ELM Bulletin - October 31, 2009
Windows 7: Is it time to Upgrade?
A week ago, on October 22, the highly anticipated successor to Windows Vista was released. Should you be thinking about upgrading to Windows 7? In this ELM Bulletin I will discuss some points that bear consideration as you consider your upgrade options.
For some time now, Windows 7 has been hailed as the solution to the problem of Windows Vista.
HARDWARE – Windows 7 has lower hardware requirements than Windows Vista but unless you need to run Windows 7 on a netbook this should have little impact on whether or not to upgrade. While there is no question that Vista’s hardware requirements were underestimated at its original release it is also true than any current notebook or desktop computer has sufficient power to make using Windows Vista a pleasant experience. The only significant reason to consider Windows 7 for its lighter hardware demands is if it will be installed to computers more than two years old. So, yes, if you have older computers and want to upgrade from Windows XP (or even Windows 98), Windows 7 is worth consideration.
PERFORMANCE – Benchmark tests indicated that Windows 7 is faster than Windows Vista, but only slightly. In most cases of interest to the business computer user performance improvements may not enough to compensate for the cost of Windows 7. In some cases, Windows Vista outperforms Windows 7 and in many cases Windows XP out performs both (assuming similar hardware with recommended installed RAM for each operating system).
COST – A significant consideration when moving to Windows 7 is its cost; though when purchased with a new computer Windows 7 will not cost significantly more than Windows Vista. In addition to the cost of Windows 7 itself, the addititional costs involved in upgrading hardware and/or previous Windows installations must also be considered:
- Windows XP – Upgrading Windows XP to Windows 7 will require a clean install of Windows 7 as no direct upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 exists. This requires the transfer of all user files and settings and re-installation of all applications and could occupy the greater part of a day, adding the cost of lost time to signifcant IT cost. Note: Windows XP can be upgraded to Windows 7 by first upgrading to Windows Vista and then upgrading to Windows 7. This may save some time in data transfer and application installation but does add complexity to the upgrade path and increases the problems that some perceive as being inherent in an upgrade (as opposed to a clean install).
- Windows Vista – Windows Vista can be upgraded to Windows 7, a process which should take no more than one or two hours. The upgrade leaves all user information and installed applications intact. The only significant cost in this scenario is the cost of Windows 7 itself. Note: In the past, IT professionals have seen greater incidence of post installation problems after an upgrade than after a clean install; consquently, a clean install may be necessary at some point to resolve problems some associate with upgrade installations.
RESOURCES – Below, I list several resources that may prove useful as you decide whether or not to upgrade to Windows 7, or even if an upgrade is possible. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions on how to use Windows 7 in your environment.
PC World – An Overview of Windows 7
Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor – Helps you determine if existing hardware will run Windows 7
Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration Page – Guidance and tips on upgrading to Windows 7
PC World – Five Things You Should Know About Upgrading From Windows XP to Windows 7
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this or any other issue.
Past issues of the ELM Bulletin are available from our website, feel free to forward them to anyone you wish.
You have received this ELM Bulletin either by request or because you have given your contact information to an ELM employee. If you no longer wish to receive the ELM Bulletin, send us an email with "Remove Me" in the subject line and we will remove your email address from our distribution list.
Peter Rhebergen Telephone |
Websites & Publications Product Websites |
