I'd like to give my Vista the heave-ho soon, slower than molasses.
I noticed on the system requirements for Windows 7 requires 2 ghz RAM with a 64 bit system as opposed to Vista needing only 1 ghz.

With this in mind, how can it be any faster than Vista?

I started using windows 7 about 2 weeks ago. It is significantly faster then vista. My vista was getting so slow. Like 5 minute start up times. However as well as upgrading to Windows 7 I upgraded my hardrive to a Solid State drive. Now my start up time is about 20 seconds. But I will tell you I accidently installed windows 7 on another normal hardrive (I won't get into how that happened) and it was very fast as well. I don't believe in doing upgrades so I ordered the OEM version of Windows 7 from newegg.com. It installed on my new harddrive very easily and quickly. All my programs, but a specialized accounting program worked.

That sounds good. What version did you get?

64 bit home version

I am using 64-bit home version at this moment. It is pretty nice actually! The taskbar hovering function is cool, plus, it looks cool.

There have been a couple of issues that came up though. Small things, not being able to figure out how to do simple tasks, and file permissions, etc. But even with 64-bit every program has been a top on here. Even my video editing software that would not install on Vista installed with no issues on 7. My top concern was that my work software would not migrate well, but it was all smooth sailing!

make sure your hardware is compatible with it. your old laser pritner might not have drivers for windows 7!!!

tell me about it, also there may be issues with e mail as w7 does not have a default email program.

How can there be issues with e-mail because 7 doesn't have a default e-mail program? What, one can't get your e-mail because they didn't include an e-mail program? And a person can't figure out how to use another one?

I don't WANT the default email chosen by Windows, so that is fine with me!

I think that microsoft figured that out lizl. so now if you want Microsofts e-mail program you gotta pay for it.

W 7 has no Windows mail or Outlook express? That sucks. I thought this was supposed to be superior version of Windows? I'm sure they replaced default email with a much more important feature.. something to supress the masses. Probably a a few hundred games.

What a joke.

I'm thinking of just wiping Vista and installing XP pro. That should run nicely with 4 GB of ram.

A pre-installed email program is hardly the benchmark you should be basing your decision on... (it's like saying a high-end car is a piece of junk because it didn't come with those extra cupholders). There are plenty of free email clients around - just install one.

XP Pro will not be able to take advantage of your 4GB of Ram - it will only recognize and use 3GB (not that it won't run well, but 1GB of your ram will be effectively useless). Also - if you have any turbo-memory installed it won't work either without W Vista or 7.

Personally, I've been using XP for years - only just got rid of it and installed Linux (Ubuntu 9.10) and it's absolutely much faster than XP or Vista (haven't compared to W7 yet) and also free. So far - very happy with it...

I keep all my email online in case my computer gets ruined or stolen.

Apparently numerous 32 bit software programs that have not been upgraded will not operate on a 64 bit operating system.

A lot of business and profession have some expensive 32 bit software programs that they need to operate their business, so that if they upgrade to windows 7, it will most likely be to the Windows 7, 32 bit operating system.

32 bit software runs on 64 bit operating systems as the OS is backward compatible. However, you can't run 64 bit software on a 32 bit operating system.

ManFromTheBand, isn't XP Pro 64bit? If so why won't it utilize all the ram? Vista seems like a RAM hog. I heard W7 will run faster on the same machine, but the requirements call for more ram that Vista if I remember correctly.

I've been experimenting by wiping off all programs except those needed for the PC to run as a business machine. So far it seems to have sped up a bit. I have shut off updates, deleted all the trial software and as much media software as possible and installed Office 2003.

XP pro can be either 32 or 64 just like regular XP.

Out of the box, XP is limited to 2.0GB. There are fine articles about this and the /3GB switch which only helps increase applications compiled "special" to get access to 3GB. The OS gets what's left or the usual 2.75 to 3.5GB you see reported to Windows. The rest is lost due to how the Intel architecture works (Video card I/O mapping etc.) My XP Pro 32 has 4 GB installed and reports seeing 3.25 of that.

Vista and Win 7 will see and use pretty much as much ram as you can throw at them. I am going to upgrade my system soon to Win 7.