What’s new?
There are plenty of reviews about the new operating system, and they all share an underlying theme. While Vista was not the XP successor users were hoping for, Windows 7 has real promise of filling the gap. With its revamped user interface, yet low-key, minimalist approach, it offers a much altered experience to that of Vista.  

Enjoy new user interface enhancements like the reorganized Taskbar, which gives the Mac OS X dock a run for its money. Experience features like Jump Lists that keep the most recent things you’ve used close by for fast access; or the Pin feature which lets you “pin” programs or files to your Taskbar or Jump Lists. 

Keep your desktop organized with Aero Peek, a new management tool that provides thumbnails of all open windows. Scroll over thumbnails to get a peek of the full view window. Or use the desktop peek feature to view your desktop by making all windows transparent with a simple click of the mouse. This might be one to get used to because Windows 7 has omitted the Sidebar, the portion of the screen that Vista reserved for gadgets. Now you’ll find your gadgets such as your calendar, pictures, weather or games directly on the desktop.

A few other changes worth mentioning are enhanced security with less annoying UAC (User Access Controls), easier network sharing with HomeGroup, and XP Mode for programs that require a PC running XP. 

Which edition is right for you?
Windows 7 comes with six different editions to choose from – Starter, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, OEM, and Enterprise. However, the three editions that will be most marketed are Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate.

For most users, Professional will be the appropriate choice. While Home Premium has all the cool user interface enhancements and updated Windows Media Center, it lacks the tools needed for working in XP mode, backing up to a network, and joining a network domain – all of which are activities many professionals may require. For an additional $20 you can get the Ultimate edition that includes BitLocker, a security enhancement that encrypts all computer drives, including USB flash drives and portable hard drives to protect your data and passwords.

Upgrading options: 
You also need to determine if you’ll be doing a clean install or an upgrade. This may be decided for you, depending on the operating system you’re currently running.

Windows XP users: Unfortunately, XP users only have the option of doing a clean install to Windows 7. In fact, most experts suggest a clean install because not only does it provide a fresh start, it also removes old files and registry entries that could slow down your machine. The only down side to a clean install is that you lose all your programs and data. However, that can be remedied by backing up your data and transferring it over once you’ve completed the installation.

Should you upgrade? The choice is yours. If you currently own a strong operating XP machine, there’s no need to upgrade just because it’s available. XP will continue to be a primary operating system for the foreseeable future.

Windows Vista users: Depending on the Vista edition you currently have installed, you may be able to do an upgrade to Windows 7 rather than a clean install. The benefit of doing an upgrade is that it requires less free space for installation and transfers over your existing programs and user data. View the chart below to see if you qualify for an upgrade.

Should you upgrade? For those who have recently purchased a computer running Vista, the decision is a bit tougher. A Vista machine running Service Pack 2 is a stable, efficient operating system. However there are some Vista computers that would benefit from the upgrade, such as laptops with a single core processor or computers with less than 2 GB of memory because of the built-in memory management that Windows 7 provides.   

Check your requirements
Before you start your installation, please make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements. These will vary slightly depending if your machine is a 32 or 64 bit. If you’re not sure which version you’re running, go here for instructions to find out.

One last step you might want to consider before installation is running the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. The advisor tool will scan your hardware, devices, and installed programs for known compatibility issues and will advise you how to resolve potential issues. 

Final thought…
The choice to upgrade to Windows 7 is completely up to you, but if you’re in the market for a new computer then Windows 7 is definitely a great choice. Windows 7 is simply the operating system Vista should have been. And while your current computer may function fine, if it meets the requirements to upgrade, most likely you’ll enjoy the benefits the new system has to offer. 

We hope that this information has been helpful and remember if you have any questions or need computer repair or remote tech support, call Tech Helpline.