Australian resellers claim that Microsoft's decision to heavily discount the price of its up-and-coming Windows 7 operating system for students won't impact their sales.
Resellers told CRN that customers in general haven't stopped purchasing hardware in anticipation of the new operating system and appear to be adopting a wait-and-see approach before upgrading.
Meng Koh, co-owner of independent IT retailer PC Market told CRN the discount on the Office package for students was a "really good bargain". But there won't be a hoard of students rushing into his shop to buy the product.
"Students can just pre-order it from Microsoft's online store" he said. "It's a good way to stop piracy and it's not going to impact my business at all."
Koh said his customers haven't stopped buying hardware in anticipation of Windows 7's October release either.
"Customers, including schools, are buying hardware without an operating system - so they can upload Windows 7 later," he said, "I've also had businesses come in and request machines running Vista - they always make sure it can be upgraded to the new OS later on."
Koh said the hype surrounding the Windows 7 is being generated by both users and the vendor.
Chris Protheroe, manager at Conrad and Black IT services said the "hefty price discount" would encourage students to try Windows 7.
He told CRN there is also a fair chance schools would also upgrade to the new OS in the long term.
"I would still expect most organisations to conduct their usual testing phase possibly even waiting for SP1 [service pack 1] prior to a large scale deployment of the new OS," he said.
"That said though, most organisations have delayed upgrades in order to avoid Vista - so this may hasten the uptake of Windows 7 because market sentiment towards [the OS] is much more favourable."
Analyst and research firm Gartner believes 'favourable sentiment' for Windows 7 will drive adoption for the OS very quickly.
In its July report, Emerging Technology Analysis: The Upcoming Windows 7 Client Operating System, Gartner predicted that approximately 6 percent of all new PCs sold worldwide in 2009 will be preloaded and sold with the new OS.
"All PC vendors usually are very eager to switch to the new OS, as soon as it becomes available," stated the report. "At that point, PC models preloaded with the previous OS will be usually reduced in price to clear them quickly."
According to Gartner, in 2010 Windows 7 will become the dominant OS on new PCs and nearly 66 percent of all new PCs by the end of 2010 will be pre-loaded/sold with Windows 7 OS.
Only 18 percent will be sold with Windows Vista Business as midsize and enterprise companies will continue to buy new PCs preloaded with Vista to downgrade them to Windows XP, the analyst group said.
Ben Curnow, IT consultant at Equal IT told CRN the integrator's feelings towards Windows 7 was definitely more positive than Vista.
"[However] there's no compulsive reason for a business to upgrade from XP and there's no longer a need to 'downgrade' machines back to XP (not that this option will likely be available)," he said. "Where there's no urgent requirement, customers (on our advice) are delaying purchases until Windows 7 becomes available.
Ian Grieve, owner of Toowoomba-based reseller Computer Ambulance told CRN there is no "doubt Windows 7 is more reliable and faster than Vista".
However he doesn't believe people, businesses and schools will be racing to change their OS for a while because they will 'wait and see' after the troubles with Vista.
"Even now, we are still selling Windows XP at 8 to 1 against Vista," he said. "We explain the issues [customers] will have later upgrading to Windows 7 when they are ready to do so, but they prefer to stick to the OS that they know."
Computers sold by Computer Ambulance come with a two year labour free warranty, regardless of the problem being hardware, user, or software related, said Grieve.
"If a client moves up to Windows 7 in the next two years we will simply back up their computer, format it and load Windows 7 and drivers, programs etc, recover their backup and send them home happy for whatever the cost of Windows 7 and no added cost for doing the work."
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