Linda posted on October 22, 2009 08:00
Today is the day - the official launch of Windows7, Microsoft’s new operating system, and with all the advertising buzz that Microsoft has created, many business owners are looking to know more about it. Here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts for helping to determine whether or not a Windows 7 upgrade makes sense for you.
DO – Find out if all your software programs will be compatible. Anytime Microsoft creates a new operating system, software companies often scramble to make their package work properly with it so there are no errors, glitches, or data corruption (a.k.a “your information deleted”). Some software companies are faster and better at this than others, so be sure to check with your software manufacturer to make sure you won’t end up with more problems than when you started.
DON’T – Hold back from getting the new computers you need. Maybe you want to wait until Windows 7 has been out awhile to make sure the bugs get worked out. Or, maybe it’s because you’re worried about buying a computer now that will be considered “old” when Windows 7 is officially released. Good news is: you don’t have to wait. For a limited time, when you buy from Microsoft-approved vendors, your new computer purchase will come with the ability to upgrade to Windows 7 for free, giving you the flexibility to have the upgrade option now and install it when you choose. Also, if you participate in Microsoft’s “Software Assurance” program for your operating system, you’ll be entitled to the new version for free as well.
DO – Know how to “shake” it. Have you ever had a bunch of windows open on your computer and felt like it was out of control and you couldn’t find anything? Then Windows 7 might be for you. Because it is designed to really save time for people who work on multiple documents, spreadsheets, and/or web pages at once, it solves this problem by simply shaking your mouse and make all those open Windows drop to the bottom of the screen and clear up your workspace. In addition to the “shake” feature, Windows 7 also makes it easier to view and use two programs side-by-side with just one click.
DON’T – Expect miracles. Windows 7 does make using your computer faster, since many of the features Microsoft has rolled out to help business owners and their teams work on multiple tasks at once easier than ever before. Initial studies are showing that it might add 1-2 hours of productivity to your week over previous versions. But if you expect Windows 7 to actually do the work for you, you may be disappointed!