CIOs cautious over Windows Server 2008

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer launched Windows Server 2008 this week, calling it the most significant Windows Server release since the first version.

Half of silicon.com's 12-strong CIO Jury IT user panel said they plan to move to Windows Server 2008 at their next refresh or upgrade cycle.

Some early adopter customers include General Motors, Newham Borough Council and Tube Lines.

Gavin Whatrup, group IT director at marketing and advertising agency Creston, said his organization will make selective upgrades.

He said: "Of most interest are new features around improving resilience and failover and clustering in more environments. Also, the coincidence of the release of Windows Server 2008 to the release of 2007 Exchange, and their common architecture and administration, is important to our decision."

Chris Robinson, European IT partner at property consultancy Davis Langdon, said his firm plans to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 sometime in the next 12 months.

Others are more cautious. Paul Hibberd, head of Wintel services for investment bank Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International, said: "As with all major upgrades this will need to be heavily researched and tested and is not included in the plans for the next 12 months. Current focus is on making more efficient use of CPUs by the use of virtualization using VM and Windows 2003 across the majority of the Wintel estate."

Alastair Behenna, CIO at recruitment company Harvey Nash, called it an "interesting release" but said the jury is still out, while Mike Roberts, IT director at private Harley Street doctors The London Clinic, said his organization will wait until service pack two.

Today's CIO Jury was…

Bill Ashworth, IT director, Countrywide Surveyors
Alastair Behenna, CIO, Harvey Nash
Chris Clements, IS director, RM
Steve Gediking, head of IT & facilities, Independent Police Complaints Commission
Neil Harvey, head of IT, Food Standards Agency
Paul Hibberd, head of Wintel services, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International
Rory O'Boyle, head of IT, The Football Association
Jacques Rene, CTO, Ascend
Mike Roberts, IT director, The London Clinic
Chris Robinson, European IT partner, Davis Langdon
Richard Storey, head of IT, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust
Gavin Whatrup, group IT director, Creston