Should You Upgrade to Windows 7? Insights from David F. Soll, CTO, Omicron Consulting

1. Should you upgrade to Windows 7? Presented by: David F. Soll Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Omicron Consulting

2. Agenda • Background • What’s New • A User’s Point of View • Some Nice Stuff • Frustrations • What Choice Do You Have • The Bottom Line

3. Introduction • Presenter: David Soll • Vice President & CTO, Omicron Consulting • Working in computing for 30 years • Experience with Windows dating back to 1989 • Windows 2 and Windows 3 beta • Email: dsoll@omicron.com • This presentation can be downloaded at: • http://home.comcast.net/~soll/

4. Background • Windows 7 is Microsoft’s newest desktop operating system • Built on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 • Retail Release due out October 22, 2009 • Don’t Confuse Windows 7 with Office 2007 • Office 2007 runs fine on Windows Vista, Windows XP & Windows 2000 • Office 2000, Office XP, & Office 2003 run fine on Windows 7

5. Office 2007 on XP and 7 This is Word 2007 on Windows XP This is Word 2007 on Windows 7

6. Quick History of Windows • Windows 1.x, 2.x, /286, /386 • Never a commercial “hit” • Windows 3.0, 3.1, and 3.11 • 16 bit, ran on top of MS-DOS • Windows NT 3.1 and 3.5 • First 32 bit Windows not reliant on MS-DOS • Runs utilizing protected mode of the processor • Windows 95, 98, and ME • 16 bit, still reliant on MS-DOS • Windows 2000 • Next generation of Windows NT • Windows XP • Built from Windows 2000 • Windows Server 2003 • Server only platform built with Windows XP & 2000 base • Windows Vista • Built from Windows XP & Server 2003 • Major security changes from XP and Server 2003 • Many Look and Feel Changes • Windows Server 2008 • Server only platform built from Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista • Windows 7 • Built from Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 • Improvements to UAC and other security mechanisms

7. Major New Features of Windows 7 • Accessibility • BitLocker Drive Encryption • Built-in Diagnostics • DirectX 10 • Encrypting File System • Explorers • Fast Sleep and Resume • Flip and Flip 3D • Games Explorer • Instant Search • Internet Explorer 8 • Internet Explorer Dynamic Security Protection • Internet Explorer Parental Controls • Internet Explorer Protected Mode • Live Icons • Microsoft Phishing Filter in Internet Explorer • Network and Sharing Center • Network Diagnostics and Troubleshooting

8. Flip 3D

9. Thumbnail Task Selection

10. New Thumbnail Task Capability in Win 7 Notice the controls at the bottom thumbnail (i.e.: the Pause button)

11. Enhancements Found In Vista/Win 7 • Find, fix, and share photos • Organize, edit, and share your favorite photos with family and friends using Windows Photo Gallery. • Find almost anything • Find documents, e-mail, photos, and more in a snap through Instant Search. • Turn any room into a media room • Manage and enjoy digital photos, music, TV shows, and movies in your living room with Windows Media Center. • Play the way you want • Easily install, organize, and play games using Windows Game Explorer. • Make movie magic • Retain high-definition quality as you capture, edit, and publish movies from a video camcorder with Windows Movie

12. Enhancements Found In Vista/Win 7 • Help your kids stay safer • Help keep your children safer online with customizable Parental Controls. • Back up and restore files • Get improved backup and restore functions, including automatically scheduled backups, with Windows Backup and Restore Center. • Help safeguard sensitive data • Better protect your data against loss or theft if your mobile PC is ever lost or stolen with Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption. • Guard against external threats • Help protect your PC from external threats with Windows Firewall. • Find and remove spyware • Help protect your PC by regularly scanning your computer for spyware with Windows Defender.

13. Lets Get Real • Most enhancements or new features in Vista and Windows 7 are available to XP • Some as free downloads • Some as extra cost, third party products • The biggest enhancements are: • Security • Look and Feel

14. A User’s Point of View • New Start Menu • Search for programs • In-place expansion

15. Some Nice Stuff • Gadgets • Hundreds of free gadgets are available

16. Some Nice Stuff • Aero • Provides a very attractive display • Provides infrastructure for • Translucent title bars • Flip • Flip 3D (task switch) • Thumbnail Previews • Uses GPU to offload CPU and improve performance

17. The Mixed Bag • Microsoft enhanced the security of Windows Vista and Windows 7 over all previous versions of Windows • This makes it harder for viruses and malware to install or spread • It also makes it harder for legitimate software • Lots of software will have to be upgraded • Every time you install something, you presented with annoying prompts (User Access Control) • In Vista, UAC can be disabled, but you are reminded of it every time that you log in • In Windows 7, UAC can be configured to be less obtrusive

18. Frustrations • Oh where, oh where did my options go • Can’t find “Add Remove Programs” • Now its “Programs and Features” • Wireless Networking configuration has changed • Supposed to be easier • I find it harder … it tries to read my mind and fails • But it worked in XP… • Many applications will have to be updated for Vista/Windows 7

19. Frustrations • Most Windows XP drivers won’t work • Fortunately, Windows 7 uses the same drivers as Vista • Finding Vista/Windows 7 drivers for older hardware may be difficult

20. Frustrations • Resource Utilization • Vista uses more memory than XP • Vista runs slower than XP (i.e.: it needs more CPU) • Aero Glass requires better video than XP • Fortunately • Windows 7 runs faster than Vista • Windows 7 is better on resources than Vista • You will still need “modern” hardware

21. What Choice Do You Have? • Windows XP officially went off the market on June 30, 2008 • Some computer manufactures supplied XP until January 31, 2009 • Some ultra-low cost machines will be available with XP until June 2010 • Mainstream support (i.e.: free) for XP was terminated April 2009 • Extended support for XP (free for security fixes and paid for other help) ends in 2014 • New hardware will likely have drivers for Vista/Win7, but not for Windows XP

22. The Bottom Line • Windows 7 does provide a more secure, better looking user experience than XP • Windows 7 requires more up-to-date hardware than XP • Windows 7 requires more memory than XP • Windows 7 may require upgrading applications • Support for XP has already started to fade

23. Windows 7 • Windows 7 has been called the O/S that Vista should have been • It Windows 7 is an improvement over Vista • But does not have the huge internal changes from Vista that Vista has from XP • Recommendation: Look into Windows 7 • You may not have a choice

24. Questions ?

25. Versions of Windows 7

26. Windows 7 Version Features • Windows 7 Home Premium • Aero Glass & advanced Window navigation • Windows Touch (Multi-touch and handwriting support) • Windows Media Center • Internet Explorer 8: Web slices, accelerators, InPrivate Browsing • Windows 7 Professional • Domain Join • Group Policy Controls • Location Aware Printing • Encrypting File System • Advanced Backup • Offline Folders • transparent caching, background sync for offline files • Remote Desktop Host • Windows Mobility Center • Windows 7 Enterprise • DirectAccess keeps mobile users connected on the go • BranchCache makes file access faster • Search information on the PC, mail or SharePoint • BitLocker protects data on a PC and portable drives • AppLocker lets you control what user's can run • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure made better