Barney's Blog

Blog archive

Windows 7 Upgrades: Keep Enterprise for Enterprises and Consumer for Consumers

Microsoft has a pretty attractive Windows 7 upgrade plan: Buy a Vista machine now and move to Windows 7 for free in the fall. The plan is aimed at small businesses and consumers, and Microsoft hopes to keep it that way by limiting upgrades to purchases of no more than 25 PCs.

I'm wondering if Microsoft really has to do this. Do any real enterprises opt for cheaper consumer versions of Windows? You tell me. What makes high-end versions of XP or Vista better for big shops, or can one really get away with large volumes of consumer machines? Your expert opinion always welcome at [email protected].

Posted by Doug Barney on July 01, 2009


Featured

  • Report: Cost, Sustainability Drive DaaS Adoption Beyond Remote Work

    Gartner's 2025 Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service reveals that while secure remote access remains a key driver of DaaS adoption, a growing number of deployments now focus on broader efficiency goals.

  • Windows 365 Reserve, Microsoft's Cloud PC Rental Service, Hits Preview

    Microsoft has launched a limited public preview of its new "Windows 365 Reserve" service, which lets organizations rent cloud PC instances in the event their Windows devices are stolen, lost or damaged.

  • Hands-On AI Skills Now Outshine Certs in Salary Stakes

    For AI-related roles, employers are prioritizing verifiable, hands-on abilities over framed certificates -- and they're paying a premium for it.

  • Roadblocks in Enterprise AI: Data and Skills Shortfalls Could Cost Millions

    Businesses risk losing up to $87 million a year if they fail to catch up with AI innovation, according to the Couchbase FY 2026 CIO AI Survey released this month.