WIndow 7

With the release of Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 7, there is a wave of excitement through the IT industry and the end users.

It is a seamless upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows Vista, however, migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 is a more challenging task. The migration from Windows XP—close to 70% desktops run on it—to Windows 7 requires a clean install of the new operating system, and customers will need to re-install their applications and migrate their settings, configuration, playlists, bookmarks etc.

Our prediction is that 40% of those who are migrating to Windows 7 will require additional assistance of some kind. To eliminate the wastage of money and frustration that go with such migration, several Websites have come out with ready-reference and step-by-step guide to application migration.

If you are ready for an upgrade on your existing PC, first, take the Windows 7 Readiness test to check for the compatibility of your system configuration, like hardware compatibility, software compatibility and disk space requirements for the operating system. Second, audit the applications that are used by you and build a checklist with your settings and configuration that you would like to migrate.

If you are ready for a change, look beyond the headlines about interface tweaks and you'll find Windows 7 is crammed with lesser known, but still important, new and enhanced features, which, taken together, deliver improved performance and productivity, better troubleshooting, stronger security and a whole lot more. Our research cites that the current Windows Vista users (35%) were more excited about the Windows launch than the Windows XP users (29%). Although XP remains more capable for devices with limited memory and outdated graphics, Windows 7 performs better than Windows Vista. As PC becomes more central to our lives, how we use it at home, work and play has evolved dramatically after the launch of Windows XP. It's time for a change.