On 14th January 2020, support for Windows 7 was suspended and Microsoft now no longer releases updates and patches for this operating system.
Despite the overwhelming success of Windows 7 as a favourite with the public due to its fast boot-up and installation time, the announcement of its end of life phase came as no surprise.
Originally released in 2009, the upgrade to Windows 10 seems to be part of a natural process of technological growth from the tech giant.
In today’s blog, Concorde provides you with the basics of Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows 10, and why it’s important to invest if you haven’t already.
Why Windows 10?
Upgrading when a software no longer receives support is essential, as this could make your work and device vulnerable to attacks.
You have a few options available to you if you’re making the jump from Windows 7 to something more current, but choosing Windows 10 will give you the most streamlined transition as well as a host of ‘as standard’ benefits.
As both Windows 7 and 10 are Microsoft products, you can upgrade with almost no disturbance to your device and work, and many programmes that were usable on Windows 7 have likewise been updated to operate on Windows 10.
Additionally, the layout of Windows 10 is very familiar to Windows 7 users, though offering more options to customise and personalise to suit the user.
When Windows 10 was originally released in 2015, Microsoft offered a free upgrade for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users. However, this offer quickly ended and you will now either have to purchase the operating system separately or purchase a device with Windows 10 pre-installed.
Microsoft has made the upgrade as easy as possible and, although we’d always recommend backing up important files, you will be given the option to retain all files on your device during setup.
It’s also important to remember that while Windows 10 is able to work on many older devices, its powerful operating functions require a minimum spec far above what was required of Windows 7 (see below):
- Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
- Hard drive space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS
- Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
- Display 1024 x 600 or above
More Than Just a Software Upgrade
In addition to the continued support, in the form of security patches and updates, Windows 10 is a huge upgrade in UX and performance from its predecessors.
Firstly, multitasking on Windows 10 is infinitely easier. Microsoft’s signature window snap feature, which allows users to interact with two windows side by side, now offers half monitor and quarter monitor sizes for additional windows. Moreover, moving between windows using the Windows button + tab offers a seamless transition between your work.
Not to mention the integration of supporting multiple desktop screens - great for the 100-tab-user!
Secondly, upgrading to Windows 10 will, of course, keep you up to date with the latest security patches. Microsoft’s bold move to make upgrading your software mandatory is hardly a bad thing and ensures file and device safety.
Windows 10 also has a more secure login system, giving users the option to add a pin instead of the standard password to secure their device.
Lastly, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about how infinitely faster the experience is on Windows 10. Windows 10 not only runs programmes and generally operates a lot faster than earlier versions, but goes to sleep, wakes up and boots up noticeably faster and with far fewer issues.
Furthermore, as Windows 10 is continually updated, performance will continue to get better whilst Windows 7 will remain in its current state.
We hope that this blog has provided some clarity on your operating system. For more information regarding Windows 10, and how Concorde Technology Group can support your company with an upgrade to Windows 10, contact a member of our expert team today on 03331 300600 or email us at enquiries@tctg.co.uk