What Version of Microsoft Windows 7 Should I Install

There are three versions of the Windows 7 Operating System on the market, which one makes sense for my business? This article will discuss the different versions so you can make an informed choice.

The Three Versions of the 7 Operating System are as follows:

• Home Premium

• Professional

• Ultimate

As with all software, you pay for more features, and so it is true with the different versions of Microsoft 7. Each version has overlapping features and the more money spent the more features you will have. So the big question is which version will give me what I need, but to where I am not spending monies on "Features" that I do not need.

The Home Premium Edition might be an option for a number of small businesses depending on your specific needs. The Home Premium Edition, built around the Media Center technology, so this version is great for artists and graphic designers. This version allows you to burn DVD's and create high-definition movies right out of the box. Both features are not available in the Business version. This version works well with laptops and will automatically backup your files, and has an easy to use networking connectivity installation wizard.

The Professional Edition is what I believe that most businesses will want to use in their office, due to the added features that set it apart from the Home Premium. The Professional Version allows for Windows XP Mode, so if you have issues installing your older software under Windows 7, you can choose the XP mode to install and run those older applications. Here are some other features that I think make it a good investment:

• Protection against hardware failure, by using the PC Backup and Restore software. Here you can ensure that all your data is backed up and safeguarded on a backup tape or a file on a portable drive. Either way, knowing that your data and all your system configuration settings are saved and easily restorable makes this feature very valuable to your peace of mind at the end of the day. You can even backup to your DVD drive, how nice is that? The best part is that you can easily make a backup schedule further ensuring your data.

• Shadow Copy allows you to select files or folders that are automatically archived. This allows you to be able to restore a previous version quickly. So you are working on a file and the file has become corrupt. You can bring up a previously archived version and restore that to your working directory.

• Scan, Fax and receive images with Windows Fax & Scan, which allows for multiple user accounts, so you can say good-bye to generic faxes because of several employees share the same computer. All faxes and scanned items are easily found, as they are stored in the same folder. The new Fax & Scan software has the look and feel of one's email folder, thus making this feature easy to navigate, and it even has built in cover pages and works with your current contacts from email.

• Remote Desktop Connection allows you to access the files you need while you are away. By connecting to your desktop via remotely it is as if you were sitting right there, all your programs are accessible to you. From the comfort of your home you can remote onto your work computer whether on the same network or though the internet and get your work done. Perhaps you need a co-worker to verify that something has been done correctly, they too can remote onto the computer. There are many uses for Remote Desktop Connection and it is only in the Business and Ultimate Editions.

• Windows Meeting Space, this is a unique tool that allows you to create an ad-hoc meeting environment with other people perhaps your customers also on Windows 7, allowing them to view the presentation being hosted from your laptop. This feature also allows you to share files.

7 Ultimate has all features from Home Premium to Professional plus Bitlocker for portable storage items. The Ultimate version has one feature that is not found in any of the other versions and that is Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption. BitLocker prevents a thief who boots another operating system or runs a software hacking tool from breaking Windows 7 file and system protections or performing offline viewing of the files stored on the protected drive. This security is available by encrypting the entire hard drive. Therefore, if you have to have ultimate data security, then Windows 7 Ultimate is your version.

All versions have the same basic system requirements.

• 1 GHz or better CPU either (x86) or (x64) bit.

• 1 Gig of system Memory

• 16GB Hard Drive Space (32-Bit) or 20GB (64-Bit)

• DirectX 9 Graphic Device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

• DVD-Rom Drive

However, having worked with 7 I would recommend the following items:

• 2.0 GHz CPU or greater

• Minimum 2 Gigs of Ram, Ideally you would want 4 Gigs or more of RAM

• Ensure that your hard drive is 100GB or better with 20 Gigs free space, the more free space the better.