How are you pushing upgrading to windows 10?

[Mipthat]

Just curious how everyone is pushing to get their customers to upgrade to 10. I find that sometimes the "windows 7 will not be updated and be more vulnerable to security vulnerabilities, viruses, etc etc" isn't enough to make people want to change. Thanks!

 

[Porthos]

To be honest, For the last 4 yrs, If someone wants to keep Win 7, someone else can service them. Remember I am home user base only.
I would hate to have the challenge of dealing with stubborn/cheap business users.

 

[Sky-Knight]

The time to push this was four years ago, now it's put up or shut up. If a client walks in the door refusing to give up the out of date platform, it's simply time to show them the door. If there's a business involved, and they have a real need... well there are options there too, and they aren't cheap, so sell them. But home users? Upgrade or GTFO is the only thing I've got.

 

[Mipthat]

Very true. Yea, I mainly mean home users. I agree though. Either do it or deal. Thanks for the replies

 

[timeshifter]

I'm so busy with the users that Microsoft has scared my way I don't need to convince anyone.

 

[Mipthat]

I'm so busy with the users that Microsoft has scared my way I don't need to convince anyone.

Nice. Wish we had that problem lol

 

[britechguy]

I'm now starting to see the pre-end-of-life last minute folks, and fully expect that I'll be seeing more of the post-end-of-life folks over the coming year. Once Microsoft stops supporting Windows 7 so will a very great number of third-party software makers, at least over time, and that's going to force the move to Windows 10.

I really cannot fathom the resistance to upgrade Windows, and I've seen this scenario play out for every major Windows version change since Windows appeared on the scene. I can get why there is a resistance to move when a new version is still in its "bleeding edge" stage. That only makes sense. I can also see why certain versions, e.g., Windows ME and Windows 8/8.1, did not catch on and were not accepted since more popular and familiar and stable versions were still being supported. But after any operating system goes out of active support, it's dead, pure and simple when it comes to using it for any sort of "daily driver" computer. And any business that's large enough to have an IT department, even a small one, should be planning the transition long before EOL for whatever they're currently running.

There also seems to be a complete lack of understanding that there are distinct advantages to "upgrading with the herd." When large numbers of people are having the same issues and those issues are new, information is readily available and there's a lot more of an attitude that we're all in this new world together and let's try to figure it out. Over time, as what's new becomes established, that attitude largely fades, and late adopters do not have the sort of "kind reception" to their questions nor quick answers for stuff that many settled several years ago and that now resides in the cobwebbed areas of memory.

I see no point in pushing, as no good comes of it when a client is resistant. Choices have consequences, and I'll be around to clean up the mess once the worst of those consequences start happening. All I can do is offer my best advice and it's up to the client to take it or leave it.

 

[Sky-Knight]

It all boils down to fear of the unknown. Most of my users that resisted moving off 7, were still using Windows 7 like Windows XP. And when they were on XP they used it like 98.

Windows 10 cannot be used like XP, so you have to learn where things are. In many ways it's just as easy to switch to OSX. And I've had a few jump to Mac in this transition because they mentally could justify the pain of learning an entirely new system more easily that way. I've had far more trust me, let me do the Windows 10 upgrade, and then I get to show them how the interface is more human. Indeed, the less you know about computers the more easily Windows 10's UI works for you. It's the power users that demand everything be right where they want it that I can't sort out. Those people have processes in their heads they refuse to change, that's the bit I don't get. This new process is easier to remember, fewer clicks, and completes in less time but you want the old one to work?!? Why?!?

And if all this isn't enough, all the fear mongering over telemetry isn't helping. Which is sad because it is a serious issue, but people just don't have the brain space for it, and the older they get the less they have.

So I just try to be as honest as I can, and be available to clean up the mess. I get paid more when clients make bad decisions. And the funny part is I TELL THEM THAT. Which is the part about all this that makes me scratch my head. Why would someone willingly spend more money on their own stupidity? But... they do...

 

[britechguy]

And if all this isn't enough, all the fear mongering over telemetry isn't helping. Which is sad because it is a serious issue, but people just don't have the brain space for it, and the older they get the less they have.

Oh, dear, don't even get me started on this topic.

It amazes me that people don't get that system health telemetry, in one form or another, has been being introduced into virtually any OS you can name for a long time now. Some OSes give a lot tighter control than others, but Windows gives you decent control, too.

Many of the "bad update" disasters that used to occur because something was pushed out to virtually the entire world, and then there had to be enough calls in to tech support to trigger a needed response, just do not occur anymore under Windows As A Service using telemetry to monitor whether a given update is causing unanticipated issues once it hits the streets.

There are untold millions of computers running Windows 10, and successfully, that were never certified to do so nor built during the era that this OS was written. It is a testament to just how good Windows 10 is that this has occurred. But because of that there is no way that Microsoft could ever have an in-house testing setup, or even one with the Insiders program, that could ever encompass all of the hardware that is actually running Windows 10. Being able to monitor what's actually occurring with the operating system in the field, and being able to stop the roll out of updates in their tracks when necessary, is an absolute boon that cannot be accomplished without telemetry.

 

[Sky-Knight]

@britechguy, exactly. Windows 10 is the best operating system Microsoft has ever produced, and that is due in no small part to telemetry. Yet, that same telemetry does have very real privacy concerns, and the systems involved aren't structured in any sort of way to build trust.

So here we are...

 

[coffee]

I just look at them "Like, Really???" Then I tell them not to buy a new printer or other device for the computer. You'll end up probably returning it unless its old stock. No drivers.

 

[Markverhyden]

The world is full of foot draggers and always will be. But when the fear of failure, as in business failing, out weighs expense concerns they'll get moving. One technique to get them moving is if they are in an industry that has certain legal requirements. Like HIPAA, PCI, etc. I tell them that if a problem occurs and they try to make a claim on their insurance for coverage their IT infrastructure will almost certainly get audited. And if they find unsupported things, like W7, the claim might be reduced or even denied.

Of course consumers could care less about that.

 

[Mipthat]

Thanks for all the replies! It's nice to get everyone's point of view.

 

[lcoughey]

I finally bit the bullet and upgraded the last of my windows 7 systems to windows 10 today. Started as an upgrade, ended up with a fresh install.