Vista SP1 to drive sales

By Candice Jones for Microsoft

Johannesburg, 16 Jan 2008

Sales of Microsoft Windows Vista are expected to increase in SA, following the release of the first beta service pack (SP1), says the industry.

However, according to Andrew Melvin, Dell software desk manager, this growth may take some time. "About 80% of enterprise clients are still requesting roll-backs to Windows XP Professional."

While South African big business is still sceptical about installing Microsoft Windows Vista across entire networks, small business is happy to take it up, he notes. "The biggest market so far has been in the SME space."

Comztek Microsoft channel manager Mark Musto says he has had a similar response from resellers. "The product is, however, selling quite well."

Musto says Comztek expects this wait-and-see attitude to change with the release of the first beta service pack refresh for Vista, to which Microsoft has opened public access. "It is what most customers have been waiting for before installing the product."

SP1 for Vista can be downloaded from Microsoft's Web site. The release can be installed through Windows update; however, the company provides a list of procedures users must follow to avoid a bad installation. "Customers will have more faith in the product with the SP1 release, and we expect to see more installations," says Musto.

Refreshing technology

Microsoft business group executive for the Windows client Colin Erasmus says SA has reached a peak technology refresh period and "that, as well as SP1, will drive the sales of Vista".

Enterprise business has always taken longer to install new technologies, because of longer adoption cycles, Erasmus explains. "With people looking at new hardware, which is supported by the Vista operating system, we are also expecting better adoption this year."

He says Microsoft has seen the highest take-up of Vista in the consumer space. "Over the last year, more than 90% of computers sold with a Microsoft operating system, was sold with Vista."

A survey conducted by CDW, a US technology products and services provider, shows South African Vista adoption mirrors that of the US. According to its third Windows Vista Tracking Poll, 35% of businesses are in some stage of Vista migration, an increase of 12% from February 2007.

The survey found 13% of implementations are complete, with an additional 33% planned for completion by May 2008. Mark Gambill, CDW VP, says: "Beyond adoption, nearly 50% of those evaluating and implementing Windows Vista, rate its performance against the promise of key features and benefits as above expectations."