirements for their operating systems. I
continue to see PCs struggling to run Vista with 2GB of RAM. Don’t even
think about running Windows 7 on less than 4GB of RAM. You’re just not
going to enjoy all the waiting around.
If you want help with the upgrade process, or if you simply want help
deciding what to do, we can help you with that. Contact us at Computer
Care Kelowna for unbiased and professional advice and help.
We’ll be talking more about Windows 7 in future columns, including how to
get your files from your old operating system to your new one.
Links
Windows 7 Home
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/home?os=nonwin7
Windows Compatibility Center
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/en-us/default.aspx
Windows 7 System Requirements
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/system-requirements
Computer Care Kelowna
http://computercarekelowna.com
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--
Do you need help with your computer? I'm here to help you and your home or
business computer get along!
Cate Eales runs Computer Care Kelowna, a mobile service helping home users
and businesses get along with their computers. To arrange an appointment
phone her at 250-764-7043. Cate also welcomes your comments and
suggestions. Send email to
help@computercarekelowna.com.
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©
Cate Eales 2009 – All Rights Reserved
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