Microsoft says skipping Vista is risky

Microsoft's advice to corporate customers considering a migration from Windows XP directly to the forthcoming Windows 7 operating system: Think about Windows Vista instead.

Last week, Microsoft outlined its first official guidance for enterprises looking at moving to Windows 7, the company's new operating system, which is due out by early next year.

The guidance was heavy on warning about the risks in skipping Vista in order to move directly from XP to Windows 7.

"If they feel confident, that's great," said Gavriella Schuster, senior director of Windows Product Management at Microsoft. But, she added, there are some things businesses should think about first.