Enterprise Information Technology Services Press Release
The University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

Thursday, August 9, 2007

WRITER: Bert DeSimone, 706/338-9849, bert@uga.edu
CONTACT: EITS Help Desk, 706/542-3106, helpdesk@uga.edu

EITS recommendation regarding Windows Vista installation on institutional and office computers

ATHENS, Ga.— As a result of client feedback and internal EITS testing of Windows Vista, EITS recommends that Windows users not upgrade or purchase institutional/office computers with Vista at this time. However, EITS will offer support for the operating system, through the EITS Help Desk, as it is understood that many newly purchased computers come with Windows Vista pre-installed.

Windows Vista is Microsoft's new operating system, replacing Windows XP.

"The main reason for this recommendation," said Mike Dennis, associate CIO for Client Services, Infrastructure and Operations, "is the incompatibility of Windows Vista with a number of UGA enterprise applications."

EITS launched a Web site for Windows Vista at UGA this past spring. It includes general information about Windows Vista, hardware requirements, and a software compatibility section. The Web site can be accessed at:

www.eits.uga.edu/windowsvista

EITS will continue testing Vista while evaluating and monitoring the compatibility issues with the release of Service Pack 1. Microsoft packages updates and fixes to recognized issues and releases them to users as service packs. Microsoft has not announced a release date for Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

About the Office of the CIO and EITS
The Office of the Chief Information Officer and Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS) are committed to the mission of UGA as a land-and-sea-grant institution where academics come first and the research extensive university community encourages research efforts at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To that end, under the direction of the University´s Chief Information Officer, EITS endeavors to provide a robust, reliable, and secure information technology infrastructure, maintain essential production services, and offer world-class support.