Analysts are predicting a victory for Microsoft and its Windows 7 operating system, IT Business Edge editor Ann All writes in a recent post, for a number of reasons.

1. Signs of an economic recovery may increase companies' willingness to open their checkbooks for IT upgrades.
2. A strong need exists for such upgrades after years of delaying major purchases.
3. The end of support looms for the popular Windows XP.
4. Word-of-mouth is positive that Windows 7 won't be another Vista.

In a recent Forrester survey, at least 65 percent of companies are planning a move to Windows 7, though some of them don't yet have a specific time frame in mind. A lot of these companies probably notice the many enhancements and new features of Windows 7 that can help the enterprise, as Frank Olhorst writes at CTOEdge.

The one thing that could halt the mass migration to Windows 7 is cost. According to Gartner, companies can expect to pay up to $1,930 per user to move from Windows XP to Windows 7. The cost is considerably less, $339 to $510 per seat, for those moving from Vista to Windows 7, but that's only a tiny sliver of companies.

What is your company's plan for Windows 7?

Take a look at this Windows 7 Features Checklist in the Knowledge Network to see what features are available and how those could be of benefit to your business. There's a Windows 7 Pocket Guide Excerpt in there as well.