October 22 is the release date for the next version of Microsoft Windows, Windows 7, which should coincide almost exactly with this issue of NorthBay biz hitting the stands. So it seems the perfect time to be writing about how you and your business should approach Windows 7.
The current version of Microsoft’s PC operating system, Windows Vista, has experienced relatively slow uptake in the business community. Vista performed more slowly than Windows XP on the same hardware and came with enhanced security features that many people found annoying (and that Apple parodied to good effect in its “Mac guy” ads on TV). Prior to Service Pack 1, Vista also experienced a number of compatibility problems, which made IT people wary of it. Companies like DELL, which depend on selling to business customers, sold XP for as long as they possibly could, even offering to “downgrade” customers from Vista to Windows XP. As a result, many companies have continued to run Windows XP, waiting eagerly for Windows 7.
The good news for businesses? Windows 7 looks like a winner. It’s faster than Vista on the same hardware configuration (although perhaps not quite as fast as XP) and more compatible with existing applications and hardware than Vista’s initial release. Most analysts say there’s no need for corporate IT departments to wait for the first Service Pack before migrating to the latest version of Windows.
Sounds good, right? Not so fast.
Although the waiting is over, Microsoft isn’t going to make it easy for businesses that skipped Vista to move up. The Windows 7 website flatly states, “While we don’t recommend it, you can opt to upgrade your current PC from Windows XP or another operating system to Windows 7.” So, if you chose to stay with Windows XP, you’re now going to face the challenges of upgrading without much help from Microsoft.
Even if you’re already running Windows Vista, the transition won’t be simple. While Windows XP came in two flavors (Home and Professional), Vista expanded it to 10: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate, each in 32- and 64-bit versions. Including XP, that means there are 11 versions of Windows you can be upgrading from, and six versions of Windows 7 you can be upgrading to (32- and 64-bit versions of Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate). Of the 66 possible combinations that represents, only 14 are supported as “in-place” upgrades (meaning you don’t have to backup, do a clean install of Windows 7 and then reinstall apps and copy data files).
Now, Microsoft is reasonably smart, and those 14 instances cover the vast bulk of likely Vista-to-7 upgrades. Each (non-Starter) version of Vista can be upgraded to its equivalent Windows 7 version (for example, Vista Home Basic/Premium to Windows 7 Home) or to Windows 7 Ultimate, so the situation isn’t quite as dire as it might appear. But XP users are definitely out in the cold, as are owners of the low-cost Vista Starter edition.
What to do?
If only because it runs better on a given hardware configuration, current users of Windows Vista should plan to upgrade to Windows 7 if they can do an “in-place” upgrade (see http://tinyurl.com/techtalk1 for the details). An upgrade will set you back between $120 (to Home Premium) and $220 (to Ultimate), even at Amazon.com, but the functional improvements and increased productivity make it a break-even proposition at worst. It’s worth running the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which you can download for free from Microsoft, to reduce the chance you’ll encounter an unexpected problem. You should also check with the vendors of your critical applications and hardware to make sure you won’t be the guinea pig if their product runs correctly under Windows 7.
If you can’t do an in-place upgrade, though, you need to stop and think carefully. Sooner or later, when your hardware fails or some other external factor forces you to, you’ll have to upgrade to Windows 7. Can you wait until then? Your goal isn’t to have the latest, coolest technology; it’s to have a highly productive work environment. Generally, that means upgrading your technology only when there’s a clear benefit to doing so.
Of course, Microsoft wants you to upgrade—it’s in its economic interest—and if you buy a new computer, it’s going to have Windows 7 installed. If your business is planning to buy a significant number of new machines, it may make sense to upgrade the old ones and avoid having to support two different operating systems.
Your IT consultant probably wants you to upgrade as well, since it means more business for him or her. The question you need to ask is, “What are the compelling benefits of upgrading sooner rather than later?” Any change to your IT infrastructure carries some level of risk, so you need to assure yourself it’s not just your IT consultant who’s going to benefit. The good news is, a competent IT consultant will take care of all the details for you.
If you do decide to upgrade from XP, the standard approach is to completely back up your computer, do a fresh install of Windows 7, reinstall your applications like Microsoft Office and QuickBooks, then restore your data files from the backup. An alternative worth looking at is Laplink’s $60 PCmover Professional software (www.laplink.com). Used with an external hard disk, you can back up your old system, install Windows 7 and then let PCmover transfer your data and applications intact from the backup image on the external drive. This approach automates the process of upgrading, which is easily worth $60 of your time. A simpler Home edition costs $40.
It’s clear that, if you’re paying someone to upgrade your systems, the time involved can make it an expensive proposition. Make sure they have a plan that automates the process as much as possible.
One final point: Regardless of how you approach an upgrade, I can’t stress enough the importance of having a “known good” backup of your computers before starting the upgrade process.
Even though Windows 7 is a winner, there’s going to be a cost—in time and dollars—associated with any change to your existing systems. Make sure there’s a commensurate benefit for your company before doing so.
