By Mark Bloom
Microsoft releases Windows 7
We have been running Windows 7 on several systems now for a number of months and some of you have started to ask
"Should I be thinking about upgrading to Windows 7?" Well, how we answer that question depends upon who is asking!
Before we look at three kinds of users and consider how they should approach upgrading Windows 7, lets first look at what Windows 7 has to offer.
What's new in Windows 7?
- Get quicker access to all of your stuff
- Do more and wait less
- Better gadget compatibility
- Share files and printers among multiple PCs on a network
- Keeps your PC better protected with fewer interruptions
- Manage devices more easily
Home Users
Home users are a diverse bunch. On one extreme, you have the power users who build their own PCs and on the other some home users can just
manage to switch their machines on. Most of the time "your average Joe or Jane" upgrades their Windows when they buy a new PC. Microsoft typically
only sells upgrades to power users for home use. If you consider yourself a power user, then go ahead and upgrade! If you ask your kids
for help on using your PC regularly, you probably will not notice much improvement.
Small Business
Most small business users are like home users, but with the added pressure that downtime usually means lost income. Small businesses
that dont have the support of an entire IT department and need to be doubly careful when making changes because mistakes can be very costly and
time-consuming. Ideally anyone relying on their PC or PCs for their income needs to avoid making leaps into the dark.
Theres no rush to adopt Windows 7 since there isnt much in the OS thats going to make you or your business earn more or do your work that much faster.
Take your time and take care and make the move when time and finances allow.
Enterprises
Enterprise users are typically a cautious bunch and normally wait for the first service pack to appear before committing to changing
operating systems. The IT pros I've spoken to are impressed by Windows 7, but none have indicated that their company will move to Windows 7
"as soon as it is available." Why? Because theres a distrust of Windows 7 after their experience with Windows Vista.
Summary
Keep an eye on Windows 7, but theres little reason to rush an upgrade. If you are coming at Windows 7 from XP then dont expect things to be a
walk in the park. Windows 7 offers measurable performance gains over Vista and XP, but this isnt a killer feature. |