Windows 7 Migration
Windows 7 Migration May Cost More in Coming Years
You know that whole supply-and-demand thing? Turns out it applies to operating systems the same way it does to new iPhone models and electric cars. According...
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You know that whole supply-and-demand thing? Turns out it applies to operating systems the same way it does to new iPhone models and electric cars.
According to a Gartner analyst, demand for Windows 7 migration services is getting so high, there won't be enough IT pros around to supply them. Consequently, organizations that wait to migrate may end up paying higher prices.
Note that I said "may." I also used that word in the headline. This is pure speculation on Gartner's part--but that didn't stop media outlets like International Business Times from running a negative-spin headline: "Firms to come under budgetary pressure over Windows 7 migration: Gartner." Ugh.
Here's hoping you read past that headline (and the similarly doomy-gloomy ones that will inevitably follow in the blogosphere). As the actual story notes, the uptick in migration will lead to thousands of new IT jobs. But apparently not enough of them, as Gartner predicts a shortfall of migration-qualified IT staffers.
All this will happen in 2011 and 2012, Gartner says, meaning you have three options: accelerate your migration plans, upgrade your existing PCs, or evaluate partial migration.
Personally, I think the middle option is idiotic. As we all know, there's no direct XP-to-7 upgrade option, so your labor costs will be at least as high as if you replaced PCs outright. Plus, you're throwing good money after old, outdated hardware. As for partial migration, Gartner is actually talking about running virtual desktops as an alternative to migration--a viable option for some organizations, but still a labor-intensive one.
If you agree that the coming deluge of companies migrating to Windows 7 will lead to an IT labor shortage and, consequently, higher service rates, consider accelerating your migration plans. The sooner you make the move, the sooner you can start reaping the benefits (productivity, security, etc.) of the new OS.
