Certain computers in select computer labs may be getting an upgrade as early as next quarter, as several Academic Technology and User Services staff members test Windows 7 for campuswide use.

Windows 7, Microsoft’s newest operating system, hit the shelves in October, and help desk coordinator Rick Nichols said testing of Windows 7 has been going on since the summer.

“The tests we’ve been running are to ensure compatibility between all the other software we use in the labs,” Nichols said.

Nichols said upgrading the University’s computers is difficult, and Windows 7 needs to work with all existing software, such as the school’s servers and desktop software.

Several other ATUS staff are testing Windows 7 in different applications, such as faculty and administrative environments, and Nichols said the only problem has been with using a mix of Novell and Microsoft servers.

“We are currently changing the servers over to Microsoft’s latest ones, so once that happens it should be clear sailing,” he said.

Western has 22 computer labs, so hundreds of computers across campus would get this upgrade, with no extra student cost.

Western has a campus agreement with Microsoft, meaning they can put whatever Microsoft software they want on an unlimited amount of computers for a fixed, annual cost of $75,000.

According to Nichols, the only cost would be replacing some six-year-old computers in certain labs, but he said that cost is already covered under the student technology fee.

“The Student Technology Fee pays for almost all computer upgrades done on campus,” Nichols said. “After the next round of upgrades goes through this summer, the whole campus will have computers fast enough to run Windows 7.”

Barring any other issues, Nichols said labeled machines running Windows 7 will be found in computer labs next quarter, with the full-campus switchover happening sometime in the 2010-2011 school year.

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