Windows 7 Compatibility Issues

Microsoft business clients of Onsite Computer Services in New Orleans are generally ambivalent about the upcoming Windows 7 / Server 2008 RC release. Some clients are excited about the change and the increases in productivity and security the Windows 7 upgrade is supposed to provide small businesses.

Other clients with XP / Server 2003 systems, especially those with expensive printers and custom accounting applications that experience compatibility issues with Windows Vista, contend their present systems are great and provide most everything they require for efficient accounting and business management. These clients are of the opinion, “… if it’s not broke, don’t fix it!”

Compatibility issues with Vista are one of the alleged reasons Vista was shunned by businesses. To address this issue, Windows 7 offers XP Mode. As increasing Windows 7 RC testers reveal their opinions about Windows 7 XP Mode, all is apparently not well. A segment of the business computing community has expectations that Windows 7 will provide a seamless migration from Windows XP; however according to some the reality of the situation is anything but seamless.

The virtualized Windows XP mode is designed for businesses to migrate their Windows XP apps onto the Windows 7 platform. Windows 7 XP Mode requires a special processor from either Intel or AMD with virtualization support. Microsoft recently revealed a significant segment of the computing population lack a virtualization-capable CPU.

Many contend the beta of Windows 7 XP Mode in a lab setting contains bugs, inspires confusion, and is absolutely complex. Legacy applications have a propensity to run extremely slow and suffer from occasional hiccups. Some early testers allege the average user will not find the virtualized Windows XP implementation user-friendly.

As Microsoft Partners, Onsite hopes Microsoft successfully addresses the compatibility issue associated with a migration from XP to Windows 7. Compatibility issues are a main reason Onsite’s business clients failed to adopt Vista. Until the compatibility issues are resolved, some business clients will continue to use XP / Server 2003 until the planned death of XP in 2014. Is it possible Microsoft will release a successor to Windows 7 before the 2014 death of XP and small businesses will ignore another migration opportunity from XP like Vista and Windows 7? Stay tuned!

If you’re searching for New Orleans computer service or repair of your Microsoft based system or network, then call the Microsoft specialists at 504-469-6991. Onsite Computer Services, Inc. in New Orleans

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This New Orleans On-Site Computer Service post was provided by Eli Lucas. Eli can be reached at eli@onsitenola.com. Onsite Computer serves the Microsoft computing needs of small businesses throughout the Greater New Orleans area including Uptown, Lakeview, Broadmoor, Mid-City, Metairie, Jefferson, Kenner, Westbank, French Quarter, and the Warehouse District. Please visit our website for New Orleans Computer Service.