Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 available world-wide today
2 mins read
What the software giant describes as the culmination of its history (apposite given its UK launch at the British Library) – the long awaited Microsoft Vista operating system – is finally in shops globally and online, along with Office 2007.
Microsoft says it’s the result of “an unprecedented collaboration” with its customers and partners, and that users should expect a new era of personal computing that’s “easier, safer and more enjoyable than ever before.”
“Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 will transform the way people work and play,” says Bill Gates. “Millions of consumers had a hand in helping us design, test and create the most exciting versions of Windows and Office we’ve ever released. Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 squarely address the needs and aspirations of people around the globe.”
Most immediately noticeable are the dramatic graphic enhancements, which bring a whole new meaning to the oft-used words ‘simple and intuitive tools’. And that applies to everything from creating and sharing digital documents, photos, music and videos, to participating in digital communities.
For businesses, Microsoft reckons that translates to productivity improvements and better access to information whatever and wherever it is. Security is also said to be more robust, with features like Windows Defender handling attacks from spyware and malicious websites.
“The visual effects are spectacular, the navigation is streamlined and intuitive,” says Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. “They make it much easier to protect your PC… And they work together to help you accomplish more throughout the day.”
And he adds: “We designed Windows Vista and Office 2007 as springboards for our partners, for realising the next generation of computing, for a whole new wave of innovation in devices and software that offer better graphics, better connectivity and communications, and a more productive, more enjoyable experience all around.”
Setting the razzmatazz aside, however, business users are unlikely to want to rush to upgrade, despite the benefits. A survey by emedia’s RapidResearch service shows almost half (49%) of IT professionals feel that migrating to Microsoft Vista would be a distraction from other, more important issues.
Also, although the overwhelming majority of IT people (82%) also expect Vista to improve security and compliance, just over half (54%) suspect that application incompatibility will cause migration pain, while nearly two-thirds (63%) cite cost as a reason not to do it yet. And that’s despite respondents expecting Vista to bring improvements to desktop infrastructure optimisation (49%), finding and using information (42%) and enabling a mobile workforce (30%).
The bottom line: less than half (47%) of respondents expect their organisation to migrate to Vista in the foreseeable future, while more than a quarter (27%) expect Vista to have no impact on their business within the next 18 months.
