Change – it really is everywhere
Technology changes everyday, much like people (even if they dislike change). Sure there are routines that everyone has, get up –> brush teeth –> breakfast –> work –> home –> etc, but there are things that cause people to change and see change all the time.
My wife and I took a crack at the Flat Belly Diet (and are still on again off again in process). The first four days, which are to be the hardest as they allow the fewest calories per day and the least amount of wiggle room per participant, are pretty brutal. The intent being to reduce bloating and such (similar to the reason some Linux and other open sourcers don’t like Windows – bloat).
The diet will continue, although I have gone slightly off the wagon and had subway for lunch, and I am sure once we use the recipes included, it won’t be so bad.
My point in going into this detail about the diet that seems to be from hell is that I had to be willing to try it to know if it was good or bad. Same thing is true of new opportunities, no matter where they appear.
When Microsoft pushes Windows 7 to general availability there will be companies small and large waiting near the shelf to get their hands on it. Some are after it already using MVLS and adoption is beginning already. Users may want to change or be proponents of change when sitting in a meeting discussing possibilities, but when the time comes to move them to Windows 7 the song may not remain the same.
How will they know if they like Windows 7 or not unless they try it? They won’t, but mass upgrade over the weekend and first use on a Monday is not quite what I had in mind.
My advice to all those out there looking to jump ship from XP (or Vista) to Windows 7 would be pilot groups. For example, I have an old laptop that we use for meetings and presentations that needs to be flattened and just retuned. I was considering going with XP and being up and running today, but decided I would put Windows 7 business on it and use it as the beginning demo. This way some of the users of the computer might inquire about it and volunteer to pilot.
I am not going to hold my breath about volunteers as that is tough to get, but the hope exists that maybe being in the early adopter camp will help with change in other areas in my company.
How is your organization planning to deal with the change coming when upgrading to Windows 7?
