Still on XP
The question was asked if it was easier for IT staff to stay on XP rather than move to Windows 7. Well, as an IT department director, I can tell you Window 7 still has a way to go to be compatible with legacy information systems and other attached devices. My company is a utility and we use many devices and interconnects such as portable meter readers, check scanners, equipment control interfaces etc. Non of these work with 7 yet, only XP. The manufacturers claim "soon" but it's not there. This plus the extra overhead required by 7 keep the upgrade cycle long and flat. Why buy new hardware to run 7 if all the workstation does is interface with a i5 or an AS400? Same with word processing, spreadsheets, etc. The only areas that have 7 now are in engineering, CAD, and upper levels of Fiscal and Admin. It would be irresponsible of us to blow the public's money on upgrades when not needed. As hardware replacement cycles come due, we order new machines with 7 on board so it will eventually catch up but not until the software and device makers do.
