New products

Windows 7

Windows 7 arrived October 2009 to favourable reviews. Now, almost half a year later, it still appears that those reviews were justified. I don't like everything about Windows 7 but I use it on my main computer and I don't regret making the switch. I feel comfortable recommending it but not without caveats.

The interface makes more sense than Vista and the performance is better too. (But not better than Windows XP on the same computer.) If your hardware and software are compatible, and you're prepared to deal with some minor disruptions, and you're not totally happy with your current version of Windows, then you should consider upgrading.

Upgrading from Vista is relatively straightforward and doesn't require a re-installation of all of your settings and programs. Upgrading from XP is far more time-consuming since it involves formatting your hard disk, doing a fresh installation of Windows, and then re-installing all of your programs, printers and other peripherals.

If you decide to move to Windows 7 you should strongly consider the 64-bit version. Until more applications and utilities take advantage of 64-bit Windows 7, the primary advantage of using this version relates to the amount of RAM you can use. A 32-bit operating system cannot take advantage of more than 4GB of memory, regardless of how much is installed in the computer. In most cases, even with 4GB installed, Windows only ``sees`` 3GB. For computer users who like to have many large applications and utilities loaded in memory simultaneously, Windows 7 64-bit in a computer with 6 or 8GB of memory will provide far better performance that they have ever experienced.

One more caveat: Just because some software or hardware is compatible with Windows 7 32-bit doesn't guarantee compatibility with the 64-bit version. Check carefully. If you install the 64-bit version and then experience compatibility problems with your printer, for example, you will have to format your hard disk before doing a fresh installation of the 32-bit version of Windows 7.

Although installing a new version of Windows on an older computer is fun for the hobbyist, it usually doesn't make sense in a business setting. The easiest way to upgrade to Windows 7 is to buy a new computer with it already installed. It may seem more expensive but it's probably the lowest cost way of proceeding, especially if your current computer is more than two years old.

There are several versions of Windows 7 to choose from, each in 32 and 64-bit versions. For use in the home Home Premium should be adequate. At work the more expensive Professional is a better choice. The most expensive version is Ultimate and the higher price may be justified for the additional protection it provides against the loss or theft of data on your computer and portable storage devices.

Posted March 4, 2010