Windows 7? Don't Upgrade, Buy A New PC

[Night Hawk]

David Coursey
Friday, October 16, 2009 6:48 AM PDT

Windows 7? Don't Upgrade, Buy A New PC

Here is the very best advice for Windows XP users considering an upgrade to Windows 7: Don't do it.
Windows 7's biggest failing is that upgrading from XP requires reinstalling applications and moving personal data around. And who looks forward to doing that?

There are good technical reasons why Microsoft chose this path. However, for average XP users and many businesses, such a difficult upgrade makes Windows 7 a non-starter. Users that are more proficient will make the upgrade at their own peril, just make sure you have application install disks handy.
Yes, you can upgrade from XP to Windows 7, but is it really worth it?

No!

Just buy an inexpensive new Win7 machine instead. Hardware has improved a great deal since many of our XP machines were purchased. Money for a Windows 7 upgrade is better spent on a new computer that comes with it preinstalled. In terms of time, trouble, and a happy user experience, this is the best way to get Windows 7.

This course may, however, require purchase of new applications. That needs to be factored in and may suggest that doing nothing right now is the prudent approach. Given a choice between upgrading Microsoft Office and upgrading to Windows 7, I would choose Office.

(If you still want to upgrade from XP to Windows 7, here is our "how-to" guide. But, don't write later saying you hadn't been warned).

More at: Windows 7? Don't Upgrade, Buy A New PC - Business Center - PC World

 

[Zen00]

Wouldn't having to clean install, and having to buy a new PC amount to the same thing?

 

[starwolf1336]

I dont like the idea of upgrading to a newer OS. A fresh clean install makes me feel good inside. To me that means less mistakes, and cleans out all the clutter and garbage from your previous OS state.

 

[Night Hawk]

The obvious conclusion I came to when getting a 95 upgrade disk to move up from 3.1 was a clean install at the time then. When 98 came along a nice clean fresh install with a full version disk was the next step! Later XP had a home on a totally separate drive at first for that one to be later followed by Vista.

Presently two separate HDs here were wiped clean in preparation for 7! 7 will obviously be a clean installation on one while some virtualization projects will likely end up on the other. But 7 retail will have it's own clean start just the same!

 

[macgyver2]

sounds like a sales pitch to buy computers to me.

 

[Crypto]

Im planing to buy a lappy next month, Im thinking of the free upgrade offer to get to 7. But meanwhile, iv got a 7 pro license that i can use for the lap, but if i do a clean install of pro, how can i install the software that came pre installed with Vista.

can someone give me an idea about this.

P.S : Im planing to get a Compaq CQ60-404CA

 

[Night Hawk]

You'll lose out on the preinstalled softwares if you perform a clean install rather then an upgrade. A clean install or custom install will simply pack everything up from the Vista installation into the Windows.old folder. Then you would need to buy each program separately.

The one thing the article misses there is taking into consideration how old your present system is when advising buying a totally new one. That tries to point out your present system is outdated while you might have only recent bought or built a new one for Vista. Plus it fails to take into consideration those on a tight budget like stucdents for one example where the cost of a new one is out of reach while in school and not out working.

 

[poin2]

I do think it makes sense for some to indeed look at new computers right now.

Someone sitting on an 8-year-old XP computer and upgrading to Windows 7 should probably save that $100 (give or take) and put it to a new "low end" computer that includes Windows 7.

The new computer might be a little absurd for students who can make do with the $30 deal though.

The big mistake would be to pay to upgrade to 7 then decide in 3 months to toss the computer and get a new one....

 

[noyb]

Another thing to think about ..
If the computer does not have the software installed that it came with ...
the warranty may be void.
And support may be a problem because it no longer has the OEM support tools.

HP was going to rebate the Vista install in my newest computer because they couldn't get it to work.
But they warned me that my warranty was void if I upgraded it back to XP

So, I kept vista to make them happy .. and installed XP to make me happy.

I've been watching the HP Site .. To see when they upgrade their models to W7

 

[Night Hawk]

Well like I saying before you're still going to be seeing new machines in stores with Vista on them for awhile yet since 7 will be just be coming out. As far as buying a new machine with 7 on it once available that would be for an outdated XP system that's been around for over 3yrs. now simply to play catch hardware wise.

I have a friend who will be ordering a new machine for his oldest kid in late January early Feb. where he will insist on the latest OS(7 being the case) being on it! But he also knows that for Vista or 7 he will be forced to upgrade out of his present XP build for his own upgrade.

 

[Crypto]

Best Buy loads up for Windows 7 launch

___________________

I talked to an HP lady and this is what she told,

Not entirely sure at this stage (I'm waiting for confirmation on some of the finer details from the HP Online Store) BUT, I would recommend checking the hpdirect.com store after 10/18 when it will be updated with all the models that will have Windows 7. If you want to purchase before 10/18 then we offer a FREE upgrade to windows 7 once it becomes available that you can use to update after your purchase.

___________________


I would like to get a Vista pre-installed machine so i can later order the shiny upgrade disk, havent touched or bought a genuine Disk after Windows 95

 

[noyb]

I was in BBuys Thursday ..
and the geeks had several HP Laptops lined up with a strange Progress screen running on them.

I asked .. "What's the HP's doing" ... He said "We're wiping the HD"
Then I asked .."Why don't you use the recovery routine"

He had a blank look for a second .. then said .. "We have a disc to do that"

I suspect they were reloading them with W7 and didn't want to say that.

 

[stormy13]

I was in BBuys Thursday ..
and the geeks had several HP Laptops lined up with a strange Progress screen running on them.

I asked .. "What's the HP's doing" ... He said "We're wiping the HD"
Then I asked .."Why don't you use the recovery routine"

He had a blank look for a second .. then said .. "We have a disc to do that"

I suspect they were reloading them with W7 and didn't want to say that.

And then try and charge anyone buying them the ever popular $100 or so "setup fee".

 

[noyb]

Probably .. I didn't think of that.

Later .. I asked a Geek how much were they going to charge to install Mail for the non geekys
He didn't know what I was talking about.

 

[BeechV35Pilot]

And support may be a problem because it no longer has the OEM support tools.

Depending on the OEM these tools are often located in their own, separate hard drive partition, impervious to a reformat/reload of the system partition.

Personally I also enjoy the task of periodically reformatting and reloading. It is the bidet of home computers...

 

[noyb]

If I worked answering the OEM support Emails ..
Or answering the phone for an ISP’s help ... Or at BBuys …

I would have scheduled a nice Long vacation for Oct 23rd.

I see that the HP Shopping Site is upgrading their models ..

 

[Crypto]

Do you think bestbuy shops will still sell Vista installed Notebooks ?
Will they clear up all the Vista machines ?

 

[Zen00]

They finally released the Win7 drivers for my laptop, so I did a clean install yesterday.

 

[Night Hawk]

Being the latest Windows out of course you will see them upgrade the OS depending which retail chain it is. They want to be able to line up the display case with 7 seen on the 22nd. When you look around however you are still going to see some models with Vista set sort of aside since they'll want to showcase the latest.

The prestock of 7 in a large quantity is no surprize here. Once I got into the RCs here I've had the feeling since then that 7 will simply "fly off of the shelves" in just 4 days from now!

You can be sure the Ultimate edition will be sold out in no time considering that happened when Vista first came out. Just imagine what 7 will see. thump.. crash.. car doors slam... store doors opening and closing at an alarming rate as the line of people waiting in line are shouting: "me me over here I want ..."! :roflmao:

(new systems with 7 on them will be selling fast as well as the individual disks!)

 

[pacinitaly]

what's missing in this deal?


Gateway - Laptop with Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor - NightSky Black - NV7802U


org site--- http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668308.php