Gonna stick my 2cents worth in here...
First off, a bit of background. Got my first PC in '84 and have had many since. Back then it was DOS 1.1, no Windows. Since '86 I've made my living as a Tech Support rep, primarily under Windows but with a few years of Mac's. I've used and supported every version of Windows since it's inception and I will tell you this. Windows 7 is BY FAR the absolute BEST version of this OS ever. I've been running it (the RC Ultimate 64bit) on a new system I built about 4 months ago, and since it was "empty" I thought, "What the hell, I've read some good things about Win7 and this is the perfect time to try it..."
I've been amazed at the "steadyness" of it from day 1. I run a huge variety of stuff on it, some in 64bit and some at 32 and it never balks or freezes or blinks at all.
I do video editing, gaming (both classic and enhanced clients for UO) and all the "normal" stuff with it. A couple of my apps run in Win7's "Compatability Mode" with absolutely NO problems.
If it sounds like I'm a MS Rep here, I'm not. What I am is a loooong-time user of Windows and it's really nice to see MS get one out RIGHT.
BTW... Your mother should be using Pantone's HUEY in the Windows version. It's available in both 32 and 64bit modes.
Regarding:
That's good advice, except that I can pretty much guarantee you that any app that works in XP or Vista will work in Win7... As for device drivers, hell this is a NEW system and as such will be BUILT with Win7 included so all drivers will be there from day 1. As for external peripherals, again - if they have drivers for XP or Vista then Win7 will run them.
Hope that sheds some light on this for ya...