AskSid

By now, most of the general population has heard of Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system, through advertisement, retail stores, the web or word-of-mouth.

As a business owner, you may be facing the decision of whether to make the move to this latest version of Windows. The computers on the store shelves have it, which makes purchasing new PCs favor Windows Vista. Yet you have some older PCs in the office that seem to be running fine as-is with pre-Vista software. So, how should you proceed? Do I wait? Do I replace every PC? Or, do I operate in a mixed mode of multiple Windows systems?

Aside from the people/politics angle (some users have the new Windows Vista, some don’t) and the obvious capital outlay, there are other factors to note here. Application compatibility is one, especially when you are running multi-user applications (typically server based), or local applications which may require some updates to run under Windows Vista.

Applications might behave differently under pre-Vista and Vista computer systems. Some changes could be minor, some maybe more involved. This has obvious implications if you decide to run both in your company. The support costs may be increased, or more complex, as mixed Windows environments are inherently more challenging than a single Windows version workplace.

Training and orienting users to multiple Windows versions should also be considered. While many of the settings and layouts are similar in function, some Vista menu options and controls appear different than what users had in pre-Vista PCs. There are some capabilities for Vista to mimic the classic Windows XP user interface which can help, but in other cases, new features will have no pre-Vista counterpart. Mimicking Windows XP controls are a reasonable bridging strategy, but understand newer publications and instructions will be Vista native oriented, which suggests adopting the Vista theme sooner than later.

Vista also has choices, in that multiple versions are available, although these are addressed in another article (Which Windows Vista?) in more detail. Regardless of the version however, the strategy of selecting the best path for your business will take some serious thought.

Some Guidelines to help with a Vista decision:
• Jot down a basic plan. Set rough budgets to determine how much you’d like to spend, and how quickly you’d move your business to Vista. You might find there’s some benefit to moving everyone sooner, or delaying until you can to minimize mixed environments.
• Speaking of costs, consider that software updates (Windows Vista) often align with up-sized hardware (the PC). You might find that “Vista upgrading” your existing office computers makes no practical sense, especially if the PCs are older.
• Take a look at your application software. If they are tied to periodic updates, or periodic upgrades, factor-in the impact of Windows Vista compliance. Ask questions when you can. This alone may have the greatest weight in your business decision. As part of an existing maintenance update process, you might find your applications are already Vista-ready.
• Driver support has always been a consideration of Windows Vista. Older specialized devices and software for networking, scanners, printers, appliances, etc. may not have Vista compliant software drivers. This could mean considerable replacement costs, as drivers for Windows 2000 and XP rarely function as well with Vista.
• Consider the Microsoft factor. Windows 2000 is no longer supported, sales of Windows XP will end mid-2008, and the pro-Vista marketing emphasis is solid. Microsoft also provides a “Vista Upgrade Advisor” application to analyze your Windows XP PCs for suitability with Vista.
• Ask a professional. Seek help from those who have walked-the-path of migrations, upgrades, and support. In these cases, the expertise afforded by adopting such organizations may be your best investment toward assessing the Vista decision.

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Steve Goto
Project Manager and Systems Engineer
Array Systems - Irvine Computer Network Consultants

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