Microsoft Targets SMB’s in Windows 7 Push
Earlier this year Windows started a program called The Windows 7 Small Business Ignite Program, which allowed SMB’s to test out the new operating system and provide feedback to Microsoft about how well it would work for them. Now Microsoft is taking that information and using it a campaign to get many small businesses to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7.
After all the trouble Microsoft had with Vista, many SMB’s are reluctant to upgrade. And since there isn’t a direct XP-to-Windows 7 upgrade path, Microsoft is announcing that there is a more streamlined instillation process. Microsoft hopes that SMB’s who upgrade to the new operating system will notice the immediate increase in productivity, and that the simplified user interface and the increased speed which will quickly translate into cost savings.
One of the main features that Microsoft is hoping will be selling point for many SMB’s is its dramatically faster start up and shut down speeds. Which will translate into less time waiting for your computer to load or shut down when you’re in a hurry. Another feature which will be helpful for XP users, there’s an XP mode which maintains backward compatibility with legacy apps through a virtual Windows XP SP3 environment running under Windows Virtual PC.
With all the new features, and especially the increased speed, Microsoft is hoping SMB’s looking to save money in this trying economy will look at Windows 7 as a way to make that happen.