CORVALLIS, Ore. -
Third-party service providers are stepping back until credit union clients show some interest in the Windows operating system (OS). Meanwhile, CUs don't want to upset the apple cart with the costs and instability of a new OS.
"A number of our client CIO and IT managers are taking a wait-and-see approach to embracing this new operating system," said Harvey Thoennes, senior vice president-architecture, Summit Information Systems.
"Although many are enamored by the graphics and the new look of the user interface, most have yet to ascertain whether the security and network improvements available in MS Vista are worth undertaking an enterprise-wide, desktop operating system change in the short-term," Thoennes continued.
The view on Vista from Randy Karnes, CEO of CU*Answers, a Kentwood, Mich.-based CUSO, is a bit more black and white: Vista is just a "normal Microsoft marketing play," he said.
But Vista is more than just marketing, according to David Turner, CIO for IntegraSys, Plano, Texas. "Microsoft Vista offers enhanced security and usability, so there is an incentive to upgrade," Turner said. Turner was quick to add that CUs may want to wait to turn to Vista until after the first service pack is released.
Harland Financial Solutions is "impressed by the new functionality, user friendliness and security capabilities" of Vista, according to Scott Hansen, senior vice president-strategic marketing and business development.
Whereas vendors aren't seeing a huge initial demand for Vista, they are working in test environments to support the new operating system, both for their clients' systems and their own internal environments.
"Based on the level of interest and feedback from clients, Summit is testing our applications and solutions to ensure compatibility for those clients introducing new workstations pre-installed with MS Vista," said Thoennes.
Summit has not yet announced when Vista support will be available to clients, he said. "One known issue preventing general deployment is the lack of a VPN client," added Thoennes.
Integrasys will offer Vista certification for many of its product groups in the third quarter, said Turner.
