Does my business need Windows 7?

In follow-up to my Vista post, I wanted to touch base on Windows 7. If you are still on Windows XP and have not taken advantage off all Windows 7 can do for your business, you may want to upgrade...quickly! In a nutshell, Windows 7 is what Windows XP was when it came out...the new and best solution. When it comes to networking support, stability, performance, and flexibility, Windows 7 has it all.

Now, despite me pushing people to upgrade, I do want to toss some words of caution, especially to companies with small IT budgets. Although Windows 7 may be able to really help your business, there are a few pitfalls that many companies are not aware of. First off, system requirements. If your computers are more than a couple years old, there is a good chance they may not support Windows 7. You can view the minimum requirements at Microsoft's Windows 7 site. So this means you may need to buy all new computers. Although computers have gotten much cheaper, to get decent business systems, it is still going to cost you a good bit. I recommend Dell, HP, or IBM. If you have a good IT staff and don't need vendor support or warranties, then I suggest either building your machines or finding other places like TigerDirect or NewEgg-type sites to get good system at super cheap prices.

The next big problem is software compatibility. For many companies, they are using software that may be 10+ years old. Most of these applications are not compatible with Windows 7, especially Windows 7 64-bit. So, before upgrading, make sure you know if your company's software is compatible, or you will be having the biggest headache. Other than those 2 precautions, there should be nothing else stopping you from upgrading to Windows 7. I hope to post some cool features in later posts.

Does my business need Vista?

To be quite honest, no. I like to compare Vista to Windows Millenium Edition; an OS released because an OS "HAD" to be released. Although Microsoft really put some amazing features into Vista for personal, business, and mobile users, it has more problems than I would ever bother writing. Not only that, but how do you determine what version of Vista you need if you have no choice and are buying a new computer?

One solution if you are computer savvy or have an IT department is to just make an image of your old Windows XP machine, assuming your last system had XP, and then wipe the current computer's hard drive and place on the image. A fairly easy process too. Also, most companies when buying new systems are not aware that they can usually save money by ordering in bulk and requesting no operating system to be installed. The reason for this is because most companies now have a standard image that goes on every computing system.

Yes, I know you want to know the answer to the obvious question: What if my company has decided to go to Vista? Well, hopefully they will hold off and wait for Windows 7 instead. As of now, it appears to be the new Windows XP...which means features and stability. If your company is going ahead with Vista anyway, here are some tips:

1. Does your business need extremely advanced security?
2. Does your business have lots of mobile users who use their laptops between work and home (mobile commuting or just traveling work force)?
3. Does your company not want to spend a lot of extra money on computer recovery software and tools?

If you answered yes to most or all of these questions, then make sure your business is spending the extra dollars to get Windows Vista Ultimate. However, for most companies, Vista Business will handle all of your computing needs. Hope this helps. As always, feel free to contact me with questions.