Windows 7 was launched in a blaze of publicity,
advertising a more 'user-friendly' system than its predecessor Vista. But many people found Vista and even XP more than
adequate for their needs, so if you're in the market for a new laptop, why
should you think about buying one with the new Windows 7 operating system,
rather than the tried and tested Vista or XP?
Future-proofing
Future-proofing is the new buzzword in
technology. One of the most frustrating things for people using older machines
or operating systems is the incompatibility problems that arise with the latest
software systems. Microsoft have invested a huge amount of money and time
developing Windows 7, which is why there has been such a delay between the
launch of Vista and this latest upgrade. Because of the 'understanding' that
many manufacturers who use Microsoft have with the company, the launch of
Windows 7 is bound to herald a flurry of upgraded laptops designed to use
Windows 7 as its primary operating system. So buying a laptop that has Vista or
XP rather than Windows 7 could mean that future software designed to run on
Windows 7 won't run on Vista or XP operating
systems.
However, if you only intend to use a laptop for
web surfing, downloading media, emails and office documents such as Word or
Excel, an older operating system could be just as effective as Windows 7. But
with the wealth of new features available on Windows 7, it might be worth
considering future-proofing yourself from the outset.
Upgrading - not exactly easy...
One of the biggest problems with upgrading is the
limit imposed by the operating systems on just how easily you can upgrade to
Windows 7 without having to do a clean install. That means wiping your hard
drive and basically starting again. For Netbook users this presents a huge
problem, as many Netbooks do not have CD ROMS, and to do a fresh install you
need to be able to slot that operating system CD ROM into the computer.
To avoid all the hassle of clean installs, wiping
your hard drive and future-proofing yourself against future upgrades, it's
wiser to start with Windows 7 as your standard operating system.
Security - a new level
One of the biggest worries for laptop users is
the security aspect. Because of their portability, laptops are an easy target
for unscrupulous hackers, opportunist thieves or even industrial espionage. One
of the primary new features on Windows 7 is an improved level of security,
something that'll make any laptop owner sleep a little better at night. Windows
7 also offers better taskbar features, an improved version of Windows Explorer
to make surfing the 'Net easier and quicker and interface shortcuts that make
it possible to run two applications side by side. For laptop owners with the
advantage of dual core processing power, Windows 7 is tailor-made for laptop
use. Microsoft have played it clever - they know full well that the market for
laptops is a growing one, and Windows 7 laptops is designed to grow with that market in
tandem. By incorporating ideas that users actually want in an operating system,
it may be some time before we see W8. So if you are thinking about buying a new
laptop, it makes sense to get one with Windows 7 rather than the now
considerably dated and troublesome Vista
operating system.
No comments:
Post a Comment