Windows XP Upgrades: Why You Must Start Planning Now

An XP-to-Vista migration may not be in the cards for everybody, but at this point, the jump to Windows 7 is inevitable for XP users.

A recent report from IT research firm TAC (The Advisory Council) highlights the most efficient ways to roll out Windows XP to Windows 7 upgrades. One key message: if you are not upgrading in 2009 you should at least be planning to do so.

The report, entitled "Cutting Through the Nonsense About Windows Vista, Windows 7", also touches on a subject that Microsoft probably wants kept quiet: The migration to Windows 7 will not be much different than to Vista, the report's author, Peter Schay, concludes; the two OS's share the same software compatibility issues, interface features and hardware requirements (though Windows 7 is reportedly much less resource-intensive).

It's no secret that Microsoft is trying to disassociate Windows 7 from Vista, despite the OSes sharing the same code base.

Windows 7 has good timing and marketing on its side, Schay says . The Windows 7 beta has been getting positive reviews and the release of the OS, likely to happen some time in the second half of this year, will coincide with companies' hardware refresh cycles that have been stretched to four or five years because of the economic downturn.

The report from TAC goes on to offer advice for XP users facing an upgrade, including lessons from Vista's failure, thoughts on Windows 7's potential and a look at the realities of switching to Linux or Macintosh.

Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world

• Email
• Print
• Share
  • Slashdot
  • Digg
  • Stumble
  • Reddit
  • Newsvine