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October 2006 | Volume V, Issue 9 |
The Latest and GreatestMicrosoft plans to release Windows Vista, their new Operating System, in a few months, as well as releasing Internet Explorer 7 next month. Despite the long wait for the new Windows Vista, running out and getting your hands on the latest Microsoft OS might not be the best idea. Do you need to have Vista hot off the line? The answer is no, not immediately. In fact, upgrading to the “latest and greatest” comes with some risks. For example, buying a new model car right off the line, you assume the risks of possessing something that may or may not have significant issues that are as of yet undiscovered. Consumer watchdog groups will often note that there is a lack of information on certain new products to make an informed quality statement. ‘Backwards compatibility’ is another well-known issue for software users everywhere. Software update implementation can seriously affect it. Switching to a new OS can easily break vendor specific applications that were designed to run on a previous OS. eWEEK interviews with several IT managers have turned up a similar stance: compatibility must still be tested, employees must be properly trained, and resources must be in place for a successful deployment of the new Windows upgrade. Gartner, a Connecticut based technology research and analysis firm, went so far as to recommend not upgrading to Vista until 2008, and use the time to prepare for a successful deployment of the new OS. Additionally, Microsoft has said that it will continue providing support for XP until late 2013. In regards to Microsoft Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft has set up its latest web-browser to be pushed out via Automatic Update on November 1st. Microsoft has, however, offered a blocker toolkit, recommending that enterprises block the automatic update unless they are 100% prepared for the release. DataPath’s products are not supported on the new Windows, though we are staying abrest of the new changes coming with Vista. Clients using DataPath systems are asked to postpone switching to Windows Vista until we can assure our users that there will be no issues interfering with integral administrative applications and databases. We will also be certain to let you know when our sites are IE7 compatible. |
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Material contained in
this newsletter is not legal advice, and should not be construed as
legal advice. If you need legal advice upon which you can rely, you
must seek a legal opinion from your attorney. © DataPath, Inc. 2006 |