Question: We were migrating from [Java 6](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_version_history#Java_SE_6_.28December_11.2C_2006.29) to [Java 7](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_version_history#Java_SE_7_.28July_28.2C_2011.29). The project is behind schedule and risks being dropped, in which case it will continue to use Java 6. 

What are the specific improvements in Java 7 that we could go back to our manager with and convince him it is important to use JDK 7? Looking for bug fixes that I could highlight in Oracle Java 7 (with respect to Java 6). Fixes in security, performance, [Java 2D](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_2D)/printing, etc. will be more sellable in my case. Compiler fixes for example, will not of much use.

[I am going through many sites like [Oracle adoption guide](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/webnotes/adoptionGuide/), bug database, [questions](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/741082/what-differences-will-java-7-have-from-java-6-and-what-will-it-mean-to-us-java?rq=1) on Stack Overflow].

Update: Thanks for the answers. We rescheduled the update to next release. Closest we got was security. Accepting the highest voted answer.

Answer: 
Java 6 has [reached EOL in February this year](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/eol-135779.html#Java6-end-public-updates) and will no longer receive public updates (including security) unless you buy very expensive enterprise support.

That should be all the reason needed.

Besides, overwhelming evidence suggests that backwards compatibility for Java runtimes is excellent. Chances are that you just have to replace the Java 6 installations with Java 7 and all applications will just continue to work without any problems. Of course this is not guaranteed and extensive tests are recommended to confirm that there will indeed be no problems.
There may be a reason why you should *not* switch to Java 7: If you have to use Oracle's VM and your software either runs on embedded hardware or you will distribute it with embedded hardware: Oracle changed the JRE's license so that it's *not* licensed if above conditions are met; you'll need to *buy* a Java SE embedded license. See [What does "general purpose system" mean for Java SE Embedded?](https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/q/166798/32523)