Windows 7Better than Windows XP and Windows Vista?

By: Jerry Hendrick

Is Windows 7 a suitable replacement for Windows XP and Windows Vista?

Many PC users never made the switch from Windows XP to Windows Vista because of its negative reputation. Vista had a bad rap and many flaws that turned users away from Window’s newest operating system. Now, Windows has released its new operating system, Windows 7. With so much new technology, networks, and home media, will Windows 7 be a suitable replacement operating system for XP than Vista was?

Windows 7 Wins Hearts in User Ratings!!!

The following websites had an overwhelming number of user reviews that ranked Windows 7 over Windows XP and Vista:

PcWorld Microsoft Maximum PC Yahoo Answers

In order to find out the pros and cons of Windows 7 for myself, I decided to install and run Windows 7 on my own computer. I already had Windows XP running on another computer and Windows Vista running on two separate computers. I rated the system based on Drivers, Speed, Windows Media Center, and Navigation.

Test Systems:System 1- Custom Built Computer with Dual Core

processor and 4GB RAM• Hard drive set up with two partitions::• Windows XP Professional 32-bit • Windows 7 Corporate 64-bit.

System 2- Gateway computer with quad-core processor and 4 GB RAM

• Windows Vista 64-bit Edition

Windows XP:Drivers Downloaded:

Basic

Manual Drivers to be downloaded:

graphics card

network card

all other accessories

Windows 7:Drivers Downloaded:

Most Devices

Manual Drivers to be Downloaded:

specialty items

Who Won the Race?

1st Place: Windows 7

2nd Place: Windows XP

3rd Place: Windows Vista

Windows XP:First Version of Windows Media Center. Virtually

unusable.

Windows Vista and Windows 7:

Same basic concept on both. Allows your computer to organize and play all of your media files into a nice interactive interface with remote controls and a TV tuner card. With the TV tuner card, I am able to hook my Gateway computer directly to my television and entertainment system. I can then use my computer to record and watch television, play music, stream Netflix and other movies directly to my television.

As far as navigation goes, many users agree that they are comfortable with the Windows XP format. Windows Vista came with a completely different look than Windows XP which made some users uncomfortable and not want to make the switch in operating systems. Windows 7 has a look and feel to it that is very similar to Windows Vista, but also brought back some favorite features for browsing.

Windows XP Windows 7

Windows Vista

Although Windows Vista was not a suitable replacement for Windows XP, for me and for many other users as well, Windows 7 is. Compared to both operating systems, it has more to offer such as Clear qam for digital television support, automatic device downloading, and smooth interactive features. Windows 7 is both a suitable replacement for Windows XP and a better operating system than Windows Vista

Brozio, Kristofer. “Windows Xp vs Vista vs 7.”TestFreaks. 15 September 2009. web. 17 February 2010http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/information/windows-xp-vs-vista-vs-7/

McCracken, Harry. “The State of Windows 7 Satisfaction.”Technologizer. 30 November 2009. web. 18 February 2010http://technologizer.com/2009/11/30/windows-7-survey/

McCraken, Harry. “Windows XP Users: We Still Love XP and Loathe Vista, But Windows 7 Looks Impressive.”

PcWorld. 17 August 2009. web. 17 February 2010http://www.pcworld.com/article/170291/

windows_xp_users_we_still_love_xp_and_lothevista_but_windows_7_looks_impressive.html

Smith, Will. “Windows 7 Review: XP vs Vista vs 7 in 80+ Benchmarks.”MaximumPC. 19 October 2009. web. 18 February 2010Http://www.maximumpc.com/article/reviews/windows_7_review