 |
 |
 |
On the Lookout for Vista
Sunday, July 16th, 2006
Microsoft’s next big operating system upgrade has a wealth of new business features—but how badly do you really need them?
Microsoft’s first major operating system upgrade in five years, Windows Vista, is expected to hit the retail shelves in January.
Originally scheduled for 2003, Vista’s release date was pushed back many times due to development delays. And the delays have created openings for the growth of competitors, such as Apple on the desktop and Linux on the server. But Microsoft’s market share remains overwhelming. Like it or not, Vista will eventually become Microsoft’s default OS. So the question is not whether you’ll be making the switch to Vista, but when.
In fact, if your company has a volume licensing agreement with Microsoft, you’ll have a chance to upgrade to the client version of Vista as early as November, when the operating system will be shipped to computer manufacturers and other large customers. (The server version of Vista, still nicknamed Longhorn, isn’t scheduled to ship until 2007.)
Still, there are good reasons why IT managers are saying "wait and see." Upgrades are time-consuming and expensive, requiring lots of testing, training and support. Then there’s the hardware. Vista’s almost certainly not going to run well on older machines. On the Lookout for Vista - Editorial - CIO
Popular Posts
Please read our Disclaimer
