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Windows 7 Gets "A" Grade on 7-Month Anniversary From Support.com's Personal Technology Experts

^{Published on 2010-05-26 05:11:53 - Market Wire}
 

REDWOOD CITY, CA--(Marketwire - May 26, 2010) - Much has been written about Microsoft's Windows^® 7 operating system since its celebrated arrival seven months ago. While pundits across the techno-sphere have offered their opinions, the real verdict lies with the users -- and those who traditionally have to fix computer software problems when they arise. According to the Personal Technology Experts™ at Support.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: [ SPRT ]), which provides a quick, cost-effective and [ stress-free technology support experience ] over the Internet and phone, Windows 7 is just about everything it's been promised to be, provided users go with a recommended fresh install.

Having polled many of the work-from-home Personal Technology Experts, Dhugael McLean, Tech Support Analyst at Support.com, offers these insights and lessons learned about the Windows 7 OS:

• Safer and More Secure: From a tech support standpoint, PCs loaded with Windows 7 are easier to fix, are less likely to be hacked, and for those who choose the 64-bit version, are less prone to getting infected with viruses, than Windows Vista or Windows XP. But don't let your guard down. Even with Win 7's improved security, malware production remains high, which means there's no guarantee your computer won't at some point be attacked.

• Greater Performance Requires More Power: Windows 7 looks nicer, runs smoother, crashes less, and is generally more fun as an operating system (OS) than any of its predecessors, but you have to have fairly up-to-date hardware to run it. If you're unsure whether your hardware is going to work with Windows 7, check the manufacturer's site to see if they have Windows 7 drivers for it.

• Fresh Install Trumps Upgrade: Many PC owners have chosen to upgrade to Windows 7, believing the new OS will solve all the problems of their previous OS. If the hope is that the upgrade will provide new computer performance, it's best to perform what is called a fresh install. While that requires extra time and effort to reinstall all applications, as well as transferring data, email, contact information, and more, in the end, your PC will work better and be more stable.

• Pining for Quick Launch? Try Pinning Instead: While there are no "Quick Launch" buttons, convenience and speed haven't been replaced. If you like having a program open with single click, simply "pin" the program to the task bar at the bottom of the screen. Once a program is pinned it will stay in that position.

• The Ultimate in Form and Function: The Windows 7 "Ultimate" version offers terrific eye candy, such as desktop images that change and other cool visuals. However, if you don't have the right system hardware requirements, don't go the Ultimate route as you won't really miss it from a performance standpoint.

The Bottom Line:
"It's Microsoft's first grade 'A' OS in many years," comments McLean. "Provided you have the horsepower to run it, my fellow Support.com tech experts and I recommend making the leap. But just don't upgrade. If you're going to do it, do it right with a fresh install so you can have the cleanest version of it and limit the potential problems that may arise."

About Support.com
Support.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: [ SPRT ]) provides [ services ] and software that help consumers and small businesses with their technology needs. Support.com's North American Personal Technology Experts™ provide a [ quick, cost-effective and stress-free technology support experience ] over the Internet and the phone using Support.com's advanced technology platform. Support.com also provides consumer software for the do-it-yourself customer. Support.com, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Support.com is a trademark or registered trademark of Support.com, Inc. or its affiliates in the US and other countries. Microsoft, Windows and the Windows logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

For more information visit [ www.support.com ].

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this document that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" and accordingly involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein. These and other risks are detailed in Support.com's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and its latest quarterly report on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained from [ www.sec.gov ]. Support.com does not intend to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances, and disclaims any obligation to do so except as may be required by law.