|
|
|
 Win/Win 7
|
|
Email article
|
|
By Marian Olson
|
IF ONE IS TO BELIEVE all the early reviews pouring in, Windows 7, Microsoft's latest OS, appears to be a winner even before its anticipated release date of October 22, 2009. Unfortunately, the introduction of Windows Vista wasn't nearly as well received. The much-maligned operating system was often criticized by unhappy customers who were quick to point out what they saw as its many frustrating shortcomings – including its sluggish performance, application incompatibility issues, and inconsistent support for other software and devices.
It seems that Windows 7 should more than make up for this.
Another big difference: When Vista was introduced, the hardware requirements were substantial. Not so with Windows 7.
"This is the first time we haven't doubled the system requirements with a new release," said Mike Angiulo, general manager of Microsoft.
Chris Nackers of Sub-Zero, Inc./Wolf Appliance, Inc. has experienced it first hand. "I've run Windows 7 on a 2.4ghz machine with only a gigabyte of RAM, and it runs great," he reported.
Microsoft says that it used research and user input as the impetus behind designing Windows 7. About 10 million testers sent information back to the company on how they used Windows, giving Microsoft 400 million sessions to study.
"Instead of guessing what people want, we really know what they want," Mr. Angiulo said.
"For most people, the struggle with a new OS is ‘finding' everything," Mr. Nackers went on to explain. "Even a simple thing like changing the desktop resolution was complicated in Vista. In Windows 7, Microsoft made that a single right-click on the desktop. It is the little things like that which I feel will make a big difference in usability. From an IT perspective, the stability and performance we've seen from Windows 7 thus far in our testing is a major improvement over Vista."
It's obvious that Microsoft listened to its OS users – and Windows 7 is the happy result.
SO WHAT'S NEW?
While retaining Vista's streamlined look, Windows 7 runs much faster – booting up 20 to 40 percent faster than Vista and running faster overall, even on existing, older hardware. The new OS also includes a Mac-style application dock, and, with a compatible monitor, even allows touch-screen navigation. Another big change: the "nag" screens that Vista users disliked are gone. So … as a corporate user, what does Windows 7 have to offer you? Although this article is not intended to be an in-depth white paper discussion of its technical aspects, certain features of Windows 7 will be of particular interest to the professional client:
DirectAccess
In essence, DirectAccess is an automatic VPN with all the security, via encryption, that a VPN offers but much easier to use. Imagine immediate access to your corporate network, file shares, intranet, authentication with company resources, and so on. With DirectAccess, you have an "always managed" infrastructure, all the time.
BranchCache
BranchCache stores downloaded information from the Web and intranet sites within a branch office the first time it is requested. As branch offices often operate on lower-speed Internet links, user productivity is improved as the day goes by since more and more files are present within the cache. (It also works on a peer-to-peer basis among Windows 7 clients in the same location.)
Federated and enterprise search scopes
For the corporate user, Windows 7 allows easier access to information no matter where it's located – even beyond one's own computer – with results brought in from a variety of locations into one convenient window. Features include one-click auto preview, the ability to search specific "libraries" of information (a defined set of resources to narrow the scope of the search), and integrated results presentation.
Windows 7 also offers enhanced security and control features, including NAP (network access protection) and SDI (server and domain isolation); and streamlined PC management, including RDS (remote desktop services).
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS?
It is estimated that 36 percent of businesses plan to migrate to Windows 7 within the next three years. But Gartner, the market analysis firm, advises that, for organizations still running Windows XP, migrations should be in deployment well ahead of 2012, when it anticipates that vendor support for the older operating system will begin to erode. Although Microsoft plans to support XP with security fixes until April 14, 2014, Gartner stresses that hardware and software manufacturers have no need to be so loyal – and as XP's market share evaporates, so, too, will support. (Even though a new study from Forrester Research reports that XP, the eight-year-old predecessor to Vista, remains on 86 percent of corporate PCs!)
Mr. Nackers recognizes the issue facing IT professionals. "I feel it's a responsibility of IT to accept that support for Windows XP will end at some point, and we will have to move on to a new OS. For Sub-Zero/Wolf, I believe it will be Windows 7. We leverage SMS/SCCM for OS deployment, so once we can knock down the application compatibility issues, configuring and deploying the OS should be a fairly easy process. We already do Zero-Touch installations with Windows XP and SMS 2003."
Also to be considered: Once Windows 7 ships, the typical organization will need 12 to 18 months until its critical vendors all support the new operating system, in addition to conducting its own in-house testing and piloting.
It should be obvious by now that organizations considering an OS migration in the future need to make a decision quickly, establish a project plan, and start all the preparatory work very soon.
ALL MIGRATORY PATHS ARE NOT THE SAME
For organizations running Vista, the migration procedure involves an "in-place" upgrade to Windows 7. That's because Windows 7 has the same basic underlying structure as Vista. But because Windows 7 is fundamentally different from XP, migrating from XP will necessitate what is called a "clean" install of Windows 7. The process involves completely wiping the hard drive, meaning that IT staff will have to back up every user's data first. After installing Windows 7, all programs and hardware will then need to be reinstalled, and the old XP settings restored to the new operating system.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
Windows 7 promises greater user productivity and less frustration due to operating system errors. So as an IT director, you'll reap cash benefits through reduced downtime. Windows 7's new features also make it easier for computers to get connected and stay connected, regardless of their location or type of network, allowing IT professionals to meet the needs of their enterprises in a secure, reliable, and flexible way. And because a safe business environment is an ongoing concern for all large corporations today – and thus of the utmost importance to IT directors – Windows 7 offers enhanced security features.
WHERE TO BEGIN
Customer service levels, compliance, and cost control can all be affected by how an ITO manages its laptops and desktops. With users and devices increasingly dispersed across multiple locations, the need for ITOs to resolve issues, maintain security, deploy new applications, and track software utilization from a central location will only increase in the future. Through integration, automation, and standardization, ITOs need to optimize their desktop environments to simplify day-to-day management.
The goal: the ability to rapidly respond to organizational change and facilitate the adoption of new technologies. Simply put, ITOs will need to be able to deliver increased services to their businesses while providing end users with greater flexibility – no matter where and how they work. ITOs must pursue this agility while still delivering sustainable savings by combating the cost and complexity associated with desktop management.
It is also challenging and costly to maintain a secure and well-managed infrastructure in the face of malicious attacks with outdated software. At the same time, business is driving rapidly changing requirements for communications, collaboration, and information usage. These challenges and requirements demand the capabilities of Windows 7 and an up-to-date infrastructure. It cannot be stressed enough that a successful OS migration requires a great deal of planning, including an in-depth understanding and thorough analysis of an organization's operations, procedures, and environment.
Increasingly, companies are turning to outside IT solution providers to help them navigate to a new OS.
Companies should look to an outside solutions provider to help with the upfront homework and research, and for the latest industry-wide tips and troubleshooting. Solution providers are out in front listening and sharing a non-bias perspective for how to plan.
An experienced migration services provider can help businesses gain a better understanding of the tools, technologies, and framework they will need to successfully remediate their infrastructure to accomplish the migration – and to increase their return on investment by moving to a highly managed and standardized enterprise.
BENEFITS TO YOU
Working with an experienced IT solutions provider allows companies to explore migration deployment tactics without the actual cost and risk of acquiring the necessary skills … engaging in unnecessary transformations … or making huge mistakes. A migration services provider should also be able to identify the right infrastructure to meet an enterprise's specific needs – and develop a sensible deployment strategy. A successful OS migration process should include:
- A thorough analysis of the organization's specific needs and user communities to establish a strategic roadmap for its desktop environment, highlighting the impact of the various technology options available to them. Business and cost justifications should also be reviewed to identify the most appropriate and energy-efficient desktop investments for their particular situation.
- The OS migration itself. An experienced IT solutions provider will incorporate proven rapid-migration processes that minimize user downtime and implementation time. Companies should look for a Microsoft Managed Partner – a status awarded by Microsoft to companies who meet a stringent set of requirements.
- Long after the migration is complete, an experienced IT solutions provider should provide the client with the tools, techniques, and procedures to support and enhance its desktop infrastructure – and its corporate vision.
IT'S TIME TO GET STARTED
For future-thinking organizations, migrating to Windows 7 will be a very smart business move. Selecting the right IT solutions provider will make the move a smooth – and cost-effective – one, too. Choose wisely.
|
|
|
|
|
|