Big organizations are kicking the tires on Microsoft's new Vista operating system - but aren't rushing to use the new system until they know it works with all their software.

They also want to make sure all the kinks get worked out beforehand.

"We're looking to see how it works out for others," said Brian McCormick, PC specialist for the city of Greeley, which operates about 600 personal computers. "Next year we'll look at it much more seriously for our new machines."

Small outfits seem more willing to take the plunge.

Larry Nelson, president of w3w3 Media Network, is among them. Nelson's business, which operates an Internet radio Web site, plans to upgrade some of its five PCs to Vista and buy new ones loaded with the operating system.

Why?

Nelson wants to overhaul the w3w3 Media Network Web site. He'll use a Microsoft software dubbed Expression to do the redesign.

"Vista and Expression work well together," Nelson said.

The big-vs.-small outlook surfaced at a Microsoft-sponsored conference in Denver on Thursday. The software giant was showing businesses, government and education types the ins and outs of Vista as well as some new software.

"It's really to educate our customers," explained Michael Clark, a Microsoft general manager here.

Microsoft rolled out Vista to businesses in November and to consumers at the end of January.

Experts said there was no need to rush out and buy the product. Tech gurus at big organizations such as Colorado State University, the University of Colorado and Denver Public Schools are heeding the advice.

"We're not jumping right in," said Tony Dorado, a software expert for DPS.

He said the school system first wants to ensure that Vista is compatible with the software it uses to handle such areas as payroll and purchasing.

Ditto for CU.

Larry MacNeill, an information technology professional at the University of Colorado at Denver and the Health Sciences Center, said "many things will break" if the university were to upgrade immediately or buy new PCs loaded with Vista.

That's because certain software applications aren't ready for Vista. Besides, an upgrade would require more money.

But James Trombley, head of his own architectural firm - Architectural/Environmental Services - said Vista will help him run sophisticated architectural software.

So he plans to buy the new operating system, but he won't buy a new computer loaded with it.

"I'll build something," he said.

Microsoft

MSFT: Nasdaq

$29.46

+6 cents

fillionr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2467

Back to Top