Grab Windows training opportunities; check CERN Windows roadmap!

CERN Operating Systems and Information Services group (IT-OIS) actively monitors market trends to check how new software products correspond to CERN needs. In the Windows world, Windows 7 has been a big hit, with over 1500 Windows 7 PCs within less than a year since its support was introduced at CERN. No wonder: Windows XP is nearly 10 years old and is steadily approaching the end of its life-cycle. At CERN, support for Windows XP will stop at the end of December 2012.

Compared to Vista, Windows 7 has the same basic hardware requirements, but offers higher performance, so the decision to upgrade is rather straightforward. CERN support for Vista will end in June 2011.

In the world of Microsoft Office, version 2007 offers better integration with the central services than the older version 2003. Progressive upgrade from 2003 to 2007 is planned to finish in September 2011, but users are encouraged to pro-actively upgrade at their convenience. Please note that Office 2007 brings an important change in the area of user interface, which is now based on “ribbon” toolbars rather than menus. At least 1GB of RAM is recommended. Microsoft Office 2010, currently available as a choice on Windows 7, keeps the same new user interface paradigm and the same hardware requirements, but adds new functionality, like the conversation-organised mail view in Outlook 2010.

In an effort to make software upgrades easier for the users, IT-OIS group and CERN Technical Training team are organizing a series of IT Technical Training Tutorials. Attendance if free, but registration via EDH is recommended to facilitate organisation. The first two sessions (in English) are scheduled for April 4th.

If you have questions or require assistance with software upgrades, you are welcome to contact CERN Service Desk. We will be happy to talk to you!

More information:

Michal Kwiatek (IT-OIS), Pawel Grzywaczewski (IT-OIS)
 

by IT Department