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 * ====Which Operating System is Right for You? Should You Upgrade Windows?==== || [|How-To] > [|PC] > ... ||
 * Directions: Read the Article below and describe each operating system in your own words in a paragraph. Once you have your paragraph for each operating system, Choose one and create your own personal user guide for installing and operations of the system that includes why this is the best OS to use and your disadvantage opinions to the others which should also be a paragraph. 7 Paragraphs total.**

|| W hich Operating System (OS) is right for you, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7? If you are using something that predates Windows 2000, you should seriously consider upgrading. However, your PC itself, may be too far out of date to be worth the trouble and expense of upgrading, it may be time for a new PC. Most PCs being sold now come with Windows Vista installed. Windows 7 is expected to run with all hardware and software that ran under Vista. This means no waiting for manufacturers to update drivers and provide patches to get their product working with the new OS. As a general rule of thumb, we prefer to purchase a new PC with Windows 7 already installed to upgrading an existing PC. The cost of new PCs make this an attractive option and eliminates the risk of compatibility issues. Because new software often contains bugs and undiscovered security issues, we prefer to wait several months before considering the use of a new operating system. For a comparison of features between the three different versions of Windows 7, visit this comparison chart. What about other operating systems like Linux or OS X? Linux is a wonderful OS and it is free. However, Linux is not for the novice; it requires a higher level of PC knowledge to be comfortable with its installation and use. Furthermore, it doesn't support nearly as many software programs as does Windows. OS X is for the Apple platform while this article focuses only on the PC platform.
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 * Windows 98** is no longer being sold and is no longer the most widely used OS. If you are still using Windows 98 and aren't having any significant problems, then you can probably continue using it. As new products are released, they will be less and less likely to run well, or at all, with this now out of date OS.
 * Windows Me** was an interim product released to fill the void between the release of Windows 98 and Windows XP. It was Microsoft's marketing tool to generate sales without heavily investing in a new product. It put a slightly different face on Windows 98 and added a few trivial features. It was not a worthwhile upgrade and in some cases resulted in problems functioning with software already in use. ||  ||
 * Windows 2000** was the successor to the Windows NT line. NT is a more sophisticated OS for large businesses and business networks. Windows 2000 is a robust OS that blends the niceties of Windows 98 with the complexity and strength of Windows NT. It is an excellent OS; however it too is obsolete, being replaced by Windows XP and now Windows Vista.
 * Windows XP**, was released in October of 2001, and came in two common versions, Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional, for home use and business use respectively. A third version called Media Center was available for use with a PC that brings together traditional PC tasks with Home Entertainment systems. It provided controls to enable the use of your PC as a video recorder, DVD player, slideshow projector, game controller and other features in conjunction with your TV and home entertainment system.The XP iteration of Windows stood for nearly six years until it was replaced by Windows Vista.
 * Windows Vista**, was released for home users in January 2007. It came in a whopping five versions; Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise and Ultimate. Most home users were happiest with Home Premium. Upgrading to this platform was demanding of a PC, especially the memory and the graphics adapter.
 * Update: As of December 2008, some agencies concluded that it did not provide an adequate benefit for their organization to upgrade to Vista. Some PC manufacturers have began offering //more// systems, not less, with the older Windows XP. Furthermore, many Windows users found Vista to be unnecessarily difficult to use. A variety of software did not work well under Vista.
 * Windows 7** promises to do everything Vista promised, but without the headaches. All indications are that Microsoft just might pull that off this time. Security features that made Vista infuriating have been addressed in Windows 7. Access and navigation have also been improved. If the results bear out the promises, 7 may be worth making the jump from all earlier versions.