Why does everyone always have to have the latest, hey, if XP runs MS Office and that's what you need, then why upgrade Windows or Office for that matter?
Keep what you have, get your money's worth out of it. Maybe when Microsoft's sales target fall way short, maybe, just maybe, they'll build a affordable and actually useful OS for the masses, and OMG, maybe one that's backward compatible for those of us who like our older software! :-)
Take care

Regards: Jack <<<<

"The Windows 7 release will generate renewed interest in hardware upgrades in consumers..." said Charles Smulders, managing vice president at Gartner.

In other words; Just as with Windows Vista, driver support will be severely lacking and you'll have to replace nearly all your peripherals and much of your hardware to get back to having a usable system.

Every report I've ever heard of coming from Gartner has Microsoft approved stamped right on it. They have no credibility. Why report on anything coming from them?

I actually expected the cost estimate to be lower, especially when Windows 7 actually performs better on lower-end hardware than Vista ever did. Something like Cost-of-Win7 + $25 for RAM would do it for many WinXP-era machines to make them usable in a business sense.

Training? Are people honestly that stupid, especially if they already know how to use WinXP? I would imagine it'd cost more time and money to train people on Linux though, even if neither would be a great jump.

I almost think Gartner is more in the hardware-companys' pockets than, for example, Microsoft's.

Why would anyone listen to Gartner? These are the people that have recommended every MS upgrade ever! Previous recommendations include Windows Me and Vista, when will people look at past recommendations and realize that their input is paid for?

$1000-$2000 to move from XP (which most businesses are still running) to Win7? Does that include having to upgrade hardware, and re-train users as well?

Here is an idea: if 2012 is the suggested goal to complete a transition away from XP, then start loading low-cost (or free) Linux today (and running existing XP licenses in free virtual machines to support the programs that currently "must" run on Windows -- just like you will be forced to do with Windows 7, while paying through the nose for the "privilege"). Open-source applications can currently meet most needs of corporate users -- now picture the state of open source applications in 3 more years, allowing the complete, gradual phase-out of the use of Windows.

Now add into this the savings in administration, virus-patching, and so on related to running mostly on secure open-source software. The end result: a competitive advantage to companies that begin to break away from Microsoft lock-in, and adopt cutting-edge open source technology.

(I hope Gartner is enjoying his Microsoft pay cheque.)

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