Oct. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Windows 7 is here. Thank God.

It isn’t often one feels the need to praise the Almighty over a computer operating system, particularly one from Microsoft Corp. Then again, Windows 7 is polished, stable and smooth -- in short, everything its unlamented predecessor, Windows Vista, wasn’t.

Personal computers preloaded with Windows 7, along with boxed and upgrade versions of the new software, go on sale Oct. 22. While the global economic turmoil makes predictions chancy, Windows 7 deserves to be a hit, and a stimulus to PC sales worldwide.

When I first began using Windows 7, my reaction was: This is just like Vista, except that it works. The user interface, called Aero, carries over from Vista, meaning that a computer running Win 7 more or less does things the same way.

The more I’ve used the new software, though, the more I’ve concluded my initial reaction was unfair. Windows 7 incorporates enough new features and improvements to be something you’ll want on its own merits, not just because it fixes old problems.

An example is what Microsoft calls Aero Peek. In Windows Vista, hovering the cursor over an item in the task bar -- the strip across the bottom of the screen that lets you keep track of what’s open -- would generate a small image of the window’s contents. In Windows 7, resting your cursor on the small image opens a full-sized one; click your mouse, and the larger window instantly becomes live.

See-Through Windows

Another nice touch: Move your mouse to the far right of the taskbar, and all the open windows turn transparent to let you see what’s on your desktop. And if you have a bunch of windows open but only want one on the desktop, grab its title bar with the mouse and give it a shake; all the other windows minimize.

You can also now permanently pin items to the task bar for fast access -- no more fumbling with menus to find the calculator accessory -- and jump to frequently or recently used functions and files. A reworked Windows Explorer makes it easier to find and organize files.

Other enhancements may be more relevant in the future than they are today. Chief among them is Windows 7’s extensive built- in support for touch screen devices. These days, touch is still a relative rarity on personal computers -- but it’s likely to play a much larger role someday.

Sticking With Vista

One critical decision Microsoft made with Windows 7 was to hew as much as possible to the Vista model for device drivers -- the software that allows printers, external hard disks and other add-ons to communicate with the operating system.

This is one case where carrying over from Vista is a good thing. Drivers were my own personal hell when I upgraded my home computer to Vista from its predecessor, Windows XP, a couple years back, and the decision to maintain the driver model means I’ve largely already paid my dues on that front.

In fact, on the three Windows 7 machines I’m running presently, I’ve only encountered one conflict, involving a several-years-old Hewlett-Packard Co. LaserJet printer/fax.

Unlike Vista, which required more memory and better graphics than its predecessor, the new software should run fine on just about any recent-model computer, including many XP machines. The toughest part of upgrading may be deciding which of the multiple flavors of Windows 7 you need.

The software comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions -- they differ in how much memory and computing power you can make use of -- and you generally can’t move from 32-bit Vista or XP to 64-bit Windows 7. To see what you’re running if you’re currently using Vista, you can right-click on Computer and choose Properties, or click on your Start button, choose Run and type “winver” without the quotation marks.

Various Packages

Then there are the various packages: Home Premium ($119.99 for the upgrade version); Professional ($199.99), which adds additional backup, connectivity and compatibility features; and Ultimate ($219.99), which adds more security and multilanguage support.

Upgrading a Vista computer is time-consuming, if not labor- intensive. It took me an hour and 27 minutes on a recent-model Hewlett-Packard desktop PC, plus another 15 minutes to reconfigure network and Internet access. An older Sony Vaio took about two hours, though it didn’t require the network fiddling. Neither required much hands-on intervention, and data and most settings came through unscathed.

Deferred Pain

Windows XP users have a tougher path. For one thing, there’s the matter of those device drivers; if you never upgraded to Vista, you may not have avoided the pain, just delayed it.

For another, you’ll need to use an external drive and a Windows 7 program called “Easy Transfer” to offload your data and settings during the process, then put them back where they belong. Finally, you’ll need to reinstall all your programs. Now, where is that Quicken disk?

Not surprisingly, other companies see an opportunity to simplify the process, for a price.

Laplink Software Inc. is offering a $15 program called PCmover Windows 7 Upgrade Assistant that it says will save your programs and negate the need for an external drive. For $39.99, iYogi, an India-based support provider, will have a Microsoft- certified technician remotely access your computer and migrate your applications, data and settings for you.

How good is Windows 7? It still isn’t nearly as elegant or intuitive as Snow Leopard, the current version of Apple Inc.’s Mac operating system. The upgrade path for XP users is ugly, and any endorsement must be tempered by the knowledge that even Vista didn’t seem so bad when it was first released.

Still, there should be huge sighs of relief around Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington, headquarters. The only louder ones will be coming from Windows users.

(Rich Jaroslovsky is a columnist for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

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To contact the writer of this column: Rich Jaroslovsky in New York at rjaroslovsky@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 15, 2009 21:00 EDT