Hey, there, CIOs. Still not sure if a Windows 7 deployment makes good financial sense? Maybe you've tried crunching the numbers in a spreadsheet, only to get stymied by all the variables?

Time to check out Hall Consulting & Research's new Windows 7 ROI Tool. Designed for Excel 2007, this comprehensive spreadsheet assesses every imaginable cost and benefit of a Windows 7 deployment.

For example, it factors in the costs of hardware, software, IT labor and services, and user training. Then it weighs those against such benefits as power savings, user productivity, and avoidance of third-party software/infrastructure.

You can use the tool to create a rapid assessment (based on one of several available scenarios and some basic organizational data) or a more detailed one that comprises hundreds of detailed inputs.

The Windows 7 ROI Tool Basic Edition is available free of charge. It shows you the full range of content, but doesn't let you edit individual inputs--you're limited to choosing a scenario/profile and reviewing the sample data contained therein.

The fully editable Full Edition costs $950, but volume licensing is available. That's a drop in the bucket if it helps you save money on a Windows 7 deployment--or, more likely, shows you how much you'll save in the long run by choosing to deploy it.

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