8 Reasons To Switch To Windows 7 (If You Haven’t Already)

Recently, CNET reported that Windows 7 has captured ten percent of the personal computer market. That means, now, 1 in 10 computers worldwide runs on Windows 7.

There are no doubts about the fact that Windows 7 was received with open arms by not only the average computer user, but also by people who jump on every opportunity of criticizing Microsoft. The company drew a lot of flak for Vista, and a huge number of PC users were so frustrated that they went back to XP. But Windows 7 changed the game altogether.

Being a user of Windows 7 for the last few months, I have personally found it to be a great improvement to its predecessors. If you are still contemplating a switch to Windows 7 and have some doubts in mind then this article aims to clear the air.

Check out these 8 reasons and see if they convince you to make the switch.

1. Best operating system by Microsoft to date
   Yes, that's true. And you don't have to take my word for it. Do your research, scour through tech journals, talk to computer geeks and you'll get the same answer. Windows 7 is the best Windows version till date in all aspects, and the great thing is most of the software and tools that work in Vista should work in this OS too.

• Taskbar & Jump Lists
  Windows 7 introduced a lot of new features and enhancements, and the taskbar is one of them. In fact, it is probably the best new feature. You could quickly pin programs to the taskbar, slide and arrange items, and do much more.

Another great new feature called jumplists makes it easy to quickly jump to the frequently used folders and files. There are third-part tools too, like the Jumplist Launcher that let you build customized jumplists.

• Better security & interface
  Significant improvements have been made to the user interface, and it looks stylish and better. Features like Aero Snap and Aero Peek make it fun working in the new operating system. 

Security has been enhanced too. They have taken care of the User Account Control feature, one of the biggest annoyances of Vista users. In Windows 7, it is more flexible and you can actually choose the alert level for User Account Controls.

• Speed
  I have to tell you, one of the best things about Windows 7 is speed. I like how quickly I get to the welcome screen after I press the start button. And not just that, I can feel the difference when I am working with different applications. It's performance is definitely much better than Vista. 

• Better integration with hardware
  Windows 7 supports advanced hardware like touchscreens, is compatible with different kinds of computer parts (much better than Vista) and automatically installs device drivers for new hardware. 

• 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 Windows 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 hence upgrading isn't that difficult. 

• The XP Mode
  If you do find a program which you use frequently on XP and it refuses to run on Windows 7, then you could use the Windows 7 XP mode to run Windows XP in a virtual mode right inside Windows 7. Cool, isn't it? 

• Many more new features
  So far, what I've talked about is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a number of other enhancements and features which you'll discover once you start using it. Windows 7 is basically a complete overhaul of Vista and Microsoft has left no stone unturned to eliminate the Vista woes through this new OS. 

In my next article, I'll talk about some of the things you need to check before you go on to upgrade to Windows 7. Once you've read that article too, you could decide if it's the right OS for your PC.

Cheers,

Abhijeet

Written on 5/25/2010 by Abhijeet Mukherjee. Abhijeet is a blogger and web publisher from India. He loves all things tech as long as it aids in productivity. He edits Guiding Tech, a blog that publishes useful guides, tutorials and tools. Check it out and subscribe to its feed if you like the site. You can also find him on Twitter.

Photo Credit: fukapon