As Microsoft prepares to release Windows 7, tech world prepares to yawn
Filed under: Company News, Technology
The survey, which was conducted by ScriptLogic, queried over 20,000 IT admins, and received over 1,000 responses. The primary reason for delaying or refusing upgrade was economic: 42 percent of respondents stated that they were holding off on Windows 7 because of a lack of time and resources. In light of the recession, this seems reasonable; faced with slowing revenue streams and layoffs, it seems likely that a new operating system of questionable utility would be the last thing on a lot of agendas.
Beyond this, a combination of factors are bringing the utility of operating systems into question. In a recent informal survey, only one of twelve CIOs queried stated that their company was planning to implement Windows 7 before the end of 2011. Many of the rest are sticking with Windows XP, the popular operating system that Vista was designed to replace.
While the majority of slow adopters cited cost, the survey also revealed that 39 percent of IT admins planned to hold off because of concerns about application compatibility. A large part of this nervousness may be a holdover from the 2007-2008 Vista debacle. Vista, which promised a slick new user interface and a variety of impressive features, didn't work with many computers, even those that were touted as "Windows Vista Capable." Even among those that did work, the OS was notorious for slowing down processing speed, having insufficient hardware drivers, and other severe problems.
This problem even extended to Microsoft employees, the very people who were supposed to be best positioned to enjoy the benefits of the new system. Perhaps the most impressive comment came from Mike Nash, a Microsoft vice president in software development. In an internal memo, Nash stated that "I personally got burned," and that the OS had crippled his computer. As he put it, "I now have a $2,100 e-mail machine."
Given that Vista seems to have represented Microsoft's first (accidental) foray into the netbook market, it is oddly appropriate that the company's "cloud" platform is emerging as a potential game-changer. With online versions of most Microsoft applications in the works, the interactions between OS and applications may become less important. In the long run, this could vastly expand the company's reach, even as it undermines its revenues.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-13-2009 @ 2:11PM
Soccermom said...
Microsoft needs to learn to give the public low expectations and then over deliver which is the opposite of what happened with Vista
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7-13-2009 @ 3:41PM
MICKEY said...
XP is fine. Microsoft has gone to the well once too often. They are going to annoy or manipulate everyone so much that the new Google OS is going to look like a gift from God. I wonder if Microsoft creates worms and viruses in order to scare people into new operating systems?? Just wondering out loud.
7-13-2009 @ 2:16PM
jamoor said...
If Microsoft had to pay every consumer ten dollars each time their software screwed up, you can bet that when they did offer a product, it would probably work most of the time. The government has allowed them to take advantage and take control with very inferior products.
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7-13-2009 @ 2:38PM
Windsurfer757 said...
Microsoft is lame. When my present computer with XP on it dies, then I am getting a Mac.
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7-13-2009 @ 2:54PM
kirby said...
i need a new computer--
SHOULD I WAIT, OR GET ONE NOW????????
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7-13-2009 @ 3:41PM
hugh said...
wait, vista sucks from what i'm told windows 7 goes back to basics. can't get worse than this platform
7-13-2009 @ 3:06PM
TomW said...
Vista is just really settling in and Microsoft wants us to rush out and buy another operating system. Most of us are using computers that are relatively new with the VISTA system on it and XP just went off order status months ago. Windows 7 comes at a time when it would take a reliable upgrade or a huge coupon to make it worth starting to change systems over AND people are going to wait to see if its any good. Those who rushed our to get Vista got hurt. But Bill Gates is OK, thank for that I was afraid he might lose his job.
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7-13-2009 @ 3:08PM
marshall said...
Oh yea when XP came out it was a time when a lot of people bought computers for the first time (me too if you dont include a TRS 80 from 1982) WE arent kids. We really dont know much about these new fangled things. If microsoft wants us to upgrade it has to be for dummies simple. Put in a disk and all your old XP compatable programs work. Good luck with that.
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7-13-2009 @ 3:41PM
marshall said...
I know a lot of people hate Microsoft, but to me windows XP does everything I need. Vista was just some extra bells and whistles. It took a while for me to get good with XP; Im not learning a new system unless its a quantum leap ahead of XP.
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7-13-2009 @ 3:54PM
chuckycheez48 said...
Buy a Mac and be done with it.
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7-13-2009 @ 4:08PM
Mark Wallace said...
Try Ubuntu. It's a free download. I have an XP license for this computer but Ubuntu has more features. Microsoft has gone to extended support for XP which means that you will start to see applications not have upgrades for XP. I have a Vista laptop but it lacks the features of Ubuntu. Just be sure that your printer has a Linux driver and know that if you are using dial up, Ubuntu won't work with a Winmodem. You need a Hays or most external modems. It works fine with broadband.
You get all the upgrades for free forever with Ubuntu, and you can configure it to work just like Windows, or Just like Apple.
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7-13-2009 @ 4:58PM
wes said...
VISTA just confuses me. And the new way of selling a laptop for under $1000.00 is to give you a 60 day trial of the software, and then your $1000.00 just cost $3,000.00.
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