In this article, you will not find a bunch of graphs and comparison tables. There are already plenty of such comprehensive reviews on the Internet. Today we want very briefly and in simple words answer a frequently asked question today:
Which is better: Windows 7 or Windows 8.1?
To eliminate unnecessary tinsel, we will not mention Windows 8. We will only compare Windows 8.1 Update 1 and Windows 7 SP1. Also, let's make a reservation right away - the owners of only those configurations that officially support both of these operating systems have the ability to choose between Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.
If the official website of your hardware manufacturer does not have drivers for a certain operating system, then there is practically no point in installing it on a computer. Such a system will bring more problems than convenience.
As a rule, pick up official drivers for stationary computers is somewhat easier than for mobile platforms... With laptops and netbooks, the situation is often difficult - when the manufacturer's official website contains drivers either only for Windows 7, or only for Windows 8 / 8.1.
Disadvantages of Windows 8.1
1. Sharpening for touch screens and mobile devices.
In Windows 8, developers chased two birds with one stone. They tried to release a universal operating system that would work for both computers and tablets. We believe that this approach is wrong. Judge for yourself: why does a stationary PC user need any tiled applications? Why does he need the Charms panel? And is it convenient for him to call it by moving the cursor to the corner of the screen? And the Start menu that opens in full screen will not please every user of a stationary PC.
Therefore, in this case, versatility is more a minus than a plus. And all this throwing from side to side with the "Start" menu: then they decide to remove it, then gradually return it. Experiments, we understand. But again, there is a desire to create a universal OS for all devices: mobile and stationary, touch and gadgets with classic input methods.
2. Using the "Computer Settings" interface along with the old Control Panel.
It is clear that the developers have taken a course to smoothly supplant the Control Panel and replace it with a new settings interface. For example, when editing account rights from the control panel to a certain moment you need to launch a new settings interface.
However, for the user, this state of affairs looks unsystematic and incomprehensible: when some actions can be performed in the usual snap-in of the Control Panel, and to adjust others, you need to launch another interface.
In the picture below, you can see the new PC Settings interface. Below is a lonely link to the classic Control Panel:
3. Removing some highly requested settings from the GUI.
A striking example is the Wireless Network Management section that is missing in Windows 8. As a result, you can now manually delete a wireless profile.
Perhaps for an advanced computer scientist, this method of managing networks will be another reason to show off erudition in front of friends, however, for an inexperienced user, a problem is created out of the blue.
Although, most likely, the disappeared element of the network settings can also be attributed to the "smooth" transition from the Control Panel to the new settings interface.
Benefits of Windows 8.1
Among advantages of Windows 8.1 worth mentioning:
1. Sufficiently convenient ribbon-interface of all windows, familiar to us since Microsoft Office 2007 and 2010:
2. Ability to enable pause in copy and move modes in the built-in explorer plus display of the operation speed:
Our HP G62 laptop, equipped with a classic spindle hard disk WD on 7200 RDP, boots Windows 7 x64 in 46 seconds, and Windows 8.1 x64 Update 1 in 40 seconds. The measurements were carried out from pressing the Power button from the off state to.
4. Built-in Windows Defender
Defender (aka Defender) is an analogue of Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus, which successfully provides basic protection.
5. Built-in SkyDrive (OneDrive) and sync
The cloud service allows you to store 7 GB of user data for free. If you use several devices, you do not need to transfer anything on a "flash drive" - work files are always at hand.
The User Preferences Sync feature works with a Microsoft account and allows you to sync some user preferences: Start screen layout, theme, language settings, browser settings. You can enter your LiveID details on a new device with Windows 8.1 and in a few minutes you will see your familiar desktop. Also, it greatly speeds up the setup after reinstalling the system.
conclusions
Windows 8.1 undoubtedly has a number of improvements, but at the same time it is unlikely to significantly outperform its predecessor Windows 7 in terms of performance. Yes, booting in Windows 8 is faster, but usually the user is much more important to the performance in the operating mode. Boot, shutdown, hibernation, and wake-up times are important, but these metrics are rarely critical when choosing a working OS.
In most cases, it makes no sense to replace your favorite “seven” with “eight”. This will not give any tangible increase in performance, and the joy from the improvements will be "compensated" by the aforementioned inconveniences.
For desktop and laptop users, we recommend installing Windows 7 SP1 x64 Professional or higher. Well, for owners of gadgets with touch screens, we offer to choose between Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. For until you try out the new OS yourself, no review will help you decide.
P.S. the article reflects the subjective opinion of the author and is not the ultimate truth.
The next step after buying a laptop is choosing an operating system. An unsuitable option does not allow you to use all the capabilities of a PC or work comfortably. In the article, we reveal the key points of choosing an operating system for a laptop.
The laptop consists of two parts - hardware and software. Hardware is the processor, memory, screen, keyboard, software - all applications. The main component of the software part is the operating system.
The OS serves as an intermediary between the computer, the executing programs and the user. The operating system provides applications and the user with a set of universal services:
- loads programs into memory for execution
- receives and executes user commands.
- organizes interaction with a printer, scanner, network
Windows or Linux
More than 90% of the operating system market is occupied by Windows. Users get better support computer equipment, more than for Linux, the number application programs and almost 100% opportunity to consult with specialists in case of problems.
For the average user, the choice is unambiguous in favor of Windows. Exceptions are when a laptop is used for work and training in IT. But the preparation of the user when using Linux is higher.
Windows XP Laptops
Windows XP was released in 2001 and has become the benchmark for a reliable, stable and secure operating system. Today XP is used on brand new laptops that are equipped with single-core processors and a volume random access memory up to 1 GB.
Conclusion: Windows XP is an acceptable operating system for laptops with limited memory and outdated graphics suitable for office use.
Why skipping Vista
After the successful Windows XP came the unsuccessful Vista. The system had a lot of errors, excessive hardware requirements, constant "brakes" and freezes.
As a result, proven XP was installed on laptops with Vista preinstalled. After the failure, Microsoft did some serious work. There is a new OS with better performance with lower hardware requirements. This delivered the final verdict on Windows Vista.
Choosing the optimal version of Windows 7
Almost half of computers run under Windows control 7. Reason: Windows 7 is faster than Vista and Windows XP. If your laptop is equipped with at least a 2-core processor, and the amount of RAM is more than 1 GB, the choice in favor of Windows 7 is obvious.
Choosing a 32 or 64-bit version is guided by the amount of RAM. If the RAM is up to 4 GB inclusive, the OS "sees" a little more than 3 GB. Then it's better to stick with the 32-bit (or x86) version.
The latter requires more memory to work. The transition to the 64-bit version of the operating system is relevant when the installed memory capacity is 6 GB or more.
Windows 8 vs. Windows 7
For most programs, there is no difference between 8 and 7. Respectively, Windows performance 7 and Windows 8 are almost the same.
The main difference is the design of the desktop. Windows 8 was created at the peak of the popularity of tablets, so the interface is focused on them. In version 8, there is no Start button on the taskbar, in 8.1 it appears again, but the classic menu is not returned. There is no point in installing Windows 8. This is confirmed by less than 8% of computers on which the OS is used
Windows 10 - when there is no choice anymore
Microsoft Windows 10 is the last OS to be released in the old fashion. The main difference from previous versions is that Microsoft maintains Windows 10 with a constant release of updates that have become impossible to disable. As a result, users have installed current version systems.
This is part of the strategy to move to the Windows as a Service model, where the system is constantly changing through updates, without new versions being released.
The official OS requirements remained at the same level as for 7 and 8. There is no point in installing Windows 10 on laptops where Windows 7 works normally.
Older laptops may have problems after installing Windows 10:
- the touchpad does not work correctly
- old printer, scanner are not connected
- Wi-Fi disappears
Added to this are privacy concerns: by the terms Microsoft licenses may manage user data.
New laptop models work best under the control of 10. If the manufacturer's official website has drivers only for Windows 10, opt for the 64-bit version of the system.
Good day to all. Today I want to talk to you about which system is better to install on your computer. I must say right away that the article will be focused on Windows OS, since it is better for an ordinary "ordinary" user to use it. It, unlike such systems as Linux and the like, is much clearer and easier to understand.
So my answer to the question, what system to install on your computer it sounds like this: Windows. Choose and install Windows for yourself. But this is naturally not the end of the article, but just beginning, because you still need to decide which version of Windows to choose.
We will not analyze old Microsoft developments, such as Windows 98 or Windows 2000. I don’t think that anyone will want to install them, these are systems of the last century. The most used systems today are Windows 7, 8, XP and Vista. We will talk about them, I hope my descriptions and recommendations will help you, and as a result, it will be much easier to decide which Windows to choose for your computer or laptop.
Let's start with XP and end with Eight.
Windows XP operating system was released in 2001. And in the period from 2003 to 2011 it was the most popular in the world. Its market share peaked at about 76 percent, which was achieved in January 2007. From this we can immediately conclude that the system is good.
I have been using Windows XP for about two years, and I can tell you that, despite the fact that it came out a long time ago, today it still copes well with everyday tasks. But it is worth remembering that new programs and games that come out may not work on XP. Application developers are increasingly focusing on Windows 7 and up.
I would not recommend installing Windows XP unnecessarily. There are, of course, exceptions, for example, it is good to install this system on older computers, since system requirements XP is not big. But there are already very few people with old PCs, so the described system disappears.
Windows Vista operating system appeared on the market in 2007, but did not meet the expectations of users. It did not become very popular and its maximum market share was about 18 percent in October 2009.
In my opinion, the only thing that makes it better than the good old Windows XP is its design, various interesting effects and the like, and to everyone else it is only worse. Although I have not used Vista and may be wrong. But the fact that a bunch of different software does not work on Windows Vista is really so. I read it on the Internet and therefore immediately switched to Seven from XP. I'll tell you about her now.
Windows 7 operating system- This is the most popular version of Microsoft today. It was released in 2009, and this time it met our expectations. Although many call the "Seven" a refinement of Vista. I agree, the systems are very similar. But I can tell you that Windows 7 is real great system... It is much more stable, it does not need to be reinstalled as often as it was with XP. It also works much faster.
When I used Windows XP and decided to try the 7, I was honestly surprised. Programs work much faster, they freeze less often, but even if this happens, the frozen program can be disabled through the Task Manager program, and in XP this feature did not always work. It happened that on XP everything would freeze so much that only the "Reset" button on the system unit helped.
Windows 8 operating system- this is the latest version of the line. What can I say about it after a couple of months of use? This is a modified "Seven". Windows 8 came to a flat design, removed shadows and volume. In general, everything follows the trend. It works even faster. The fact that it does not have a Start button is actually nonsense. It's not worse, you get used to it very quickly. And a little later an update will be released, where the Start button, as I understand it, will be returned.
Windows' new Metro interface is cool, you can't say anything. But that he somehow greatly simplified the work on the PC, I did not notice. The only thing I liked about Windows 8 is even faster performance!
Which Windows should you choose? The answer is now yours alone. I described four versions of Windows to you, I think now it will be easier for you to decide. As far as recommendations are concerned, I would not recommend you to install Windows XP or Vista. Better take a look at the latest operating systems Windows 8 and Windows 7.
Work in it, after a while go to the "Eight", and it seems to me that you will very soon understand what is more to your liking.
This concludes my article. I hope now the questions what system to install, and which Windows to choose is not very difficult for you and you have already decided what to choose.
First, let's figure out why you need it at all? For example, you buy a laptop or PC without an operating system (you decided to save money, well, that's right) or with an installed Linux distribution(the same, we saved it because it is free, but it is often unusual for an ordinary user).
And then the question arises before you - which version to install?
Of course, the first question will be "And who to contact for installation", but this is from a different category.
I offer a choice of 3 versions of operating systems of the Windows family - these are Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
On the one hand, the most simple solution this question will be posed by the most latest version released at the moment is Windows 8. Moreover, Microsoft has a tendency to remove glitches and errors of previous versions with each release of versions, and even after that work on new errors. Such is their nature - mistakes and corrections. But I would not be in a hurry with such a choice, because it is not always that new means better. So let's take a look at these operating systems and draw a conclusion on which one to stop.
1)
Windows XP advantages and disadvantages
Advantages.
Who is this version for and what is it good for? I think the answer is obvious, even based on the fact that for nine years from 2003 to 2011, this system was in the most popular demand. Ask "Why?" Yes, because people are used to the fact that many of their acquaintances and friends have this particular version, that they speak positively about it, and that it is easy to work with. Everything is very clear and clear, and you do not need to often resort to the help of friends and acquaintances to explain how to do something.
Also, during this time, it has "overgrown" with a sufficient number of updates and additions (there are also assemblies in which everything exists at once), which allows you to install it and immediately start using it without the need to get used to and look for something new.
Of the technical advantages, one cannot fail to note the fact that it is suitable for old computers. Under old I also mean that they have weak iron and filling. It requires significantly less RAM to operate.
disadvantages.
The most important drawbacks are associated with iron and, based on this, other disappointing moments follow. For example, it "does not see" RAM more than 4 GB (if you use 4 GB or more, the system will only be able to use 3.25 GB) and supports a maximum of DirectX 9. It is logical, at a time when it was released there was no such thing that a computer could support 8 GB of RAM, but DirectX has the specifics of constantly increasing under the requirements. Therefore, if you want to play or work with modern graphic editors or games, then most likely you will not be able to do this.
Also, the disadvantage is the fact that this OS is buried and no more updates will be released.
2)
Windows 7 advantages and disadvantages
Advantages.
8 years after the release of Windows XP, this version was released. Although it was, as it were, an "intermediate" unstable Windows version Vista, but it has not received the proper distribution and I would rather class it as a beta version before the release of the seven.
I think its biggest asset will be its Aero interface. In fact, the 7 is much more beautiful and more convenient than XP. There is only a small nuance - the "higher" your version of Windows 7, the more features you will get (I mean Home Basic, Advanced, Enterprise, Professional and Ultimate editions). In general, I love everything functional (you never know, it will come in handy someday), so I have Maximum on my PC, and Basic on my laptop (I still work on it only on trips).
Another advantage is that in Windows 7 there is a little-noticeable service called UAC (User Account Control). This is the very window that pops up at you when you work with especially important utilities (files) and asks for permission to change. This is a kind of "foolproof" ie. when such a message comes out, you may still think "Should I do this? Suddenly it will damage the computer" and you can give up sin further. It's good if this message comes out when you perform your actions, but what if it just comes out like that? Here it is already worth thinking about viruses, hackers and the like and checking the antivirus. And antivirus is still a must, because in our time all sorts of "bad" people have learned to do so that it is possible to bypass such protection of this service.
Another advantage is that Windows 7 copes well with wireless networks, namely Wi Fi. Which is natural, because at the time of the release of Windows XP, this was still not common. It already has built-in all the drivers to support this function (especially if you have a candy bar, laptop or netbook), but for a PC you can put a bracket in the port and your computer can use Wi Fi as you like.
And finally, I cannot fail to note that the most suitable for your computer are already built into Windows 7. And after you have installed it, you just have to install a couple of drivers that usually come with your computer, camera, phone, etc. devices. Well, or use the program to search for uninstalled drivers, find and update them.
disadvantages.
Honestly, over the years of working with Windows 7, I have not yet found more or less important flaws. Unless some old games and programs do not run on it. Of course, this is provided in it and it is possible to launch it in compatibility mode with older versions of Windows, but as I did not try to launch it sometimes, it didn’t work for me.
Recommended system requirements for Windows 7:
Processor - 1 GHz
RAM - 1 GB for the 32-bit version and 2 GB for the 64-bit version
DirectX9 capable graphics card
16 GB free space on hard disk for 32-bit version and 20 GB for 64-bit version.
3)
Windows 8 advantages and disadvantages
Advantages.
Metro style. Oh, that vaunted subway style .... But still, it's an advantage. At first, it's really uncomfortable, but after a while you get used to it and you begin to understand all the charm this interface which came to replace Aero from Windows 7.
Multiplatform. This OS was released not so long ago, namely 3 months ago. Its official release was published on October 26, 2012. Therefore, it is focused on the more frequent needs of users, in particular, it can be installed not only on a PC, laptop or netbook, but also on monoblocks and tablets. This is achieved by the fact that it provides for touch-sensitive data input (for this, the style of the metro was invented - these squares and rectangles).
Download speed. I took this from the office of the Microsoft website, but I attributed it to the merits because it is only a fraction of a second faster than loading clean Windows 7 (tested empirically) and you can not follow the company's videos.
Built-in antivirus. This version comes with a built-in antivirus from Microsoft itself. In principle, not bad and free antivirus... I use it myself and recommend it to others.
Closer connection to the Internet, i.e. Internet is almost always needed there. If in the case of windows 7 or windows XP it was possible to prohibit programs or connect to the Internet, but not be in it, then here, as soon as the Internet appears, the system will immediately start downloading and updating something. Maybe this is a drawback (especially for those who use 3g USB modems), but I think that this is more of an advantage because you are always aware of all events (especially if information gadgets are installed) and the system is constantly updated.
disadvantages.
In my opinion, it is still quite "raw", it still needs to be worked on. After all, as usual after leaving new version the search for its vulnerabilities, glitches, errors immediately begins, especially all sorts of hackers are trying to do this. Considering the fact that it is closely connected with the Internet, your data will be available to attackers almost immediately. Sometimes even antivirus won't help.
You cannot install programs from other sites in it. Those. it used to be easier - found the necessary program on the Internet, downloaded an archive or exe file, launched, installed and used. Here they decided to make it safe to do a little differently - now you need to search and download utilities through the built-in Windows Store - Windows store... Analog of AppStore for iPhones and Google market in androids. Personally, I think this is a disadvantage than an advantage, although ...
Recommended system requirements for Windows 8:
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with PAE, NX, and SSE2 support (learn more)
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit.
Free hard disk space: 16 gigabytes (GB) for 32-bit or 20 GB for 64-bit.
Graphics adapter: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.
That's basically all about comparisons. Now let's figure out what to choose and install.
Although now software manufacturers and the game release their products with support for all these versions, they are increasingly abandoning Windows XP (because it does not have enough resources) and do not include Windows 8 (they have not yet had time to "combine").
In my experience, I would recommend opting for Windows 7 and preferably Ultimate. Just because I use it myself and see no reason to switch to the same 8k. In general, I think that 8ka is like a "threshold" of another operating system, as it was with windows vista before the release of windows seven. It's just that Microsoft is in a hurry and churns out systems in the first place, and is already reluctant to fix errors (this is my personal opinion).
7ka is by far the most stable and popular version of windows. And laptops, computers, netbooks are now being released already with preinstalled windows 7 (although windows 8 have already begun to be introduced). And the current hardware of computers allows you to install windows 7. Even netbooks have a special windows 7 edition Starter (initial).
I would recommend installing Windows XP to those who are familiar with it since the bearded 2000s, if he has an old computer or a new one, but the hardware does not even allow installing Windosw Starter.
Well, with the installation of Windows 8, I would still recommend sticking to at least a minimum of code when it is more or less polished and fixed.
Participate in the survey, leave comments
It is no secret that today Windows 7 is gaining popularity among PC users who prefer operating systems from Microsoft. Why is this happening? There are several reasons. One of which is that the system works faster, while consuming less resources than. Microsoft's programmers actually decided to put more effort into Windows 7 than they did on Vista - which, in fact, was one of the company's biggest failures in recent years. The second reason is that Windows 7 can be installed on almost any modern computer, even a netbook - and it will work on it. The system requirements are quite modest.
CPU: 1 GHz (32-bit / 64-bit).
RAM: for a 32 bit system 1 GB, for a 64 bit system 2 GB.
Requirements to hard disk: 16 GB space for 32-bit OS, 20 GB for 64-bit OS.
Graphics: if you want to enable the Windows Aero interface, you need a video card that supports DirectX 9 with WDDM driver version 1.0 or higher; the card must have 128 MB of memory.
(data taken from the Microsoft website.http: //windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/system-requirements)
What is WDDM? Without going deep into technical details, let's say that this is a video card driver, built a little differently than before (i.e. a driver with a new architecture). As a result, the graphics system has become more stable and secure. Also, the Aero interface will work correctly only with this type of driver. Whether it’s a commercial ploy or not, Microsoft’s trick is a long debate, and it’s beyond the scope of this article. I will only note that almost all Radeon or Nvidia cards released after 2004 support this driver model, and the drivers themselves can always be downloaded from the manufacturer's website.
Windows 7 versions
Installing the system on a PC is very simple and generally does not differ from Vista. And it should be noted that the system requirements for a 64-bit system are somewhat overestimated - it can work on 1 GB of RAM. Below in the article we will consider the pros and cons of 64-bit versions, as well as “which is better - 32-bit or 64-bit version”.Windows 7 comes in multiple editions (editions). Data on them are given in the table:
| Possibilities versions |
Initial (Starter) |
home Basic (Home Basic) |
Home extended (Home Premium) |
Professional (Professional) |
Maximum (Ultimate) and Enterprise |
| Improved taskbar and jump lists |
+ | + | + | + | + |
| Windows Search | + | + | + | + | + |
| Joining to home group |
+ | + | + | + | + |
| Archiving and recovery |
+ | + | + | + | + |
| Support Center | + | + | + | + | + |
| Control devices (Device Stage) |
+ | + | + | + | + |
| Streaming broadcast media files including Play To technology |
+ | + | + | + | + |
| Support Bluetooth |
+ | + | + | + | + |
| Faxes and scanning |
+ | + | + | + | + |
| Base set of games |
+ | + | + | + | + |
| Dispatcher credentials |
+ | + | + | + | + |
| Aero snap | + | + | + | + | + |
| "Live" sketches in the taskbar |
- | + | + | + | + |
| Fast switching users |
- | + | + | + | + |
| Connect to wireless networks on the fly |
- | + | + | + | + |
| Sharing to connecting to The Internet |
- | + | + | + | + |
| Support several monitors |
- | + | + | + | + |
| Centre mobility Windows (without regime presentation) * |
- | + | + | + | + |
| Aero Glass and extended navigation in Windows (Aero Shake and Aero Peek) |
- | - | + | + | + |
| Windows Touch (touch and handwritten input) |
- | - | + | + | + |
| Creation home group |
- | - | + | + | + |
| Windows Media Center |
- | - | + | + | + |
| Playback and editing DVD video |
- | - | + | + | + |
| Extended set of games |
- | - | + | + | + |
| Scissors, Notes |
- | - | + | + | + |
| Windows Sideshow (on complementary display) |
- | - | + | + | + |
| Print taking into account location |
- | - | - | + | + |
| Joining to domain and group politicians |
- | - | - | + | + |
| Connections to remote desktops (host) |
- | - | - | + | + |
| Extended archiving (network and group politicians) |
- | - | - | + | + |
| Encrypting file system (EFS) |
- | - | - | + | + |
| Centre mobility Windows: Mode presentations * |
- | - | - | + | + |
| Autonomous folders |
- | - | - | + | + |
| Windows XP Mode |
- | - | - | + | + |
| BitLocker and BitLocker To Go |
- | - | - | - | + |
| AppLocker | - | - | - | - | + |
| DirectAccess | - | - | - | - | + |
| BranchCache | - | - | - | - | + |
| Multilingual custom interface (linguistic packages) |
- | - | - | - | + |
| "Corporate" Search |
- | - | - | - | + |
| Improvements in deploying virtual environments (VDI) ** |
- | - | - | - | + |
| Loading from virtual hard drives (VHD) |
- | - | - | - | + |
* Windows Mobility Center is only available for laptops and netbooks
** Windows 7 Ultimate is not licensed for VDI scripting, but these capabilities enrich the remote connection experience with this OS
*** Table compiled based on information from Microsoft:
http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/compare?T1=tab20
But you can see such signs (or similar ones) on any website that mentions Windows 7. And, frankly, they are not very informative for an ordinary user: it turns out that you need to take the Maximum (Corporate you cannot buy - this version is not for free sales). But do you need it? Let's try to figure it out ...
Should I install 32-bit or 64-bit?
Here we consider the situation that we bet on home computer for solving typical household tasks: watching movies, simple work (like typing in MS Word), Internet, games.Most sites advise you to install the 64-bit version, citing the fact that it "works faster". Opponents of the 64-bit system motivate their position with the "problem with the drivers". In fact, now there is practically no such problem - for more or less modern equipment, you can almost always find a 64-bit driver. In some cases, 32-bit ones also get up - but this is fraught with slowing down the system or even dropping it out in " blue screen of death". Therefore, it is better to install only 64-bit drivers.
In fact, for home computers, the performance gain is not as significant as we would like, it is clearly visible in mathematical calculations, for example, but in Everyday life almost invisible, moreover, given that most programs are now 32-bit, the computer may slow down. This is due to the peculiarity of the execution of 32-bit programs in a 64-bit system. Therefore, at the moment it is more desirable to install a 32-bit system (since you can almost always find a 32-bit analogue of a 64-bit program, and the opposite is not always true).
For home computers, there is one exception to the rule - you need to install a 64-bit OS if the amount of RAM on your computer is more than 3 gigabytes. 32-bit systems cannot address memory over 4 GB, in fact - no more than 3 GB (memory allocation feature). You can enable "extended" addressing (PAE), but this is a crutch that does not always work.
Conclusion: if you have 4 GB or more, install 64-bit Windows 7, otherwise install 32-bit.
Deciding on the Windows 7 edition
Not everything is clear here - even “home” users have different needs. Therefore, we will explain the features of each edition, based on the table above. As you can see, in the table, the "chips" of the system are grouped in such a way that the subsequent edition contains all the features that were in the previous one (unlike the table on the Microsoft website, it is grouped there by categories ("entertainment", "opportunities", etc.) etc.), but the comparison is somewhat difficult. Therefore, whoever needs to look by category - you are welcome here:http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/compare?T1=tab20
All editions allow you to simultaneously run an unlimited number of applications (as long as the computer resources are enough).
Note. All links to the Microsoft site that will be in the article are recommended to be opened in Internet Explorer.
Windows 7 Starter
Improved taskbar and jump lists Is a feature that allows you to quickly jump to frequently used files. The content of the jump list depends on specific program... To view the list of jumps, you can click right click on the program icon in the taskbar or call it from the Start menu:The improved taskbar is a redesigned view (compared to previous versions of Windows) with improved functionality(which are expanded in more "advanced" editions).
Windows Search: a file finder on your computer. Includes indexing services to speed up file searches. Available in the upper right corner of the window.
Joining a homegroup: provides the ability to join a computer to a homegroup. Homegroup is a tool that makes it easy to set up sharing of files, folders, and printers on your home network(i.e. between computers in your apartment / house). Readers of MirSovetov should understand that Windows Starter only supports joining a homegroup, not creating them! Archiving and restoring: a program designed to back up important files (both yours and system ones) so that they can be restored if necessary. You can choose which files and folders you want to archive. It is also possible to make a crash copy of the entire system (system snapshot) with installed drivers, programs ... In order to have fewer problems with reinstallation if something happens.
Support Center: Built-in software to display important Windows notifications that require your attention. These notifications pop up mainly when there are any violations in the system that threaten its security or normal functioning, as well as when there are updates on the Microsoft website. Also, the support center offers ways to solve problems and routine maintenance of your computer, allowing you to keep it in normal operation.
Device management: when connecting a device, a window may be displayed in which the most frequently used functions for this device... For example, if you have an MFP (printer-scanner-copier), then when connected, various scan and print options may be displayed. In earlier versions of Windows, this was split into different menus, which still need to be reached. An example of how this function works on the Microsoft website: http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/device-stage
Streaming media files including Play To technology: streaming is when a file is played on one computer (broadcast server), and the rest of the computers act as receivers. It turns out something like a radio broadcast, but in local network... PlayTo technology allows you to choose on which computer to play the specified file, i.e. allows you to personalize your broadcast. You can admire the PlayTo technology by downloading a demo video from the Microsoft website:
http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/features/play-to
Bluetooth support: support for bluetooth devices.
Basic set of games: standard set of games (Klondike, Minesweeper, Spider ...).
Credential Manager: allows you to work with accounts users (add, change name, set a password and other account-related features).
Aero Snap: very, according to MirSovetov, a useful function: rapid change the size of windows when dragging them to the edges of the screen. For example, when you need to view two Word documents side by side at the same time: before you had to adjust the dimensions manually, now you just drag one document to the left, and the second to the right of the screen. When "dragging" windows from these positions, the windows will restore their former size. Oddly enough, there is even on systems that do not have Aero - interface. 
Demo (video) on the Microsoft website: http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/features/snap
Also, in Starter Edition, you cannot change the desktop wallpaper. The initial version usually comes on netbooks, but it is quite possible to replace it with some more powerful edition on them. There are also restrictions on the launch of some applications, for example, some games do not run under this OS.
Windows 7 Home Basic
Includes everything that is in the Beginner, and in addition to this, there are a number of other features.Live thumbnails in the taskbar: when you hover and hold the cursor over the program icon in the taskbar, a thumbnail window appears showing what the program is doing at the moment. There may even be video playback in this window. There can be several sketches per program if several windows are open in it. In short, they are something like screenshots of the window in the taskbar:
Fast user switching: support for switching to another user without first closing all windows and programs of the current user. Connecting to wireless networks on the fly: when left clicking on the icon wireless networks the taskbar displays a list of available wireless networks (and information about them in tooltips) that you can connect to
Internet Connection Sharing: the ability to access the Internet of the same network, connected to the Internet. Multiple Monitor Support: worker display windows desktop and programs on other monitors connected to this computer; there are various display options. These parameters can be accessed by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting "screen resolution":
In this case, the system has one monitor. If there were several of them, then next to the monitor with the number 1, the monitor with the number 2 would appear, in the drop-down list "screen" it would be suggested to select the desired monitor. Windows Mobility Center: it is for laptops and netbooks, allows you to access quickly used tasks specific to this type of systems:
In this edition there is no support for equipment for displaying presentations (the ability to connect projectors). Windows 7 Home Premium
Includes everything that is in the Home Basic, plus some functionality on top of that.Aero Glass and Windows Advanced Navigation (Aero Shake and Aero Peek, Aero Snap): Aero Glass is a semi-transparent window display style and animation, with the ability to customize translucency, colors, etc. "For yourself." Aero Shake is the hiding of all windows except the selected one. To restore all windows, simply shake the active window. Demonstration (video):
http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/features/shake
Aero Peek - "X-ray" for windows - allows you to look "through windows", while the outlines of the windows remain on the screen, but their contents disappear (except for the selected window). Demonstration (video):
http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/features/peek
Windows Touch (touch and handwriting input): designed for tablet computers. Allows you to work with the system by clicking on the interface elements on the screen.
Creating a home group: what is a home group - see the corresponding paragraph in the description of the capabilities of the "initial" edition. In this edition, in addition to joining, you can already create home groups. The fundamental difference is that in the "initial" edition it was impossible in this way to select files and printers to which you want to open general access, but in this one you can.
Windows Media Center: program for quick access to Windows multimedia functions: watching and recording TV, watching videos and photos, listening to music ... Optimized for use on devices with touch screens.
DVD video playback and editing: if you can play DVD on any edition, delivering the appropriate codec if necessary, then here this codec is already out of the box, and is also available under the name DVD Studio.
Extended set of games: Chess, Mahjong, Backgammon and others are added to the standard games. Scissors, Notes:"Scissors" allow not just, but also to select any area of the screen and take a screenshot only from this area. Sticky notes are like "stickers" on the desktop for memory. This function will be useful for readers of MirSovetov who own tablet PCs - you can take notes by hand.
Windows Sideshow (on secondary display): technology for receiving and displaying data from a computer on other displays. For example, displaying a photo from a computer in a photo frame. Windows 7 Professional (Professional)
Includes all the features of Home Extended, several others have been added.Location-based printing: Let's say you're using a laptop and plugging it in at work. At work there is a printer, at home there is a printer. Previously, you had to reconfigure your printer each time or, at best, choose the appropriate default printer. With this Windows function remembers which network the printer is connected to and, when reconnecting to this network, automatically restores the settings for it.
Domain Join and Group Policies: allows you to configure group policies (sets of rules in accordance with which the Windows environment is configured, typical for multi-user systems) and the ability to add a computer to a domain (a domain is a group of computers with the same security policies).
Remote Desktop Connections (host): allows you to remotely connect to a computer and work for remote computer as if you are behind it.
The prefix "host" means that the computer can act as whoever is connected to using the remote desktop feature. Advanced Backup (Network and Group Policy): everything is the same as in regular archiving, but it adds the ability to archive network settings and group policies.
Encrypting File System (EFS): allows you to encrypt your files and folders from other users (when using the file NTFS systems). How and why to encrypt is, rather, a topic for a separate article.
Windows Mobility Center: added presentation mode (what is the "mobility center" - see the description of the Home Basic Edition) makes it possible to display the image on the projector:
Offline folders: the ability to automatically copy the contents of server files to disk local computer; the user will be able to access the files even if the server on which they are stored falls out of the network. Periodically, Windows synchronizes files in offline folders with the contents of files on the server. Windows XP Mode: allows you to run in Windows environment 7 operating room Windows system XP. And work with it as if you had it installed - i.e. install programs there, run games for XP, etc. At the same time, there is a "transparent" connection with Windows 7: for example, you can easily copy files from Win7 to Win XP (and vice versa) simply by dragging and dropping them from the Win7 desktop to Win XP and vice versa.
Also, this function can work as a program launcher in the Windows 7 environment: windows windows XP does not open, but all the conditions under which the program would work on real XP are emulated, which is not achieved by the options on the "compatibility" tab. In fairness, it should be noted that there are not many such programs.
This feature requires the installation of Virtual PC, a virtualization tool.
Note for a professional. Starting with this version, the distribution includes such useful snap-ins as lusrmgr.msc (Managing local users and groups), gpedit.msc (Group Policy Editor), secpol.msc (Security Policies).
Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise
versions include everything that is in the Professional, and to this:BitLocker and BitLocker To Go: it is a means of protecting and encrypting data on hard drives(BitLocker) and USB drives (BitLocker To Go). Talking about how it works and how it is configured is beyond the scope of this article. Most home users do not need these programs (unless you are working with data, access of an unauthorized person to which is highly undesirable).
AppLocker: this addition to group policies which determines which applications can / cannot run on computers on the network. Tool for administrators, managed from windows consoles Power Shell, an ordinary user absolutely does not need, if only to forbid children to launch toys. But this is from the "sparrow cannon" - there are more convenient means.
DirectAccess: allows you to get access from home to the internal network of the organization using a special server. Again, the average user does not need it.
BranchCache: caches data from remote servers on local network resources. Saves work time download files, sometimes improves the performance of web applications. Why is this on a home computer?
Multilingual user interface (language packs): allows you to install language packs, as a result of which a native language can be selected for each user on one computer. Relevant for transnational offices.
"Corporate" search: search within the organization's network, incl. in databases, etc., with a high degree of correspondence between the returned result and the requested one.
Improvements in the deployment of virtual environments (VDI): technology that allows you to save on licensing applications (and something else) - when deployed on the same server virtual computers, users work with them as if they were "real".
Booting from virtual hard disks (VHD): virtual HDD- this is a file, one might say, an image, which has its own file system, data, etc. It is mainly used in virtual machines... But with this function, you can boot Windows 7 from such a file. Allows you to have several copies of Windows independent of each other, on one "real" (physical) hard disk.
Yes, I would like to note that Windows Media Player is included in all versions of Windows 7. Also, recently, it has become possible to choose the browser you want at Windows installation 7 (the so-called "browser selection dialog"), almost all popular browsers are available for selection (Opera, Chrome, Firefox, IE ...).
Which version of Windows 7 should you choose?
This concludes the description of the "chips" of various editions. Let's summarize. But before that, let's divide the user audience into groups. The division is very arbitrary and characterizes the main range of tasks that the user solves in everyday life. The division itself was somehow imperceptibly deduced by the author over 7 years of work in the field of IT, perhaps it is somewhat subjective:- category 1: Novice users / General users. They are either just starting to learn the basics of working with a computer, or they use the computer as a typewriter and to surf the Internet. Periodically watch films, listen to music;
- Category 2: Advanced Users / Interested. It is no longer enough for them to “just work” with a computer; they are looking for ways to make this work faster, more convenient, and easier. And also in many cases they try to understand “how does it work” and “what else can be done”;
- category 3: IT professionals / IT students. For them, a computer is a profession. They do everything with its help - from hammering nails with a computer to the development of large control systems for something and security systems. They tend to require more capabilities from the operating system.
For Category 2, this edition is also attractive, although Windows 7 Professional would suit them as well. But "Professional" is almost 1.5 times more expensive than "Home Extended".
Category 3 is more suitable for Windows 7 Professional - very often they need features that are only available in Professional.
Windows 7 Maximum can be advised for those who work in a large organization at least system administrator or wants to encrypt data using BitLocker out of the box, without having to worry about purchasing and configuring third-party software that may not always work as expected (ie, may not be compatible with this version of Windows).
Why do not we advise any of the readers of MirSovetov "Primary" and "Home Basic"? Because, in our opinion, these are slightly defective systems, heavily curtailed and deprived of useful functions which in modern world quite often needed. This is just a matter of saving money. In addition, the "Initial" edition is not for sale in Russia and the CIS.
All of the above is not presented as the truth in the highest instance, the choice is yours, given that many do not buy Windows, but download from various Internet resources - here the issue of saving money is not worth it. Well, those who honestly buy an OS should approach the choice of the editorial office responsibly, because the money is yours and overpaying for something that you will never use is at least stupid.
Exceptions (where can we go without them!). If you have Tablet PC or a device with touch screen- you'd better install at least Windows 7 Home Premium. If you need a presentation function (trouble-free projector connection) - then, it would seem, your choice is "Professional"? Not necessary. Of all the features of this edition, only one function is needed - and for this to overpay almost twice? Wouldn't it be easier to use third party utility- does it come with almost every projector and laptop?
Topical official prices can be found here:
http://www.microsoftstore.ru/shop/ru-RU?WT.mc_id=StoreCountryToggle_RU
