The Technology Coach: Time to Upgrade Your PC's OS?

The most important consideration before converting to Windows 7 is comparing the hardware requirements of this new operating system versus your company's hardware needs. If you have existing computers that are more than two years old, it will likely be less expensive and time consuming to simply purchase new computers than upgrading the older computers. Purchasing a new computer with Windows 7 already installed is definitely the easiest route compared with installing the operating system on an existing computer. Upgrading existing computers introduces more chances for hardware incompatibilities and errors. In addition, you will need to have a backup solution to ensure you don't lose any data. The amount of memory on your computers is also very important. For example, at least 2 GB of RAM is required to run Windows XP Mode on Windows 7. However, I suspect most advisors will want to have at least 4 GB of RAM, considering the number of programs advisors tend to have running at the same time.

Ultimately, addressing your hardware needs may come down to timing the purchase of new computers. Rick Brooks, VP of Investment Management for the southern California-based advisory firm Blankenship & Foster, says, "it is a budget issue more than anything else." Brooks says his firm will move forward with Windows 7 when it needs to upgrade or replace computers.

If you do decide to purchase new computers, this is also a good time to evaluate whether you should purchase new desktop or laptop computers. For years, desktop computers were the dominate purchase for advisors, but now, with faster processors and smaller hard drives, laptops are becoming more common as the primary business platform. The declining cost of laptops has also influenced this trend.

Devise Your Rollout Strategy

Considering how you will introduce this new operating system is the next critical area to consider before moving your office to Windows 7. It has been said many times that you can have a great strategy, but the implementation of that strategy is what really determines its success. As a starting point, plan on installing Windows 7 on just one or two computers. Also, select a computer that is used by an employee who is comfortable with testing new technology solutions. You don't need a technology expert, but you want that person to notice even the smallest issue with running a program in Windows 7. Run your important programs and look for any potential errors, any functions that don't work, and evaluate the overall performance and speed of the machine with Windows 7. Don't take anything for granted–in some cases problems won't appear until you have multiple programs open. So try to document a test plan to make sure that nothing is overlooked. If you get error messages or notice problems, contact the program vendor to see if an update is available. Rolling out Windows 7 to your staff will require some work and training, so factor in how busy your firm is, and remember that Windows 7 may not be immediately intuitive to everyone on your staff.

Overall, the reports of the initial experience with Windows 7 is very satisfying, and it promises to make your computer time more productive. With the right installation plan in place, you can minimize the number of surprises with Windows 7 and ideally take advantage of new functionality and performance enhancements. The unfortunate part of the process may be the expense of purchasing new computers or upgrading existing computers. But if you find it is time to purchase a new computer, the choice of the operating system is now easy. Windows XP, which has been used by the majority of advisors for years, finally has a worthy successor, and advisors finally have solid reasons to upgrade.