Climb to the Vista. Is Windows Vista for You?


by Stuart Crawford - Date: 2007-01-31 - Word Count: 720 Share This!

Is Windows Vista for your company? Many small businesses will be asking their IT people this question over the next few days, weeks, and months to find out if Vista is the best fit for their business. Most IT consultants will be advising their client base to wait for Service Pack 1 which seems to be a standard response to any new software package or operating system release from most information technology consultants. Is it the right answer? Only you the business owner really knows if your business will benefit from upgrading to Vista or hanging tight with XP.

Windows Vista just like Windows XP comes in many flavors, from the home basic package with minimum features to Windows Vista Ultimate which is loaded with features and benefits. Let's focus on the business versions of Windows Vista because the home versions are not designed for the business environment. There are really three versions that best serve a small business owner.

Windows Vista Business Edition is geared toward the small business and is the first version of Windows ever designed with the needs of small business in mind. Windows Vista Business Edition provides mechanisms to protect the small business' IT investments. It includes safeguards from preventing your staff from installing software that does not meet the business needs of your business to preventing phishing attacks and spyware from increasing your support costs. Vista Business Edition will also empower your mobile sales force so that they can work more efficiently when out of the office.

Windows Vista Enterprise Edition was developed with the needs of bigger businesses in mind. Large businesses are concerned about IT expenditures just as much as the small business company. Vista also allows legacy applications that are still in use to remain running by offering application compatibility with older technologies and also UNIX applications.

Windows Vista Ultimate Edition combines the power of all versions of Windows Vista. The Ultimate Edition also provides the new Bitlocker technology. Bitlocker is a great solution for mobile workers and business owners who are concerned about the integrity of their confidential and critical business information. With Bitlocker all of your data on your mobile computer is now encrypted. The nice thing about Bitlocker is that your encryption information is stored on a USB memory stick so that is stored in a separate location. Windows Vista Ultimate also includes all the DVD Movie Maker, graphic enhancements and support for Tablet computers.

So which version is the right one for you? Lots to choose from and wasn't it said a few years back that computers were suppose to make our life's easier? Many small businesses will only need the Business Edition and this version will provide you with all the services you need to keep you staff productive, collaborate effectively, exchange information securely, and research information on the Internet without worry.

With Windows Vista you can securely connect to your computer from outside the office and remain productive in your business. With the Remote Desktop Protocol available in the Ultimate Edition of Windows Vista you can now connect to your system in the office from home, on the road or anywhere you have access to the Internet. This feature is also available in the Business Edition of Windows Vista.

Also in the Ultimate version of Vista, you can have host meetings anywhere. Using the Windows Meeting Space allows you to host meetings with anyone across the Internet, or in your private network or in your remote office across the globe.

So is Windows Vista right for your business? There is some truth to concerns about applications not being 100% percent ready for Vista; same with drivers for printers and other hardware devices. This incompatibility is not a Windows Vista challenge-- this is an application or hardware provider issue and before you run out to purchase a Vista-based computer system or upgrade your existing system to Vista.

Before you invest in Vista and upgrade your system, visit the Microsoft Vista website at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista and run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor. This small program will tell you what hardware and software may have challenges running on the most secure Windows platform to date. Always consult with a skilled IT professional who is knowledgeable on how Vista will benefit your business. You can find a Microsoft Certified Partner that will help you in your area at http://www.microsoft.ca/partner.


Related Tags: business, microsoft, oem, windows, vista, xp, partner, upgrade, ultimate, enterprise, service pack 1

Stuart Crawford is a business leader in the Calgary, Alberta small business computer consulting business. His company IT Matters is a leader in providing Microsoft based small business solutions using Microsoft Windows Server and Small Business Server. IT Matters is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Small Business Specialist, visit IT Matters online at http://www.itmatters.ca or email Stuart at scrawford@itmatters.ca.

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