Computerworld's survey about Windows 7 implementation plans ran online from Jan. 13 to Feb. 10, 2010. Most of the questions and answers appear below. (The main story about Windows 7 implementation plans appears here.)
Research assistance for this survey was provided by Mari Keefe, editorial project manager.
Does your organization plan to adopt Windows 7 at some point?
Yes - 72%
No - 11%
Don't know - 17%
Total respondents: 285
If yes, in what time frame will your organization START the transition to Windows 7?
We are implementing it now - 33%
6 to 12 months - 37%
12 to 18 months - 11%
18 to 24 months - 5%
24 to 36 months - 5%
More than 3 years - 1%
Unsure/don't know - 8%
Total respondents: 205
Over what period of time will your organization COMPLETE the transition to Windows 7?
We are finished now - 6%
Within the next few months - 8%
6 to 12 months - 23%
12 to 18 months - 18%
18 to 24 months - 13%
24 to 36 months - 13%
We will complete in more than three years - 7%
Unsure/don't know - 13%
Total respondents: 205
If you're not planning to move to Windows 7, why not?
[Select all that apply]
Benefits not sufficient to warrant adoption - 59%
Cost - 44%
No business need - 44%
Too time-consuming - 38%
Migrating to another desktop operating system - 19%
Source: Computerworld online survey; 32 respondents
Will you deploy Windows 7... [Select all that apply]
On existing machines - 62%
On new machines as they are refreshed - 82%
Through virtual desktop technologies (VMware VDI, Citrix XenDesktop, XenApp, etc.) - 22%
Total respondents: 205
Virtualization and deployment methods
If you are deploying virtualization with Windows 7, how will you do so? [Select all that apply]
Will upgrade existing virtualized PCs to Windows 7 - 19%
Will move existing PCs to virtualization as part of Windows 7 upgrade - 17%
Will move new PCs to virtualization as part of Windows 7 implementation - 18%
We are not planning on using virtualization with Windows 7 - 60%
Total respondents: 205
Will you run Windows 7 on... [Select all that apply]
Desktop PCs - 93%
Laptops/notebooks - 91%
Virtual PC environments (i.e., Citrix XenApp, XenDesktop, VMware vSphere, etc.) - 33%
Netbooks - 16%
Total respondents: 205
Do you plan on using PC virtualization technology (such as Citrix XenApp, XenDesktop, VMware vSphere, etc.) to facilitate deployment of Windows 7?
Yes, for existing virtualized PCs only - 12%
Yes, will move other PCs to virtualization as part of Windows 7 deployment - 20%
No, won't use any PC virtualization technologies to deploy Windows 7 - 68%
Total respondents: 205
How will your organization phase in Windows 7?
We will follow our usual migration schedule - 53%
We will accelerate adoption for at least some desktops or applications - 19%
We will accelerate adoption of Windows 7 across the enterprise - 11%
Unsure/don't know - 17%
Total respondents: 205
How will you deploy Windows 7? [Select all that apply]
Conventional ISO installation - 39%
DVDs by IT staffers - 34%
Remote network-based deployment using Microsoft System Center - 25%
Unsure/don't know - 17%
Other - 12%
Total respondents: 205
Will your organization wait for the first service pack before deploying Windows 7 in a production environment?
Yes, we will wait - 19%
No, we won't wait - 34%
Expect first service pack to be available by the time we get around to deployment - 26%
Service pack release is not a factor in our deployment plans - 17%
Don't know - 4%
Source: Computerworld online survey; 205 respondents
Which editions of Windows 7 does your organization plan to adopt? [Select all that apply]
Home Premium - 10%
Professional - 81%
Ultimate - 23%
For Netbooks - 8%
Total respondents: 205
What percentage of your organization's Windows desktops will be migrated to Windows 7 in the next three years?
Less than 20% - 5%
20% to 50% - 11%
50% to 75% - 20 %
75% to 100% - 38%
All production desktops - 27%
Total respondents: 205
Features most cared about
What new features in Windows 7 are of the most interest to your organization? [Select all that apply]
More responsive, faster to boot up - 69%
Better device management - 52%
Compatibility with Windows XP - 47%
Enterprise-specific features that work with Windows Server 2008: DirectAccess, BranchCache, BitLocker to Go, Applocker, etc. - 33%
Improved taskbar and full-screen previews - 30%
Easier data recovery/protection - 30%
Streamlined and more user-friendly user account controls - 28%
'Snaps' to compare two screens side-by-side - 25%
One-click access to networks - 25%
More relevant search results - 22%
Jump lists (a more intuitive way of working with files) - 16%
Other - 9%
Total respondents: 205
Why is your organization planning to upgrade?
[Select all that apply]
Skipped Vista, Windows XP is getting old - 64%
Need to keep current - 45%
We paid for it as part of our enterprise license agreement; might as well upgrade - 24%
Need to improve security - 22%
We're also adopting other new desktop or server software and might as well get it all done at once - 12%
Source: Computerworld online survey; 205 respondents
Internet Explorer 8 is included in the Win 7 image. Is that a deal-breaker for your organization?
Yes - 10%
No - 78%
Unsure/don't know - 12%
Total respondents: 205
If the inclusion of IE8 in the Win 7 image is a deal-breaker for your organization, why is that?
We have custom applications that will not run properly in IE8 - 57%
We have not finished testing IE8 - 19%
Our intranet requires an older version of IE - 14%
Other - 10%
Total respondents: 21
What types of desktops/machines will your organization run Windows 7 on? [Select all that apply]
New desktop PCs or laptops bought specifically for this upgrade - 73%
PCs purchased within the last year - 61%
PCs between 1 and 2 years old - 47%
PCs between 2 and 3 years old - 24%
PCs more than 3 years old - 11%
Total respondents: 205
Respondents' demographics
What is your primary job title?
Systems administrator - 29%
Director of IT/IS - 20%
IT staff - 11%
CIO - 10%
IT manager - 7%
Vice president of IT/IS (VP/sr. VP/EVP) - 5%
CTO/chief technology officer - 5%
Other - 5%
Total respondents: 238 (not all answers reflected above)
How many people do you estimate are employed in your entire organization, including all branches, divisions and subsidiaries?
Over 40,000 - 8%
30,001 - 40,000 - 1%
20,001 - 30,000 - 2%
10,001 - 20,000 - 4%
5,001 - 10,000 - 6%
1,001 - 5,000 - 16%
501 - 1,000 - 9%
100 - 500 - 21%
Fewer than 100 - 33%
Total respondents: 238
Which of the following best describes your organization's primary business or industry?
Education - 14%
Computer services (ISP/ASP/MSP/BSP/ESP/Web hosting) - 10%
Health/medical services - 8%
Manufacturing (non-computer industry) - 7%
State/local government (including law enforcement) - 6%
Finance/banking/accounting - 4%
Nonprofit - 4%
Wholesale/retail trade - 4%
Total respondents: 238 (not all answers reflected above)
Which version of Windows is currently running in your IT operation?
[Select all that apply]
Windows XP - 93%
Windows Vista - 35%
Windows 2000 - 15%
Windows 98 - 3%
Windows 95 - 2%
Source: Computerworld online survey; 205 respondents
Which Windows versions are in use
What percentage of your organization's desktops run Windows?
None - 0.5 %
1% to 10% - 3%
11% to 25% - 1%
26% to 50% - 3%
51% to 75% - 5%
76% to 100% - 87%
Total respondents: 205
If the bulk of your existing PCs are running Windows XP, when will you upgrade them to Windows 7 or replace them with Windows 7 PCs?
Before the end of 2011 - 40%
Before the end of 2012 - 20.5%
Before the end of all XP support, in April 2014 - 39.5%
Total respondents: 205
This story, "Windows 7 adoption plans: Computerworld survey results" was originally published by Computerworld.