[jaypeecee]

Hi Folks,

This is my very first post on Windows 7 Forums, so - hello everyone!

I'm really pleased to have found this forum having been pointed here by someone on another forum.

Not only do I plan to make the switch to Windows 7 soon but I'm almost certainly going to dive into the world of 64 bit computing.

Great to be here!

JPC

[Kalario]

Welcome to the forum JPC !

You will enjoy it here, this is a very friendly forum, but more that that, you will gain a lot from it as I myself did.

64 bit is the way to go. I switched to Win 7 64 bit and never looked back.

Good luck.

[Nibiru2012]

Welcom jaypeecee! We hope you find your stay here a useful and fruitful experience.

[Ian]

Great to have you here jaypeecee - welcome to the site

[jaypeecee]

Hi Folks,

Well, what a fantastic welcome!

Thanks!

JPC

[clifford_cooley]

Hi jaypeecee - Welcome to the w7forums.

[TrainableMan]

Welcome aboard,
If you are making the leap by upgrading your current system check hear for advice first. Such as downloading and running the windows 7 compatibility wizard to check for possible hardware & software issues, our recommendation to perform a fresh install even though you would buy and use upgrade discs, and deciding which OS version you need ... personally I recommend Professional but if you don't want or need Virtual PC - XP mode then Home Premium may suit you best (others available are starter, ultimate, and enterprise) and I don't know if you have the IE8-less"N" versions in England but if so you want to make sure you get the one appropriate for you.

[catilley1092]

jaypeecee, welcome to the forum! I hope that you find a home in our forum, as I did last November. Like you, I made the leap of going 64 bit myself, though at the time of purchase I didn't know that I was getting a 64 bit computer. I only knew that it was new, with Windows 7, and found out that I had 64 bit when it arrived.

But that turned out nicely for me, and I believe that it will for you, too. There have been many debates on 64 vs 32 bit, and vice versa, but in the end, the 64 bit computer is a better one. As a fellow member here once told me, using a 64 bit system is like driving on a four lane highway, and the 32 bit is like a two lane one. It made good since to me, and is a simple way to compare between the two versions.

Throw in 4GB of RAM in each, the difference is immediately seen. The 32 bit cannot even use the full amount of RAM (speed), while the 64 bit one can use it all, if necessary, with ease.

I agree with TrainableMan, Windows 7 Pro is the optimal choice, but paying for it to be installed from the factory (or retail seller) is high. With the Anytime Upgrade, it can be had for $89 (US Dollars). All versions of 7 (even Starter) has all the different features of the OS built in, you simply need a key to unlock them.

I wish you the best of success in your venture, and anytime that you need assistance, always feel free to post. There are many tutorials on the forum, as well as a newly created Free Software Database, where many of very useful, essential software applications can be found. And there's plenty of friendly help here, too.

Best of Luck,
Cat

[clifford_cooley]

Originally Posted by catilley1092

The 32 bit cannot even use the full amount of RAM (speed), while the 64 bit one can use it all, if necessary, with ease.

cat the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit has nothing to do with speed as you are suggesting. The difference is the amount of bits (switches if you will) that can be used to store data per clock cycle. The speed at which these switches are accessed is a different topic.

[Fire cat]

Welcome to the forum jaypeecee! This forum is one great one

Ah... Cat and TM allready bombarding new users with information...