Microsoft has finally released a new operating system that is long overdue after the infamous Vista disaster. The new operating system, called Windows 7 (for the lack of a better name), offers a smoother user experience, multi-touchscreen capability and more seamless networking with other computers.

Early reviews have been promising. It’s argued to be the best operating system that Microsoft has released thus far. It’s even comparable to Apple’s Snow Leopard (much cooler name).

But before you rush out to purchase a copy of Windows 7, you need to consider the following facts to see if it’s right for you.

System Requirements:

1. 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
2. 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
3. 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
4. DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Requirements For Additional Features:

1. Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
2. For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
3. Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
4. HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
5. DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
   BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
6. BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive
7. Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on

If you’re not sure what all that means, try downloading a free Microsoft tool called a Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which will scan your PC, report any potential problems and offer ways to fix them.

Should I Upgrade To Windows 7?

Let’s see, if budget is not an issue and you generally like newer technologies, then sure go for it. But priced between $120 to $220, upgrading can be expensive if you don’t really need all the features. If your laptop or desktop is an ancient piece of junk, then consider upgrading your computer to one that comes preloaded with Windows 7. These days, you can probably find one cheap for under $500. If you are happy with XP or Vista (can’t imagine anyone is happy), then you can afford to wait until the prices drops. If you are still not sure, check out Microsoft’s comparison chart or top 10 reasons.

If you had purchased your computer after June 26, 2009, you may be qualified for an upgrade to Windows 7 from the manufacturer. Check out more information here.

What Versions of Windows 7 Should I Get?

The differences between the Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate editions are as follows:

Home Premium:

• Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation.
• Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often.
• Make your web experience faster, easier and safer than ever with Internet Explorer 8.
• Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC.
• Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup.

Professional:

• Everything that Home Premium has plus…
• Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode.
• Connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join.
• In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network.

Ultimate:

• Everything that Professional has plus…
• Help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker.
• Work in the language of your choice and switch between any of 35 languages.

Is It Difficult To Install Windows 7?

If you currently have Vista, then upgrade is a piece of cake. Just pop in the CD, run Setup, and choose Upgrade as the option. The upgrade process is smooth and automatic.

If you currently have XP, your best choice to start fresh. Backup your files (using a USB external drive), reformat the hard drive, and install a fresh copy of Windows 7. I wouldn’t recommend with the complicated process of upgrade from XP to Windows 7. Someone suggests that you may try to upgrade to Vista first then to Windows 7.

Will Windows 7 run old XP programs?

Since Windows 7 just released, most devices still lack updated drivers for Windows 7. However, most users reported that Vista and XP drivers seem to work just fine. For older applications, Microsoft introduced XP Mode, which creates a virtual, or “shadow” Windows XP operating system running inside Windows 7. XP Mode is only available in the higher-priced Professional and Ultimate editions, though.