Practice Management

Vista Will Be Abandoned by Microsoft

There have been persistent rumors that Microsoft would abandon Vista once Windows 7 ships. Vista has not sold well since its release.  Small wonder, since it’s been possibly the most flawed operating system release in history.

Microsoft announced last month that it will not drop Vista when Windows 7 RC ships sometime around the winter holiday season.  However, on Monday  May 11th, Microsoft said users testing Vista should abandon that effort for the Windows 7 RC candidate.  That word came from Bill Veghte, senior vice president for the Windows business, during his keynote address at the annual TechEd Conference.  Certainly that doesn’t bode well for the continued support and sale of Vista.

Veghte also said the release candidate for Windows Server 2008 R2 is available now for download.   An invitation-only technical preview for Office 10 will be available in July.

Forrester Research recently reported that Vista’s business penetration is still in single digits at 9%. The company predicts that number could hit 30% before year-end.  However, Monday’s recommendation for Vista testers to switch to Window 7 RC could cause that number to drop substantially.  Microsoft said it will continue at least until January 2011 selling Vista to computer makers, system builders, volume licensees and consumers.  The real question is, why would anyone want to buy it under the circumstances?

I’m certainly glad I have consistently advised my clients to stick with XP sp3 unless and until  it’s pried from their cold dead computing hands.

Stay tuned for the early reports once testing of  Windows 7 RC gets fully underway.  As always, my readers will be advised when the new operating system is deemed “safe” for use in my humble opinion.

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Full post as published by Law Practice Management on May 12, 2009 (boomark / email).