Expectations around Windows 7 remain high fuelled by the optimistic views of analysts but the latest high profile launch from Microsoft has itswork cut out persuading existing users of XP they should upgrade.
Some analysts are forecasting success with Forrester followingon from upbeat forecasts made by IDC earlier this summer also revealing thataccording to a survey of users in Europe and the US a healthy majority plan tomigrate to the latest OS within a year.
Nearly two-thirds of those IT decision makers in large andSME firms quizzed by Forrester said they would move to Windows 7 eventually.
Tim Coulling, research analyst, at Canalys, said that the Microsoftneeded to be clearly positioned as a business application.
“Microsoft needs to reposition the Windows 7 marketingcampaign to put the business customer at the centre,” he said.
“Thechallenge is not to convince business buyers that Windows 7 is better thanVista or Snow Leopard, but that it is better than XP,” he added that it wouldhave a battle to wind XP down within a year.
Jens Butler, principal analyst at Ovum, said that there couldbe a positive knock-on effect for system integrators.
“Ovumexpects to see significant interest in adoption in 2010 and which will in turnhave a positive impact across the whole PC ecosystem (hardware suppliers,applications developers, systems integrators and channel providers, forexample),” said Butler.
“Froma buyer perspective, Ovum expects the Windows 7 launch as an opportunity toundertake some serious housekeeping, especially for organisations that havestuck with XP,” Butleradded.
Someof the problems with Vista were associatedwith the large expectations set at the launch but Microsoft has told resellersrepeatedly over the past few months that is has learnt those lessons andensured that the launch will be a success.
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