We are finally having to upgrade our operating software from XP as some of the software suppliers are refusing to support us on XP
What version would be best suited for a small accountancy firm (5 employees) running Small Business Server 2008?
Thanks
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Bill Gates was asked this question recently on Reddit, and said "higher is better". I would go with what Bill says!
Hardware
It may depend on what hardware you are using. If you are using touch screen hardware (unlikely) then Windows 8 is definitely the one to go for.
David
I use both
It depends what you want out of the software. If you want a very similar "look and feel" as Windows XP, then Windows 7 is probably better.
Windows 8 is a bit different in places and is much better than 7 for touchscreen environments. The 8.1 update helped address some complaints, but I still prefer the Windows 7 interface for desktop work.
Support is an important issue. Third party software suppliers generally cease to support a platform around the time that Microsoft cease their extended support (bug fixes, and other updates).
Windows 7 support ceases in a little over 5 years, whereas Windows 8 ceases in a little over 8 years.
8
If you're using XP because you don't want to change often, then it may be better to change to 8.1. Although (as pointed out) it's a bigger change, it'll be longer before you have to change again. Windows 10 will be out next year.
good old xp
its stable , and a pretty speedy fellow .. if you upgrade you might find all sorts of other issues coming out of the woodwork .. for example hardware issues .. some older equipment (which is probably working fine) might not have the driver support and you might end up with a bigger headache having to replace a lot more unnecessarily .. as someone said.. do you really need support ? think about it
You need support
I take a simple view of this.
You are running a professional services firm. You provide a number of functions that are time critical e.g. personal tax return returns.
Your clients are probably quite disorganised and expect you to get their return in on time regardless.
Are you really prepared to rely on the best endeavours of your software supplier to help you out if you have a problem?
You will always be last in the queue, because the people who paid maintenance etc. are entitled to service first.
What is your professional reputation worth? You need support.....
So much for banging on the coffin....
Whilst XP was brilliant, by continuing to use it as suggested by some , you open yourself to security vulnerabilites that will be exploited.
XP will restrict your ability to buy or upgrade to the latest version of products and eventually your clients will overtake you. That will effect your ability to service them.
Its time to dump XP. You are making the right decision, but it is going to cost you.
You will end up doing it sooner or later.
qad999 raises the main point in deciding between 7 and 8. Drivers.
If you have old equipment you are more likely to find Win 7 drivers available. You might also find they are only availabe in 32 bit.
I recently did a large practice upgrade and opted for Win 8.1. The interface is different, but the staff will get used to it very quickly. It also gave the practice the longest available Out of Service date, ie Microsoft would not be forcing wholesale change for some time.
We also opted for 64-bit. On other words we went all the way.
The net result is the practice is now on the latest available platforms and the partners can now push on with other system developments.
One final pont, if you go this far, plan. You only have 5 users, but you need to draw up a llist of your applications and hardware and satisfy yourself they will work with your chosen operating system. Also look at any new applications you might be considering.
Paul
Some thoughts
Everyone will have different approaches they feel comfortable with. My input, for what it's worth is:
You are better off having support so moving is probably best.Move to the latest version you can - in this case Windows 8.1. Any move will have teething issues and hiccups but on the whole you are more likely to get third party product fixes and updates for newer operating systems.Be prepared to buy new licenses and upgrade hardware if necessary.Expect downtime and plan for it. Try and put off any upgrade until Feb - you really don't want to be dealing with problems between now and January 31.Take time to review your software options - is it time to upgrade/move supplier?Consider moving to the cloud. The cloud market is maturing rapidly and there are excellent cloud solutions available now and new ones coming to the market. Either look at "true" cloud software or at the very least a hosted platform.
Windows 7
I would go for Windows 7 professional. We changed over a year ago and although there were a lot of problems it now runs fine. Buy new hardware and don't skimp on the specification.
I have heard of no good reports on Windows 8 or 8.1. If you want the safe option go for Windows 7. I know a number of clients who have never adjusted to Windows 8 and regret buying it.
Wait until January is over before you change!
Move off XP asap
I agree completely with Paul.K2. As well as lack of support, you expose your whole practice to the risks of hacking (and worse), as the security holes in XP are no longer being fixed.
I also agree with James Reeves that now would be a good time to consider moving to a hosted desktop (private cloud) environment. Your existing PC's and laptops will be more than up to the job, so there's no new hardware to buy. As all of your software and data will be in the hosted environment, where it is firewalled from any viruses on your local machines, you may even be OK to keep using XP as the local operating system (ask your provider), but you would be better off wiping the local hard drives and installing a free copy of Linux (eg Ubuntu). You will only use the local OS as a means to log onto the hosted environment (which will run Windows 7 or 8), so the change of local OS does not pose a training issue. See my post on 27/5/14 at www.accountingweb.co.uk/anyanswers/question/what-do-you-think-laptop-my-practice which links to four hosted desktop providers. I also recently came across the RTW Hosting service from Backbone and there are many other companies that can provide this service.
Windows 7.
We upgraded last year from XP and we were advised that 8 was not supported at that time by some of our hardware and software. Also advised that 8 had quite a few teething issues and all we wanted was a stable platform which was quite similar to XP, which to be fair we wouldn't have changed unless CCH etc said that they would no longer support if things went wrong.
Windows 7
We still have XP on one machine and use it for applications we have used for many years and want to continue using. I find it annoying that the software companies push us to change to latest with threats of no support, risks of this that or the other if we don't. If an application is stable and works fine on one OS it will continue to do so. I remember typewriters still being around when I first came into the world of work, they were considered tools to do a job and you did not change them everytime your supplier brought out a new version, they didn't threaten you with you wont be able to get ribbons or the paper may not work properly. You bought a new one when there was some significant reason to do so, such as IBM golf balls which were faster, or daisy wheel versions that were fast, better character appearance, and could link to early computers for early WP systems.
Things have changed but the principle is we buy computers and SW applications to do a job, the driver shouldn't be we must have the latest technology. Have you noticed how much of a cost IT systems and infrastructure have become over the years?
Having said all that our other computers use Win 7 and we find it a good solid OP. Win 8 worries me, the interface isn't familiar and I've heard lots of horror stories about it with people wishing they hadn't changed. Call me a dinosaur if you wish, but for something that has become business critical I move slowly, the last thing I want on top of everything else is an IT system that creates extra hassle and regrets.
For those who jump as soon as something new comes out I'm grateful as you do the testing, get the bugs out and the system is stable by the time I decide to change, which is only if it give worthwhile benefits.
Windows 7
I have used them all (3.1, 3.11, NT 4, 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP, 7 and 8). For business use definitely 7 and not 8.
Hardware
As already mentioned think about new hardware at the same time. This gives you resilience at point of changeover should matters not go to plan. Also you will have somesoftware that will not run on the new system (becauser it is too old). Having the two systems means that these programs can be replaced at leisure. Nothing upsets clients as much as delays .
Ex XP.
I was absolutely happy with XP and found a workaround to keep it updated - (simply because ATMs are XP and need to be serviced.)
But I had to change as my ancillary equipment began to age and fail. So system 7 was chosen, which has been OK.
I hear 8.1 is good too and can be made to look like XP.
8.1
I have 8.1 on a laptop and find it not as useable as XP or 7 even when in 'desktop' mode. XP was great. We never had problems with compatibility of software or hardware. But we have some old devices (scanners) which don't work in Vista/7/8 and some old software which doesn't work in 7 64-bit. We also had a issue that domain profiles that were compatible from 2000 to XP have not been compatible from XP to 7. Why did Microsoft not make them compatible I have no idea. XP was great: easy to use and robust (unlike 95/98 etc). 7 is good, but not as flexible as XP. 8 and 8.1 are not as useable for keyboard devices in business environments.