Why should I upgrade my computer to Windows 7?
The information in this document covers some common reasons to consider upgrading your computer from Windows Vista to Windows 7.
Note: At Indiana University, Windows 7 Ultimate edition is available for retail purchase; see Windows 7 at IU.
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Improved performance and new features
By most accounts, Windows 7 performs significantly better than Vista, and can even run adequately on some older systems. Windows 7 boot and startup times are greatly improved over Vista, and memory management is better, which makes most programs load more quickly. For more, see Windows 7 Performance improvements.
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Fewer security prompts
Many Vista users have complained about excessive prompting by the User Account Control (UAC), which forces you to confirm whether or not you intended to perform certain actions. In Windows 7, the number of UAC prompts is significantly reduced by default, while maintaining a high level of security. Windows 7 also lets you customize the number of UAC notifications you receive, while Vista lets you only enable or disable UAC notifications. Windows 7 has four available settings from "Always notify" to "Never notify."
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Better power management
Windows 7 is designed to conserve power and extend battery life. It reduces power consumption by using advancements in hardware power management, and by efficiently managing background application processes. Sleep mode has also been made more reliable, which results in better long-term power savings. For more, see Windows 7 power management details.
Last modified on November 26, 2012.







