Next week, Microsoft is releasing Windows 7, a slick, much-improved operating system that should go a long way toward erasing the bad impression left by its previous effort, Vista.
If you’ve been holding off on buying a new computer, Windows 7 will be a good excuse to get back into the game. And if you’ve been weighing a Mac versus a Windows PC, then you should know that “7” makes Windows more attractive, though not a clear-cut choice for everyone. Windows is now easier to use and better-looking than it was before, while maintaining its core advantage of cheaper, more diverse hardware.
However, most PC users should not take the release of Windows 7 as a call to action, or feel that they have to run out and buy the software for use on a computer they’re planning on keeping. The upgrade will most likely not be worth the time or money, much less the effort of hosting a Windows 7 “launch party” as Microsoft suggests.
Windows 7 will come in several versions. The one aimed at US consumers is Home Premium, at US$120 if bought as an upgrade from XP or Vista.
Beginning on Thursday, it will come installed on new PCs.
HIGHLIGHTS
Some of its highlights include an improved taskbar — the strip of icons usually found at the bottom of the screen — which now does more than show what programs are running. You can also stick icons for your favorite programs on it to launch them quickly. It’s fast and convenient, combining the best features of the old Windows taskbar and Apple’s Dock.
File folders can now be organized into “libraries.” You can have a photo library, for instance, that gives you quick access to pictures in folders spread out over your hard drive, or even several hard drives. This is great because many applications don’t automatically put files into Microsoft’s My Documents and My Photos folders, and tend to deposit content in their own folders. The new arrangement also makes for easy backups.
Like Vista, Windows 7 will ask you twice if you want to make changes to your settings or install programs, but Windows 7 does it less often, and the prompts can be turned off.
Windows 7 can sense if you use more than one finger on your touch pad or touch screen, allowing for neat tricks such as spreading your fingers to zoom into a picture, just like on the iPhone. This is isn’t revolutionary per se — computer manufacturers have bolted multi-touch sensing on previous versions of Windows. But it does make it easier for them to include advanced touch capabilities, and many of them are planning to do so.
For a lot of users, the step up to Windows 7 will also mark a transition to a 64-bit operating system. That means computers will now be able to use a lot more Random Access Memory (RAM) for better performance in demanding applications such as video editing.
Vista and XP came in 64-bit versions in addition to the regular 32-bit versions, but the XP version was never popular and the Vista version became mainstream only last year. But 64 bits will be standard on Windows 7, installed on nearly all new computers.
XP users have a lot more to gain by going to Windows 7.
Vista introduced some great features, such as fast searches of the entire hard drive, that of course are present in 7 as well.
But upgrading an existing PC from XP to 7 is not easy.
After upgrading, users will have to reinstall all their programs and find their files in the folder where Windows 7 tucks them away.
They may also have hardware problems. I found an old HP laser printer no longer worked with Windows 7. This isn’t really Microsoft’s fault or, specifically, a problem with the new operating system — HP just doesn’t provide a 64-bit driver for that printer. A driver is a program that tells a piece of hardware how to work with an operating system.
If upgrading, one would be smart to tackle that transition head-on by installing the 64-bit version of Windows 7, which doesn’t cost more. Microsoft recommends a minimum of 2 gigabytes of RAM to run it.
NOT NECESSARY
If your computer runs Windows Vista, it’s hard to justify spending US$120 for an upgrade. The new features are nice but hardly must-haves. For daily e-mail and Web surfing, they won’t make much of a difference. Vista was much maligned when it arrived in early 2007, but now, it really isn’t that bad, because updates have fixed a lot of its original bugs.
If you bought a Vista-based computer after June 25, you should be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7 from the manufacturer. Your computer is probably already running 64-bit software, so there should be no problems with drivers, and the upgrade is much easier than one from XP. Windows 7 can keep your installed programs and your files in their old folders.
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