The big upgrade

[todpod]

At work all of our PCs are currently running WinXP and Office 2003. We are getting a new client management program that is web based. The state is also have given us several converitable tablets which have been downgraded to XP, from vista when we got them. They state also has given out a couple of copies of Dragon Naturally Speaking to help with the case notes (we are social workers).

Now the tablets have had the tablets setting around because it hasn't set them up so that we can access our current system and printers. and when they have the setup up a vpn to remote into our desktop, which doesn't allow us to access the tablet functions.

Now fast forward i have be kinda named lead to the new system (CAPS by AVANCO) and we need to roll these laptops out so that they are usable. I have seven of these and 2 laptops. We are thinking of upgrading widows to Win8 and making use of the voice recongintion software in it. I am thinking IT is going to have some issues with they upgrades, most of the county still runs XP and IE7 My director is all about the change and will push it through but it would be helpful to have IT working with me. The tablet have been through the Win8 Assistant to see if they are compaitable and for the most part they are. The big exception is office 2003. We do have some money to upgrade this, and may on have to upgrade word, Most of us thats what they use.

So now now the question
How can I play nice with IT when they don't like my upgrade, the smoother it is the better.

Are there viewers for things like excel, power point and access so if people have to look at a file they can view it, if i only upgrade word. Something like libre office may be an option, I think that will cause another fight with IT.

I would like to get the tablet rolled out before the client software upgrade. I am pulling the desktops of the folks getting the tablets so they have to use them, they are all on board with the changes.

The it guys cover not only us but also the rest of the county's it needs so they can be stressed at times.

Our lease on our desktops are up in about a year so we need to decide what we are going replace them with, probably a mixture of desktops and tablets so we have that in the mix as well.

Any thoughts on how to make this easier for everyone?

 

[Snoop]

IMO, if I switched my users from Office 2003/xp to win 8/Ribbon office all at once, their would be a revolt. The loss of productivity would be insane as people fumble around both their office software and their operating system for weeks.

In a business enviro, no chance I would roll out Win 8 without some type of mod to bypass start screen.

 

[n0x1ous]

IMO, if I switched my users from Office 2003/xp to win 8/Ribbon office all at once, their would be a revolt. The loss of productivity would be insane as people fumble around both their office software and their operating system for weeks.

In a business enviro, no chance I would roll out Win 8 without some type of mod to bypass start screen.

same here. one at a time and much better off with win 7 pro/enterprise for business environment.

 

[todpod]

I would like to go to Win8 then upgrade office, but Office 2003 according to Microsoft is not compatible with Win8. We aren't talking hard core office users either, we write letters to parents, excel they same way pretty basic stuff.