Should You Buy Windows 7?

Windows 7 is the most revolutionary Operating System Microsoft has developed, and its looks are on par with OS X Snow Leopard and the various Linux distributions. That said, it does come with the high Microsoft price tag, and it still has many of the same traits that Apple and Linux users despise.

Although die hard Apple and Linux users will probably not switch to Windows 7, many Windows users will want to upgrade to or purchase a new copy of Windows 7. Windows 7 was designed to fix all of Windows Vista's problems, so the developers at Microsoft had to make an Operating System that matched the level of aesthetics that Windows Vista offered, but it also had to match Windows XP in terms of stability. Windows Vista is arguably another Microsoft failure. Although it was not as pointless as Windows ME (Millennium Edition), which was no better than its predecessor Windows 98 SE or its successor Windows 2000, Windows Vista's main difference from all the other previous Windows Operating Systems was its new GUI, which resembled that of Apple's OSX. However, Microsoft created an Operating System that was just too slow for almost every user.

Windows 7 was created to fix this problem, so even though Windows 7 did not set the mark for a Microsoft Operating System to break the boring graphics of Windows XP, Windows 7 became a good looking OS that is actually functional. However, its new design may scare many Windows XP users. Albeit similar to Vista, Windows 7 is a far cry from the classic layout of previous versions of Windows. That said, there is a bit of a learning curve, but most Windows users will find that they find Windows 7 easier to use. Newcomers to Windows will also find Windows 7 easier to use and learn when compared to other versions of Windows. But, many Apple and Linux users will not let these new features convert them to Windows. Instead, the new features are nothing new for Apple and Linux users, and the problems of Windows that they do not like still exist in Windows 7.

First and foremost, Windows 7 comes with the notorious Microsoft price tag. Windows 7 Home Premium is moderately priced at $119.99, but the price jumps up to $199.99 for Windows 7 Professional. Finally, Windows 7 Ultimate Edition is priced at $219.99.

The security issues in Windows 7 have improved, but Windows 7 is not even close to Linux in terms of security. If someone is running a server, and they are exceptionally competent with computers, then Linux will most likely be preferred over Windows 7 during any day of the week. To counter the security, Microsoft still recommends many security applications that can hinder the performance of the computer, and users still have to tweak their computer to get rid of Windows security features that are not necessary for most users (e.g. System Restore, Remote Assistance, etc.). Additionally, computer retailers such as Dell, Sony, HP, and Lenovo install a lot of bloat ware on their computers, so the majority of users will have to remove the software from their computers to get the most performance out of their machines.

The last obvious problems are compatibility with old software and upgradability. Users who have upgraded from Windows XP should find that most of the mainstream software that they use will be compatible with Windows 7. That said, a compatibility feature is included with Windows 7 Home Premium, but the Windows XP tool that guarantees compatibility with older Windows XP software requires Professional and Ultimate editions.

In terms of upgradability, it can be confusing for a lot of users migrating over to Windows 7. XP users will need to do a fresh install and delete everything they have, so they are forced to back everything up if they want to keep their data. Also, a user will have to pay attention to what hardware specifications their computer has, as Windows 7 require a stronger graphics card and faster processor than Windows require. Also, a Windows 7 user will want to have more RAM to support Windows 7.

Unfortunately, Windows XP users will have to pay for one of the Operating Systems in full price; however, Windows Vista users can upgrade to Windows 7 as accordance to Microsoft's guidelines. Vista users with Windows Vista Home Premium can upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium, Vista users with Windows Vista Business can upgrade to Windows 7 Professional Edition, and Vista users with Windows Vista Ultimate Edition can upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate Edition. Also, there are Windows 7 upgrades, so a user with either Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Professional can upgrade to the succeeding version; this option allows for Windows 7 users to upgrade without having to pay for an entirely new version of Windows 7.

So, who is Windows 7 for? Windows 7 is for any Windows user who wants an updated look and a faster system. Also, gamers will like Windows 7 because they can use an updated Operating System without having to sacrifice performance. Sooner or later, new games and applications will not be supported by Windows XP, so XP users should really consider the move to Windows 7.

That said, Microsoft is the developer of Direct X, and everyone knows that Microsoft literally owns the market in terms of computer gaming. Windows 7 is also easier and more stable than previous versions of Windows, so users will most likely be less frustrated and more productive with Windows 7. Microsoft's support and ease of use in their office applications is second to none, so the gamer and business user will find themselves at ease with Windows 7. However, Windows is still Windows, so for media creation, users will most likely resort to Apple's Operating Systems, and users who run servers and/or do a lot of programming will resort to Linux.