Is Windows 7 Worth the Upgrade?

Two years ago, I had my first experience with Windows Vista. On first impressions it looked fantastic, but it quickly became apparent that it was far from perfect. Generally speaking, if you buy a new piece of software it looks and works brilliantly on Vista. The problems start with older software and hardware.

Fortunately, after two years the majority of the problems have been worked out. Windows Vista is radically different from XP, so it was inevitable that there were going to be early problems. This shouldn't be such an issue with Windows 7. This is mainly because the new operating system is seen as a more refined version of Vista with a few new features, rather than a complete overhaul.

However, as with every piece of new technology there will be early teething Problems. Therefore, based on my prior experience I will hold back. At least until some of the initial problems have been fixed. But I will upgrade at some point, because there will come a time when it becomes standard with all new computers.

The good news is it appears Microsoft has created a handy upgrade to Vista. One of the better features is the ability to run programs in Windows XP mode. Any experienced Vista user will be well aware of the problems running XP software in Vista. Rarely does older software not work in XP therefore this is a great solution.

Another neat upgrade is the ability to use the operating system as a touchscreen. This may be useful for users wanting to quickly check their e-mail. Overall, Windows 7 will be a more functional operating system than Vista. The most usable icons for Internet, e-mail, multimedia and Microsoft Office will be the ones most clearly visible.

I am in no doubt; the latest operating system from Microsoft will be an improvement on Vista. However, is it worth waiting until the early problems are ironed out?