jeudi 24 octobre 2013

Is application virtualization the answer for XP users?

Microsoft has announced that you support for Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 will end on April 08, 2014. This has been a long time.

Microsoft has urged its customers to upgrade as soon as possible. It is not the first time that Microsoft has issued terrible statements in the hope of getting customers to buy an update. The aim of the update has changed over time from Windows Vista to Windows 7 to Windows 8 for Windows 8.1.

Customers, happy with what Windows XP and its supported software have chosen in large numbers to stay where they are. If it's not broken, they say, don't fix it.

However, it seems that Microsoft is not going to get this time through the expansion of Windows XP and Office 2003 support.

Suppliers of application virtualization technology, such as AppZero, Citrix, Moka5, spoon, VMware, and Microsoft even for a long time have been talking about the day that Windows XP would die and suggesting that its application virtualization products could make the transition easier. To a company, they suggest that Windows XP applications can be easily and seamlessly transferred to a new operating environment without requiring changes to applications.

As with all technology, the reality is that virtualization of applications address some, but not all, of the issues customers will be in the process of removing an operating system has been used for a long time.

As pointed out in my book of o ' Reilly Media, a manager's Guide, application virtualization can be "encapsulated" that can run in an artificial environment that makes it possible for applications written for a version of the operating system, Windows XP, happily run on another version of the operating system, say Windows 7, 8 or 8.1.

Application virtualization technology surrounds the application intercepts all calls to external resources and those applications transforms into something acceptable for the new operating system of the host. Thus, the application can continue to operate without change in the new environment.

In a Word, no. Application virtualization can make it possible for a further application to run on a newer operating system. Technology does not have the capacity to address compatibility issues. Here are some situations that are not helped by the addition of application virtualization:

Application provider license software or terms and conditions prohibit the use of the application virtualization. While technology can operate, customers would not be able to get support in this environment. The application provider does not support the old application in the new operating system. If the supplier's application still exists, may require a version of software designed for and tested with the new operating system. The application may require a device specific or set of devices that are not compatible with the new operating system. A graphics application could be linked to a specific printer or graphics adapter and devices do not have drivers for the new operating system. User interface will still look like did it under the operating system older and that they can look weird in the new environment, or they do not work well. Customers will still have to know how the new operating system. Gestures, commands and keystrokes that invokes functions in Windows XP may or may not be compatible at all or they may invoke unintended functions. Users will need to be trained in operating system, although they may still appear application-specific work.

While application virtualization can be a wonderful solution and simplify the transition to a new operating system, it is not a panacea. There are times that it would be prudent to start with tools and applications designed for the new operating system. You may also consider moving from Windows XP to a different operating system completely.

Mac OS and Linux could be a solution better for some than Windows 7, 8 or 8.1.

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