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About Windows 7

You may have heard about Windows 7... it is the new Windows operating system for your PC from Microsoft that came out officially on October 22nd. A lot of folks are considering an upgrade to Windows 7. Here are some facts to guide you through such a decision.

Q. Is Windows 7 really that good?

Windows 7 is a huge improvement over Vista. First off, it is actually FASTER than Vista, which is something we haven't said for a new version of Windows for quite a long time. It just plain works better. Vista has always had quirks that could cause unexplained crashes, and Windows 7 does not have those issues. If you have Windows XP, the important thing to remember is that all new software that comes out in future years will be written for Windows 7, so the longer you stay with XP, the more issues you may have. It's not a huge rush, but something to keep in mind.

Q. Should I upgrade to Windows 7?

OK, so Windows 7 is better. But the question of whether you should upgrade is more complex than that. There are a few facts that come into play here:

- Do you have older hardware? If you have hardware like the PC itself, scanners, printers, or plug-in cards that are more than a couple of years old, it would pay to make contact with the hardware vendor's website and see if they have addressed any compatibility issues with Windows 7. Most hardware will work just fine, but there are a few exceptions, and you should check in advance. Most vendors won't have complete compatibility info on their site until Windows 7 ships. Some vendors will caution you to purchase the 32-bit version of Windows 7 since their PC can't utilize 64 bit software.
- Do you own a netbook? Netbooks are small laptops that use a processor that in some cases can't handle the 64 bit version of Windows 7. Again, check with the manufacturer of the netbook.
- Are you going to purchase a new computer in the next year or two? If so, maybe you can wait, since any new computer sold from now on will come with Windows 7 already. No sense wasting good money that can go toward the new PC.

Q. Will having Windows 7 at home cause me problems with my work files?

The application software you use at home (such as Microsoft Office, WordPerfect, Microsoft Works, etc) will determine the compatibility of your home data files with your work computer. If possible, use the same version of application software at home and at work to minimize these issues. The operating system (Windows 7, Windows XP, etc) will have little or no effect on this issue.

Q. What version of Windows 7 would be right for me?

Besides the decision of 32bit versus 64bit as we discussed above, there are multiple versions of Windows 7, each with a different set of features. Windows 7 Home Premium will be the right choice for most users. Those who have a home network that uses a Windows Server, and tech-savvy users that need special features should consult the following page from Microsoft to help with that decision: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/compare-editions/default.aspx

Q. What does Windows 7 cost?

If you just go to Staples or Costco to get your copy of Windows 7, you will probably pay too much. There are some very good discounts available.

Find the scenario below that describes you (remember that when you see an "upgrade" price, that means that an existing version of Windows must be already licensed for that computer, or the install will not run. If you're building a computer from scratch, don't buy an upgrade version):

If you are a student and you have a .edu email address and are currently enrolled in school (that also means you, staff and faculty members taking even one class), you are eligible to use the education promotional pricing that Microsoft has established through the end of this year. Just go to http://win741.com and provide your email address to be confirmed. Upon confirmation, you are eligible for a $29.99 price on your Windows 7 upgrade. These same conditions make you eligible for low cost Microsoft Office pricing at http://www.theultimatesteal.com

If you are a staff member not enrolled in classes, you can order from http://www.techhead.org for discounted educational pricing. For some reason, this site is not currently offering Windows 7 Home Premium, but they are offering Windows 7 Professional for $39.99 and Windows 7 Ultimate for $89.99. The Professional version lacks some multimedia and TV recording features, go for Ultimate if you need those.

One other version that might apply is the Windows 7 Family Pack. If you own multiple computers and want to upgrade all of them, Microsoft is offering a family pack that upgrades up to 3 Windows computers for a total price of $149.99. This version will be available from various web sites and local stores, one such is: http://www.staples.com/StaplesProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&productId=302216&catalogIdentifier=2&cmArea=SEARCH

Q. When will we start using Windows 7 at LB?

The college purchases a version of Windows with each computer. In general, upgrades to your operating system happen when we replace your computer on the normal 4 year rotation. Due to recent budget issues, we have placed our normal 4 year rotation on hold. The same budget issues will likely limit our ability to offer any Windows 7 upgrades for awhile as well.

We also want to do a lot of testing of a new operating system, since we have quite a range of computer applications and hardware on campus. Rest assured, we are already beginning the testing process to make sure there are no showstopper issues with Windows 7 and its compatibility with the college networks, application software, and existing hardware. This testing process will also likely involve installing Windows 7 in some "early adopter" student labs to shakedown the process of migrating a larger amount of computers to the new OS. The results of this process will give us confidence that we can set a date for full support of Windows 7. Until then, we can't provide support so please check with us before purchasing any Windows 7 software for college use.