New
#1
Upgrading from Sony Vaio running Vista
I'm in Japan, and I have a Sony VAIO notebook, Model VGN-AR52DB, which I bought in Japan about 5 years ago. The computer has an Intel Core 2 CPU; T5500 @ 1.66 GHz; 2046 MB RAM; 32 bit OS; Direct X 10; Phoenix NoteBIOS 4.0, Release 6.1.
I've never used the computer much, mainly because it runs Vista (Home Premium), which I don't like. The computer is still in great shape, so I was thinking of upgrading to Windows 7 (or maybe 8?).
The Microsoft website tells me that if I want to run Windows 7, I need a 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) processor; 1 GB RAM; and DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver.
So it looks like the computer will handle Windows 7. Right? (But I'm not sure what the "WDDM 1.0" signifies....) My main question is this: Given the above-mentioned specs, would Windows 7 (either Home Premium or Professional) run alright on my Sony VAIO VGN-AR52DB?
Also, for the new Windows 8, the minimum hardware requirements also appear to be IA-32 architecture; 1 GHz (with PAE, NX and SSE2 support) processor; 1 GB RAM; and DirectX 9 graphics device, again "with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver."
Here, I'm not sure what the "with PAE, NX and SSE2 support" means.
Question #2: Would Windows 8 also run on my machine and, if so, would it be better to wait and get Windows 8, or just go with Windows 7?