Innovative Technology Committee Evaluating Windows 7 and Apple OS 1.6 “Snow Leopard”

Information Technology, the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL) and other academic representatives have assembled technical staff and trainers to test and evaluate new software in a controlled environment prior to campus wide deployment. This assembly is referred to as the Innovative Technology Committee. Two software programs that they are currently evaluating are Windows 7 and Apple OS 1.6 “Snow Leopard”. The evaluation of both of these software are in Phase 2 – Detailed Testing and Compatibility. There are four phases that encompass the evaluation process; Phase 1 – Technical Overview and Research, Phase 2 – Detailed Testing and Compatibility, Phase 3 - Early Adopters (pilot group that uses the software in everyday business), Phase 4 – Campus Deployment. The initial testing of Windows 7 indicates improvements from Windows Vista. The committee will continue to test and identify any problems with the operating system. ITC will move to Phase 3 after Windows 7 has been officially released from Microsoft. As far as “Snow Leopard is concerned, ITC is testing to verify that there are no compatibility issues within our Apple enterprise environment. At this time, Bear Logic will not sell upgrades to UNC Faculty and Staff until the committee has completed Phase 2 testing and is prepared to fully support the upgrade. If you are interested in becoming an Early Adopter of Apple OS 10.6 please contact the Technical Support Center at 351-4357. To follow the evaluations of these software through the phases, please visit www.unco.edu/it/aboutus/innotech; also there, are more detailed explanations of what each phase entails.