Should you upgrade to Windows 7? Presented by: David F. Soll Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Omicron Consulting

Background Background What’s New What’s New A User’s Point of View A User’s Point of View Some Nice Stuff Some Nice Stuff Frustrations Frustrations What Choice Do You Have What Choice Do You Have The Bottom Line The Bottom Line

Presenter: David Soll Presenter: David Soll – Vice President & CTO, Omicron Consulting – Working in computing for 30 years – Experience with Windows dating back to 1989 Windows 2 and Windows 3 beta Windows 2 and Windows 3 beta – This presentation can be downloaded at: This presentation can be downloaded at: –

Windows 7 is Microsoft’s newest desktop operating system Windows 7 is Microsoft’s newest desktop operating system – Built on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 – Retail Release due out October 22, 2009 Don’t Confuse Windows 7 with Office 2007 Don’t Confuse Windows 7 with Office 2007 – Office 2007 runs fine on Windows Vista, Windows XP & Windows 2000 – Office 2000, Office XP, & Office 2003 run fine on Windows 7

This is Word 2007 on Windows XP This is Word 2007 on Windows 7

Windows 1.x, 2.x, /286, /386 Windows 1.x, 2.x, /286, /386 – Never a commercial “hit” Windows 3.0, 3.1, and 3.11 Windows 3.0, 3.1, and 3.11 – 16 bit, ran on top of MS-DOS Windows NT 3.1 and 3.5 Windows NT 3.1 and 3.5 – First 32 bit Windows not reliant on MS-DOS – Runs utilizing protected mode of the processor Windows 95, 98, and ME Windows 95, 98, and ME – 16 bit, still reliant on MS-DOS Windows 2000 Windows 2000 – Next generation of Windows NT Windows XP Windows XP – Built from Windows 2000 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 – Server only platform built with Windows XP & 2000 base Windows Vista Windows Vista – Built from Windows XP & Server 2003 – Major security changes from XP and Server 2003 – Many Look and Feel Changes Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2008 – Server only platform built from Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows 7 – Built from Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 – Improvements to UAC and other security mechanisms

Accessibility Accessibility BitLocker Drive Encryption BitLocker 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 8 Internet Explorer 8 Internet Explorer Dynamic Security Protection Internet Explorer Dynamic Security Protection Internet Explorer Parental Controls Internet Explorer Parental Controls Internet Explorer Protected Mode Internet Explorer Protected Mode Live Icons Live Icons Microsoft Phishing Filter in Internet Explorer Microsoft Phishing Filter in Internet Explorer Network and Sharing Center Network and Sharing Center Network Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Network Diagnostics and Troubleshooting

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

Find, fix, and share photos Find, fix, and share photos – Organize, edit, and share your favorite photos with family and friends using Windows Photo Gallery. Find almost anything Find almost anything – Find documents, , photos, and more in a snap through Instant Search. Turn any room into a media room Turn any room into a media room – Manage and enjoy digital photos, music, TV shows, and movies in your living room with Windows Media Center. Play the way you want Play the way you want – Easily install, organize, and play games using Windows Game Explorer. Make movie magic Make movie magic – Retain high-definition quality as you capture, edit, and publish movies from a video camcorder with Windows Movie

Help your kids stay safer Help your kids stay safer – Help keep your children safer online with customizable Parental Controls. Back up and restore files Back up and restore files – Get improved backup and restore functions, including automatically scheduled backups, with Windows Backup and Restore Center. Help safeguard sensitive data Help safeguard sensitive data – Better protect your data against loss or theft if your mobile PC is ever lost or stolen with Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption. Guard against external threats Guard against external threats – Help protect your PC from external threats with Windows Firewall. Find and remove spyware Find and remove spyware – Help protect your PC by regularly scanning your computer for spyware with Windows Defender.

Most enhancements or new features in Vista and Windows 7 are available to XP Most enhancements or new features in Vista and Windows 7 are available to XP – Some as free downloads – Some as extra cost, third party products The biggest enhancements are: The biggest enhancements are: – Security – Look and Feel

New Start Menu New Start Menu – Search for programs – In-place expansion

Gadgets Gadgets – Hundreds of free gadgets are available

Aero Aero – Provides a very attractive display – Provides infrastructure for Translucent title bars Translucent title bars Flip Flip Flip 3D (task switch) Flip 3D (task switch) Thumbnail Previews Thumbnail Previews – Uses GPU to offload CPU and improve performance

Microsoft enhanced the security of Windows Vista and Windows 7 over all previous versions of Windows Microsoft enhanced the security of Windows Vista and Windows 7 over all previous versions of Windows – This makes it harder for viruses and malware to install or spread – It also makes it harder for legitimate software Lots of software will have to be upgraded Lots of software will have to be upgraded – Every time you install something, you presented with annoying prompts (User Access Control) In Vista, UAC can be disabled, but you are reminded of it every time that you log in In Vista, UAC can be disabled, but you are reminded of it every time that you log in In Windows 7, UAC can be configured to be less obtrusive In Windows 7, UAC can be configured to be less obtrusive

Oh where, oh where did my options go Oh where, oh where did my options go – Can’t find “Add Remove Programs” Now its “Programs and Features” Now its “Programs and Features” – Wireless Networking configuration has changed Supposed to be easier Supposed to be easier I find it harder … it tries to read my mind and fails I 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 Vista/Windows 7

Most Windows XP drivers won’t work Most Windows XP drivers won’t work – Fortunately, Windows 7 uses the same drivers as Vista – Finding Vista/Windows 7 drivers for older hardware may be difficult

Resource Utilization Resource Utilization – Vista uses more memory than XP – Vista runs slower than XP (i.e.: it needs more CPU) – Aero Glass requires better video than XP Fortunately Fortunately – Windows 7 runs faster than Vista – Windows 7 is better on resources than Vista You will still need “modern” hardware You will still need “modern” hardware

Windows XP officially went off the market on June 30, 2008 Windows XP officially went off the market on June 30, 2008 – Some computer manufactures supplied XP until January 31, 2009 – Some ultra-low cost machines will be available with XP until June 2010 Mainstream support (i.e.: free) for XP was terminated April 2009 Mainstream support (i.e.: free) for XP was terminated April 2009 Extended support for XP (free for security fixes and paid for other help) ends in 2014 Extended support for XP (free for security fixes and paid for other help) ends in 2014 New hardware will likely have drivers for Vista/Win7, but not for Windows XP New hardware will likely have drivers for Vista/Win7, but not for Windows XP

Windows 7 does provide a more secure, better looking user experience than XP Windows 7 does provide a more secure, better looking user experience than XP Windows 7 requires more up-to-date hardware than XP Windows 7 requires more up-to-date hardware than XP Windows 7 requires more memory than XP Windows 7 requires more memory than XP Windows 7 may require upgrading applications Windows 7 may require upgrading applications Support for XP has already started to fade Support for XP has already started to fade

Windows 7 has been called the O/S that Vista should have been Windows 7 has been called the O/S that Vista should have been It Windows 7 is an improvement over Vista It Windows 7 is an improvement over Vista – But does not have the huge internal changes from Vista that Vista has from XP Recommendation: Look into Windows 7 Recommendation: Look into Windows 7 – You may not have a choice

Windows 7 Home Premium Windows 7 Home Premium – Aero Glass & advanced Window navigation – Windows Touch (Multi-touch and handwriting support) – Windows Media Center – Internet Explorer 8: Web slices, accelerators, InPrivate Browsing Windows 7 Professional Windows 7 Professional – Domain Join – Group Policy Controls – Location Aware Printing – Encrypting File System – Advanced Backup – Offline Folders – transparent caching, background sync for offline files – Remote Desktop Host – Windows Mobility Center Windows 7 Enterprise Windows 7 Enterprise – DirectAccess keeps mobile users connected on the go – BranchCache makes file access faster – Search information on the PC, mail or SharePoint – BitLocker protects data on a PC and portable drives – AppLocker lets you control what user's can run – Virtual Desktop Infrastructure made better