Microsoft has released its new version of operating system (OS) known as windows, the sizzling-hot windows 7. It was made available in general retail last October 22, 2009, and it was an astonishing success, beating even Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the biggest-grossing pre-order product of all time. Many reviews soon came into the web blogging windows7 favorably. But we can still ask this question: Is windows7 any good?

            To answer this question, we need to compare it with the previous versions of windows. The earliest proven stable version of windows is windows xp, which came into the scene last 2003. Judging this new OS, it is quite better compared to the DOS-built windows 90 series. However, it was recently discovered that windows xp do have major security flaws enabling hackers and crackers to loot valuable information from the computer. With these, the company started to develop a new version that would settle the security issues (and other minor software issues) – windows vista. Windows vista at first grabbed public attention, but as people discover the extravagant hardware requirements of the new OS and incompatibility issues with third-party manufacturers, they started to bring their thumbs down. But despite this, it was later revealed (by software nerds) that indeed, windows vista is superior compared to windows xp in terms of performance and productivity. And many people really bought the idea, as the number of windows vista users exceeded that of windows xp.

Many people believe that the newest version, windows7, is another “new” OS that would replace windows vista. But as a matter of fact, windows7 was intended as an upgrade to windows vista. And if one would dissect it, he or she will learn that some of the features initially bundled with windows vista are no longer present in windows7. Is windows7 any good? Well, we can at least answer that question in terms of performance and efficiency. According to software testing sites, windows7 beat windows xp and vista in terms of start up and shut down speed. The same is true in terms of document loading and handling. However, it was found that windows7 failed to beat windows xp in terms of video editing efficiency, with capability at par with windows vista. If you are going to ask its new features, well, the new OS comes with a multi-touch capability and handwriting recognition. It also has improved system that would allow better performance of multi-core processors and virtual hard drives.

            Is windows7 any good? Maybe it depends on the user’s requirements. But as a suggestion, availing such new OS can be treated as an investment in the future. Why? The hardware sector is evolving more and more, and old OS may not be able to comply with the needs. An example of this would be the emergence of multi-core processors. Windows7 can manage multi-core processor well compared to the previous windows versions. As such, everyone can say that it is alright to rate windows7 as good, nevertheless.