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Here are my tips on upgrading.

1. Check your desktop PC spec. Vista-ready machines should be fine, but if you are running Windows XP, you may have compatibility issues. Before you do anything, though, backup your system drive (normally c:) onto a USB hard disk drive. If things go badly wrong, you can restore your old operating system from this backup.

2. Windows 7 will support a lot of products out of the box, when it is first installed, but after installation, you may find some things stop working.

Graphics appearance
3. If things don't look quite right make sure you have the latest ATI or Nvidia graphcs card drivers from their respective web sites. Similarly, Creative Labs and most PC card manufacturers will have download sites. You should search for Windows 7 drivers.

4. Now check your PC peripherals. The keyboard, mouse and monitor should work fine, but again it is worth checking if the manufacturer has updated river software for Windows 7. You will also need to ensure that you have the latest device drivers for you printer and scanner and whatever else plugs into your PC..

5. Finally, older applications and PC games may be unable to run on Windows 7. Unlike with Vista, it is possible to run older software. Check out XP Mode, which uses a Virtual PC-to run XP on top of Windows 7.

Windows 7 Due For release

Are you ready for Windows 7? Here's a checklist of five things you need to do before installing the shiny new Windows 7 disc on your PC.

Windows 7, the next major release of the world's most popular operating system, will be officially available to the public on 22 October.

Microsoft is hoping it can avoid the negative press that surrounded the launch of Vista, the last major Windows release, almost three years ago.

Windows 7 has been designed to be compatible with Vista so users do not have to invest in new hardware.

Customers who buy a new PC with Vista will be offered upgrades to Windows 7.

Microsoft's Charlotte Jones demonstrates Windows 7's new features
At the Computex 2009 trade show in Taipei, Microsoft's Steve Guggenheimer said: "We've received great feedback from our partners who are looking forward to offering Windows 7 to their customers in time for the holidays."

Mr Guggenheimer said that Microsoft will make an upgrade option available, so PC makers and retail partners can offer customers the ability to purchase a Windows Vista-based PC and install Windows 7 when it is released.

When Vista was launched many users expressed frustration that the operating system did not work with all types of existing hardware and peripherals, or programs used commonly on PCs.

And a Vista compatibility programme for hardware proved to be confusing and, in some cases, somewhat misleading.

Windows 7 features
Windows XP mode - a virtual PC that can run older applications that might not run on Windows 7
Remote Media Streaming - access your home digital media over the net
Aero Peek - full screen previews of applications
Windows Touch: Support for multi-touch devices
Gadgets: Widgets now appear on the desktop and not in a sidebar
Windows 7 will also have "comparable system requirements" to Vista, which should mean that if your PC is capable of running Vista it will also run the new version.

Windows 7 promises a major usability improvement on Vista, and a simplification of security measures which caused frustration for many users.

Beta testers of Windows 7 have reported that it is faster than Vista, especially in terms of start-up and shutdown sequence of the computer.

Windows 7 simplifies tasks and lets people get more done in less time with fewer clicks. Ready to deploy now, it enhances corporate data protection and security, and increases control to improve compliance and reduce risk.... making it easier to reduce costs, improve performance, and enable end users to work anywhere. These and other enhancements are the result of close collaboration with millions of customers and thousands of IT professionals... Thanks in large part to their help, Windows 7 is the best PC operating system we have ever built.

Of course, this time Ballmer really means it. He also really meant it when he said the same things about Vista, XP, NT, Windows 98, Win 95, and every other Windows OS going back to DOS 2.1, with the possible exception of Windows ME. More disturbing is that he truly believes it.

New Reduced Pricing on Watts Clever Energy Saving Products

Watts Clever offer a range of standby saving products and solar chargers that not only reduce the consumers energy costs and carbon consumption, but also offer attractive margins to resellers. The range has started to gain some real momentum, and we have taken advantage of production economies at Watts Clever to reduce the pricing across the range offering even better margins to Watts Clever resellers.

Further details can be found under Watts Clever on the products menu of our website.

Freecom's Hard Drive XS 3.0 and Buffalo's Drive Station HD-HXU3 are the first external desktop hard disks to come with USB3 ports - a faster version of the more common USB2 interface currently used on external hard disks.
USB3 has a maximum theoretical speed of 4.8Gbit/s (or approximately 600MB/s) compared to USB2's 480Mbit/s (or approximately 60MB/s).

However, just as current USB2 disks can't reach their maximum theoretical speeds, we don't expect these new USB3 disks to achieve anywhere near their on-paper speeds either.

Freecom claims

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a speed of 130Mb/s for the Hard Drive XS 3.0, while Buffalo states that the Drive Station can reach speeds of 125MB/s - both of which should be four times as fast as current USB2 disks.

Until PCs and laptops come with USB3 ports built-in, you'll need an adaptor to take advantage of these new hard disks. Freecom has announced a PCI controller card for desktop PCs, which will cost around £23, and a £26 ExpressCard adaptor for laptops. Buffalo has also announced a PCI adaptor, but has yet to confirm pricing.

Freecom's Hard Drive XS 3.0 will come with 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB versions and will be available in mid-November. The 1TB version will cost £100 - around £30 more expensive than 1TB USB 2 disks - but pricing for the larger capacities has yet to be confirmed. The DriveStation will be available in the same capacities but Buffalo was unable to confirm either the pricing or the availability dates for any of them.