Windows 7: Do You Need It Or Not
Windows 7 launch date finally arrived and Windows 7 is now available. Have you done your homework? Is your desktop computer capable of running Windows 7? Do you care? If you care, take time to confirm your preparedness.
The first retail computers to come preloaded with Windows 7 were available on launch date. Shopping for one of the cheap desktop computer, in all probability isn’t the ideal upgrade method and, in step with an Engadget review of such a system, might not even be worth the price anyway. There’s another alternative, and that is to decide the flavor of the day version that Windows 7 can have.
The first option is the Starter configuration, and that is the most restricted one. If you happen to study the connected Wikipedia article as I did, you’ll see the Starter column of the Windows 7 editions comparison table is disturbingly crimson in hue (Missing items) and severely lacking in features.
You won’t get multi-CPU support, it only comes in the thirty two-bit version and just about excludes everything you could ever want in an operating system. The sole issue is you’ll get stuck with this edition if you purchase the one of the desktop computer
deals from a maker of the cheap computers.
Since the Home Basic edition is only going to be available in “rising markets” such as Bangladesh and Brazil, you most likely won’t concern yourself with that version either.
The next step up for $200 retail and $120 upgrade costs is the Home Premium and is likely what most of you will end up with when purchasing retail PC systems. This edition supports most of the options people could wish for with the main exception of multiple physical CPU support and Windows XP mode, Win XP mode may be key in that a good percentage of the software aps that are XP compatible may not be immediately able to run with Windows 7. Designed-in file encryption and Microsoft’s Remote Desktop hosting will also be missing, however most individuals probably won’t pay
any attention to that or care either.
Up from the Home Premium version is the Professional version and will run you $200 to upgrade and $300 for the full version. Except for upping Premium’s maximum physical memory support from a paltry sixteen GB to a much more impressive 192 GB and embracing 2 physical CPUs, Professional can conjointly enable backup and restore to a network and add the missing file encryption and XP mode along with a smattering of alternative options not many others will really use. You would probably notice the added convenience of location aware printing, however that’s simply for the most mobile of workplace users.
The last two editions are pretty much identical, except the Enterprise version is for volume licensing and Ultimate Version is for retail and OEM setups. You’ll have to ask Microsoft about specific Enterprise deals, since I did not look into that aspect. Ultimate does retail for $320 and only costs you $220 for an upgrade. What this suggests is that for the “Ultimate” entitlement, you’ll be forking over an extra 20 bucks for some Microsoft-run networking services and that sweet, sweet multilingual user interface.
There’s also the Unix subsystem software, BitLocker drive encryption, and Virtual Hard Disk booting, however if you’re into those types of doings, then you already know your way around and don’t need me telling you about it.
Now, you have seen what all is available, there’s only one real query left: Is it really worth it? That sort of depends on you, your needs and your wants. You would be spending a ton of cash for some software that you most likely haven’t ever used before and probably don’t need. Having read the Windows 7 beta and RC reviews, I can say this new version of Windows is leaps and bounds ahead of what Vista has to offer, however I’m not certain it’s worth the extra dollars it will set you back.
Apple’s Snow Leopard brought along compatibility problems with older software, and you will find even fewer programs capable of working with Windows 7 once you compare it to going from XP to Vista.
If you’ve really want to be on the cutting edge of technology and I usually do, then opt for it, as there are some pretty sweet pre-order deals (some that go as low as $30, such as the student version.), but I have decided I am probably going to wait for the first service pack, letting someone else can
discover and fix the problems. I’ve got enough aches and pains as it is.and don’t really need to undergo them myself. Still… there is that feeling of wanting to be an early adapter. There is something about being among the first to try something, but I want to try it on one of the hot Intel Duo Quad processors. What I need is for the best desktop computer deal to come along.