Microsoft released its newest operating system, Windows 7, for public consumption a few months ago.  According to reports, Windows 7 is everything that Windows Vista, its predecessor, should have been and more.  But while pre-orders of this new operating system broke sales records of big online retailers such as Amazon.com, there are still a lot of computer users who need to be convinced that a Windows 7 upgrade is worth the money and the effort and it will not turn out to be a painful experience just like Vista was for a lot of PC users.

If you are one of those PC users who are still torn between keeping Windows XP or sticking to Vista and getting a Windows 7 upgrade, here are seven reasons why you may want to seriously consider switching to Windows 7.

1. Compatibility.  If there is anything that Microsoft learned from the Windows Vista experience, it is to address the compatibility issues that Vista raised.  The result is that Windows 7 is compatible with a wider range of software and hardware.  Microsoft has also opened the Windows Compatibility Center, which will guide PC users on which software and hardware are compatible with Windows 7.  Windows 7 even has an XP mode where software designed to work with Windows XP can run with Windows 7 without a lot of hitches.

2.  Workability.  Working with multiple windows and multiple documents has become a lot easier with Windows 7.  Instead of dealing with the often-unwieldy Quick Launch folder, you can now pin the applications that you want on the taskbar.  Also, you can rearrange icons on the taskbar now in whatever order you wish.  Lastly, letting your mouse hover over an icon will bring up a full-screen preview of the window, which helps you keep track with what you are doing with your computer more easily.

3. Responsiveness.  Windows 7 is not the bloated monster that Windows Vista was.  It is more streamlined and optimized so that it boots up and shuts down faster.  There is also a notable increase in responsiveness when it comes to making the computer sleep or wake up whenever you want it to.

4. Less disruptive security pop-ups.  One of the most annoying things with Vista is that running a program often brings up a pop-up dialog where you are supposed to confirm if the program is secure and trusted or not.  Ironically, this pop-up dialog even shows up when the program is from Microsoft itself, and it does not change the fact that Vista is full of security holes.  Microsoft addressed this well with Windows 7 – there are a lot less of these pop-ups but the system itself is more secure than Vista.

5. Multi-touch support.  If you are a fan of touch screens, you will appreciate the fact that Windows 7 now has a multi-touch system.  This multi-touch system can open a whole lot of avenues when it comes to functionality and variety of input methods.

6. Easier file sharing and sorting.  Do you like sharing your files with others?  You can do this with a greater degree of ease with Windows 7.  Microsoft has upgraded the way files are shared on a network with Windows 7.  Also, the company has revamped the way My Documents work in that Libraries now allow you to sort your files more easily so you can share only those files that you want to share and keep to yourself the files that you do not want to share.

7. Desktop customization.  With Windows 7, it is now easier to customize the way your desktop looks.  Microsoft got rid of the Windows Sidebar but you can still use gadgets and place them anywhere on the desktop.  Also, as mentioned earlier, you can tweak the way your taskbar looks by rearranging the icons any way you want.

A lot of computer experts say that Windows 7 is the kind of OS that Vista failed to become.  But, with its new features, this new OS promises to be not just an improved version of Vista.  Thus, a Windows 7 upgrade is certainly worth a try.

Tags: windows 7, windows 7 upgrade, windows compatibility center, windows vista, windows vista experience, windows XP | Category: Computer and Technology, Tips & Tools | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL