Analyst Gartner has issued a further research note
clarifying its advice on the roll-out of the forthcoming Windows
Vista operating system.
The clarification was issued after reports of Gartner’s initial
advice suggested the analysts firm was telling organisations not to
deploy Vista until 2008.
Gartner said its initial advice had been misinterpreted. The
analyst group reiterated its belief that although the next version
of the Windows operating system will be available next year,
companies are unlikely to complete full migrations until 2008.
Windows Vista is scheduled to appear towards the end of 2006,
but the analyst said various issues would delay full roll-outs of
the OS.
Gartner is not advising that users should hold off from
deploying the new OS, but says that they should build in a 12-18
month roll-out period in their deployments to overcome potential
obstacles.
Gartner said those companies still using the ageing Windows 2000
OS will have some of the most difficult issues to overcome, as some
third party application providers are starting to end support for
the OS.
Therefore those users will be under more pressure to speedily
adopt Windows Vista, unlike Windows XP users who will have more
time to wait for initial Window Vista bugs to be ironed out.
XP also already has more security features than Windows 2000,
and is expected to get more with a further service pack next year,
giving users further time to roll-out Vista.
The roll-out period is also expected to be extended as a result
of Microsoft launching a new Office collaboration suite at around
the same time as the Windows Vista launch.
New Office 12 programs will therefore have to be tested
alongside Vista. In addition, Microsoft is also launching its new
Internet Explorer 7 browser next year too, so users will be
expected to test the browser’s promised new security features on
their systems.