XP5, Vista6, or Windows 7

Computers and effective computing are an integral part of any successful medical practice. Like any good tool, proper use of computers can greatly enhance business processes, while improper computing practices can adversely affect the overall well-being of any practice regardless of its size. This issue of San Diego Physician launches a new monthly column that will analyze information technology, examine computing trends, and recommend best practices. We welcome your questions or comments at Editor@SDCMS.org.

Windows 7, wryly named as such more for the historical sequence of Windows versions than for any brilliant marketing campaign, is out but only in "pre-Beta build" - an industry term that denotes "in testing" and not quite ready for commercial use. It was delivered to software developers and industry pundits at the 2008 Microsoft Professional Developers Conference held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on October 27-30.

It is already having an impact on the information technology (IT) landscape.

Businesses of all sizes are eagerly awaiting more details about Windows 7 features, how it works with their existing software applications, and what the hardware requirements will be.

With the less-than-favorable coverage on Windows Vista - known as Windows 6 - perception is larger than reality, leading observers to conclude that Microsoft wishes to release Windows 7 sooner rather than later. Rumored release dates vary wildly, but knowledgeable sources hint at somewhere between the third quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010. Interest is so high in Windows 7 that industry watchdogs like the Corporate IT Forum (TIF) report that more businesses are currently investigating or analyzing updating to Windows 7 (30 percent) rather than updating to Windows Vista (14 percent).

But wait, some of you just went out and outfitted your offices with Windows Vista. You were told that your older hardware did not have sufficient horsepower to handle Vista and that you needed all new equipment, which you faithfully went out and purchased.

And now Windows 7 will be out ... a new operating system so soon? How can that be?

Let's go back in time, shall we. Microsoft Windows XP - known as Windows 5 - was released in October 2001. You read right: seven years ago. Windows XP has gone through numerous patches and three service pack updates. It is a very stable operating system still in use by approximately 75 percent of businesses in the United States.

Windows Vista was released in January 2007, which represents a five-year gap between operating system releases. It has also gone through numerous patches and one service pack update. With new hardware, it is a stable operating system currently in use by approximately 10 percent of businesses in the United States.

In other words, Microsoft's seven-year old operating system is in use by 75 percent of businesses, and its two-year-old operating system is in use by only 10 percent of businesses - not what you would call an enthusiastic adoption rate.

The slow Vista adoption rate has caused Microsoft to vow that there will never again be so lengthy a gap between its operating system versions.

My take is that Windows XP has been around long enough and is stable enough that the slow Vista adoption rate has more to do with the lack of business requirement to move to Vista than any pre-defined artificial gap between operating systems. You and I know that, but Microsoft wants to "fix" that with its early release of Windows 7.

But as "fixes" go this is a good fix. Based on all the fanfare at the October Microsoft Professional Developers Conference, Windows 7 promises to be faster, simpler, and easier to implement. Good news for all of us.

The bottom line:

• Those of you still utilizing Windows XP should consider skipping Windows Vista entirely and continue to amortize your existing hardware. Then switch to all new equipment and systems once Windows 7 arrives.
• Those of you that recently made the new hardware investments for Windows Vista should stay put since an upcoming service pack 2 will further improve on core functions and speed.

Then there are those of you on the cutting edge that will want to stand in line until midnight and purchase Windows 7 as soon as it is released in a store near you. As I am a beta tester, I will probably be analyzing Windows 8. So I may not be in line with you.