Approximately 2 million computers currently running Microsoft software including Windows and Office will not see Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System anytime soon. The 2 million machines are used in 25,000 schools across the United Kingdom.

Earlier this week, the British Education Communications and Technology Association (BECTA) released a report in which it expresses strong concerns over both Windows Vista and Office 2007 and advises that deployment of Microsoft's flagship products be delayed as it would generate a "high risk."

"It seems reasonable therefore not to deploy Vista until it has a demonstrably stable and secure track record," reads a fragment of the report.

Even without the "high risk" label associated to Vista, Microsoft's latest operating system, scheduled for consumer release on January 30, 2007, has failed to outsell Windows XP in its debut month via business channels.

"We need to see a persuasive business case for the level of investment needed to deploy the products," said Tom McMullan, a consultant for BECTA. "What we are saying in the short-term is that the case has not been made."

But the main reason behind BECTA's conclusion is the fact that, following an analysis of both Vista and Office, it has not identified any consistent reasons that would validate the upgrade. Currently, Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System are being showcased at the British Education and Training Technology conference. According to Steve Beswick, Microsoft's director of education in the U.K., attendees' feedback has been positive.

BECTA plans to release a final form of the report 12 months from now, in January 2008, after additionally considering Microsoft's solutions and those delivered by the Redmond Company's rivals.