Windows 7, Microsoft’s latest operating system, hit stores on September 22, 2009. It’s selling three times as fast as Microsoft’s last offering, Windows Vista, To look forward at what your next or current computer will soon have as an operating system, we should briefly look back at where we have been.
Windows Vista has been called the worse operating system Microsoft ever produced. 80% of businesses and IT departments refused to migrate to it. Microsoft, in May of 2008 claimed that 140 million copies of Vista had been sold. When you look at these numbers you have to take in to consideration all the new machines sold with Vista that users paid about $100.00 extra to get the computer with XP installed. Microsoft counted that as a Vista sale, even though those users never installed it.
Vista hit stores the first week of January 2007, and the first security fixes for it came out shortly after. It never caught on and many business and home users continue to this day to have the Windows XP operating system running on their computers. Windows XP was released in December of 2001, so if you are still running Windows XP your operating system is over 9 years old. Think about what computers looked like 9 years ago!
Many home users bought new computers between January 2007 and September 22, 2009 with Windows Vista installed on it. Most likely the version you have is Vista Home Premium. You didn't know or you didn't have a choice, so that’s what you got. Well help has arrived in the form of Windows 7. Microsoft's new operating system is built on the Vista foundation and looks very similar. The good news is that almost all computers running Vista and the software installed on them will run Windows 7. The other good news is very little adjustment on your part is needed to go from Windows Vista to Windows 7. Where things were in Vista they are mostly still there in Windows 7.
Microsoft has made upgrading from Vista to Windows 7 relatively affordable.Which version is right for you depends on what you want and if upgrading from Vista, what version you currently have. Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade will cost you around $109.00. Microsoft, finally realizing that most people have more than one computer in their home, has created the family pack. Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade that you can install on up to 3 computers retails for about $120.00. Not much of a price break really, but it’s more convenient.
Performing the upgrade can be tricky. You can attempt to upgrade yourself, or call a professional Computer Technician to do it for you. Whether you do the upgrade yourself, or call a professional should depend on your skill and comfort level with computers. If you choose to attempt the upgrade yourself I cannot stress enough how important it is to backup your data and settings first, in the event that something goes wrong. Many people’s pictures, music and documents are more valuable than the computer itself, so don't take a chance.
In closing Windows 7 is here. Most reports are good. There is a pent-up need for it due to the unhappy Vista users, and the Windows XP users who are in need of an operating system upgrade. It’s affordable and easy to use. There really are few downsides to upgrading to Windows 7.