Professional Purchase Advice
Help Selecting Software & Hardware
When your hardware or software is inadequate to the demands placed on it you must choose new products that meet present and future requirements without devastating your budget. We can help you to maximize your investment.
While nobody can avoid the incredible pace of changing computer technology, you want the products that will enable you to perform the needed tasks while maintaining flexibility for future expansion.
Do You Need the Upgrade?
Windows has improved significantly over the various generations. Many Windows XP users have very stable systems not requiring an upgrade.
Windows Vista or Windows 7 is generally not recommended for you unless you are purchasing a new system with Windows 7 being the preferred choice. Upgrading to Windows 7 is easier from Vista than from XP.
Purchasing new hardware will allow you to take advantage of the newer hardware and move to a 64-bit platform (most XP systems and many Vista systems are 32-bit).
If you do wish to upgrade Windows on your current computer you should check the Windows hardware requirements before you purchase the upgrade.
Newer Internet Software Stresses Older Computers
Older computer systems will be stressed more and more as newer software is installed on them. New applications often use newer technology that may not be available on older operating systems. This includes upgrades and patches to the Windows (or other operating systems) and Internet software such as browsers and e-mail programs.
Windows Life-cycle of Support
Microsoft has a stated support life-cycle policy which means they will cease to support a particular version of Windows or Internet Explorer within a predictable time period after its release. Notice the difference in support policies for Windows XP Home and Professional.
|
Windows Version |
Mainstream Support* |
Extended Support* |
|
Windows 95 & NT |
Expired |
Expired |
|
Windows 98 & 98 Second Edition |
Expired |
Expired |
|
Windows Millennium Edition |
Expired |
Expired |
|
Windows 2000 Professional |
Expired |
July 13, 2010 |
|
Windows XP Home Edition |
April 10, 2012 |
Operating systems designed for consumers do not have an Extended phase |
|
Windows XP Professional |
April 14, 2009 |
April 8, 2014 |
|
Windows Vista Basic/Premium/Ultimate |
April 10, 2012 |
Operating systems designed for consumers do not have an Extended phase |
|
Windows Vista Business |
April 10, 2012 |
April 11, 2017 |
This is how these terms are defined by Microsoft:
- Mainstream Support: The period of availability for standard support offerings (e.g., no-charge incident support, paid incident support, support charged on an hourly basis, support for warranty claims, hotfix support, and online self-help support information).
- Extended Support: An extended period of assisted support, which may be charged on an hourly basis and can include hotfix support. Microsoft will not accept requests for warranty support, design changes, or new features during the extended phase.
- Service Pack Support: Microsoft extends support for operating system service packs for approximately 24 months from release. If no new service packs are released, the product is generally considered obsolete.
Microsoft also has this additional note about Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Support. These users should upgrade to newer versions of Windows if they are connecting to the Internet because security vulnerabilities are no longer being patched and hardware support is spotty.
Other Operating Systems
Linux also has its own special requirements. While not quite as polished as the Windows system, Linux is tops for stability and security—features that are particularly weak in Windows. You can generally get Linux to run well even on a legacy computer, but a new system will be faster and support more hardware. There have been massive improvements in this operating system including support for most modern hardware. The installation has also become much easier and better documented and much of the software you'll need will already be installed or easily added if you are using Ubuntu.
If you are thinking of having multiple operating systems on one computer or sharing components it makes sense to check the compatibility first. Sometimes drivers (software that makes your computer hardware work) are just not available or updates are released more slowly for alternative operating systems.
Hardware & Software Installations
We can help the process upgrading both hardware and software. We are familiar with the pitfalls of installations and how to prepare for them. We also know how to recover if something goes wrong.
We don’t build or sell computer systems or software, but we can help you make the right choices of what and where to buy. We can also put everything together in your home or office so that you are up and running quickly and smoothly. We also maintain relationships with various vendors to ensure prompt resolution of problems you may encounter.
We Can Help
If you are looking to upgrade your software or hardware contact us for assistance.
www.russharvey.bc.ca/upgrades.html
Updated: November 3, 2008
