Don't Wait in the Dark for Windows 7
If you're set on waiting for Windows 7, waiting is what you shouldn't be doing, says Schuster.
"You should start the process with Windows 7 now, by looking hard at the beta and testing your applications to see which ones are compatible with Windows 7," she says.
If XP users aren't sure if their apps are compatible with Windows 7, they should test them with Windows Vista because "if they're not compatible in Vista, they won't be compatible in 7," she advises.
Also, XP users should consult with their application vendors to make sure that their applications are compatible, or understand what their vendors' support policies are.
"After all this they should start their Windows 7 deployment now with the knowledge that it will take 12 to 18 months to get it done," Schuster says.
Deploy The Desktop Optimization Pack
Schuster recommends deploying the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) regardless of which OS you are running today or plan to deploy.
MDOP is a suite of six products that help manage PCs and are available to businesses using Microsoft's Software Assurance maintenance program at an additional cost. It has been available since January 2007 and more features have recently been added through acquisitions of virtualization companies Softricity and Kidaro.
Products folded into MDOP aim to help IT departments reduce the time and money it takes to test and deploy new applications. These additions include Enterprise Desktop Virtualization, which uses OS virtualization to support legacy applications that are not yet ready to migrate to a new version of Windows, and Application Virtualization, which enables applications to be installed on PCs so that they are isolated from other applications and from the OS itself.
It's understandable that cash-strapped IT managers may see MDOP as Microsoft forcing software upon them. But Gartner did release a report in July 2008 analyzing the benefits of MDOP, praising the price of US$7 to $10 per user per year (even if it is on top of the SA price of $30 to $40 per user per year) and stating that the use of a single MDOP feature could justify the cost of the whole pack for some customers.
However, Gartner does advise that you compare the features in MDOP to similar products from companies such as VMWare, Citrix and Altiris.
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