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Should I Switch From Windows XP To Windows 7? |
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Monday, 23 November 2009 |
As of the time of this entry, Windows XP still has 63.3% of the market share for operating systems. It has this much despite Microsoft's recent attempts at rolling out the "next big thing". This means it is currently the most widely use OS. Hundreds of patches, fixes and security updates have been rolled out since its creation. Many of these updates have been packaged together in bundles called Service Packs for simple installation. Since its release in October 2001, users have become quite comfortable with its look and feel. PC gamers tend to find it has the driver support they need. Just when everyone became settled in and used to it, Vista was released and many of the old problems came crawling back.
Windows 7 is very promising with its slimmed down kernel, but it will take time before it supports the things people are used to, especially for gamers. Thankfully, Microsoft responded to user feedback and complaints before developing 7. This means that while it is still new, it has the potential to be just as good, if not better than XP. For now, there is no shame in continuing to use XP because Microsoft has decided to extend support for it by changing the life-cycle policy from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2010. By then, Windows 7 should be better developed with more updates and have a solid set of drivers.
It is important to note that XP has to be erased completely for Win7 to be installed. Some options for people wanting to switch now include purchasing an upgrade, partitioning the hard drive to make a dual-boot or purchasing a new computer pre-loaded with 7. The last 2 options would allow users to keep XP but still get a taste of the new offerings at the same time.
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