Should I upgrade to Windows 7?
The advance hype is over and Windows 7 is now out in finished form (well, as finished as constantly updated software can be). Should you upgrade? That’s a question only you can answer, but we’ve got some tips and suggestions to help make that decision.
It’s worth stating from the off that we’re discussing upgrading from Windows XP or Vista. Whether or not to switch to Windows 7 from a Mac or Linux-based computer, or to switch from XP/Vista to a non-Windows computer is an entirely different debate.
Is your machine compatible?
As was demonstrated by the Vista Capable debacle, there’s a big difference between whether a machine can technically run a new system and whether it can run it well. This time round Microsoft has produced a Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Tool which scans your PC and gives you a useful guide to whether its up to scratch (and whether certain high-end features such as Aero graphics will be available), as well as highlighting applications and devices which might not work properly after the switch. (Make sure to have peripherals and other devices plugged in and switched on before running the tool.)
From what we can tell this seems to be pretty accurate and not biased towards encouraging upgrades inappropriately. Indeed, for those of you who have some third-party applications of questionable licensing status, we’ve heard reports that this may cause the Upgrade Advisor to say they won’t work after upgrade when this isn’t necessarily the case.
Are you in the market for a new PC?
Bearing in mind the good reception for Windows 7 so far, unless your budget is incredibly tight, there doesn’t seem any reason not to go for a Windows 7 machine. Few would argue that Vista is any better, and intentionally buying a machine to run XP at this stage would be a fairly short-sighted move, with the possible exception of notebooks.
It’s worth remembering that in some cases you may find it a better deal to buy a Vista (or even XP) machine and then immediately upgrading it by buying a Windows 7 machine. However, if you’re looking at this option, check carefully to make sure the XP or Vista machine isn’t of significantly lower specifications which make the savings less attractive.
Are you happy with your current PC?
Whether you should upgrade in this case really is down to individual tastes. As a general guideline, if you are happy with XP, you probably don’t need Windows 7. If you are unhappy with Vista, Windows 7 probably won’t do that much to cheer you up. However, that’s not to say an upgrade should be dismissed out of hand. If you can get a good deal, it’s certainly worth considering. If you’ve got a machine that’s still useable but may be nearing the end of its useful life, it’s worth remembering that the chances are its replacement will run Windows 7, so it may be easier to switch now and get used to the new system so that you’ve got one less hassle to worry about if and when your current machine bites the dust.
Should you wait for service pack one?
It’s an oft-repeated theory that cautious users, and businesses in particular, should wait until the first service pack before switching to a new operating system. The logic is that this represents the point at which most of the teething troubles revealed by widespread real-world use are smoothed out. Those backing immediate upgrades argue that this policy is no longer relevant in an age of frequent software updates. It’s also worth remembering that the wider availability of broadband and both official and unofficial distribution methods means that far more people have tested Windows 7 in its development stage than its predecessors. All in all, waiting for the service pack is worth considering, but probably shouldn’t put you off upgrading now if the overall case for you doing so is strong.
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November 5th, 2009
“wait for service pack one”:
Isn’t that what the RELEASE version IS after all? MANY of us have been running the RC1 for 5+ months so in all practicality other than in name it really IS equivalent to a SP1 release.
Besides…even using the full release version, the first time you hook up to the internet and run Windows Update you’re going to have patches to install…