I refuse to print hype from Microsoft about how wonderful their Windows 7 operating system will be when it ships in a year or two. However, it may be time to start moderating the craziness for small businesses reading the hype elsewhere. For this chore, I turn to an article from last week, “10 Things Windows 7 Must Do To Succeed. Word to the Wise: Think XP” from a long-ago friend, David Coursey.
Before Coursey moved from Dallas to California a decade or more ago, he organized local technical press writer lunches. His pull brought in big names and big vendors. He did such a good job those same vendors often hosted the lunches for the pleasure of getting publicly blasted by Coursey. He's a big, imposing guy, and was better than almost anyone at stripping away the BS from vendors in public forums in a way that had them asking for more. Pity the poor vendor spokesperson who didn't know the product details well enough to speak intelligently.
Now he's written a targeted advice column for Microsoft, telling them 10 things Windows 7 must do to succeed. His focus is large business customers, but the article provides good advice for smaller businesses as well. My favorite part of Coursey's advice, and number one on his list, is for Microsoft to ignore Vista and make sure Windows 7 provides a smooth transition from XP.
Reports from beta testers indicate XP drivers work fine in Windows 7. Wow, what a bizarre concept – making an upgrade work properly. Since Vista failed the upgrade test in ways trumpeted in headlines around the world, let's hope the noise penetrated even stubborn Microsoft executive's thick, arrogant skulls, and they actually make the upgrade process work like their customers need it to work. You know, like Apple does with their upgrades. I'm referencing Coursey here, but the few upgrades I've done on my Mac work much better than any I've done on Windows over the years.
As of now, Windows 7 doesn't upgrade an existing XP installation. I think that's a serious mistake on Microsoft's part. Coursey demands there be an easy way, using thumb drivers or data DVDs, to upgrade XP in place to Windows 7 and keep all your applications and settings etc. I'll go one step further: either make an easy in-place upgrade process, or work with all the major desktop management applications to automatically pull personal data off to network storage, run the XP to 7 upgrade, and “re-personalize” the PC as part of the upgrade process. Do this without user intervention.
If Microsoft screws up the launch of Windows 7 like they did the Vista launch, they'll lose an enormous amount of credibility and respect in the marketplace. We all gave Microsoft a pass on Vista, because they rarely get it right the first time. But if they blow it big time with Windows 7, good will and respect will be lost in huge amounts.
So, Microsoft, listen to Coursey, and make sure his 10 check off items are properly checked off. And listen to me when I say even the friendliest golf foursome never gives a player two mulligans in a row.
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Bologne
This article is garbage.Thanks for the nice words
I was very pleased to see you pop-up in my Google search. My blog starts on PC World and seems to travel all over the universe. Hope you are doing well. I don't see your email address, so drop me a line and we'll get caught up.I am thrilled to be back playing in the IDG world. :>
David
Windows 7 Success.......and Vista's Failure(s)
.I agree with all
One thing I have noticed with some major corp.'s, both in the I.T.industry and outside of it, is that Corporations with a new, updated, redeveloped, etc. product who believe their own hype, often fail, sometimes miserably. Vista did, since it really offered very little, and required not just the software be purchased, but older hardware to get a major upgrade or replacement.
For those of us in business, even education, and at home personal internet users, who do email, browse the internet, and maybe do a few other mundane things, vista was and is a huge misstep and a waste of $$$
Likely Microsoft's home team, who marketed vista, and the management who decided when and how to introduce vista, really believe(d) we could not live without the next greatest thing from m.s. ..... well, it is now painfully obvious to all that we could live without it.
Who truly needs it ??? .... very, very few indeed
XP is very competent .....it WORKS.... it is STABLE...{the two critical attributes} ... why would businesses spend lots of $$$ for a shiny new op. sys. that requires tons of $$$ for hardware upgrades to get {what they see as} only a pretty new interface and fancy graphics ??? Only those with an inferiority complex would do so, or those who have too many $$$, or an I.T. V.P. who has to have the latest, greatest hardware and software....using $$$, which in all probability, would be much better spent elsewhere, or saved.
If m.s. did not, does not learn from Vista's failure to offer more than {the perceived} pretty graphics, in introducing Win. 7, they will fail again, or certainly fall FAR, FAR short of their sales and market penetration goals.
What they NEED to do, is convince us all that Win 7 is truly better than XP, and does what we sue XP for, better and faster, with more security and stability
Last .... my pet peeve with m.s and others..... every week, month, etc. we are told.... install these critical hotfixes, and you will be safe, secure, stable and up to date..... only to find that EVERY week, and certainly EVERY month in the future.... we were NOT safe, secure, stable, etc. and there is a new set of critical hotfixes ....how long will folks believe this crap ??? ...What m.s does NOT tell us and does NOT give MUCH needed advice on, is that we ALL really need a competent anti-virus pgm., updated frequently and regularly, AND a good Firewall, among other security software ....AND they know and do NOT tell us, which are competent, or how competent each is !!!!!!! Imagine that !...m.s. saying their op. sys. is not safe without A.V. software and a Firewall..... which is what 99.99% of all who read this likely believe and would tell anyone who asked .... do not hook up to the internet without such software installed, turned on, and working properly.........why not tell the world, m.s., that they critically need such software, and give us regular ratings on which 'PASS', which are marginally competent, and which fail to do what is needed ??? Step up m.s., and DO THE RIGHT THING !!! ........That certainly occurs in other industries .... a manufacturer of a major basic asset, advising which accessories are 'approved', and which of the approved are 'recommended or highly recommended .... why does m.s drop the ball here ??....sure they sell something... but there are many free alternatives which work just fine....which are they ?? {in m.s.'s not so humble opinion}
Don S.
Florida
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