You are a private computer consultant, and a new client has approached you about upgrading his small business network. The network currently consists of eight Windows XP workstations and a single server running Windows Server 2003.
Each workstation has 1 gigabyte (GB) of memory and a 1.8-gigahertz (GHz) processor. The video cards support DirectX 9 and have Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) drivers available from the manufacturer. Three of the workstations are located in a warehouse across town, while the other five in the main office run Microsoft Office applications almost exclusively. The server is also located in the main office. The warehouse computers perform sluggishly when they attempt to access server files.
On the basis of the preceding scenario, answer the following questions:
Which editions of Windows 7 would you select for the workstations to provide the required features and performance most economically? Make sure you include a detailed rationale for your decision.
Should you perform a clean installation or upgrade? Make sure you include a detailed rationale for your decision.