Safe to use Windows 7 as an operating system?

MadMax2_2

Hi
Just want to know if it is safe to use Windows 7 RC as an operating system instead of Vista which I have at the moment. I know its going to expire in June 2010 and start shutting down every 2hrs from March 2010 but from what I can see its faster and better than Vista and is what Vista should have been.
If I have up to date firewall, antivirus etc I should be safe surfing/online banking using Windows 7 RC or am I completely wrong.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

timbim_2

If you're looking at it as a way of getting an OS for free, don't. Get something like Ubuntu, which is actually free and very secure, and much faster than Vista

MadMax2_2

Is Ubuntu compatible with most programs ie Office 2007 and other microsoft products as well as games for Windows etc? it looks like a good operating system. Also does it recognise 4GB of RAM as I know XP didnt but Vista did.

el_gringo_3

Yeah its as safe as any other windows OS if you use the right protection.

Problem is if your hardwares drivers aren't up to the job, from what I've found. If you just use a motherboard with onboard gfx and sound + USB devices your fine. If you have a few PCI/PCI-E cards that you rely on then you may struggle to get them working.

Marty_J

MadMax2 wrote: »

Is Ubuntu compatible with most programs ie Office 2007 and other microsoft products as well as games for Windows etc?

You can run some Windows applications on it using CrossOver Linux.

it looks like a good operating system.

It is.

Also does it recognise 4GB of RAM as I know XP didnt but Vista did.

That's a limitation of 32 bit versions of Windows. If your hardware supports 4 GB of RAM (or more), then a 64 bit version of Ubuntu will recognise it.

MadMax2_2

Sounds good. I'm currently downloading the 64 bit version. What about drivers though? Do they come with Ubuntu or do I have to search for them?
One other thing as well is I'm downloading the 64-bit version but it comes up as AMD64 and I'm using an Intel Q6600. Will that make a difference or do I need an AMD processor?

-TangleFoot-

Generally, drivers in the likes of Ubuntu are included as a matter of course. As for the processor type, it's just a matter of architecture, which both Intel and AMD processors share.

Those limited to 32-bit operations are named for their direct ancestor: the Intel 8086. Ergo, they're known as x86 processors.

For 64-bit processors things are a little more complex, but suffice it to say that AMD got there first, and where they lead - for a while at least - Intel duly followed.

hendersonb

The AMD64 is the correct version for a Q6600 - I have the same processor and it flys

sjc_2

Windows Vista 32 Bit with SP1 will see 4GB or more and use it. I have 8GB with Vista 32bit SP2 and it recognises and uses it.

bob_man_uk

to answer the OP, yes it is ood enough to be used like any other OS, but just the same as any other OS its only as good as the serucity you put on it.

I upgraded from vista to 7 RC and tbh it runs much faster, i find it less annoying with UAC too.

Antispam

I am running it now x64, the pc boots up about 60% faster. Its stable and not so sluggish as Vista I think it can run much better on a slower machine

Yesterday I installed sp3 for vista 64 on another pc hoping it would improve bootup, nope it didnt still slow on a fast pc with 4gb ram, quad core