| Some people are wondering whether they should | | | | a card that runs DX 9 should do the job. If you have |
| make the move to Windows 7 or if they should | | | | installed a more basic 2D GUI, you should be able to |
| keep Vista or the venerable Windows XP. Now that | | | | get by with a CPU running at 700 MHz |
| Windows 7 has been officially released to the market | | | | For Mac, Apple is obviously going to tell you that you |
| after a very long Beta period, we now have | | | | need a Mac to run OS X 10.6. As mentioned earlier, |
| sufficient knowledge about it and acquaintance with it | | | | there are ways to run this operating system on a |
| to help you make a decision. | | | | PC, but that's not what we're talking about here. Still, |
| To begin with, most readers are probably well aware | | | | your Macintosh must have an Intel CPU with at least |
| that Microsoft has been sputtering in the Operating | | | | 1 gigabyte of memory and a 5 GB of hard drive |
| System arena since they made the decision to cancel | | | | space. Unless you're skilled at magic, you will need a |
| support for XP. Both Windows Millennium and | | | | DVD drive to load the DVD (DUH!). Virtually all Macs |
| Microsoft Vista are viewed as failed Windows | | | | will run 64-bit except for the core Solo model and |
| versions, much to the frustration of PC users stuck | | | | the Mac mini from a few years ago. You can give up |
| with them on OEM computers. This accounts for the | | | | hope of running the new Mac OS on a non-Intel unit. |
| high hopes shoppers have placed in Windows 7. Even | | | | Upgrading |
| though Microsoft Windows 7 is about the only OS | | | | Let's look at how operating system upgrades work |
| available on a new PC desktop or notebook | | | | with Windows 7 compared to the others, most |
| computer, the existing user base is still reluctant to | | | | notably upgrading from Windows XP. The majority of |
| upgrade to Windows 7 based on the bad failures of | | | | Windows users are using XP right now. These users |
| recent history. | | | | can get a license to upgrade to Windows 7, but all |
| Alternative Operating Systems | | | | that will accomplish is saving money. Because of the |
| Computer users should be aware that more choices | | | | differences in the two systems, you just won't be |
| are available for their computer OS than just | | | | able to upgrade XP in a way that your programs will |
| Windows. For instance, the most recent version of | | | | still work. This is pretty lousy, especially for users |
| Ubuntu's Linux compilation (version 9.10) has gained | | | | with tons of programs and files on their computer |
| impressive traction among power users and regular | | | | who aren't interested in doing a fresh installation of |
| users alike. Apple's new OS, OS X 10.6, is well | | | | the new Windows followed by re-installing all their |
| received for the latest Macs. Also, since Macintoshes | | | | software. XP users need to be very careful when |
| are now x86 devices, power users are becoming | | | | considering making the move to 7. Should you have |
| proficient at modifying OS X 10.6 for use on regular | | | | the need for Windows 7, you could try a program |
| computers (we will not go into that here). While | | | | that allows you to choose operating systems at boot |
| assessing the competition for Microsoft Windows 7, | | | | or use your BIOS to swap between boot drives; |
| it is vital to include other Microsoft Windows varieties | | | | otherwise, you are going to be stuck either with |
| such as Windows XP (what most computers are still | | | | losing programs or with Windows XP. |
| using and Microsoft Windows Vista. | | | | If you're trying to move to Windows 7 from Vista, |
| It's really not feasible to compare Windows 7 with | | | | then you're in good shape because the upgrade |
| Mac OS or Ubuntu. Let's face it, very few computer | | | | actually works quite well, preserving your applications. |
| users are ever going to change to Macintosh and | | | | Also, driver compatibility isn't a show stopper; you |
| vice versa. While Ubuntu Linux is increasing in | | | | won't be in a mess in case a driver for 7 doesn't |
| popularity, its user base is still very small, and its | | | | exist yet for one of your devices. Because of the |
| functionality is too limited for it to gain any | | | | "improvements" made to resource management in |
| prevalence. Still, these other operating systems will be | | | | Windows 7, users are told to expect a noticeable |
| discussed here as much as possible. | | | | performance difference on the same machine after |
| Hardware requirements | | | | upgrading. |
| A good method to evaluate operating systems for | | | | Apple users with the old Mac platform are not going |
| review is the hardware required to run it. Certainly, | | | | to be able to upgrade to the latest OS X. This puts a |
| older operating systems like Windows XP have | | | | large percentage of users behind the 8 ball, but - as |
| requirements that appear useless. Pretty much all | | | | with Microsoft - such is the cost of progress. |
| computers that still function will run Windows XP (of | | | | Assuming you have an Intel platform, you should |
| course we know that there must be a few left that | | | | expect a smooth upgrade. |
| won't even run Windows 3.1). The hardware | | | | Ubuntu, of course, has the easiest upgrade path, but |
| necessary to run Vista is dependent on the version | | | | that won't be of much help since most computer |
| that you are using. For Vista Home Basic, you need a | | | | users don't use it. |
| CPU that runs at least 1 GHz, has 512 MB of RAM | | | | Drivers |
| and a video adapter that is capable of running DX 9 | | | | The pandemonium that surrounded Microsoft's |
| and having 32 MB of video memory. Hard drive space | | | | release of Vista was caused by its failure to ensure |
| required is 15 GB. For other versions, the | | | | driver availability for existing computer devices. |
| requirements are the same, except that you need at | | | | Because of the lessons learned from Vista and from |
| least 1 GB of RAM and at least 128 MB of video | | | | the amazingly long beta for Windows 7, the |
| memory on your video adapter. | | | | availability of Windows 7 drivers is not considered to |
| You'll see that the Windows 7 requirements are | | | | be a serious problem especially since Vista drivers will |
| somewhat like those of Windows Vista, although | | | | usually work. |
| they vary somewhat between the 32 and 64-bit | | | | Have you ever noticed that Mac users don't |
| versions. 32 bit installations require 1 GB of memory, | | | | experience the driver nightmares that PC users do? |
| while the 64 bit version requires 2 GB. The 32-bit | | | | There's a reason for that. The only driver problems |
| version of Windows 7 requires at least 16 GB of hard | | | | you should expect to have are those resulting from a |
| drive space while the 64-bit edition needs 20 GB. For | | | | migration from PC to Mac because some PC |
| both flavors you also need a video adapter that will | | | | hardware does not have a compatible Mac driver |
| run DirectX nine with WDDM 1. 0. You probably could | | | | available. |
| guess that you need to be able to read the media | | | | If you have ever used Ubuntu, you know that you |
| (such as DVD) that the operating system comes on. | | | | will be in driver hell, so there's really no talking about |
| Trying to figure out the specific requirements for | | | | it. Most of your older hardware will work with no |
| Ubuntu Linux can be very difficult because of the | | | | problems, but the lack of Ubuntu drivers for current |
| different optional installation modes that are available. | | | | hardware is one of the most troubling aspects of the |
| If you are going to use a 3-D interface like Compiz, | | | | OS. People using Ubuntu probably won't even care, |
| you will need at least a 1.2 GHz CPU, 8 GB of hard | | | | since they are used to their stuff not working. The |
| drive space and 384 MB of RAM. You obviously will | | | | first person to get a decent Linux release that will be |
| have to have a graphics card but it is hard to | | | | usable for the average computer owner; it might get |
| determine what the minimum requirement is, though | | | | a footing in the OS market. |