Windows 7 is the next Operating System from Microsoft. It replaces Vista and is really Vista done right. There are too many write-ups on 7 for me to do one in-depth, so I will not attempt. But, I will talk about my experiences and bottom line it for you. 

*Windows 7 is slicker than Vista. If you know and are familiar with Vista's interface, there is not a big learning curve at all. If you have XP, Windows 7, as Vista was, may take a little getting used to, but well worth it.

*Since Windows & is built on Vista, everything that works in Vista works 100% in Windows 7.

*Windows 7 will upgrade pretty painlessly from Vista without having to reinstall any applications, but moving from XP to Windows 7 requires a replacement of Windows and requires apps to be re-installed.

*If you have XP and wish to make the jump, please be sure your computer meets the specs and you have plenty of RAM. 2GB minimum. I have Windows 7 on an old Dell with 2GB and it runs pretty fast for a 6 year old machine.

I have Windows 7 on three houseghold machines since March and highly recommend it as a replacement Operating System.

Want to tell if your computer can handle Windows 7? Here is a tool from Microsoft that will tell you. Click here and scroll down about half way. There is a blue download bar.

Here are some Windows 7 writeups that will be useful to learn more about Windows 7.

Supersite for Windows
Engadget Review of Windows 7
Advice: Get it!

Windows XP Death Date
Windows Vista was supposed to be the death of XP, meaning that as users migrate to Vista, XP will have an "end of life" date as they call it. because of the slow migration and the bad press Vista received, users were reluctant to jump on Vista, therefore extending the date for XP. With Windows 7 due to be released soon, you can be sure that XP will see a date pinned to it for the retirement home. Basically when it "dies" it means you cannot buy it anymore and Microsoft will stop pushing updates for it. At the point when Microsoft stops releasing web updates is the date when it "dies", at least according to me.  Although there is no "drop dead date" from Microsoft, Windows 7 looks to be a major hit and Microsoft will run away from XP as soon as it can. Summer/Fall 2010 looks to be MY personal guess.

Once Microsoft kills XP by not releasing updates for it, Eastvale Computer Services will no longer work on XP machines that are hooked up to the internet.

Advice: Look to get Windows 7 either as an upgrade to your existing computer or get a new one with Windows 7 on it by next Summer.