Hong Kong Computer Society - enterpriseinnovation.net
Hong Kong Computer Society - enterpriseinnovation.net
Hong Kong Computer Society - enterpriseinnovation.net
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UPFRONT STEFAN HAMMOND<br />
Finally, Windows 7<br />
Stefan Hammond<br />
Editor<br />
shammond@<br />
questexasia.com<br />
Last month saw the release-to-market of Windows 7. How important is the<br />
new OS?<br />
Some view W7 as the most important OS since Windows 95. I remember<br />
that debut—the hoopla was inescapable. Someone told me a friend of his stood in<br />
line for hours to get a copy of Windows 95. “The strange thing,” said my friend, “is<br />
that he doesn’t even own a computer!”<br />
Windows 7 is not only eagerly anticipated by consumers, SMBs and enterprises,<br />
but by PC manufacturers as well. Market share for Windows XP—which debuted<br />
in 2001—is still over 70%, as demand for its successor, Windows Vista, has been<br />
underwhelming.<br />
In the tech world, where two or three years of hardware use often leads to a refreshcycle.<br />
But Microsoft’s XP has proven a durable OS that users are loathe to abandon.<br />
With a minimum of RAM (and regularly patched, with Service Pack 3 installed), XP<br />
is the most stable Microsoft OS I’ve used—except for an NT<br />
installation maintained constantly by a quartet of ace technicians<br />
(no coincidence: XP’s the first Microsoft consumeroriented<br />
operating system built on the Windows NT kernel<br />
and architecture).<br />
As enterprises and SMBs prepare for hardware-refresh cycles,<br />
they should be ready for PCs to arrive with W7 preloaded.<br />
There’s more info on our Windows 7 site (http://www.<br />
cw.com.hk/term/Windows+7), but XP users should be aware<br />
that installing W7 will involve a clean-reinstall.<br />
This is why PC manufacturers are enthused by Windows<br />
7. Most of XP-boxes are near the end of their useful life, and<br />
most copies of Windows 7 will come with a new PC attached. If you’ve been holding<br />
off a hardware-refresh because of Vistaphobia, that excuse has expired. Sure, you<br />
may want to wait a bit and see how mass-deployments of W7 play out among your<br />
peers. But so far, initial reports are largely positive. Check out “Windows 7 migration:<br />
Four planning tips” at http://www.cw.com.hk/content/windows-7-migrationfour-planning-tips.<br />
Of course, Windows 7 isn’t the only OS out there. Apple’s new Snow Leopard (OS<br />
X 10.6) is wicked-fast and while you’re tied to Apple hardware (and increasingly,<br />
Apple software for certain interfaces and functions), Snow Leopard comes in both<br />
desktop and server versions and leverages Intel’s multicore processors efficiently.<br />
While Linux has proven itself in the server space, the desktop-Linuxtistas seem too<br />
busy arguing over the relative merits of Karmic Koala versus Mint to notice that<br />
they’ve yet to collectively crack the 1% market-share level.<br />
It’s your business and your choice. But the debut of Windows 7 is a welcome boost<br />
to the tech-sector.<br />
http://www.cw.com.hk<br />
<strong>Computer</strong>world <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> is published by Questex Asia Ltd, 501 Cambridge<br />
House, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong>.<br />
PUBLISHER Simon Yeung syeung@questexasia.com<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Chee Sing Chan cchan@questexasia.com<br />
EDITOR<br />
Stefan Hammond shammond@questexasia.com<br />
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