60% of firms plan to snub new Windows

SAN FRANCISCO: Six in 10 companies in a survey plan to skip the purchase of Microsoft Corp's Windows 7 computer operating system, many of them to pinch pennies and others over concern about compatibility with existing applications.

Windows 7 will be released on Oct 22, but has already got good reviews, in contrast to its disappointing current version, Windows Vista. Many of the more than 1,000 firms that responded to a survey by ScriptLogic Corp say they have economized by cutting back on software updates and lack the resources to deploy Microsoft's latest offering.

ScriptLogic Corp, which provides help to companies in managing their Microsoft Windows-based networks, sent out 20,000 surveys to information technology administrators to learn the state of the market.