Tech Tools

Upgrades: Move Forward Smartly

Research, Plan, Test Before Making Changes

Ricardo Harvin
E-mail Questions for Tech Tools to techtools@uschamber.com.

I'm not surprised that many people still haven't migrated to Windows' newest operating system, Vista, with its hefty resource requirements and incompatibility with some software.

What is surprising is that so many who did make the move are reverting back to Windows XP. Companies that are now rolling back have wasted money, time, and resources and will have to repeat the process when XP reaches the end of its useful life.

The rejection of Vista by many of its users underscores the importance of researching, planning, and testing new technology. Here are some tips for each of these elements:

Research products by reading independent reviews, online customer comments and feedback, and any other objective information. Exercise caution if there is little information readily available or if you have questions or hear negative feedback about the product.
Devise a step-by-step plan for introducing a new product into the workplace (don't forget about employee training!). A good plan lays out the details of how the product must work and how it's going to be introduced into the business, and it lets you gracefully back out if things aren't going according to plan.
Test the product before you fully commit to it. Start testing with a small sample in an environment that closely resembles your daily operations. This kind of real-world experience with a product is invaluable.

When faced with the opportunity to upgrade technology, companies tend to stay with what they know instead of exploring all of their options. Mac and Linux operating systems, for example, are stable, secure, and increasingly focused on satisfying business needs.

By the way, for those people who aren't happy with Vista, Microsoft has made the rollback process a little easier for some versions of the program (at least in terms of licensing) and has extended the lifecycle for XP into 2009. Computer manufacturers are continuing to offer or are reintroducing XP as an option for new purchases, so you can buy new computers without worrying about getting locked into Vista before you're ready.

E-Sources:

Windows Life-Cycle Policy

Download Windows Vista Downgrade Rights (PDF)

Tech Tools, "Align Technology With Business"

Apple's Mac

Ubuntu Linux

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