ITÉlet

Opinion about the Windows 7 strategy of Microsoft

Interesting article on ComputerWorld: Ballmer: Enterprise XP holdouts will get hell from consumers
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9127357&intsrc=hm_list

Before going into details, let me declare: I am Microsoft fun.

But in the office I am an IT Manager who has serious responsibility to keep the house running. Therefore we are using good old things, like Windows XP. We never fancied upgrading to Vista, and we try to avoid Windows 7 as well.

Just like everybody else (OK, maybe just 2/3) in corporate world. If you don't believe, read all the comments.

Why corporate firms are united using an old XP?
Because corporate IT is not a playground. Budget is approved by CFOs who want to see the benefit behind every cent. Upgrading to a newer operation system doesn't have any business value, therefore it cannot be justified. Even if the new OS would be for free, there is a cost of consultants, you have to test the upgrade, you have to train your thousands of users to navigate in a completely new system, train all your helpdesks, and of course there is a risk of screwing it up.

Where I mean justification for the upgrade, I do not mean the marketing b*****t, but solid ROI. Every time we get a new Windows version, MS organizes a nice party, and the key speaker tells us that it will be faster, more stable and very cool. Can we sell more goods if we use it? No.

What about fixing the old version rather then releasing a completely new one? It makes more sense. But then MS gets less money. Yes, it is about money.

One other problem is the role of MS in the big picture. MS has the "Go To Market" concept, MS focuses on technology and development, while Authorized Partner sells the product. Please note: MS doesn't work directly with customers (apart from marketing events).
Because of this, MS develops products for developers, not for users. Do you see the difference?

MS recruitment techniques are very famous, and we know that business knowledge (e.g. real life experience) is not a matter for their recruiters. Yes, because MS is a technology company in a rapidly changing environment. But this way MS separated itself too far from reality.

And last let me say a few words about MS Partners. Their role would be to sell products and execute successful projects for customers. They are not always successful, at least not in Hungary. There is a lot of cause, but one of them Microsoft itself. The small dotcom company is expected to deliver in time with beta products, with a big pushing partner, who actually doesn't know the corporate needs.
By now every big company had their failed MS project, so IT managers try to stay away from them, especially from the wonderful state-of-art cutting edge technology.

Personally I would recommend everybody using Microsoft tools, because they are good. But I have seen those projects very closely, where beta products, too much marketing and too much cutting edge ruined all.

And now, in the middle of an economy crisis, cost-cutting, layoffs and frozen projects, Microsoft believes that we are going to pay for Windows7...

I am interested to see the next round of Microsoft vs World game.