Windows 10 to roll out summer 2017

Thursday, 11 May 2017

Preparations are underway to make Windows 10 and Office 2016 the standard platform for desktop computers across the University.

The project aims to improve the University’s software delivery process, and to prepare for the eventual end of life of Windows 7. At present, IT aim to upgrade labs, Library (URS) and teaching spaces to Windows 10 during the summer of 2017. Rollout of Windows 10 to staff devices will be planned from 2018.

Mainstream Microsoft support for Windows 7 ended 2 years ago, with support for Windows 8.1 expected to cease within a year. Extended support for Windows 7 ends at the beginning of 2020, but it will be increasingly difficult to install Windows 7 on new computers as manufacturers will not develop software drivers for new hardware.

Our software delivery process needs to be improved in response to previous issues deploying teaching software to the range of labs where it is needed and also from student requests to make curriculum applications more available generally both on and off-campus, especially on student-owned PCs.

Another objective is for Apps Anywhere to become the default delivery system for curriculum applications with effect from academic year 2017-18. With this system, applications will no longer need to be installed but can be streamed and run on any PC with the ‘Cloudpaging Player’ installed. Already, students can select from 30+ apps and use them in any lab, PC in the library or on their own PCs (when on campus).

For further information please contact Robin Godfrey.