Should you upgrade to Windows 7?

Presented by:David F. Soll

Vice President and Chief Technology OfficerOmicron Consulting

• BackgroundBackground• What’s NewWhat’s New• A User’s Point of ViewA User’s Point of View• Some Nice StuffSome Nice Stuff• FrustrationsFrustrations• What Choice Do You HaveWhat Choice Do You Have• The Bottom LineThe Bottom Line

• Presenter: David SollPresenter: David Soll– Vice President & CTO, Omicron ConsultingVice President & CTO, Omicron Consulting– Working in computing for 30 yearsWorking in computing for 30 years– Experience with Windows dating back to 1989Experience with Windows dating back to 1989• Windows 2 and Windows 3 betaWindows 2 and Windows 3 beta

– Email: dsoll@omicron.comEmail: dsoll@omicron.com

• This presentation can be downloaded at:This presentation can be downloaded at:– http://home.comcast.net/~soll/http://home.comcast.net/~soll/

• Windows 7 is Microsoft’s newest desktop Windows 7 is Microsoft’s newest desktop operating systemoperating system– Built on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008Built on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008– Retail Release due out October 22, 2009Retail Release due out October 22, 2009

• Don’t Confuse Windows 7 with Office 2007Don’t Confuse Windows 7 with Office 2007– Office 2007 runs fine on Windows Vista, Windows Office 2007 runs fine on Windows Vista, Windows

XP & Windows 2000XP & Windows 2000– Office 2000, Office XP, & Office 2003 run fine on Office 2000, Office XP, & Office 2003 run fine on

Windows 7Windows 7

This is Word 2007 on Windows XP

This is Word 2007 on Windows 7

• Windows 1.x, 2.x, /286, /386Windows 1.x, 2.x, /286, /386– Never a commercial “hit”Never a commercial “hit”

• Windows 3.0, 3.1, and 3.11Windows 3.0, 3.1, and 3.11– 16 bit, ran on top of MS-DOS16 bit, ran on top of MS-DOS

• Windows NT 3.1 and 3.5Windows NT 3.1 and 3.5– First 32 bit Windows not First 32 bit Windows not

reliant on MS-DOSreliant on MS-DOS– Runs utilizing protected mode Runs utilizing protected mode

of the processorof the processor• Windows 95, 98, and MEWindows 95, 98, and ME

– 16 bit, still reliant on MS-DOS16 bit, still reliant on MS-DOS• Windows 2000Windows 2000

– Next generation of Windows Next generation of Windows NTNT

• Windows XPWindows XP– Built from Windows 2000Built from Windows 2000

• Windows Server 2003Windows Server 2003– Server only platform built with Server only platform built with

Windows XP & 2000 baseWindows XP & 2000 base• Windows VistaWindows Vista

– Built from Windows XP & Built from Windows XP & Server 2003Server 2003

– Major security changes from Major security changes from XP and Server 2003XP and Server 2003

– Many Look and Feel ChangesMany Look and Feel Changes• Windows Server 2008Windows Server 2008

– Server only platform built Server only platform built from Windows Server 2003 from Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vistaand Windows Vista

• Windows 7Windows 7– Built from Windows Vista and Built from Windows Vista and

Windows Server 2008Windows Server 2008– Improvements to UAC and Improvements to UAC and

other security mechanismsother security mechanisms

• Accessibility Accessibility • BitLockerBitLocker Drive Encryption Drive Encryption • Built-in Diagnostics Built-in Diagnostics • DirectX 10 DirectX 10 • Encrypting File System Encrypting File System • Explorers Explorers • Fast Sleep and Resume Fast Sleep and Resume • Flip and Flip 3D Flip and Flip 3D • Games Explorer Games Explorer • Instant Search Instant Search

• Internet Explorer 8Internet Explorer 8• Internet Explorer Dynamic Internet Explorer Dynamic

Security Protection Security Protection • Internet Explorer Parental Internet Explorer Parental

Controls Controls • Internet Explorer Protected Internet Explorer Protected

Mode Mode • Live Icons Live Icons • Microsoft Phishing Filter in Microsoft Phishing Filter in

Internet Explorer Internet Explorer • Network and Sharing Network and Sharing

Center Center • Network Diagnostics and Network Diagnostics and

Troubleshooting Troubleshooting

Notice the controls at the bottom thumbnail(i.e.: the Pause button)

• Find, fix, and share photosFind, fix, and share photos– Organize, edit, and share your favorite photos with family and Organize, edit, and share your favorite photos with family and

friends using Windows Photo Gallery.friends using Windows Photo Gallery.• Find almost anythingFind almost anything

– Find documents, e-mail, photos, and more in a snap through Find documents, e-mail, photos, and more in a snap through Instant Search.Instant Search.

• Turn any room into a media roomTurn any room into a media room– Manage and enjoy digital photos, music, TV shows, and movies Manage and enjoy digital photos, music, TV shows, and movies

in your living room with Windows Media Center.in your living room with Windows Media Center.• Play the way you wantPlay the way you want

– Easily install, organize, and play games using Windows Game Easily install, organize, and play games using Windows Game Explorer.Explorer.

• Make movie magicMake movie magic– Retain high-definition quality as you capture, edit, and publish Retain high-definition quality as you capture, edit, and publish

movies from a video camcorder with Windows Moviemovies from a video camcorder with Windows Movie

• Help your kids stay saferHelp your kids stay safer– Help keep your children safer online with customizable Parental Help keep your children safer online with customizable Parental

Controls.Controls.• Back up and restore filesBack up and restore files

– Get improved backup and restore functions, including Get improved backup and restore functions, including automatically scheduled backups, with Windows Backup and automatically scheduled backups, with Windows Backup and Restore Center.Restore Center.

• Help safeguard sensitive dataHelp safeguard sensitive data– Better protect your data against loss or theft if your mobile PC is Better protect your data against loss or theft if your mobile PC is

ever lost or stolen with Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption.ever lost or stolen with Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption.• Guard against external threatsGuard against external threats

– Help protect your PC from external threats with Windows Help protect your PC from external threats with Windows Firewall.Firewall.

• Find and remove spywareFind and remove spyware– Help protect your PC by regularly scanning your computer for Help protect your PC by regularly scanning your computer for

spyware with Windows Defender.spyware with Windows Defender.

• Most enhancements or new features in Vista Most enhancements or new features in Vista and Windows 7 are available to XPand Windows 7 are available to XP– Some as free downloadsSome as free downloads– Some as extra cost, third party productsSome as extra cost, third party products

• The biggest enhancements are:The biggest enhancements are:– SecuritySecurity– Look and FeelLook and Feel

• New Start MenuNew Start Menu– Search for programsSearch for programs– In-place expansionIn-place expansion

• GadgetsGadgets– Hundreds of free gadgets are availableHundreds of free gadgets are available

• AeroAero– Provides a very attractive displayProvides a very attractive display– Provides infrastructure forProvides infrastructure for• Translucent title barsTranslucent title bars• FlipFlip• Flip 3D (task switch)Flip 3D (task switch)• Thumbnail PreviewsThumbnail Previews

– Uses GPU to offload CPU and improve Uses GPU to offload CPU and improve performanceperformance

• Microsoft enhanced the security of Windows Microsoft enhanced the security of Windows Vista and Windows 7 over all previous versions of Vista and Windows 7 over all previous versions of WindowsWindows– This makes it harder for viruses and malware to install This makes it harder for viruses and malware to install

or spreador spread– It also makes it harder for legitimate softwareIt also makes it harder for legitimate software

• Lots of software will have to be upgradedLots of software will have to be upgraded

– Every time you install something, you presented with Every time you install something, you presented with annoying prompts (User Access Control)annoying prompts (User Access Control)• In Vista, UAC can be disabled, but you are reminded of it In Vista, UAC can be disabled, but you are reminded of it

every time that you log inevery time that you log in• In Windows 7, UAC can be configured to be less obtrusiveIn Windows 7, UAC can be configured to be less obtrusive

• Oh where, oh where did my options goOh where, oh where did my options go– Can’t find “Add Remove Programs”Can’t find “Add Remove Programs”• Now its “Programs and Features”Now its “Programs and Features”

– Wireless Networking configuration has changedWireless Networking configuration has changed• Supposed to be easierSupposed to be easier• I find it harder … it tries to read my mind and failsI find it harder … it tries to read my mind and fails

• But it worked in XP…But it worked in XP…– Many applications will have to be updated for Many applications will have to be updated for

Vista/Windows 7Vista/Windows 7

• Most Windows XP drivers won’t workMost Windows XP drivers won’t work– Fortunately, Windows 7 uses the same drivers as Fortunately, Windows 7 uses the same drivers as

VistaVista– Finding Vista/Windows 7 drivers for older Finding Vista/Windows 7 drivers for older

hardware may be difficulthardware may be difficult

• Resource UtilizationResource Utilization– Vista uses more memory than XPVista uses more memory than XP– Vista runs slower than XP (i.e.: it needs more CPU)Vista runs slower than XP (i.e.: it needs more CPU)– Aero Glass requires better video than XPAero Glass requires better video than XP

• FortunatelyFortunately– Windows 7 runs faster than VistaWindows 7 runs faster than Vista– Windows 7 is better on resources than VistaWindows 7 is better on resources than Vista

• You will still need “modern” hardwareYou will still need “modern” hardware

• Windows XP officially went off the market on Windows XP officially went off the market on June 30, 2008June 30, 2008– Some computer manufactures supplied XP until Some computer manufactures supplied XP until

January 31, 2009January 31, 2009– Some ultra-low cost machines will be available with Some ultra-low cost machines will be available with

XP until June 2010XP until June 2010• Mainstream support (i.e.: free) for XP was Mainstream support (i.e.: free) for XP was

terminated April 2009terminated April 2009• Extended support for XP (free for security fixes Extended support for XP (free for security fixes

and paid for other help) ends in 2014and paid for other help) ends in 2014• New hardware will likely have drivers for New hardware will likely have drivers for

Vista/Win7, but not for Windows XPVista/Win7, but not for Windows XP

• Windows 7 does provide a more secure, Windows 7 does provide a more secure, better looking user experience than XPbetter looking user experience than XP

• Windows 7 requires more up-to-date Windows 7 requires more up-to-date hardware than XPhardware than XP

• Windows 7 requires more memory than XPWindows 7 requires more memory than XP• Windows 7 may require upgrading Windows 7 may require upgrading

applicationsapplications• Support for XP has already started to fadeSupport for XP has already started to fade

• Windows 7 has been called the O/S that Vista Windows 7 has been called the O/S that Vista should have beenshould have been

• It Windows 7 is an improvement over VistaIt Windows 7 is an improvement over Vista– But does not have the huge internal changes from But does not have the huge internal changes from

Vista that Vista has from XPVista that Vista has from XP

• Recommendation: Look into Windows 7Recommendation: Look into Windows 7– You may not have a choiceYou may not have a choice

• Windows 7 Home PremiumWindows 7 Home Premium– Aero Glass & advanced Window navigationAero Glass & advanced Window navigation– Windows Touch (Multi-touch and handwriting support)Windows Touch (Multi-touch and handwriting support)– Windows Media CenterWindows Media Center– Internet Explorer 8: Web slices, accelerators, InPrivate Browsing Internet Explorer 8: Web slices, accelerators, InPrivate Browsing

• Windows 7 ProfessionalWindows 7 Professional– Domain JoinDomain Join– Group Policy ControlsGroup Policy Controls– Location Aware Printing Location Aware Printing – Encrypting File System Encrypting File System – Advanced BackupAdvanced Backup– Offline Folders Offline Folders – transparent caching, background sync for offline files transparent caching, background sync for offline files – Remote Desktop HostRemote Desktop Host– Windows Mobility CenterWindows Mobility Center

• Windows 7 EnterpriseWindows 7 Enterprise– DirectAccess keeps mobile users connected on the goDirectAccess keeps mobile users connected on the go– BranchCache makes file access fasterBranchCache makes file access faster– Search information on the PC, mail or SharePointSearch information on the PC, mail or SharePoint– BitLocker protects data on a PC and portable drivesBitLocker protects data on a PC and portable drives– AppLocker lets you control what user's can runAppLocker lets you control what user's can run– Virtual Desktop Infrastructure made betterVirtual Desktop Infrastructure made better