Microsoft will release its newest operating system, Windows 7, on Thursday, October 22.  Microsoft Vista, released in 2007, proved to be unpopular with businesses and consumers, which cited problems like driver and software incompatibilities, high memory usage, and slow startup times.  Many users stuck with older operating systems such as Windows XP instead of upgrading to Vista.  According to the 2009 Legal Technology Survey Report, 74% of attorney respondents reported that their primary computer uses Windows XP, compared with 9% Windows Vista and 6% Windows 2000.  Likewise, Forrester researchers report that 71% of enterprise PCs and 80% of commercial PCs still run on Windows XP.

What is the outlook for Windows 7, and are there compelling reasons for attorneys to upgrade?  So far Windows 7 has received a bevy of positive reviews--however, one columnist notes that Windows Vista also received positive reviews early on, which were not a good indicator of Vista’s subsequent poor reception.  Here are some considerations for law firms considering a switch to Windows 7 from other operating systems such as Vista and XP.

-Computer hardware may need to be upgraded, especially if a firm is using older computers and operating systems such as Windows XP.  Remember that listed system requirements are just a minimum, and to achieve better computer performance exceeding the minimum requirements is often recommended.  Microsoft goes so far as to recommend that users with PCs running Windows XP or older operating systems should purchase a new PCs to run Windows 7 instead of installing Windows 7 on their current PCs. 

-If not installing from scratch on new computers, installation may be tricky depending  on the version of operating system firm computers currently have installed.  There are third party software programs designed to help ease the installation process.  Microsoft provides a free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to scan PCs for Windows 7 compatibility issues.  Making a backup of any data and software before installation can be critical in case anything goes wrong with the installation process. 

-Any current firm software and drivers may experience compatibility problems with Windows 7.

-Many IT professionals have traditionally recommended waiting until a first "service pack" is released for a new Windows operating system before making the switch from an older operating system.  Service packs are designed to fix bugs and add features to operating systems, so the operating system should be more stable and dependable after the release of the first service pack.  Research firm Gartner lists a few reasons why business IT staff might not want to wait for the first service pack this time around but that advice might apply more to more tech-intensive organizations than typical law firms.

-Microsoft will eventually stop providing support for older operating systems.  This may be one of the main reasons law firms may eventually consider switching to Windows 7 from other operating systems such as Windows XP.  Windows XP was dropped from "mainstream support" to "extended support" in April, meaning that Microsoft now only provides paid support for Windows XP.  Extended support is scheduled to end in 2014.  Since law firms depend on maintaining and protecting firm and client data, access to operating system support can be essential to maintain system stability and security.

Other resources:

PC World

Windows 7: A Complete Survival Guide

CNET

Which Windows 7 is right for you?

Lifehacker

Prep Your PC for Windows 7

Microsoft

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Windows 7 Compatibility Center

ABA Site-tation

Avoid Loss of Law Firm Data and Business Downtime by Keeping Software Updated

Windows 7 Hits Shelves October 22nd