Versions: Which Should
You Choose?
Microsoft offers numerous versions of the Windows 7 operating system and with all the choices it is easy to be overwhelmed. There are six versions of Windows 7: Starter, Home Basic (developing markets only), Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate. However, for all intents and purposes most private users and business owners should concentrate on the Big Three versions if they intend to get the most out of the OS.
Windows 7 Home Premium: Home Premium is the standard version of Windows 7 that ships with most retail computers. Home Premium offers all of the standard features that casual users should need from the OS but it does have a number of shortcomings, most notably in the security department. While home users shouldn't worry about the lack of advanced encryption features offered by the more advanced software versions businesses should take heed and upgrade accordingly. One final note about Home Premium is that it does not support Windows XP Mode.
Windows 7 Professional: Windows 7 Professional is the entry level tier for businesses. Professional offers all the features of Home Premium but ads support for Windows XP Mode, Domain Join, and added Network backup features. XP Mode offers a virtualized copy of Windows XP which can be accessed at anytime from within the OS. This feature enables advanced backwards compatibility with existing software and drivers. Domain Join is a new feature of Windows 7 that allows computer to remotely connect to an office network without the need of a separate VPN and expedites the ease with which telecommuters are able to complete their daily tasks. Windows 7 Professional is ideal for the home office.
Windows 7 Ultimate/ Enterprise: Even though you will see Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise released under different names they are the same version and only differ in volume pricing. Windows 7 Ultimate provides the all the features of Windows 7 Professional but goes one step further and features the encryption program BitLocker. BitLocker is an enterprise level antitheft program for your business data. BitLocker helps keep everything from documents to passwords safer by encrypting the entire drive that Windows and your data reside on. Once BitLocker is turned on, any file you save on that drive is encrypted automatically.
Before you upgrade...
Even though Windows 7 represents a leap forward in technology of computer security, there are a number of things that you should consider. Above all else, realize that an OS upgrade requires care and preparation. Before you order the upgrade you business needs to have a backup system in place for network and personal computer information. For optimum performance Windows 7 should only be installed from a clean format which means all information on your hard drives must first be cleared. Because of this it is recommended that Windows 7 only be installed by a qualified technician. Finally, understand the benefits and limitations of 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems. As outlined earlier every copy of Windows 7 ships with both versions but you should not make your selection lightly. While the 64-bit version of the OS offers strong backwards compatibility it does not have the complete driver library that its 32-bit counterpart does. Additionally, most office computers are unlikely to benefit from a true 64-bit OS and so the extra computing ability may be unnecessary.
If you are still unsure which version is right for you, call us at
212-242-2949 and one of our techs will be sure to guide you through the selection process.
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