Windows 7 Migration: A Budget Buster?

Microsoft may promote Windows 7 as an essential element of the next-generation office, but a new research note from Gartner suggests that upgrading from Windows XP and Windows 2000 could create a burden on companies’ IT budgets.

Gartner estimates the costs of an accelerated migration in an office of 10,000 PCs where all units will be replaced at between $1,205 and $1,999 per PC. Capital costs would account for 60 percent of that total cost.

Upgrading those PCs, instead of replacing them, will translate into a migration cost of $1,274 and $2,069 per PC. In this scenario, lower capital costs are offset by higher labor costs associated with the migration; in addition, Gartner approximates that 25 percent of PCs would need a hardware upgrade.

Corporations could also consider a partial migration to a hosted virtual desktop environment, particularly for their data-entry workers, but Gartner analysts warn that the cost of the associated IT infrastructure will outweigh any potential savings.

For more, read the eWeek article Windows 7 Migration Could Create Budget Burdens.

CIO Insight Staff
CIO Insight Staff
CIO Insight offers thought leadership and best practices in the IT security and management industry while providing expert recommendations on software solutions for IT leaders. It is the trusted resource for security professionals who need network monitoring technology and solutions to maintain regulatory compliance for their teams and organizations.

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