This is some way in advance of the release of the next generation of Windows software, but some preparation as to whether to move to it, or not, may be useful.
I never moved from Windows XP Home to Vista on my desktop PC because I've never liked Vista. I do run Vista on my laptop, and it is usable - the laptop was delivered with Vista on it, so no upgrade was needed.
You can find details of the Windows 7 software on http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/windows-7/
Whether or not you can actually run it depends on your PC. There's an Upgrade Advisor you can download that will tell you www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/windows-vista/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx
It told me for instance, that, while my desktop PC can easily run Windows 7, I can't upgrade to it - I need to install it from scratch as a custom install - then install all my software, from scratch!
For me, it probably means I'll stick to Windows XP Home until I buy a new PC some time in the future.
Generally, it is good advice to wait until a few months after any new software has been released, to give time for all the initial problems to come to light.
The main things to realise is that if your PC ain't broke - then there is little need to fix it by getting a new operating system!
I never moved from Windows XP Home to Vista on my desktop PC because I've never liked Vista. I do run Vista on my laptop, and it is usable - the laptop was delivered with Vista on it, so no upgrade was needed.
You can find details of the Windows 7 software on http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/windows-7/
Whether or not you can actually run it depends on your PC. There's an Upgrade Advisor you can download that will tell you www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/windows-vista/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx
It told me for instance, that, while my desktop PC can easily run Windows 7, I can't upgrade to it - I need to install it from scratch as a custom install - then install all my software, from scratch!
For me, it probably means I'll stick to Windows XP Home until I buy a new PC some time in the future.
Generally, it is good advice to wait until a few months after any new software has been released, to give time for all the initial problems to come to light.
The main things to realise is that if your PC ain't broke - then there is little need to fix it by getting a new operating system!