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| Which Operating System is right for me? There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to this topic. Windows XP is mature, stable, and yes "secure". Windows 7 is new, cutting edge, and very secure. So which is right for me?  Windows XP and Windows 7
We are now into our seventh year with Windows XP and it serves every need that I or any of our customers have at this point in time. Your legacy programs are compatible with XP which means no new costly updates. Devices such as your printers, scanners, and wireless devices work, they just plain work and when it comes down to it, that's what we want.  Windows 7
Windows 7 is now into it's second year with a brand new service pack that provides nothing more than a rollup of previously relased patches. OEM's will now start to supply computers with Windows SP1 which will save you a lot of time at the beginning in order to fully update your system. Windows 7 was so good out of the box in 2009 that little had to be refined to make this user freindly. In short, Windows 7 is safe, stable, and easy to use. So which should I use? Unless you have some overwhelming reason to stay with XP, make the switch . **********Windows 7 Features********** General Overview:
Home Groups
HomeGroup takes the headache out of sharing files and printers on a home network. Connect two or more PCs running Windows 7, and HomeGroup makes it easy to automatically start sharing your music, picture, video, and document libraries with other people in your home. Concerned about privacy? So are we. That’s why HomeGroup is password-protected and puts you in total control. You decide what gets shared—and what stays private. You can also make your files "read only," so other people can look at—but not touch—your stuff. You can join a homegroup in any edition of Windows 7, but you can only create one in Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise. Jump Lists
Jump Lists—new in Windows 7—take you right to the documents, pictures, songs, or websites you turn to each day. To open a Jump List, just right-click a program icon on the Windows 7 taskbar. (You'll also find them on the Start menu.) What you see in a Jump List depends entirely on the program. The Jump List for Internet Explorer 8 shows frequently-viewed websites. Windows Media Player 12 lists commonly-played tunes. Your Jump List missing a favorite? You can "pin" whatever files you like there. Jump Lists don't just show shortcuts to files. Sometimes they also provide quick access to commands for things like composing new e‑mail messages or playing music.
Windows Search
In Windows 7, you can find more things in more places—and do it faster. Start typing into the Start menu search box, and you'll instantly see a list of relevant documents, pictures, music, and e-mail on your PC. Results are now grouped by category and contain highlighted keywords and text snippets to make them easier to scan. Few people store all their files in one place these days. So Windows 7 is also designed to search external hard drives, networked PCs, and libraries. Overwhelmed by your search results? You can instantly narrow them by date, file type, and other useful categories.
Windows Taskbar Sure, the new Windows 7 taskbar is still the same familiar place for switching between windows. But now it's easier to see, more flexible, and more powerful. For instance, in Windows 7 you can pin favorite programs anywhere on the taskbar for easy access. Not crazy about the icon lineup? Now you can rearrange them any way you like by clicking and dragging. Finally, there are new ways to preview windows. Point to a taskbar icon to see a thumbnail preview of open files or programs. Then, move your mouse over a thumbnail to preview the window full-screen. You can even close windows from the thumbnail previews—a big time saver. Make sure to check out these related taskbar features: Peek, Action Center, and Jump Lists. Full 64 Bit Support If you’ve gone PC shopping lately, you’ve probably noticed more computers with 64-bit processors, and you may have wondered what advantages they offer. Put simply, a 64-bit PC can handle larger amounts of information than a 32-bit system. Since it can use more RAM—4 GB and up—a 64-bit computer can be more responsive when you're running lots of programs at once. Whichever system you choose, Windows 7 is ready. All packaged retail editions of Windows 7 (except for Home Basic) include both 32- and 64-bit software. Wondering whether a program or device works with your 64-bit PC? Look for products that carry the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo, which means they were tested on both 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. Or visit the Windows 7 Compatibility Center to search a regularly updated list of programs and devices. Remote Media Streaming Ever wished you could enjoy the music, videos, and pictures on your home PC while you’re away? Now you can. Windows 7 introduces Remote Media Streaming, which provides easy access to your Windows Media Player 12 library over the Internet. Remote Media Streaming is available only in the Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions of Windows 7. To use Remote Media Streaming, both computers must be running Windows 7. Turn it on using the new Stream menu in Windows Media Player 12, and then associate both computers with an online ID, such as a Windows Live e-mail address. Remote Media Streaming is just one option for enjoying your media library elsewhere in Windows 7. If you have a homegroup, it’s easy to stream media between your home PCs. You can also stream to your stereo or TV using Play To (additional hardware might be required). | |
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