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By: Malcolm Moffatt
I remember well the hype and excitment before Microsoft Vista was released. Some of us even went out and bought more powerful PC’s or laptops in anticipation.
Then there was the huge let down as the reviews started to come in and the realization that it might be smarter to stick with XP a while longer. It is not surprising then, that with the dawning of the Windows 7 era there was more than a little trepidation about the impending release.
Microsoft were not oblivious to this and early in 2009 made the first Release Candidates (RC) available to anyone who had somewhere to install it.
This time the reviews were much more upbeat. Successive RCs addressing earlier issues continued to be encouraging and by the time the official release came there was a “wee bit” of the old excitement back. Finally we could shake off the XP mantle and move into a brave new Windows world.
Enough of the glamourization. The big question for those of you still clinging to XP and the few who actually managed to live in Vista world is, do I take the plunge?
The answer is an unequivocal yes. If you need further convincing the following 10 reasons will hopefully remove any further doubt.
1. Lower system requirements
Unlike Windows Vista, which required significantly more memory and processing speed to power its graphical user interface, Windows 7 isn't a system resource hog. The same PCs you now have running Vista will easily be able to accommodate the new OS.
Significantly, your PC will load programs and boot and shut down faster. Less money spent on hardware upgrades translates into immediate cost savings, while a decrease in downtime twiddling your thumbs waiting for software to load provides a corresponding boost to productivity.
Perhaps surprisingly, even a relatively slow 1GHz PC with 1GB of memory can run Windows 7 (though 2GB of RAM is recommended and 4GB for the 64-bit edition), making it suitable for installation on low-end netbook computers. Having said that I always recommend purchasing the highest specification hardware you can afford for maximum experience and minimum fuss.
2. Simpler navigation
Three improvements to the user front-end makes Windows 7 easier to navigate and multitask than its predecessors.
To begin with, using Aero Peek features, Windows 7 users can more easily view desktop contents by turning all open windows transparent. Aero Shake, gives you the option to simply grab an active window and physically shake the mouse to minimize other panes cluttering up one's monitor. Last, but not least, Aero Snap functions automatically resize windows to take up half the screen when they're dragged to either side of your display.
3. Better multitasking
Borrowing from Apple's Snow Leopard operating system, Windows 7 now offers a more aesthetically pleasing, icon-based taskbar that lets you permanently pin and organize your favourite programs on it.
You can additionally point to icons to get thumbnail previews of open files and windows associated with each program, all accessible with a click. Everything's displayed in a minimally intrusive way, helping to cut down on clutter and making it possible to keep track of everything that's happening on your desktop.
Another great feature is Jump Lists for each application sitting on the task bar. Jump Lists are available when you right-click on the respective program providing a list of recently opened files and documents--a major time-saver.
4. Greater stability
Unlike Windows Vista, most hardware and software is readily compatible with Windows 7 and will work right out of the box, with no need to download and install additional drivers. Happily, in instances where necessary, locating and adding these updates to your PC proves a relatively painless procedure.
5. Enhanced security
Instead of making you play watchdog and constantly click to approve program access, Windows 7 does away with the vast majority of Windows Vista's nagging pop-ups. Users can now control the relative amount of prompts from system security by using an intuitive slider bar control, with alert messages minimized to avoid becoming a nuisance. In addition, the Internet Explorer 8 web browser is better-guarded against external threats.
Purchase the Ultimate Edition, and you can further encrypt drives and data using BitLocker technology to protect sensitive files and even portable USB keys from unauthorized intrusion. Having said that there are still good free alternatives like TrueCrypt available if you don’t have Ultimate
6. Multi-touch capabilities
If you have a compatible touch-screen PC or laptop, multi-touch physical gestures can now be used to navigate the operating system and pull up documents and data with a flick of a finger. Personally I’m not a fan of this technology being a mouseOphile.
7. Simpler file organization
Libraries, which serve as all-purpose containers, allow you to conveniently catalogue photos, music, video and files in single locations, no matter where they live on your hard drive. I like this feature a lot as it enables me to catalogue business files and folders separately from all my personal stuff rather than viewing all the clutter in the My Documents folder.
8. Optimized network setup
Breathtakingly easy to setup, the new HomeGroup feature, makes it very simple to share devices, documents and printers between other PCs running Windows 7 on a password-protected home network. For those who need to access larger companywide networks, you may need to upgrade to the Professional Edition, which allows connectivity with more complex workplace servers.
9. Less clutter
Don't like all the so-called "bloatware". Those useless applications that traditionally come installed on any new operating system or PC? You'll be right at home here, as programs like Windows Mail, Windows Calendar, Movie Maker and Photo Gallery aren't even included with installation; except of course, where they're pre-bundled by PC manufacturers.
Instead, you choose to optionally download them for free from Microsoft. While some may balk at these typically preinstalled apps' being omitted, for others, it will be seen as an effective way to cut down on unused programs that needlessly waste hard drive space and system memory.
10. Overall performance
Given its suite of welcome upgrades, Windows 7 is sure to inspire more third-party developer support than Windows Vista, and enjoy a larger business software library that takes advantage of its built-in features.
As the system's improvements significantly enhance users' everyday work and online experience, it's inevitable that your enterprise will want to take advantage of programs which natively support these updates.
Even those who opt for just the basic Home Premium edition and never buy another application will be able to appreciate extras like faster and more reliable desktop search functions and simpler document retrieval. Making it infinitely simpler to organize, store and navigate both your desktop and supported applications, more than a few entrepreneurs will find that Windows 7 has been well worth the wait
....and finally do I upgrade or clean install?
For Vista users the upgrade process I found to be remarkably painless and trouble free. I did have some trouble with HP drivers but that was more a function of poor HP documentation rather than technical issues. One feature I did like when upgrading is that Windows 7 creates a windows.old folder where it stores all your old files.
Windows.old has proved useful on a couple of occasions when searching for old misplaced docs. THIS IS NOT A REASON TO AVOID BACKING UP BEFORE UPGRADING. After a couple of months of comfort level you can delete windows.old and reclaim a significant slice of hard disk space back.
On the XP side you must clean install. There is a great article at the following link that describes the process. http://cnettv.cnet.com/upgrade-windows-xp-to-windows-7. One feature XP users will like is the XP virtual Machine that you can install, enabling you to run your old XP programs as a virtual PC. Devotees of virtual computing should note that you cannot use that utility for other creating virtual machines. However despite what the documentation tells you can download and install Virtual PC for Vista and it will run very happily on Windows 7. Alternatively you can download Sun’s Microsystem’s VirtualBox.
To find out if your PC is ready for Windows 7, download the free Widnows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft. It scans your PC for potential issues with your hardware, devices and installed programs, and recommends what to do before you upgrade..
Case concluded!
Malcolm has been closely tied to technology training since 1984 when he began his career teaching COBOL 74, PL/1 and Fortran. Since then he has worked in the UK Financial Services industry pioneering computer based training, led a team of 22 technical Communications consultants providing training solutions to Canadian clients, and been Operations Manager for one of Canada's largest training companies.
Today, Malcolm is CTT+ certified and teaches all Microsoft Office Applications including Microsoft Project and SharePoint. He is also a Certified International Privacy Professional - CIPP and CIPP (Canada).
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