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Microsoft urges the enterprise to move on from Windows XP

by Parm Mann on 6 February 2009, 11:28

Tags: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows XP, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

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As Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system draws ever closer, the Redmond-based Goliath faces the same problem it encountered prior to the launch of its ill-received Windows Vista. Just how exactly do you convince the millions of companies that are happily using Windows XP to upgrade to an all-new version of Windows?

Unfortunately for Microsoft, the all-important enterprise market chose to largely ignore its current operating system of choice, Windows Vista. According to recent statistics, over 70 per cent of corporate PCs still run the ageing Windows XP - despite having launched over eight years ago.

Convincing the enterprise to transition to Windows 7 may prove to be just as difficult, and Microsoft's Steve Ballmer unconvincingly hopes that employees seeking the latest-greatest will help turn things around. Speaking at a recent IT event in New York City, Ballmer advised enterprise customers:

"If you deploy a four or five-year old operating system today, most people will ask their boss why the heck they don't have the stuff they have at home".

We can't see such an approach helping Windows 7's case in the enterprise market, and the forthcoming operating system may face an uphill struggle. Further complicating matters is the fact that - unlike Windows Vista - Windows 7 won't allow users to upgrade from an existing installation of Windows XP, instead requiring an outright clean install.

We're liking what we've seen of the Windows 7 beta, but perhaps Microsoft's biggest challenge isn't changing the public perception of Windows Vista. The challenge is convincing users - both corporate and home - to put Windows XP to bed.

Are you still using Windows XP at work, and would you welcome an upgrade to Windows Vista or Windows 7? Share your thoughts in the HEXUS.community forums.



HEXUS Forums :: 67 Comments

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Windows 7 looks a lot more promising than Vista, but we're still using the downgrade rights from Vista Business to XP Pro here, and with good reason - you wouldn't BELIEVE how much stuff we have that Vista, let alone 7, would break. We're also, like everyone else, counting our pennies at the moment, and 7's a pretty mahoosive expense, if we upgrade everyone at once. Bluntly, I'm unconvinced of the benefits at the moment, or rather that the benefits are substantial enough to warrant the cost.
Same as above, were use out SA rights to use XP over Vista, maybe w7 will tempt us but we'll see…
Its XP here throughout GM, and while I now use windows 7 and vista at home I can see why a large global enterprise is unwilling to upgrade to vista or 7 when xp is serving ends users perfectly well. That said Office 2007 was just deployed everywhere, and its hard to see the reasoning behind that!
I see no reason to take XP off any of my computer to be honest. It works fast and reliably for me. What benifit is there for me to change?!
digit
That said Office 2007 was just deployed everywhere, and its hard to see the reasoning behind that!
Errrr…it was shiny? :P