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| 05 | 2007 |
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| Windows Vista: The Final Consensus |
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If you haven't already made a trip to your nearest computer store to take a peek at what you may (or may not be) missing by holding off on that OS upgrade to Microsoft Vista, we've got the latest consensus from users and reviewers after 6 months of trial and error.
The good news for Microsoft: they hit record sales of more than 20 million licenses purchased in the first month (it’s predecessor, Windows XP, sold a mere 17 million). The bad news for Microsoft: those numbers don’t indicate how many people purchased a computer with Vista and reformatted it with XP. The proof is in the demand – so many consumers have demanded Windows XP over Windows Vista, that Dell was forced “to reintroduce the older Microsoft operating system as an option on its home systems,” according to a report last month in InformationWeek.
For businesses, the response is even more daunting. The same report also announced results from a survey of businesses out of which 30% of 612 respondents said “they had no plans to upgrade their systems to Windows Vista – not ever.” A quarter said they were already using the new OS; 13% have plans to upgrade within a year and 27% plan to upgrade over a year from now. And that includes the big guys – “NASA, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Federal Aviation Administration, have all decided to forgo – at least for now – moving their desktop systems from Windows XP to Windows Vista, in part because some of their current applications won’t function properly on the operating system. Some prestigious universities, such as MIT and Stanford, also have shelved Windows Vista upgrades until compatibility issues can be resolved,” according to the InformationWeek report.
So why the chilling Vista response from the same consumers who once camped outside the local Best Buy the night before as if they were waiting in line for Rolling Stones tickets? One reason is that consumers are well aware (especially after the mishaps with XP and ME) that Microsoft rushed the launch – so much so that they left out many of features consumers were looking forward to. In their rush to get it to the market, consumers are also by now well aware of the multitude of bugs and glitches that Microsoft didn’t take the time to work out. This has left the impression with consumers that the “real” version of Windows Vista doesn’t really come out until the first Service Pack is issued.
Another reason for the lukewarm welcome is that Vista is being touted as a resource hog. Windows Vista Home Premium, Business and Ultimate versions require a 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor, 1 GB of RAM (with many techs recommending 2GB) and a 40GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of space available. That’s quite a steep jump from the mere 300 MHz processor, 128 MB of RAM and 1.5 GB of hard drive space required by Windows XP Professional, making it a blessing for hardware manufacturers while producing a much larger financial and IT burden for businesses upgrading tens to hundreds of PCs. To combat the concerns over hardware compatibility, Microsoft has even setup an Upgrade Advisor to download and evaluate if your machines are Vista-ready: www.windowsvista.com/upgradeadvisor.
Other “quarks” with Vista include difficulty upgrading (sending many running to the stores to simply buy a new PC with Vista out of frustration), compatibility issues with iTunes 7.1 (corrupting iPOD hard drives with their “Safely Remove Hardware” feature that does anything but), blue screen errors from leaving FireWire devices plugged in and letting Vista go into sleep mode, and problems installing Acrobat Reader, amongst a plethora of other compatibility issues.
Inevitably, as we all know, Microsoft will cease to offer support for its past versions and we’ll all be forced to succumb to the shiny allure of the Aero Glass features of Vista. When that day comes, how will we benefit? Security was one of the priorities for this version, and Microsoft claims Vista is the safest OS they’ve ever created. Symantec supported this claim with the release of a white paper directed solely at an in-depth analysis of Vista security technologies. Their conclusion? “Symantec predicts that the new security features in Windows Vista will result in fewer instances of widespread worms that target core Windows operating system vulnerabilities.” While this doesn’t mean that hackers aren’t already aspiring to hurdle these new barriers, for now, most malware is kept at bay.
In addition to stronger security, Vista also made advancements to Internet Explorer 7 (with the much-anticipated new tab feature), Windows Media Player 11, and they added Instant Search, an enhanced desktop search that allows you to search all your files and emails from the Start Menu, any Explorer window, and the Control Panel. You can also download and try out these features on your XP system.
Other features include:
1. New parental controls that allow parents to restrict website access, limit the number of hours, create filters, block downloads, and more.
2. Enhanced Windows Explorer with live icons and improved search feature
3. Better Help system
4. DirectX 10 for enhanced PC graphics (especially beneficial to gamers and multimedia users)
5. Encrypting File System to keep information secure for computers with multiple users
6. Easier remote access
7. Shadow Copy which makes automatic backups of your files to prevent the terror of accidental deletions
8. Speech Recognition for dictating emails and other documents (available in multiple languages)
9. Windows Meeting Space which allows Vista users to remotely collaborate on projects
10. Windows Mobility Center with a variety of power management options
The final consensus? The biggest reason for upgrading immediately is security. But, most businesses are putting an OS upgrade on hold because they’re finding that the enhancements in Vista are more eye candy than bottom line benefits that justify the hardware needed to comply with Vista’s substantial requirements. If you’re going to upgrade to Vista, at the very least wait until they’ve corrected the bugs with Service Pack 1 (the “real” version of Vista). And unless you’re planning to convert to MAC or Linux any time soon, start planning the upgrade process and testing now. The increases in hardware requirements and compatibility issues will require time, money and tech resources to work out your own bugs.
For a technology upgrade planning guide, click here.
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About The Brookfield Group
The Brookfield Group has become a leader in IT, ISP, ASP and web solutions by providing next level technology solutions managed by experts who give you peace of mind without the tech-talk. The company's services are customized to fit any enterprise-size businesses and include: IT project management; hosting solutions and maintenance; systems security and patches; telecommunications services, server and desktop setup, repair and applications; network infrastructure design; audio visual products; surveillance and security solutions; as well as a variety of other software, hardware, services and accessories. Located in Carmel, Indiana, more information about The Brookfield Group products and services is available at www.thebrookfieldgroup.com or by calling 317.524.6000.
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