The Green Geek: What is Windows 7 and is it worth it?

I need to buy a new computer or notebook, but my friend is telling me to wait until Windows 7 is available. What’s the big deal with Windows 7 and is it worth the wait?

 

Sincerely, Sixes-and-Sevens.

 

 

Windows 7 is the name of Microsoft’s upcoming operating system that the software giant hopes replace both the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems.  So what’s the big deal?

 

To answer that, we should first talk a little bit about what an ‘operating system is.’  Put simply, an operating system is software that lets your applications (word processors, spreadsheets, etc) interact with your computer’s hardware (the disk drives, communication devices, etc).  An operating system is like a conductor that keeps everything working in unison.  It’s a mighty important bit of software.

 

Windows 7 has already been released to computer manufacturers and we should expect to see the likes of Dell and Toshiba offering desktop computers and notebooks with Windows 7 installed by October.  However, if you buy a computer today, it’s likely it will come with Windows Vista... and there lies the real problem!

 

Microsoft made a major blunder with Window Vista, which they released a couple of years ago.  That operating system had all sorts of ‘features’ that make life hell for the user. The biggest problem is Vista’s application compatibility due to overly aggressive security  procedures.  Other problems   included repetitive and very annoying nag screens, printer drivers being buggy and disappearing at random times, and slllloooow performance when running more than a couple of programs at one time.

Put simply, Vista is a dog (and I don’t mean a man’s best friend.)  Unsurprisingly, sales of Vista have not been strong and most people, the Green Geek included, stuck to using Windows XP, Microsoft’s operating system from over decade ago.

 

Unfortunately,  Microsoft has cut public support for Windows XP and by late next year, it will not be possible for the regular public to buy Windows XP or have it installed on their new computers. Therefore, if you are planning to buy a new computer, you really need ensure that it comes with Windows 7 (or has a free upgrade to Windows 7).

 

There is a lot of misinformation about the upcoming Windows 7 product floating around. Some people are saying that it is simply a ‘bug fix’ for Windows Vista and therefore has all of the annoyances and problems of Vista.  That’s not really true. While Windows 7 does have some of the same components of Vista, it is quite a different product. For a start, it is a lot faster than Vista and much more friendly.  Windows 7 has far fewer annoying nag screens and asks them only once.   My own experiments suggest that Windows 7 works a lot better with older applications and printers than Vista.

 

For larger nurseries and horticultural organisations, Windows 7 also has a few very interesting features.

Windows 7 can detect and automatically configure your computer to use different networks. For example, you could take your notebook from your home office to work, and Windows 7 would scan the network, find the available printers and shared network drives, and set everything up for you to use.   That sounds like a small thing, but it can cut down on the need to get a technical support person out to your office whenever you bring in a new computer.

 

Another good feature is that Windows 7 will automatically detect any printers connected to your computer and try to locate the right printer driver from the Internet.  Again, this helps reduce the need for technical support.

 

Overall, the Green Geek gives Windows 7 the thumbs up.  It’s a practical product and should make life a little easier for horticulturalists.

 

Of course, you do not have to get Windows 7. There are alternatives to the Microsoft monopoly.  At the top of the list would be Apple’s range of Macintosh computers.  All Apple computers come with an operating system called OS X, which is very easy to use. Of course, if you choose Apple computers, then all the software on them must also be OX-based – you can’t run Microsoft Windows products on an Apple without some fancy ‘virtual machine’ software which for most people in our industry would be too troublesome.

 

Another option is to purchase a computer with the Linux operating system installed.  Linux is an ‘open source’ product, meaning that it has been collaboratively developed by thousands of individuals.  It’s an amazingly powerful and flexible product.  It’s also free.  If you decide to use Linux, then you will be limited to running open source software packages, such as Open Office, which is basically a clone of Microsoft office.  Unfortunately there is a downside to Linux – it is not easy to get local technical support people who know it and it lacks many of the hardware drivers found on Windows.   Still, if you just need a computer for word processing, spreadsheets and web browsing, Linux is certainly a cheaper option than Windows 7 with Microsoft Office (which will set you back more than $400!)

 

In summary, the majority of us will be migrating to Windows 7.  If you have computers running Windows Vista,  then look seriously at paying for an upgrade to Windows 7... just make sure you get a knowledgeable computer technician to do the upgrade for you to ensure you do not lose any data.  If you have older computers running Windows XP, just leave them as they are... if they ain’t broke, don’t fix ‘em!  Finally, any new computer you purchase should have Windows 7 preinstalled... it is better to wait a month or two until these computers hit the market than try for an upgrade from Vista.