Unlike Windows Vista that has a great layout and visual quality, Windows 7 will be more compatible, it will support all previous software that worked on past versions of Windows and it will be an a lot faster and better operating system.

Windows 7 will bring some major updates to some Windows features. For example advances in handwriting recognition, better performance with multi-core processors, kernel upgrades, support for virtual hard drives, better boot performance, etc. Many new features will be added to the control panel, so you will be able to customize your operating system even more then you could before. The taskbar will be changed to, the quick launch icon has been removed and replaced with pinning programs and applications to the taskbar. The new task bar is easier and more practical, but maybe you will need some time to get used to it. The new layout has some practical features and it can make some of your Windows transparent just by dragging your mouse over the icon, which can be really helpful in some situations.

Microsoft has published information on minimum system requirements needed to use Windows 7. Microsoft has released an application that works as an advisor, it scans your computer to see if it is compatible for Windows 7.

For 32 bit system minimum system requirements for Windows 7 are following: 1 GB of RAM, Processor should be minimum 1 GHz, graphic card should support direct x 9 and it should have at least 128 MB of graphics memory, it requires 16 GB of hard disk space. For 64 bit things are different: At least 2 GB of RAM, processor 1 GHz, Graphic card that supports direct x 9 with 128 MB of graphics memory and at least 20 GB of free hard disk space is required for installation.

Some features that Windows Vista had are removed in order to maximize the performance. Your computer should work really fine when using Windows 7 because the main goal when making Windows 7 was to fix the previous problems and make it stable and reliable. Layout for Windows 7 looks great and it looks like they have really paid attention to making it functional and user friendly rather than putting make up on something that doesn’t work but looks nice. This is the idea most people had that used Vista.

Your computer will certainly work great when using Windows 7 if it has the minimum system requirements, but it is always better to have computer that does not only mach minimum operating requirements but is even better configured. Windows 7 will run smoothly even on computers that are outdated, it is only needed to have requirements earlier mentioned in the text. It looks like Microsoft is finally making something as good as Windows XP, maybe even better.

Let’s talk about a case first which is your personal computer’s tower. You should look for one that has enough room for all your components you wish to buy, and one that has technical specifications to support your own set of components. If you are buying a server case, point out what you need because they have different requirements. Make sure that your case has enough places where you can place coolers. It is advised to have at least 4 good working coolers.

Next thing should be the motherboard which should be able to support all components that you wish to put into your personal computer. The processor or CPU should be strong. Something like a dual-core or quad-core if you are going to play games or do some modeling, rendering or designing on your personal computer. In other cases you don’t need such a strong processor.

The next component is the memory, you will need from 1 to 8 gb’s of RAM memory. If you are just using your computer for internet browsing, typing or some minor work, like watching movies or downloading files, 1 gb should be enough. In order to play games and design however, you will need more than that to work properly without any problems.

One other important component is the hard drive. It doesn’t matter what configuration you need and for what exactly, hard drives are used to store data, and it’s your choice which one you buy.

If you have bought stronger components, you should have in mind that they can overheat and stop working or even make other devices stop working if you don’t have a good cooling system. You should have coolers on your CPU, Graphic Card, Power Supply and even a few in your computer case if you have a really strong configuration because it can easily overheat.

The next component you need is a power supply. For configurations that are strong, some strong power supplies are advised to be used. For example; you can buy a 300-450W power supply if your configuration is for web browsing or for office work, 450-800 W is advised for gaming computers and 800-1400W power supplies are being used for designing, modeling, rendering, etc.

You will also want to have a monitor. Monitors come in different shapes and specifications. The size varies from 15 inch monitors to 22 inch monitors. Today, 19 inch is pretty much the standard. You can choose between crt, tft, lcd monitors. Today, flat monitors are commonly used everywhere. TFT and LCD monitors take less space than CRT ones.

You also must buy other components needed to use your computer like a keyboard, a mouse, speakers, etc. There is also a big number of gadgets you can buy for your computer like microphones, headsets, webcams and other handy gadgets.

If you are not that familiar with hardware for a computer it is nice to get the help of a specialist when you look for a computer. This can prevent you from buying the wrong components and making a wrong setup in your computer.