| It's been months since Windows Vista and | | | | longer, it makes even more sense to hold off |
| Office 2007 hit the market. With the hoopla | | | | on upgrading your operating system until you |
| behind us, and after a period of observing | | | | have to upgrade your computer. |
| both products in the marketplace, it looks | | | | |
| like Office 2007, especially in conjunction | | | | Issues with Office 2007 |
| with SharePoint Server 2007, seems to have a | | | | |
| lot of value for larger companies interested | | | | The biggest issue with Office 2007 is the new |
| in workflow automation and electronic content | | | | application interface. It is quite different |
| management. There doesn't seem to be much | | | | from Office 2003 and it typically takes |
| advantage in upgrading to Vista anytime soon. | | | | several days for users to adjust to the |
| In fact, it looks like organizations should | | | | changes. For example, it took me five minutes |
| wait at least until service Pack 1 is | | | | to discover how to save and print a Word |
| released in early 2008. | | | | document the first time I tried. |
| | | | |
| Issues with Vista | | | | Office 2007 is valuable, especially in |
| | | | Conjunction with SharePoint Server 2007 |
| Vista has its short comings, including | | | | |
| missing drivers for printers and other | | | | Office 2007, especially in conjunction with |
| peripheral devices. There is also a lack of | | | | SharePoint Server 2007, is making a splash in |
| application support from independent software | | | | the market place. With this new release, |
| vendors. For example, Adobe won't issue | | | | SharePoint Server has evolved into the |
| updates to Dreamweaver, InDesign and | | | | integration technology for portal, |
| Photoshop until this summer. A number of | | | | collaboration, work flow, Web-content and |
| antivirus products and VoIP technologies | | | | document management applications. As a |
| don't work with Vista yet either. | | | | result, SharePoint in conjunction with Office |
| | | | 2007 is providing many larger organizations |
| Vista also requires pretty beefy hardware, | | | | with an alternative to more complex and |
| especially if you want to take advantage of | | | | expensive custom developed portals and work |
| the slick Aero Glass user interface. Even | | | | flow automation applications, as well as |
| minimum system requirements are more | | | | content management applications such as |
| demanding than any previous Windows operating | | | | Documentum and FileNet. |
| system. | | | | |
| | | | The new version of Small Business Server, |
| But the biggest problem with Vista is there's | | | | which bundles SharePoint, Windows, Exchange |
| no compelling business case for upgrading. | | | | and SQL Servers into a package for small |
| The previous operating system, Windows XP, | | | | businesses, won't be available until after |
| works perfectly well for most organizations | | | | the release of the new Longhorn version of |
| and will continue to be supported for another | | | | Windows Server, which is expected in late |
| 2 years. Unlike earlier generations of | | | | 2007. As a result, we won't know how |
| Windows where upgrading a few desktops caused | | | | SharePoint and Office 2007 applications for |
| network disruptions, Vista seems to work well | | | | small business will pan out until early 2008. |
| within networks of XP computers. Vista | | | | |
| introduces some major interface changes and | | | | So don't jump on the bandwagon just yet, |
| new ways of doing things that will take some | | | | especially if you are a smaller organization. |
| getting used to. As a result, the costs of | | | | You'll have an easier time and get more bang |
| upgrading - such as hardware upgrades, user | | | | for you buck once Vista is more compatible |
| training and compatibility testing - aren't | | | | and SharePoint is proven for small |
| outweighed by new features and functionality. | | | | businesses. |
| | | | |
| Wait to Upgrade to Vista until Early 2008 | | | | About Xantrion |
| | | | |
| It sounds like most prominent third party | | | | Xantrion - offering gold-certified Microsoft |
| software vendors are shooting to issue | | | | support - continues to revolutionize computer |
| updates by the time Service Pack 1 (SP1) | | | | network support by providing systems that |
| arrives. In addition, it sounds like SP1 will | | | | work, along with seasoned consultants at a |
| resolve most driver issues. Since SP1 is | | | | fixed price. Xantrion allows growing |
| slated to be released in early 2008, we | | | | businesses to do more with fewer resources |
| recommend waiting to upgrade to Windows Vista | | | | and focus on what they do best. |
| at least until then. Frankly, if you can wait | | | | |