Migration Expert Zone

• ISVs will drop support for Windows XP Independent software vendors (ISVs) will begin to drop support for Windows XP in early 2010, and, by 2012, most ISVs won't support XP anymore. As for OEM support for Windows XP, in 2009 only 80% of OEMs will fully support XP, and by 2010 this number will possibly have dropped to only 50 or 60%.
• Pressure to deploy Windows 7 too early If you skip Vista, you will be forced to deploy Windows 7 sooner or later, because ISVs and OEMs will not support XP anymore. Unfortunately, many ISVs will not yet support Windows 7. You will then run into the same problems as those organizations who adopted Windows Vista too early.

First of all, I am convinced that it makes sense to migrate to Vista, simply because it is a great operating system. Windows 7 has a couple of interesting new features, but it is basically an evolutionary release. The important changes, especially the new security model, the improved user interface, and the new imaging capabilities, are all Vista developments. Secondly, if your organization skips Vista, you will be hopelessly left behind as an IT pro. This will not be good for you or for your organization. Once you do deploy Windows 7, you will have to learn all of the Vista stuff, plus the Windows 7 enhancements, in a very short time. This will mean stress and a higher risk of error. And, if you do skip Vista, and end up changing employers before 2012, you'd better make sure that you only apply to organizations who also didn't like Vista.