This decision may seem simple, but here are a few questions to examine before you decide.

Will Windows 7 run on my computer?

If your PC is less than 5 years old, the answer is almost certainly yes. Microsoft claims that a 1GHz processor, 16GB of disk space, and 1GB of RAM are the minimum specs required, However, for the most productive and satisfying Windows 7 experience, you'll want as fast of a computer as possible. I don't recommend running Win 7 on anything less than a dual-core CPU with 2GB of RAM.

It's also a good idea to run Microsoft's , which will check to see if your hardware and software are compatible with Windows 7. I've had issues with unavailable video drivers on some laptops, so even though Windows 7 would install, the experience was sub-par. A good rule of thumb is that if you're already running Vista, Windows 7 will perform as well or better on the same hardware.

Will I get the most out of Windows 7 on my current hardware?