after xp: windows 7 or windows 8?

After XP: Windows 7 or Windows 8?

Glenn WeadockMCITP, MCSE, MCT, A+

© 2014 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. 04/12/2023

Glenn WeadockMCITP, MCSE, MCT, A+

Instructor for Windows 8, Server 2012, and Active Directory classes

President of Independent Software, Inc., providing IT consulting services for 25 years

Has taught 300+ seminars in the US, Canada, UK, and SE Asia

Author of 18 commercial books and many seminars and videos

In Lakewood, CO (Denver area)


Our Agenda

Introduction and Support Timelines The Controversial Windows 8 The Surprising Windows 7 Next Steps: Choosing a Strategy Decision Points and Considerations for Your

Environment Conclusions


Introduction and Support TimelinesMicrosoft Support Lingo

“Mainstream Support” Free tech support Security updates

“Extended Support” Paid tech support Security updates

“Custom Support” For large customers; costs approximately $200/PC Critical security updates (important ones = extra $)


Introduction and Support TimelinesInternal Windows Version Numbers

Vista: 6.0 Windows 7: 6.1 Windows 8: 6.2

Architecturally, these OSs are not as different as the marketing names might suggest.


Windows XP Support Timeline

2008SP3

4/2009Mainstream

Support Ends

10/2010NLA as

Preinstalled OS

4/2014Extended

Support Ends

End of 2001Retail Availability


Windows 7 Support Timeline

Late 2009Retail Availability

2/2011SP1

10/2014Bundle

Sales End(Ultimate)

1/2015Mainstream

Support Ends

1/2020Extended

Support Ends


Windows 8 Support Timeline

10/2012Retail Availability

10/2013“Windows 8.1”

10/2014Sales End

as SeparateProduct

1/2018Mainstream

Support Ends1/2023

ExtendedSupport Ends


The Controversial Windows 8

One size fits all (maybe) Metro/Modern/Immersive/Start Screen Traditional/Legacy/Desktop

Touch interface oriented toward tablets “Modern” apps (built-in plus Windows Store) Start Screen replaces Start Menu

Charms bar Split personality control panels No option to keep “old” Start menu

Revised search capability


The Controversial Windows 8 (cont.)

Makeovers File Explorer Task Manager

Native USB 3.0 Faster boot times (benefit of tablet focus) “Client” Hyper-V Tools for Managing Server 2012 SkyDrive (now OneDrive)


Windows 8.1: Mid-Course Corrections

Start “button” on Taskbar (not menu though) Start Screen makeover

New tile size options New apps Arrow to reach “All Apps” view Pin “modern” apps to Taskbar (“Update 1”)

Boot to desktop option (automatic in “Update 1”) Better help/tutorials Improvements to modern apps (e.g., mail) More features on modern Control Panel


The Surprising Windows 7

Released late 2009 but still strong five years later Very successful in consumer and professional

markets Far fewer compatibility issues compared to Vista Device driver availability generally excellent No “split personality” issues Licenses available under Software Assurance and

“downgrade” licenses Support deadlines beginning to loom (2015, 2020)


Next Steps: Choosing a Strategy

Stick it out with Windows XP? Transition to Windows 7 and skip Windows 8? Jump to Windows 8 and wait for Windows 9?


Choosing a Strategy: Sticking with XP

Riskiest strategy of the three Custom support? ($$) Network access: eliminate – restrict – isolate Bad guys can study patches for Windows 7/8 and

exploit XP for vulnerabilities in common Keep updating browsers (non-IE) and email clients Consider running as “thin client” Consider pairing this strategy with quick migration

to Windows 9


Choosing a Strategy: Go to 7, Skip 8

Extended support ends Jan 2020 Valid strategy if dual GUI does not appeal or apply Windows 7 is a solid and popular platform Large universe of compatible software/hardware

and USB 3.0 support can be retrofitted via drivers Rumors of Windows 9 (“Threshold”) in 2015 but

your company would have plenty of time to evaluate it

May not give you enough time to wait for Windows 10 though


Choosing a Strategy: Jump to 8, Wait for 9

Version 8.1 (esp. with Update 1) addresses some of Windows 8’s initial usability challenges (and is required for updates after 1/2016)

Mainstream support ends 1/2018, extended support ends 1/2023 (so plenty of time to review Windows 9 if it turns out to be compelling)

If Windows 9 is not compelling, you have three more years than if you choose Windows 7 (so you can probably wait for Windows 10!)


Decision Points and Considerations for Your Environment

1. Multi-GUI or Uni-GUI?

2. Importance of Cloud Computing

3. Hardware and Performance

4. New Apps You Might Need

5. Browser Issues

6. Old Apps You Might Want

7. Antivirus Support

8. Other Security Issues

9. Leveraging Your Server Platform

10. The Learning Curve


1. Multi-GUI or Uni-GUI?

Does your organization use tablets? How about hybrids (all-in-ones)? If so, are there benefits to deploying a single OS? Can you put touch capability to work in useful

ways? (e.g., art departments – Fresh Paint, etc.)


2. Importance of Cloud Computing

Windows 8 has tighter cloud integration Windows 8.1 provides greater synching controls Auto-save to OneDrive can be made default

behavior Do your employees have Microsoft accounts? Are there sharing/security/privacy issues? (MS

makes multiple copies of OneDrive instances)


3. Hardware and Performance

Windows 7 lacks native support of USB 3.0, but drivers make this less problematic

Both Windows 7 and Windows 8 offer good SSD support

File copy performance is comparable between Windows 7 and Windows 8

Windows 8.x boots, shuts down, and wakes faster than Windows 7 (on the order of 20% to 30%)


4. New Apps You Might Need

Immersive apps may suit tablet environment better

Tablets + immersive apps can make good presentation and demo platforms

Windows Store growing (approx. 120K apps) but still lacking in productivity and system tools

Most Windows Store apps are consumer-oriented (music, video, games)


5. Browser Issues

Browser add-ins blocked on the Metro side Internet Explorer (IE) 10+ includes “enhanced

protected mode” w/ important security improvements (ASLR, etc.)

Highest IE version Windows XP supports is 8 (2009)


6. Old Apps You Might Want

Most Vista and Windows 7 apps work on Windows 8/8.1

Resources to exploreWindows Application Compatibility CenterApplication Compatibility Toolkit (ACT)

Client Hyper-V is a robust optionWindows 8 Pro/Enterprise only (64-bit)

Windows 7 supports “Virtual PC”Non-updated WinXP apps may have issues with

UAC


7. Antivirus Support

Antivirus support generally available for all three OSs

Microsoft providing anti-malware updates for XP through July 2015

Includes MSE, System Center, Forefront productsThird-party vendors generally intend to support XP

for two to three years post-end-of-support


8. Other Security Issues

XP doesn’t have User Account ControlXP doesn’t have BitLocker (full volume encryption)Neither XP nor Windows 7 have Secure BootWindows 8 includes various core-hardening

improvements to thwart the bad guys


9. Leveraging Your Server Platform

SMB 2.x (Windows 7) and 3.x (Windows 8) support faster file transfers

XP does not support BranchCache or DirectAccessWindows 8 and Server 2012 (together) support:

Active Directory Based Activation (AD BA) (alternative to KMS)

PowerShell-based domain controller promotion and emotion

Windows 8 required to use Hyper-V admin tools for Server 2012


10. The Learning Curve

Migrations are always challenging, so organizations try to minimize their frequency

Windows 8.1 is less daunting to traditional users that 8.0 was (improved help and tutorials)

Anything is going to be a jump coming from XP!Windows 8.x will require more retraining than

Windows 7, but corporate images can be set up to minimize disruption (e.g., via Group Policy)


Conclusions

Staying with XP will take work, $, time to keep secure Windows 7 remains a viable option but was more

appealing before 8.1 Windows 8.1 (esp. with Upgrade 1) deserves close

look Plan your timing so you can evaluate Windows 9

(expected approx. mid-2015) Avoid two migrations in < five years (pain, $, time) Consider third-party tools to ameliorate drawbacks If you have Windows 7 now, consider waiting for

Windows 9 rather than upgrading to Windows 8


Learn More

Recommended Global Knowledge Courses

Configuring Windows 8.1 Administering and Maintaining

Windows 7 MCSA: Windows 7 Boot Camp for

Desktop Administrators

Request an On-Site Delivery We can tailor our courses to meet

your needs We can deliver them in a private

setting

Visit Our Knowledge Center Assessments Blog Case Studies Demos Lab Topologies Special Reports Twitter Videos Webinars White Papers

Thank You for Attending

For more information contact us at: www.globalknowledge.com | 1-800-COURSES | [email protected]

after xp: windows 7 or windows 8?

Technology

controversial windows

surprising windows

windows xp support timeline

global knowledge training

mainstream support ends

extended support ends

plus windows store

drivers rumors of windows