The Microsoft Windows operating system runs currently on an estimated 854 million desktops worldwide. This is the Redmond Company's target for a massive adoption of Windows Vista. Market analyst IDC has forecasted that Microsoft will ship in excess of 90 million units of Windows Vista in 2007.

"After a long wait, the adoption of Windows Vista will take place almost immediately among consumers, while businesses will follow a decidedly more conservative adoption curve," said Al Gillen, research vice president, System Software at IDC. "Across the product mix, IDC expects to see a healthy movement toward Windows Vista Home Premium, while Windows Vista Ultimate will remain a niche product for some time to come."

According to data from IDC, Windows Vista Home products will total 90% of the volume of Windows client operating environments installed by home users. Due to hardware-related limitations, the deployment rate of Vista Business and Enterprise in the corporate ecosystem is predicted to grow only as high as 35% of the business deployments of Windows operating systems. IDC's figures revealing the adoption rate of Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Enterprise are limited to the 2007 calendar year.

IDC further concludes that the deployment rate of Vista Business and Enterprise will increase to 80% of the total volume of Windows deployments by the end of 2007.

"During 2007, IDC expects that Windows Vista Home Basic will account for 67% of consumer purchases, with Windows Home Premium capturing 30% of the consumer acquisitions. Windows Vista Ultimate will account for 2% of the worldwide shipments. The balance of Windows Vista consumer shipments are home deployments of Windows Vista Business. On the business front, 82% of Windows Vista deployments are expected to be the Business edition, while the remaining 18% will be Windows Vista Enterprise," stated IDC.