Oct
28
Issue 81 on sale now!
Issue 81 on Linux User & Developer is on sale now
Included in this issue
Features
- Integrate Linux with Windows 7
- Secure your network
- Create twitter applications
Monitor system performance with Orca
Configure orca for system performance monitoring
Interview with Jim Zemlin
Head of the Linux Foundation speaks
Buy it online now
http://www.imagineshop.co.uk/item_show.php?itemID=1365&action=maglist
The feature article beginning on page 28 in issue 81 of LinuxUserDeveloper was both interesting and informative. I judge that Windows 7 will be purchased as the desktop of choice in many offices because Windows 7 is perceived to offer the least change in a tentative business environment. We must accept that but accelerate the integration of Linux servers in the Windows environment.
I must take issue with the conclusion regarding the current status of Windows XP. XP is decidedly NOT dead. Existing PCs run for years without adding hardware or software in many offices. In 1971 my professor in University told me that COBOL was dead; I’m still waiting. I believe that many companies and individuals with XP in place have vehemently resisted upgrading to Vista. Businesses using XP have dragged their feet on implementing new Vista systems, much less upgrading from XP. However, these same businesses will likely not be inhibited from purchasing new platforms with Windows 7.
My home office environment has a mix of XP Pro, Vista Ultimate and Ubuntu systems. I run Windows primarily because my customers use it and I support their systems, generally testing my code on my own systems first. My environment embodies the concept of integrating Linux and Windows. Your article inspired me to consider upgrading one of my XP Pro systems to Windows 7. After all, my customers will soon be buying it and I need to keep informed.
I looked at the implications of upgrading a single PC to Windows 7 and was surprised to discover that there is no direct upgrade option. The Microsoft website has a clear 5 point plan to put Windows 7 on an XP box. I will summarize the procedure: Run a compatibility update program to evaluate what will or will not function after Windows 7 is installed; attach a USB disk to the PC in question; run a program called Easy Transfer to move data files and settings [not applications or program files] to the external USB drive; gather CDs and/or DVDs to reload all applications and/or program files with the associated installation keys as required after the ‘upgrade’; load a clean version of Windows 7; download and install the free XP compatibility software if required; using the Easy Transfer software, copy back the data files and settings; and finally, install programs that were on the XP box previously. I choose not to include ancilliary steps such as cleanup, etc. I also chose not to upgrade my XP PC to Windows 7.
My concern regarding your conclusion that XP is dead stems from a supplier survey in which I participated many years ago. Ten major customers evaluated the latest release of a platform-specific terminal emulator. We all loved it. The supplier’s marketing people were ecstatic until they asked us who would be purchasing upgrades for our software. None of us were prepared to upgrade. One customer had over 100,000 copies of the software installed. Since the versions we had in place did the job, our return-on-investment of $100 per upgrade per PC would have been $0. My management would never have accepted that argument. I think that return-on-investment is a critical item that many technical people overlook when making predictions.
As the author of your article pointed out, Microsoft holds 88% of the market share and the bulk of that is on XP platforms. XP has been the OS of choice and/or necessity for many years and few companies, large or small, have done the proper auditing and control of software and related product keys across their entire business environment. Far too few companies in today’s environment have anyone capable of recognizing the potential value of an upgrade such as this. Some knowledgable individuals will champion an upgrade but with limited IS staffing, the logistics of change will be insurmountable for many companies.
What's your opinion?