Win 7 Signals End Of XP’s Corporate Reign

Forrester recommends that those still using Windows 2000 complete their migration before July 13, 2010, when extended support runs out. Those using Windows XP should plan the start of their deployment of Windows 7 within 12 to 18 months of the new operating system’s release date. IT shops that deploy Windows Vista should “Consider starting your Windows 7 evaluation now with Windows 7 RTM,” Gray wrote. “Plan for the eventual Windows 7 upgrade on new PCs initially with Windows 7 SP1.”

The Forrester and Gartner reports’ data seems to correlate with that of other surveys, all suggesting that the enterprise and SMBs will engage in a tech refresh that, although widespread, will be somewhat dampened in its speed by the effects of a moribund economy.

A survey by IT asset management company Softchoice suggested that 88 percent of corporate PCs meet the minimum hardware system requirements to run Windows 7, a problem that plagued Vista during its release.