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Windows 7 is here

Monday, September 28, 2009


windows 7 logoWindows 7, the newest operating system release from Microsoft, is now on sale at the DoIT Tech Store, for departmental purchase only.

Personal sales through the Tech Store and the Wisconsin Integrated Software Catalog (WISC) will begin soon after Windows 7 is released to the general public on October 22.  

The new OS offers several improvements over its predecessor, Windows Vista:

  • Windows 7 runs smoother and faster using existing computer resources. “Any Windows machine will run Windows 7 better than it ran Vista,” says Chris Grosspietsch of the DoIT Help Desk.
  • The Windows 7 OS is better designed and less intrusive than Vista in terms of user account control. “You can access more common tasks without the OS asking you for permission,” says Grosspietsch.
  • A redesigned and improved Taskbar provides more flexibility. You can now “pin” and rearrange programs on the Taskbar.

Should you upgrade?
Before you decide to upgrade to Windows 7, see your departmental IT support person. Windows 7 has been available to departments for installation on departmental computers since August 19. Your department may have plans for upgrading all of its Windows machines.

Media-only pricing for departments is $10 for one disk and $25 for a five-pack. Any UW-Madison-owned computer with a Windows license is eligible for an upgrade.

Support
The DoIT Help Desk is already providing limited support for Windows 7 users, and agents will escalate any problems they cannot resolve initially. Full support should be available by the time Windows 7 is publicly released in October.

Compatibility with hardware and applications
If your computer ran Vista, a hardware upgrade will not be needed.

DoIT and campus software developers are now investigating any incompatibilities between Windows 7 and campus applications. For a summary of those issues, go to http://helpdesk.doit.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=11976 before you acquire and install Windows 7. DoIT will continue to work with vendors and UW software developers to resolve any remaining compatibility issues.