This is a guest post by Alicia Haines Davis.

There’s no doubt that Windows 7 is an improvement over its predecessor Windows Vista.  However, the question remains: is it worth transitioning for those with Windows XP virtual machines?

On the one hand, your network may function perfectly well with Windows XP, so why change a good thing?  And if you’re like many other businesses out there right now, paying for upgrades may not be your most pressing priority.  On the other hand, at some point your technology becomes outdated and slow regardless of how good it was when you bought it.  You may not have to change with every new hardware or software upgrade, but at some point it’s just prudent in order to stay with the times.

If you’re feeling conflicted about taking the plunge, consider these four points before making a decision one way or the other.    

• Logon times: Slow logon times plague many companies, leading to distracted employees and reduced productivity.  In comparison to Windows XP, the Windows 7 client provides a superior logon time because you can begin the logon process before the operating system is booted up.  And as the old adage states, saving time is saving money.
• Remote meetings: As more and more people work remotely, the ability to conduct efficient meetings over the computer is becoming crucial.  Windows 7 provides bi-directional audio so that you can both listen and respond with the use of your computer’s microphone.  Windows XP only allows you to listen one-way.
• Multimonitor sessions: For all those VM techies who use multiple screens at work, here is some good news.  All of your monitors will be available to your virtual desktop with Windows 7 as opposed to Windows XP, where only one can be accessed.
• Video Quality: Whether you’re watching a video via RDP for work or are checking out something during your lunch break, suffering through the “slide show” effect can be very aggravating.  Windows 7 offers a vastly improved viewing experience that is close to watching the same video locally from your PC.

Weigh your options and see where they take you.  It’s important to keep in mind what will help your business not just in the short run, but years down the line.  Where do you want to go and what can you do to help your company get there?

About Author :
Alicia Haines Davis is the Marketing Communications Manager at triCerat, a computer software company that specializes in remote desktop management and virtualization software. From universal print drivers to Windows 7 virtualization, triCerat offers a variety of enterprise management services.

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