Computerworld's survey about Windows 7 implementation plans ran online from Jan. 13 to Feb. 10, 2010. Most of the questions and answers appear below.

Research assistance for this survey was provided by Mari Keefe, editorial project manager.

Does your organization plan to adopt Windows 7 at some point?

Yes - 72%

No - 11%

Don't know - 17%

Total respondents: 285

If yes, in what time frame will your organization START the transition to Windows 7?

We are implementing it now - 33%

6 to 12 months - 37%

12 to 18 months - 11%

18 to 24 months - 5%

24 to 36 months - 5%

More than 3 years - 1%

Unsure/don't know - 8%

Total respondents: 205

Over what period of time will your organization COMPLETE the transition to Windows 7?

We are finished now - 6%

Within the next few months - 8%

6 to 12 months - 23%

12 to 18 months - 18%

18 to 24 months - 13%

24 to 36 months - 13%

We will complete in more than three years - 7%

Unsure/don't know - 13%

Total respondents: 205

If you're not planning to move to Windows 7, why not?

[Select all that apply]

Benefits not sufficient to warrant adoption - 59%

Cost - 44%

No business need - 44%

Too time-consuming - 38%

Migrating to another desktop operating system - 19%

Source: Computerworld online survey; 32 respondents

Will you deploy Windows 7... [Select all that apply]

On existing machines - 62%

On new machines as they are refreshed - 82%

Through virtual desktop technologies (VMware VDI, Citrix XenDesktop, XenApp, etc.) - 22%

Total respondents: 205

Virtualization and deployment methods

If you are deploying virtualization with Windows 7, how will you do so? [Select all that apply]

Will upgrade existing virtualized PCs to Windows 7 - 19%

Will move existing PCs to virtualization as part of Windows 7 upgrade - 17%

Will move new PCs to virtualization as part of Windows 7 implementation - 18%

We are not planning on using virtualization with Windows 7 - 60%

Total respondents: 205

Will you run Windows 7 on... [Select all that apply]

Desktop PCs - 93%

Laptops/notebooks - 91%

Virtual PC environments (i.e., Citrix XenApp, XenDesktop, VMware vSphere, etc.) - 33%

Netbooks - 16%

Total respondents: 205

Do you plan on using PC virtualization technology (such as Citrix XenApp, XenDesktop, VMware vSphere, etc.) to facilitate deployment of Windows 7?

Yes, for existing virtualized PCs only - 12%

Yes, will move other PCs to virtualization as part of Windows 7 deployment - 20%

No, won't use any PC virtualization technologies to deploy Windows 7 - 68%

Total respondents: 205

How will your organization phase in Windows 7?

We will follow our usual migration schedule - 53%

We will accelerate adoption for at least some desktops or applications - 19%

We will accelerate adoption of Windows 7 across the enterprise - 11%

Unsure/don't know - 17%

Total respondents: 205

How will you deploy Windows 7? [Select all that apply]

Conventional ISO installation - 39%

DVDs by IT staffers - 34%

Remote network-based deployment using Microsoft System Center - 25%

Unsure/don't know - 17%

Other - 12%

Total respondents: 205

Will your organization wait for the first service pack before deploying Windows 7 in a production environment?

Yes, we will wait - 19%

No, we won't wait - 34%

Expect first service pack to be available by the time we get around to deployment - 26%

Service pack release is not a factor in our deployment plans - 17%

Don't know - 4%

Source: Computerworld online survey; 205 respondents

Which editions of Windows 7 does your organization plan to adopt? [Select all that apply]

Home Premium - 10%

Professional - 81%

Ultimate - 23%

For Netbooks - 8%

Total respondents: 205

What percentage of your organization's Windows desktops will be migrated to Windows 7 in the next three years?

Less than 20% - 5%

20% to 50% - 11%

50% to 75% - 20 %

75% to 100% - 38%

All production desktops - 27%

Total respondents: 205

Features most cared about

What new features in Windows 7 are of the most interest to your organization? [Select all that apply]

More responsive, faster to boot up - 69%

Better device management - 52%

Compatibility with Windows XP - 47%

Enterprise-specific features that work with Windows Server 2008: DirectAccess, BranchCache, BitLocker to Go, Applocker, etc. - 33%

Improved taskbar and full-screen previews - 30%

Easier data recovery/protection - 30%

Streamlined and more user-friendly user account controls - 28%

'Snaps' to compare two screens side-by-side - 25%

One-click access to networks - 25%

More relevant search results - 22%

Jump lists (a more intuitive way of working with files) - 16%

Other - 9%

Total respondents: 205

Why is your organization planning to upgrade?

[Select all that apply]

Skipped Vista, Windows XP is getting old - 64%

Need to keep current - 45%

We paid for it as part of our enterprise license agreement; might as well upgrade - 24%

Need to improve security - 22%

We're also adopting other new desktop or server software and might as well get it all done at once - 12%

Source: Computerworld online survey; 205 respondents

Internet Explorer 8 is included in the Win 7 image. Is that a deal-breaker for your organization?

Yes - 10%

No - 78%

Unsure/don't know - 12%

Total respondents: 205

If the inclusion of IE8 in the Win 7 image is a deal-breaker for your organization, why is that?

We have custom applications that will not run properly in IE8 - 57%

We have not finished testing IE8 - 19%

Our intranet requires an older version of IE - 14%

Other - 10%

Total respondents: 21

What types of desktops/machines will your organization run Windows 7 on? [Select all that apply]

New desktop PCs or laptops bought specifically for this upgrade - 73%

PCs purchased within the last year - 61%

PCs between 1 and 2 years old - 47%

PCs between 2 and 3 years old - 24%

PCs more than 3 years old - 11%

Total respondents: 205

Respondents' demographics

What is your primary job title?

Systems administrator - 29%

Director of IT/IS - 20%

IT staff - 11%

CIO - 10%

IT manager - 7%

Vice president of IT/IS (VP/sr. VP/EVP) - 5%

CTO/chief technology officer - 5%

Other - 5%

Total respondents: 238 (not all answers reflected above)

How many people do you estimate are employed in your entire organization, including all branches, divisions and subsidiaries?

Over 40,000 - 8%

30,001 - 40,000 - 1%

20,001 - 30,000 - 2%

10,001 - 20,000 - 4%

5,001 - 10,000 - 6%

1,001 - 5,000 - 16%

501 - 1,000 - 9%

100 - 500 - 21%

Fewer than 100 - 33%

Total respondents: 238

Which of the following best describes your organization's primary business or industry?

Education - 14%

Computer services (ISP/ASP/MSP/BSP/ESP/Web hosting) - 10%

Health/medical services - 8%

Manufacturing (non-computer industry) - 7%

State/local government (including law enforcement) - 6%

Finance/banking/accounting - 4%

Nonprofit - 4%

Wholesale/retail trade - 4%

Total respondents: 238 (not all answers reflected above)

Which version of Windows is currently running in your IT operation?

[Select all that apply]

Windows XP - 93%

Windows Vista - 35%

Windows 2000 - 15%

Windows 98 - 3%

Windows 95 - 2%

Source: Computerworld online survey; 205 respondents

Which Windows versions are in use

What percentage of your organization's desktops run Windows?

None - 0.5 %

1% to 10% - 3%

11% to 25% - 1%

26% to 50% - 3%

51% to 75% - 5%

76% to 100% - 87%

Total respondents: 205

If the bulk of your existing PCs are running Windows XP, when will you upgrade them to Windows 7 or replace them with Windows 7 PCs?

Before the end of 2011 - 40%

Before the end of 2012 - 20.5%

Before the end of all XP support, in April 2014 - 39.5%

Total respondents: 205