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Comparing 2012 to 2016

To whom it may concern,

I have been asked by a client to provide advice for a decision on whether to use Windows 2012 vs. Windows 2016. My client is risk-averse but interested in maintaining a degree of currency with technology.

I have been having difficulty finding independent analysis. In other words, advice that is not infused with vendor-marketing, so I can give truly objective advice.

Can anyone assist me with links to sites, publications, data, etc.?

Thanks,

Dan

John

I am not sure if you can buy Server 2012 right now.

From attending the most recent MVP Summit this year, Server 2016 is more enabled for Windows 10 and Azure services.

I have seen nothing negative of any merit in here, and our next Servers will be Server 2016

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Cliff Galiher

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Russ Suter

If your client is truly risk-averse then having the latest operating system with the most up-to-date security patches is the approach that would be most in line with the client's requirements. It's certainly mature enough at this point that it's not going to cause any instabilities unless, as mentioned above, you're running some poorly written and obscure applications.

@Cliff Galiher

I am not sure what you are looking for, honestly. In all my time in I.T., I don't recall an article coming out that ever said "Avoid windows 2003, it's worse that 2000."

Either you haven't been in IT long enough or you have a short memory.

Avoid Windows 8, it's worse than Windows 7.
Avoid Windows Vista, it's worse than Windows XP.
Avoid Windows ME, it's way worse than Windows 98SE.

Although I'm struggling to come up with a valid statement that refers to server operating systems.

Lee W, MVP

Russ, in fairness, you examples all cite client operating systems, not server operating systems. From a server standpoint I agree with Cliff, I cannot recall anyone saying "avoid the new server, it's horrible". In service pack days, you could reasonably argue (in my opinion) waiting for service pack 1... but there hasn't been a service pack in nearly a decade. Windows is under constant development. The well baked features are well baked... the newer ones are potentially more buggy... I see no good reason to go with an older version of server when a newer one is available.

If you really wanted to go with an older version, it's easy to do so - buy the current version. Then use downgrade rights. This is easily done when purchasing volume licenses.

Russ Suter

@Lee W, MVP

Russ, in fairness, you examples all cite client operating systems, not server operating systems.

I did acknowledge that in my post...

Although I'm struggling to come up with a valid statement that refers to server operating systems.

And it was intended more as a joke than anything else.

codefisher

ASKER

Thank you everyone who wrote. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedules to assist me. The comment about me not being in IT very long, as an admonishment for asking for assistance lacks the collegiality necessary for professional interchange. I merely needed second and third opinions to support my own without divulging it so as not to bias the results of my query. Having received them I can now present a “supported” recommendation to my client, and I’m grateful to you all.

Russ Suter

Good grief. It was a joke. Sorry if it came across wrong.

Russ Suter

The comment wasn't even directed at you. It was a joking response to cliff's comment about newer operating systems never being worse than older ones. In sorry if it came across as anything else.

John

@codefisher - It is probably time to close this question

codefisher

ASKER

Thanks everyone for your help! I’ll close the question.

codefisher

ASKER

The call completeness and thoughtfulness of the answer made it useful.