Windows 7 Mistakes Small Firms Should Avoid

REDMOND, Wash. (TheStreet) -- After more than 18 months of hype, Microsoft(MSFT Quote) is finally releasing Windows 7 to the public -- and your small business -- today.

Based on my testing over the past year, you will find Windows 7 faster and more secure than previous versions. Done right, it will sync with an Apple(AAPL Quote) iPhone or a BlackBerry, so you can access your data anywhere. While Windows 7 seems ready for small-business primetime, early deployments of the software have revealed some problems. Here are some common mistakes to avoid as you upgrade:

Avoiding Windows 7 upgrades: Many small businesses buy new technology, but never install it. Don't make that mistake with Windows 7. If you are staring at an office full of old Windows XP equipment, do yourself a favor and spend the time to upgrade your gear.

If you install Windows 7 yourself, you'll spend little money and improve your work flow. If you also back up your information, migrate your code and create a Web-based presence for your business software, your operation will be even more efficient.

Upgrading your desktop, but not your Web-based computing platform: The secret to a successful Windows 7 upgrade is to create a Web-based storage space that also handles your e-mail, documents and presentations. Google(GOOG Quote) Apps and Zoho offer the tools you'll need to create a "cloud-computing" office that will work in tandem with your Windows 7-enabled computers. This setup will allow you to move back and forth between the two worlds, depending on your needs.

For heavy word processing, spreadsheets or presentations, you would use Microsoft Office on your PC. For more collaborative tasks, such as sharing documents, you would use Google Docs or Zoho. This dual-platform approach gives you the best of both worlds: the improved desktop performance of Windows 7 and the benefits of cloud computing, such as automatic backups and the ability access to your data from anywhere. It's about working with the desktop and the Web.