Economy delays Windows 7 implementation

Computerworld's survey about corporate Windows 7 implementation plans ran online from August 11, 2011 to September 14, 2011. Most of the questions and answers appear below. (The main story about Windows 7 implementation plans being delayed appears here.)

[The results from the Windows 7 survey we conducted in early 2010 are here. The story based on that earlier survey is here.]

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

Upgrade plans

Has your organization begun or is it planning a move to Windows 7?

Yes - 88%

No - 12%

Total respondents: 238

Has your organization begun its move to Windows 7? Or is it planning its move to Windows 7?

We have already adopted Windows 7 - 68%

We're planning to adopt Windows 7 - 32%

Total respondents: 210

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

[Check all that apply]

No business need - 54%

Cost - 43%

Benefits not sufficient to warrant adoption - 39%

Too time-consuming - 29%

Migrating to another desktop operating system - 25%

Waiting for Windows 8 - 4%

Source: Computerworld online survey; 28 respondents

In what time frame did/will your organization START the transition to Windows 7?

We are implementing it now - 41%

We started 6 to 12 months ago - 41%

In the next 12 to 18 months - 14%

In the next 18 to 24 months - 1%

In the next 24 to 36 months - 1%

More than 3 years - 0%

Unsure/don't know - 2%

Total respondents: 210

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

We are finished now - 19%

Within the next few months - 10%

In the next 6 to 12 months - 20%

In the next 12 to 18 months - 18%

In the next 18 to 24 months - 13%

In the next 24 to 36 months - 11%

We will complete in more than three years - 3%

Unsure/don't know - 6%

Total respondents: 210

Windows versions in use

What percentage of your organization's desktops run Windows? [ANY VERSION]

None - 1%

1% to 10% - 1%

11% to 25% - 0%

26% to 50% - 2%

51% to 75% - 5%

76% to 100% - 91%

Unsure/don't know - 1%

Total respondents: 210

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

[Select all that apply]

Windows 7 - 73%

Windows XP - 82%

Windows Vista - 16%

Windows 2000 - 12%

Windows 98 - 3%

Windows 95 - 1%

Source: Computerworld online survey; 210 respondents

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 - 26%

Before the end of 2012 - 29%

Before the end of all XP support, in April 2014 - 34%

We will continue to run Windows XP machines after April 2014 - 11%

Total respondents: 210

Windows 8, expected to be released in 2012, will introduce users to a new touch-based user interface but will also include a traditional Windows 7 mode for running legacy applications. How will the release of Windows 8 affect your plans?

Windows 8 will have no affect on our Windows 7 migration plans - 33%

We may wait and transition some machines to Windows 8 - 4%

After migrating to Windows 7 we will probably skip Windows 8 - 10%

Windows 8 creates some uncertainty for our plans with Windows in general - 3%

Too early to say; Windows 8 neither positively nor negatively affects our Windows 7 migration plans at this time - 42%

Unsure/don't know - 8%

Total respondents: 210

Virtualization and deployment methods

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

On existing machines - 63%

On new machines as they are refreshed - 90%

Through virtual desktop technologies (VMware VDI, Citrix XenDesktop, XenApp, etc.) - 21%

Total respondents: 210

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 - 20%

Will move existing PCs to virtualization as part of Windows 7 upgrade - 13%

Will move new PCs to virtualization as part of Windows 7 implementation - 9%

We are not planning on using virtualization with Windows 7 - 67%

Total respondents: 210

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

Desktop PCs - 97%

Laptops/notebooks - 95%

Virtual PC environments (i.e., Citrix XenApp, XenDesktop, VMware vSphere, etc.) - 37%

Netbooks - 30%

Other - 1%

Total respondents: 210

Did you use/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 - 11%

Yes, for existing virtual PCs, and we plan to virtualize other PCs as part of the Windows 7 deployment - 19%

No, won't use any PC virtualization technologies to deploy Windows 7 - 70%

Total respondents: 210

Did your organization wait for the first service pack, which debuted in March 2011, before deploying Windows 7 in a production environment?

Yes, we waited - 22%

No, we didn't wait - 41%

Service pack was available by the time we get around to deployment - 20%

Service pack release was never a factor in our deployment plans - 14%

Don't know - 2%

Source: Computerworld online survey; 210 respondents

How is your organization phasing in Windows 7?

We will follow our usual migration schedule - 46%

We will accelerate adoption for at least some desktops or applications - 12%

We will accelerate adoption of Windows 7 across the enterprise - 15%

We are following/have followed a slower-than-usual migration schedule because of the economy - 22%

Unsure/don't know - 4%

Total respondents: 210

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

Conventional ISO installation - 43%

DVDs by IT staffers - 35%

Remote network-based deployment using Microsoft System Center - 22%

Unsure/don't know - 11%

Other - 23%

Total respondents: 210

How is your organization phasing in Windows 7?

We will follow our usual migration schedule - 48%

We are following/have followed a slower-than-usual schedule because of the economy - 22%

We will accelerate Windows 7 adoption across the enterprise - 15%

We will accelerate adoption of Windows 7 for at least some desktops or applications - 12%

Unsure/don't know - 4%

Total respondents: 210

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

Home Premium - 6%

Professional - 91%

Ultimate - 25%

For Netbooks - 5%

Total respondents: 210

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

Less than 20% - 1%

20% to 50% - 4%

50% to 75% - 8 %

75% to 100% - 61%

All production desktops - 27%

Total respondents: 210

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 - 77%

PCs purchased within the last year - 62%

PCs between 1 and 2 years old - 55%

PCs between 2 and 3 years old - 35%

PCs more than 3 years old - 13%

Total respondents: 210

Features most cared about

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

More responsive, faster to boot up - 68%

Better device management - 56%

Compatibility with Windows XP - 44%

Enterprise-specific features that work with Windows Server 2008: DirectAccess, BranchCache, BitLocker to Go, Applocker, etc. - 31%

Streamlined and more user-friendly user account controls - 29%

Easier data recovery/protection - 28%

Improved taskbar and full-screen previews - 21%

'Snaps' to compare two screens side-by-side - 19%

More relevant search results - 14%

One-click access to networks - 12%

Jump lists (a more intuitive way of working with files) - 12%

Other - 18%

Don't know - 4%

Total respondents: 210

Why did your organization upgrade to Windows 7, or why is it planning to upgrade?

[Select all that apply]

Skipped Vista, Windows XP is getting old - 64%

Need to keep current - 50%

Need to improve security - 33%

We paid for it as part of our enterprise license agreement; might as well upgrade - 18%

We're also adopting other new desktop or server software and might as well get it all done at once - 16%

Other - 16%

Source: Computerworld online survey; 210 respondents

Respondents' demographics

What is your primary job title?

IT manager - 35%

Director of IT/IS - 19%

CIO - 8%

Vice president of IT/IS (VP/sr. VP/EVP) - 6%

CTO/chief technology officer - 5%

Other - 28%

Total respondents: 238

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

Over 40,000 - 4%

30,001 - 40,000 - 2%

20,001 - 30,000 - 3%

10,001 - 20,000 - 3%

5,001 - 10,000 - 6%

1,001 - 5,000 - 13%

501 - 1,000 - 7%

100 - 500 - 24%

Fewer than 100 - 38%

Total respondents: 238

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

State/local government (including law enforcement) - 9%

Health/medical services - 8%

Computer services (ISP/ASP/MSP/BSP/ESP/Web hosting) - 8%

Education - 7%

Manufacturing (non-computer industry) - 6%

Finance/banking/accounting - 6%

Business services (non-computer) - 5%

Wholesale/retail trade - 3%

Transportation/logistics - 3%

Energy/utilities - 3%

Total respondents: 238 (all answers not reflected above)

Next: Windows 7 is on a (slow) roll.

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