Windows 8 Your Plans

[russdev]

Hi

 

Just out interest wondering what peoples time frames and plans are over deploying Windows 8?

 

Russ

[Steve21]

Think it's most likely going to be the age old, "when there's a reason". When there's software we need that's metro only, or something that's just majorly broken in Win7, but doesn't seem any real reason for schools yet.

 

Steve

[Oaktech]

we are still thoroughly going ahead with our plan of scrapping all desktops not capable of running win7 by summer 2013, replacing as we go with minimum i3/4gb probably from stone. At the same time we will be virtualising our current RM network onto 2 of our current 4 servers and using the spare physical hosts to create a 2008r2 virtualised environment in the background. During the easter of 2014 we will be doing final tests of the build system prior to rebuilding all 800 workstations onto the new background domain. Summer 2014 will see all hands to pump and a double quick build of the workstations, transfer of data and user details and then frantic fixing of all the stuff that doesn't work.

[localzuk]

Unlikely to happen at the school I'm in now, or the one I'm moving to at the end of the month. They've both only just moved to Windows 7.

 

So, its more likely that Windows 9 or so will be on the books instead.

[CyberNerd]

Does anyone know what Capita have planned for SIMS support on Win8 ?

[Theblacksheep]

Probably not for teachers any time soon, but I can see us doing it for the curricular PCs sooner rather than later.

 

I think its gonna be great for the kids and metro will allow us to create some nice simple apps for the school simply.

[flyinghaggis]

It's difficult to say for sure until we see the final release but I can't see us moving to Windows 8 to be honest. We're contemplating trying out tablet computers (android, IOS, Windows 8[x86/RT]) so we might end up deploying it on a small scale for portable devices. Even if that works out though we'll likely still hold on until the next version (or at the very least SP1) until we deploy it to desktop computers.

[sonofsanta]

Given how the majority of staff react to change, and how very different Win8 looks - not very likely, ever. Particularly as we've just gone Win7, I'll want to run that for at least 3 - 4 years, and given the current release tempo of Win OSes Win9 should be around by the time I'm wanting to upgrade.

 

Interfaces are very much in flux at the moment as well, but by Win9 they should have settled down (probably with something gesture like the Leap) and there'll be less risk of betting on a losing horse, as I suspect MS is with touch.

[pcstru]

Never say never (so vote other) but Windows 8 is a major change and that costs money. So without a compelling reason to change, I can't see why we would transition our current desktop and laptop devices through windows 7 to windows 8 (upgrades). However, I'm sure we will have new tablets where there is a compelling reason to run windows 8 so it will filter into the domain that way. I suspect Win8 will be a bit vista like in it's adoption.

[glennda]

Does anyone know what Capita have planned for SIMS support on Win8 ?

 

That's probably something @PhilNeal can answer?

 

With regards to Windows 8. In the enviroment I am in now (no educational support for SMB's). I don't think Windows 8 is going to be something we push to clients. Tablets possibly but not at the desktop level.

[sted]

i might try it on a few touchscreens but no big plans

[Roberto]

We'll investigate its use specifically in tablets or other environments where touch might be beneficial but as of yet we have no plans for a site-wide deployment.

[rich_tech]

I dont know how Gareth feels that I work with, but this OS to me seems another vista/ME in the making, M$ are going like Star Trek films, every other one is good it seems

 

Windows 8 just doesnt get me excited about using it from what I have seen so far, seems designed for the tablet/touch device market to me more than home/desktop user.

[achedgy]

With most of my schools being mixed XP and Windows 7, still moving towards consolidation of Windows 7! Lack of funds will slow things down further. Until Windows 8 has been out for sometime, we'll still choose Win7 over it. Expect they'll sell Windows 8 pc's with a Windows 7 downgrade, like they did with Vista.

[CAM]

I dont know how Gareth feels that I work with, but this OS to me seems another vista/ME in the making, M$ are going like Star Trek films, every other one is good it seems

 

With all those multi-coloured boxes coupled with an obsession with touch screens, they should have renamed Metro to LCARS.

[Michael]

You should have included Windows 8 SP1 in the poll options. If I were to deploy it in a live environment of course

[Chris_]

I plan to carry on using Windows 7 on desktops and laptops but preparing the network to be ready for Windows 8 on tablets/touchscreen computers.

[tmcd35]

There are several ways to answer this question, but they all result in "never" (or, at least not so long as I remain NM here).

 

Firstly there is the whole Metro is unusable on a desktop issue, no we are not going to buy 500 touchscreens just to make the desktops usable.

 

Then, there is the general upgrade cycle. We've only just jumped from XP to 7, skipping Vista. XP support has only just ended. Win9 will be out before M$ stop supporting Win7. So logically Win9 would be the next jump.

 

But, IT is changing and I'm predicting greater use of tablets before Win9 comes along. This is going to lead to a re-evaluation of the desktop. Do we still need desktops at all? And if we do would Linux meet our needs (and provide a decent UI)?

 

On the tablet front, the breadth of apps on iOS means that it's running away with the prize at the moment. It's very likely we'd be deploying iOS tablets in the near future. A lot needs to happen to make Win8, and thus Win9, a compelling tablet platform. I don't think it will happen, and I think the market will remain split between Android and iOS, if Android can attract some better apps then we may switch to that in due course.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if Win7 is the last large scale roll out of a M$ OS we do.

[joe90bass]

Voted other. we're not looking to deploy to the desktop, just finishing a Win 7 Ent rollout. But we have just bought three Win 7 tablets we're looking to upgrade to 8.

[Tallwood_6]

We will likely see some win8 tablets and potentially some laptops but I can't see a desktop roll out myself unless the new metro apps take off and offer something special that the teachers could use.

[kernewek-sam]

Unlikely to happen at the school I'm in now, or the one I'm moving to at the end of the month. They've both only just moved to Windows 7.

 

So, its more likely that Windows 9 or so will be on the books instead.

 

That's pretty much our situation. I don't think there are any plans at the moment.

[Arthur]

there'll be less risk of betting on a losing horse, as I suspect MS is with touch.

Microsoft aren't betting the entire house on touch screens and tablets with Windows 8, since you can still use your mouse, keyboard and - with a compatible laptop - your touchpad (just like on an Apple Mac).

 

By working closely with our touchpad component vendors, we have incorporated native support in firmware to deliver incredibly fast gesture recognition that makes interacting with Windows a breeze. The touch gestures that will be natively supported are described in these two tables:

 

http://i.imgur.com/yo9cw.png

[sted]

Microsoft aren't betting the entire house on touch screens and tablets with Windows 8, since you can still use your mouse, keyboard and - with a compatible laptop - your touchpad (just like on an Apple Mac).

 

no but keyboard/mouse interface has been compromised for touch interface rather than an equal addition (try bringing up charms bar on a non full screen vm its a pita). im also not sure what the deal with "info rich" tiles is yes i want my email/facebook etc on a tile everyone can see and whats the deal with every os's insistence on weather data on home screen waste of data lol

[tmcd35]

Microsoft aren't betting the entire house on touch screens and tablets with Windows 8, since you can still use your mouse, keyboard and - with a compatible laptop - your touchpad (just like on an Apple Mac).

 

Mmmm, I can just hear what a teachers response would be if I gave them that chart and said "here, you'll need this to use you computer now we've 'Upgraded' it".

 

The first question (from those who don't ignore/file the chart) would be "how do that with a mouse?", "er, you don't", "but I dont like using that pad thingie", "you can still use your mouse, see like this", "god that'll take forever, I really have to scroll through all those screens every time I want to run space invaders", "er, this is a work laptop - you shouldn't be playing space invaders. Other whys yes, enjoy!"

[plexer]

Currently deploying 7 Ent to the majority of machines this summer with staff laptops after they come back in Sept.

 

Can't see us doing 8 any time soon I installed Multipoint 2012 and didn't like it, may have a look at the desktop deployment at some point as a test.

 

Ben