Microsoft Windows 7
Microsoft's next operating system called Windows 7 and will be released October 22. If you are in the market for a new computer now would be a good time to wait until after the release so your new computer will have the new operating system already installed. Every manufacturer will gladly sell you a computer now with Windows Vista pre installed and give you an upgrade coupon for Windows 7. But it is widely known that upgrading an operating system is not as stable as a fresh install so upgrading your new Vista computer to Windows 7 is not as good as buying Windows 7 in the first place.
So if you are not pushed into buying a new computer right away then resist the temptation of all the low prices you will see for the next two months and get your Windows 7 pre installed by the manufacturer. Keep in mind that whenever there is a new release of an operating system then all the manufactures for peripherals such as printers, scanners, webcams, PDAs, GPS, etc have to then see if their software will work under Windows 7, and if not, they will have to make changes and release an update. So sometimes you will have to wait until, for example, your printer manufacturer releases an update to their software before your printer will work under Windows 7. (Note: Sometimes manufactures will decide that a particular model is too old to bother with and will not release an update. You will then be forced to replace that peripheral.)
Lastly, my standard advice is to never upgrade an operating system. If you currently have Windows XP or Windows Vista then just keep that until it is time for a new computer. There is always a domino effect when you try to upgrade. You may solve one problem only to create 5 new ones. So please don't believe all the marketing hype when you start to see all the ads promoting the new Windows 7 as "faster, simpler and easier" than your old stodgy Windows XP or Windows Vista. Unless you are willing to put up with the new problems and annoyances that upgrading will produce then just stick with what you have for now.
"PC World have released Worldbench 6 benchmark results comparing the Windows 7 Release Candidate to Windows Vista Ultimate. Benchmark tests were performed on two desktop computer systems and one laptop. The general result of the benchmarks were that Windows 7 was beating Windows Vista in all tests but not by a margin expected by most users." Click here for more information on PC World's benchmark tests.
P.S. If you really want to take the plunge and you are willing to put up with any problems or aggravations that may come up, and your computer is only one year old or less, then of course I will help you upgrade to Windows 7 if you wish but for now I don't advise it until we wait and see how everyone else deals with it.
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Newsletter Archives
Click here to read my past newsletters on the following subjects:
Picasa Video Lessons (August 2009)
YouTube, FaceBook, Twitter (May 2009)
Disaster Protection (March 2009)
Share Your Holiday Photos (January 2009)
Electronic Voting Machines (November 2008)
Why do printer cartridges cost so much? (September 2008)
February 2009 Over-the-air TV change (July 2008)
Wireless explained (June 2008)
Updates Galore (March 2008)
What is RSS all about? (January 2008)
One Laptop Per Child (November 2007)
Backups 2007 Style (October 2007)
Going Green with Technology (August 2007)
Credit Card Safety, Personalized Email (April 2007)
Should you upgrade to Windows Vista? (January 2007)
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| Personal Computer Tutor
Claude Kerno
719.650.9916
ckerno@pctutor.com - www.pctutor.com
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