Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is once again urging consumers and businesses to upgrade their Windows XP machines without delay, rather than wait for the 2012 arrival of Windows 8. Citing a Gartner brief published last month, Rich Reynolds, Microsoft's general manager for Windows Commercial Marketing, quoted the analysis, saying it would be "dangerous" for organizations still on Windows XP to skip Windows 7 and go directly to Windows 8. 

Gartner noted that enterprises will likely need "nine to 18 months" to test supported applications and plan deployments. This means it is possible that some companies won't be able to transition to Windows 8 before ending support for Windows XP in April 2014. This would leave them vulnerable to malware directed against new security vulnerabilities discovered in Windows XP, which are sure to surface quickly. 

Reynolds echoed Gartner's recommendation: "Organizations running Windows XP and working on Windows 7 migrations: Continue as planned; do not switch to Windows 8."

"Now is the time to accelerate your Windows 7 Enterprise deployments and consider an Office 2010 deployment at the same time," he added.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at Windows Team Blog
- check out this article at CNET News

Related Articles:
SLIDESHOW: Top 8 features to expect from Windows 8 
Microsoft Office's touch-based, Metro-style makeover 
Does Windows 8 mark the post-post-PC era? 
Windows 8 may arrive earlier than expected