10 Reasons to switch to Windows 7

10 Reasons to switch to Windows 7

Some people still use Windows XP - even if it's 10 years old now. The support will end in April 2014 but there are 7 main reasons why not to use it these days.

#1. Security
Windows 7 is way more secure than Windows XP; it has two completely different user profiles; normal user and admin. In Windows XP you have this as well but as a normal user you will have a lot of trouble running your system without any problems. Another thing that is missing in WinXP is Data Execution Prevention and the Address Layout Randomization.

#2. Speed
Windows XP and Windows Vista need a lot of time to start up. Windows 7 does this in a faster way plus gives you a lot of abbreviations while using it, like running a program through the search box in the startmenu.

#3. Hardware Support
Latest hardware needs the latest operating system. Some people think it was this way back in the 90s when you had to buy Windows 98 to get USB support (didn't really work in Win95C) just as an example. Nowadays it's the same situation: If you want to use SSD's, HDD's >2TB or 'just' a lot of RAM, then you need Windows 7. Windows XP can't handle all of this at all.

#4. Software Support
Sure, most programs still work with Windows XP, but some features require Windows 7. Even Microsoft stopped shipping their Internet Explorer or Media Player for it. Same will happen with other software developers as well.

#5. Stability
How many bluescreens did we have with WinXP? Maybe 10? Maybe 100? Did you ever see one running Windows 7? No? It's because Windows 7 uses a newer kernel than Windows XP; this one can handle driver crashes and other stuff.

#6. Comfort
Aero. It doesn't just look nice; no, it even makes EVERYTHING easier like handling window management with Aero Snap. The Superbar brings a ton of new features that make the OS feel the round way.

#7. Configuration
Did you notice that no-one defrags his HDD anymore? No? It's because Windows 7 does this job in the background so that you don't need to care for that anymore. Now you might say: Ouuh, defragging, so outdated. Ok, now take a search on your Windows XP machine and see how long it takes to find some files or programs.

#8. Greater stability
Unlike Windows Vista, most hardware and software is readily compatible with Windows 7 and will work right out of the box, with no need to download and install additional drivers. Happily, in instances where necessary, locating and adding these updates to your PC proves a relatively painless procedure.

#9. Upgrading from XP is easy
If you are one of those who switched back to XP after your terrible encounter with Vista, and aren’t sure about upgrading to Win 7, then here’s the good news - it has been built in a way that it supports most of the apps supported by XP and so upgrading isn’t that difficult.

#10. XP Mode and Virtualization.
All of your applications should run fine on Windows 7 if they run on XP. 7 also has built-in virtualization with Virtual PC if you purchase the Ultimate or the Enterprise version.