Cost Model: Migration to Windows Vista and Windows 7 - Gartner Research 5/15/2009

• A migration from Windows 2000 or XP to Windows Vista or Windows 7 will be three to four times the cost of upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7 because of application remediation and replacement cost, and because existing PCs will need to be migrated instead of just migrating via PC replacement.
• Our model shows that migration costs would be $1,035 to $1,930 per user to move from Windows 2000 or XP to Windows Vista or Windows 7, and $339 to $510 per user to move from Windows Vista to Windows 7, based on our assumptions.
• Migrating to Windows Vista and then to Windows 7 will incur higher total migration costs than skipping Vista, but Vista users incurred less risk of holding XP too long, and can move to Windows 7 more leisurely.
• The cost to move well-managed environments can be half the cost to move less-managed environments.

• Customize our framework with your assumptions and costs to understand what your migration will cost.
• Use your Windows migration as an opportunity to improve your PC manageability.
• Understand your expected costs, and look for areas where improved processes and tools can lower them.