Smart Tech for Small Biz

Microsoft says “Kill Vista Plans�

I remain fascinated by the advice from Bill Veghte, Microsoft's senior vice president for Windows business, when he included the advice “If you're just starting your testing of Vista, with the [Windows 7] Release Candidate and the quality of that offering, I would switch over and do your testing on the Release Candidate and use that going forward,� during a speech. Yes, that's the quote from ComputerWorld' story “Microsoft, Analysts Tell Companies To Kill Vista Plans.�

On one hand, this is most likely Microsoft's typical marketing move to focus on coming products far too early and freeze companies that might be considering Apple or Linux operating systems. This tactic also moves the discussion from weaknesses in Vista to the fixes in Windows 7. Microsoft has always been good at promising whatever is necessary to keep their enterprise customers happy, then somehow soothing them again when the new release doesn't live up to expectations (Vista, anyone?)

The good side of this Microsoft coin is that companies focus forward and stop griping about Vista. The bad side is the higher expectations about Windows 7 and increased pressure to make it available sooner and sooner.

Worse, if Windows 7 is little more than Vista SP2, as some have suggested, then the backlash against Microsoft could be more enthusiastic than usual. Every operating system from Microsoft pleases 80 percent of the audience and makes 20 percent really unhappy. I doubt Windows 7will be different. I also doubt it will appear as soon as Microsoft is hinting, but it might if it's nothing more than a Vista upgrade.

Let's take Microsoft at their word and Kill Vista Plans. If you haven't been forced to Vista already, then stop worrying about it. Even better, stop worrying about Windows 7, too. Big companies write all types of customer programs tying their desktops to corporate databases and the like, and they need warning to rework those programs. Companies small enough to stay programmer free have no such urgency to move forward.

Small businesses have no reason to start pilot programs for operating system integration. After all, if the huge companies can't force Microsoft to improve quality, what can you do? Relax, use what you have as long as possible, and avoid Vista. And avoid Windows 7 until forced to upgrade.

Life is hard enough. Don't buy more misery by upgrading before you're forced.

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