“First Position Paper”
By Kamakshi Samala
After more than five years of intensive efforts, Windows Vista is finally complete. Vista is the successor to Windows XP, the PC operating system which is currently used by over 400 million people. This new operating system is a major Windows update with lots of new functionality and features. In the words of Microsoft, it’s a new operating system which is "Confident, Clear, Connected." It's the first Windows version which provides developers with a major new programming model in ten years.
The first difference of Vista from Windows XP is Windows Aero, an entirely reworked user interface with semi-transparent windows. Microsoft has put a great effort into Vista's appearance. Its new typeface gives the program a modern feeling and subtle animations make its even more attractive. New programs include the Sidebar, a floating layer of single-purpose programs called gadgets; flip 3D presents all open windows in all programs, and visual and feature upgrades are very nice. But the more important areas of improvement are security, stability, ease of implementation, support and improved performance. Intelligent navigation and more powerful file-manipulation tools improve its efficiency.
According to Microsoft, the system requirements for Vista don’t look too daunting: 800 MHz processor with 512 MB of memory, at least 15 GB of free space on a minimum 20 GB hard drive with SVGA graphics. This clearly indicates that Microsoft is referring to the minimum specifications. But migrating one’s PC to Vista means it will need updated drivers for one’s printer, Ethernet card, audio card and other hardware and one may also have to deal with incompatible programs. Microsoft offers six versions of Vista. In all editions of Windows Vista, there are new diagnostic tools and monitors to check and report on the current status of our PC. All editions of Windows Vista include Microsoft's free antispyware application, and Windows Defender. Despite all these features, users claim that Vista runs better in computers with plenty of computing horsepower.
There should be tangible reasons to make the upgrade to Vista. Microsoft offers several reasons starting with security. The security features which are standard with Windows Vista include an improved User Account Control system and built-in malware (spyware, adware, virus) protection. But are the new security features alone enough to compel a small business to upgrade to Vista? I would say probably not, unless the small business already experienced a security breakdown.
Other features like ReadyBoost allow a Windows Vista machine to be able to use a single USB flash memory drive as a caching tool. The Windows XP Standby and Hibernate features have been replaced with a new Sleep option. It works a little differently depending on whether the computer is a desktop or laptop. In the desktop version of Sleep, anything in use is stored to both system RAM and hard drive. This would allow the computer come out of Sleep mode in around 2 to 3 seconds. For laptops, Sleep works by storing data in RAM if battery power is sufficient. When the battery power level has diminished, the data is automatically transferred to disk for protection.
There are many other operating system improvements incorporated into Windows Vista such as improved backup, new explorer tools, simplified networking, search tools, and many more. Even though there are several different versions of Vista, most small businesses will likely focus on Vista Business.
With the launch of Windows XP, Microsoft promised users a more stable operating system which they delivered. For Windows Vista, Microsoft is pointing to a more secure platform. Recalling the service packs and continual updates for Windows XP, a more secure Windows in Vista would be a welcome situation for both users and small business IT support.
Windows Vista promises enhancements that will not only improve the computing experience, but also advance mobile communication. Such features of mobility combine common notebook-focused features, a suite of enhanced security tools, and a Network and Sharing Center. Although these mobility features might tempt organizations to migrate their notebook computers ahead of their desktop PCs, but this would be an ill-advised move. Firstly, migration to Vista or any new platform promises to be a complex process. Planning and validation for a migration should be based on business requirements. Second, even the best-planned Vista migration is likely to encounter unforeseen problems that are best worked out from a fixed location, that is, from the desktop. Third, Vista's security features, even though attractive, offer nothing specific to notebooks and are nearly all available from third parties on XP. Organizations requiring near-term mobile security should better use the third-party tools than to rush and compromise with Vista migration.
Microsoft promotes Vista as a remedy to a large number of mobility challenges like power management, network awareness, offline access to important data, multiple displays, readability, etc. and these new features do make headway in these areas. Although Vista's mobility features are useful, they are not essential. None of them constitute an immediate requirement for any organization. Considering all of the new features along with the concentration on security, will small businesses allocate the necessary resources to implement Windows Vista? Some will, some won’t. For the small companies whose systems are nearing the end of their lifecycle will consider Vista. Vista is a clear improvement over Windows XP, but small businesses who have recently upgraded their system would probably wait till Windows Vista is widely adopted. As a result, organizations should resist the idea of early migration ahead of desktop computers, unless specific business issues are being addressed.
From the economic impact point of view, analysts emphasized that while Microsoft will earn a great deal of money through Vista, even more will be generated by European companies within the Microsoft "ecosystem." Some researches say that Germany, U.K., France, Denmark, Poland and Spain, which collectively account for more than 65 percent of IT spending in the European economic zone (the EU, plus Croatia, Norway and Switzerland) are representative of Europe as a whole and, for that matter, they are much of the developed world. Therefore, the launch of Windows Vista in six large European countries will create more than 50,000 technology jobs and will lead economic benefits for companies there.
The International Data Corporation (IDC), commissioned by Microsoft Corp., has released a research study that reports how the Windows Vista operating system will drive significant economic growth in the United States in its first year of shipment. It indicates that Windows Vista will provide a foundation for the information technology market moving forward, creating more than 100,000 new jobs and driving $70 billion or more in revenues for Microsoft's partners and the industry at large. The impact of Windows Vista on the U.S. market will drive substantial revenue and growth for many companies that are part of the Windows ecosystem i.e., companies that sell hardware, write software, provide IT services or serve as IT distribution channels. The study predicts that the release of Windows Vista will help more than 200,000 U.S. IT companies that will produce, sell or distribute products and services running on Windows Vista. This would also include many small and locally owned businesses. The study forecasts that each dollar of Windows Vista-related revenue earned by Microsoft in 2007 will generate more than $18 in revenue for the IT industry at large. The IDC study also shows that the Microsoft ecosystem is making a sizable investment to roll out Windows Vista worldwide. IDC expects Microsoft partners to invest approximately $10 billion in Windows Vista- related products and services between now and the end of 2007. As these products and services gain mass-market adoption over the course of the next year, IDC expects Microsoft's partners and others in the IT industry to generate more than $70 billion in revenues directly tied to Windows Vista. This includes revenue from manufacturers that sell hardware for running the new operating system, revenues for non-Microsoft software packages built to run on Windows Vista, and other services supporting Windows Vista.
The major pros of this operating system are the beautiful user interface and security improvements. The cons are the significant hardware requirements and compatibility issues with current hardware and software. Despite Microsoft assertions about the improved reliability of Vista, I would wait and see its approach. Microsoft's previous operating system, Windows XP, required two "service packs" issued over a number of years to improve security and new flaws are still routinely discovered. Therefore, the decision to upgrade the system to Windows Vista now or wait depends on the firm and the age of its PCs. Like all new operating systems, it will take time for the major bug fixes to come out (say around six to 12 months). Most likely many existing hardware devices will not work without driver updates from their manufacturers. Vista includes thousands of drivers but most of them have been created directly by Microsoft. Many hardware manufacturers do not yet have drivers available for Vista. According to a leading market intelligence firm, IDC, more than a year after the release of Windows XP, only 10 percent of the world's business community was running it. Vista is a much bigger step taken forward than XP was, and from corporation point of view, I think we can expect it to be adopted at the same rate or slower than XP.
By Kamakshi Samala
After more than five years of intensive efforts, Windows Vista is finally complete. Vista is the successor to Windows XP, the PC operating system which is currently used by over 400 million people. This new operating system is a major Windows update with lots of new functionality and features. In the words of Microsoft, it’s a new operating system which is "Confident, Clear, Connected." It's the first Windows version which provides developers with a major new programming model in ten years.
The first difference of Vista from Windows XP is Windows Aero, an entirely reworked user interface with semi-transparent windows. Microsoft has put a great effort into Vista's appearance. Its new typeface gives the program a modern feeling and subtle animations make its even more attractive. New programs include the Sidebar, a floating layer of single-purpose programs called gadgets; flip 3D presents all open windows in all programs, and visual and feature upgrades are very nice. But the more important areas of improvement are security, stability, ease of implementation, support and improved performance. Intelligent navigation and more powerful file-manipulation tools improve its efficiency.
According to Microsoft, the system requirements for Vista don’t look too daunting: 800 MHz processor with 512 MB of memory, at least 15 GB of free space on a minimum 20 GB hard drive with SVGA graphics. This clearly indicates that Microsoft is referring to the minimum specifications. But migrating one’s PC to Vista means it will need updated drivers for one’s printer, Ethernet card, audio card and other hardware and one may also have to deal with incompatible programs. Microsoft offers six versions of Vista. In all editions of Windows Vista, there are new diagnostic tools and monitors to check and report on the current status of our PC. All editions of Windows Vista include Microsoft's free antispyware application, and Windows Defender. Despite all these features, users claim that Vista runs better in computers with plenty of computing horsepower.
There should be tangible reasons to make the upgrade to Vista. Microsoft offers several reasons starting with security. The security features which are standard with Windows Vista include an improved User Account Control system and built-in malware (spyware, adware, virus) protection. But are the new security features alone enough to compel a small business to upgrade to Vista? I would say probably not, unless the small business already experienced a security breakdown.
Other features like ReadyBoost allow a Windows Vista machine to be able to use a single USB flash memory drive as a caching tool. The Windows XP Standby and Hibernate features have been replaced with a new Sleep option. It works a little differently depending on whether the computer is a desktop or laptop. In the desktop version of Sleep, anything in use is stored to both system RAM and hard drive. This would allow the computer come out of Sleep mode in around 2 to 3 seconds. For laptops, Sleep works by storing data in RAM if battery power is sufficient. When the battery power level has diminished, the data is automatically transferred to disk for protection.
There are many other operating system improvements incorporated into Windows Vista such as improved backup, new explorer tools, simplified networking, search tools, and many more. Even though there are several different versions of Vista, most small businesses will likely focus on Vista Business.
With the launch of Windows XP, Microsoft promised users a more stable operating system which they delivered. For Windows Vista, Microsoft is pointing to a more secure platform. Recalling the service packs and continual updates for Windows XP, a more secure Windows in Vista would be a welcome situation for both users and small business IT support.
Windows Vista promises enhancements that will not only improve the computing experience, but also advance mobile communication. Such features of mobility combine common notebook-focused features, a suite of enhanced security tools, and a Network and Sharing Center. Although these mobility features might tempt organizations to migrate their notebook computers ahead of their desktop PCs, but this would be an ill-advised move. Firstly, migration to Vista or any new platform promises to be a complex process. Planning and validation for a migration should be based on business requirements. Second, even the best-planned Vista migration is likely to encounter unforeseen problems that are best worked out from a fixed location, that is, from the desktop. Third, Vista's security features, even though attractive, offer nothing specific to notebooks and are nearly all available from third parties on XP. Organizations requiring near-term mobile security should better use the third-party tools than to rush and compromise with Vista migration.
Microsoft promotes Vista as a remedy to a large number of mobility challenges like power management, network awareness, offline access to important data, multiple displays, readability, etc. and these new features do make headway in these areas. Although Vista's mobility features are useful, they are not essential. None of them constitute an immediate requirement for any organization. Considering all of the new features along with the concentration on security, will small businesses allocate the necessary resources to implement Windows Vista? Some will, some won’t. For the small companies whose systems are nearing the end of their lifecycle will consider Vista. Vista is a clear improvement over Windows XP, but small businesses who have recently upgraded their system would probably wait till Windows Vista is widely adopted. As a result, organizations should resist the idea of early migration ahead of desktop computers, unless specific business issues are being addressed.
From the economic impact point of view, analysts emphasized that while Microsoft will earn a great deal of money through Vista, even more will be generated by European companies within the Microsoft "ecosystem." Some researches say that Germany, U.K., France, Denmark, Poland and Spain, which collectively account for more than 65 percent of IT spending in the European economic zone (the EU, plus Croatia, Norway and Switzerland) are representative of Europe as a whole and, for that matter, they are much of the developed world. Therefore, the launch of Windows Vista in six large European countries will create more than 50,000 technology jobs and will lead economic benefits for companies there.
The International Data Corporation (IDC), commissioned by Microsoft Corp., has released a research study that reports how the Windows Vista operating system will drive significant economic growth in the United States in its first year of shipment. It indicates that Windows Vista will provide a foundation for the information technology market moving forward, creating more than 100,000 new jobs and driving $70 billion or more in revenues for Microsoft's partners and the industry at large. The impact of Windows Vista on the U.S. market will drive substantial revenue and growth for many companies that are part of the Windows ecosystem i.e., companies that sell hardware, write software, provide IT services or serve as IT distribution channels. The study predicts that the release of Windows Vista will help more than 200,000 U.S. IT companies that will produce, sell or distribute products and services running on Windows Vista. This would also include many small and locally owned businesses. The study forecasts that each dollar of Windows Vista-related revenue earned by Microsoft in 2007 will generate more than $18 in revenue for the IT industry at large. The IDC study also shows that the Microsoft ecosystem is making a sizable investment to roll out Windows Vista worldwide. IDC expects Microsoft partners to invest approximately $10 billion in Windows Vista- related products and services between now and the end of 2007. As these products and services gain mass-market adoption over the course of the next year, IDC expects Microsoft's partners and others in the IT industry to generate more than $70 billion in revenues directly tied to Windows Vista. This includes revenue from manufacturers that sell hardware for running the new operating system, revenues for non-Microsoft software packages built to run on Windows Vista, and other services supporting Windows Vista.
The major pros of this operating system are the beautiful user interface and security improvements. The cons are the significant hardware requirements and compatibility issues with current hardware and software. Despite Microsoft assertions about the improved reliability of Vista, I would wait and see its approach. Microsoft's previous operating system, Windows XP, required two "service packs" issued over a number of years to improve security and new flaws are still routinely discovered. Therefore, the decision to upgrade the system to Windows Vista now or wait depends on the firm and the age of its PCs. Like all new operating systems, it will take time for the major bug fixes to come out (say around six to 12 months). Most likely many existing hardware devices will not work without driver updates from their manufacturers. Vista includes thousands of drivers but most of them have been created directly by Microsoft. Many hardware manufacturers do not yet have drivers available for Vista. According to a leading market intelligence firm, IDC, more than a year after the release of Windows XP, only 10 percent of the world's business community was running it. Vista is a much bigger step taken forward than XP was, and from corporation point of view, I think we can expect it to be adopted at the same rate or slower than XP.
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