IT Departments and Users Adopting Windows 7

As Windows 7 hit the mainstream public, businesses running Windows XP and those that installed Vista, sat back and waited for the buzz on Microsoft’s latest operating. To their satisfaction, Windows 7 has come through like a champ.

Enterprise departments are now moving forward. Computerworld recently took a survey of close to 300 IT specialists and professionals to examine how they felt about migrating upwards. Seventy two percent of the users stated they now plan to move to Windows 7 from their current operating system. Seventy percent said they will move within the next twelve months, or have already installed the new Windows.
As the survey displays ninety three percent of respondents were still using Windows XP, they also feel Windows 7 provides them a reason to migrate. Along with a successful Windows 7 training in order to illuminate the many new features in the operating system, everyone benefits from the move to the best Windows release in Microsoft's history.

Users such as Paul Shane, the IT director at Milliman, an actuarial consulting firm with offices in Seattle, Washington, anticipates to convert most of the one hundred and fifty laptop and desktop systems upgraded by year’s end.

Enterprises want to benefit from the integration and new functionality of Windows 7. Using the System Center Configuration Manager and Windows Server, IT departments cut down on finances, as the two solutions use less pieces of management applications, and greatly ease the process of managing user’s desktops. Others who have assessed Windows 7 on test hardware systems, enjoy features including how Windows Server operates better with Windows 7. Hardware drivers are seamless, and the backwards compatibility with older software in XP mode makes life easier. In network environments, the client group policy assists in managing users, rather than relying on log-in scripts. Another reason for migrating to Windows 7 is DirectAccess and the stability of remote access. "It's one of the main reasons we want to move to Windows 7," states Donald Naglich, director of technology infrastructure at University HealthSystem Consortium. "It's one less piece of software we have to worry about from an integration standpoint."

Other users envision BitLocker and BitLocker To Go as a win-win situation, offering laptop and USB security encryption, without interrupting user functions or utilization. With the addition of group policies, hardware systems can be configured not to store information on a USB device unless encryption is in place.

Another advantage is the number of actual system images utilized to keep systems running in compliance. One user who had decreased the amount of system images by eighty percent, commented, "It has to do with drivers and Windows 7 being able to understand and adapt to them versus having a specific image built." Another IT department who currently runs approximately twenty five images, constantly updated with the newest updates, security fixes and patches, estimates he will only run less than five once the migration is finished. Administrative expenses will also decrease.

Enterprise users also see a huge gain in productivity with Windows 7. Features such as task bar previews, and instant resizing of window panes providing easy file comparison. The Aero desktop also assists users when they need to quickly locate a certain open window.

Even though Windows 7 arrives with plenty of enhancements, many users will have a learning curve in using the new user interface and under-the-hood power. The best way for users to learn the new features and how to apply them is the use of Windows 7 training videos, presenting and demonstrating what users can do as well as become more productive and efficient.

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