… the F6 blog

On October 22, 2009, the latest version of Microsoft Windows, Windows 7, ships for general availability. “General availability” means that computer makers can ship new computers with Windows 7. That’s also the date that the boxed version of Windows 7 goes for sale in stores, for those that want add or upgrade Windows 7 to their computer.

Why does this matter to the small business? Because, beginning October 22, those small businesses that typically buy all their computers from a retail store (or even most online stores) will find it very hard to purchase a computer with any version of Windows but Windows 7. Businesses with existing computers probably have Windows XP and Windows Vista around. Now they’ll also have Windows 7 and now they’ll need to support three versions of Windows.

Windows Vista was a tough release for Microsoft, and they know it. Windows 7 shows improvement but it’s still different enough from both Vista and XP that many support resolutions will be different depending on the version in use. Rebuilding procedures can be different and then there’s always compatibility.

I’ve been using a pre-release version of Windows 7 for some time now and can say that I like it better than Windows Vista, which is what I used before. Compatibility is very good, with only a few applications not working well. (In one case, spectacularly not well, but that may be a factor of the pre-release status of the operating system, and not the application. I’m still checking.)

Before purchasing equipment with Windows 7, check with the software applications you use to make sure they support Windows 7. Some vendors have updated versions or patches to ensure compatibility with Windows 7. Best to check and download the updates before you find out the hard way.

If you purchase new equipment with Windows 7 and don’t want to use it, you may want to consider asking about downgrade rights, which allow you to downgrade the version of Windows you purchased to a previous version, either Vista or XP, for free. Downgrade rights typically only apply to the Ultimate and Professional flavors of Windows. Microsoft hasn’t said if it will offer this option, but some report that it will.

If you like Windows 7, you could consider upgrading your old computers to Windows 7. If you decide to go this route, it’s important to note that you can’t actually upgrade a Windows XP computer: you need to save your data, wipe the computer clean, and install Windows 7 from scratch. This isn’t the case for Windows Vista.

What are your plans for Windows 7 and do you have concerns about using it in your business?