by Tweeg » Thu Oct 22, '09, 7:24 pm
There isn't an XP to 7 upgrade available because XP and 7 run on different core software technologies. Windows XP is the final end user version of the Windows NT software kernel. Windows 7 is the second version of the Vista software kernal. They are two fundamentally different programs.
XP to Vista upgrade was very, very finicky as it really wasn't "upgrading" XP, it was overwriting XP. Vista upgrade edition only needed you to either have XP already installed or have the XP instal disc available to pop-in during installation for validation as proof that you qualified to install the less expensive verion of the OS.
The two biggest draws for Windows 7 are that it got rid of, or at least gives the option to turn off, most of the naggingly annoying pop-ups Vista has that ask if you really really want to do what you just told the computer to do. And, DirectX 11 is a Windows 7 only application. Something else that will become a big draw for seven eventually is that it's MS's first ever flagship touch screen ready OS.
As a warning to anyone considering upgrading to Windows 7. Don't bother unless you have at least a hyper threading CPU, dual core CPU preferable. MS as usual has the absolute lowest specs the OS is capable of running on listed on 7's packaging, but it'll run slower than a quadruple amputee dog in a mud pit if you attempt running it on a single core CPU system.