Technical Brief for November 2009
Many of our customers have been asking: is Windows 7 worth upgrading to?
Our answer: Most definitely. Learn more below.
It's safe to say that, in retrospect, Windows Vista was not the operating system everyone hoped it would be. Initially quite buggy, Microsoft seemed to constantly be playing "catch-up" with patches and updates. Now Windows 7 has arrived and the big question on everyone's mind is: Has it been worth the wait?
We're happy to say that the answer is yes. Windows 7 is a big improvement on Vista: it's stable, built for today's technology, and well positioned for tomorrow. It has made big improvements in security, and its interface makes this release the easiest Windows to navigate ever.
Here are just a few areas where big improvements have been made:
- Upgraded graphical features: Navigating Windows has never been easier with the new, streamlined interface. Windows 7 also boasts some new features for navigating, including:
- Pin: Just like a post-it note, you can put things you use often right on your taskbar.
- Jump Lists: Windows now keeps the programs and files you use most often in a handy "jump list". All you have to do is open the jump list, and use your most frequent files in two simple clicks.
- Windows Search: A new search function that allows you to search your computer the same way you search the Internet.
- Designed for the computer you have today: Many users complained that Windows Vista was far too processor intensive for the computers of the time. Windows 7 has been optimised very well for today's computers.
- Improved security features and device management.
- Windows Media Player Upgrades: Windows Media Player has been completely redesigned to provide fantastic new sharing features. For instance, it can now stream media files from one computer to another (assuming they're both running Windows 7), or across the Internet or a local network.
A quick note on the different versions of Windows:
There are currently six different versions of Windows 7, all of which offer different functions and price tags, depending on your needs. These range from "starter", which is the most barebones version of the operating system, to Ultimate, OEM and Enterprise.
The three versions you're most likely to encounter are:
Home Premium: Though there is a "starter" version, this is the first version of the software that contains all of the innovations we discuss above, and would be considered the entry for customers looking to upgrade.
Professional: This version contains all of the innovations mentioned above, but also includes powerful business-centric features, such as the ability to run a remote desktop, encrypt files, and run a virtual version of Windows XP.
Ultimate: This contains all of the features of Professional, and adds a few more, such as BitLocker disk encryption
Spirinet provides IT Consulting and Microsoft consulting services to small and medium businesses nationwide.
