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Windows 7 offers many useful features to businesses, but at what cost? Your company likely hasn’t done an operating system migration since Windows XP, and the transition to the new OS — as great as it might be — may not be completely smooth. Our experts explain where the “gotchas” are, so that your Windows 7 adoption (whenEVER it happens) can be trouble-free. If your business is contemplating a move to Windows 7 — whether it’s budgeted for now or “as late as possible” — you should attend this webinar to learn about the five barriers to migration success.
Windows 7 offers businesses many compelling features, such as better security, significatnt networking enhancements, and desktop user interface improvements. But before your company can consider deploying the new Microsoft operating system, you have to ensure that the software you rely on works correctly. Those may be third-party applications, custom desktop applications (some of which were written when Windows XP was the cool new OS), and web applications (initially written for Internet Explorer 6).
Microsoft claims that nearly all Windows applications should run on Windows 7 without changes… but developers are finding that the truth is a little more complicated. In this webinar, you’ll learn how to find out if migrating your company’s Windows applications are likely to be a big challenge or a minor irritation. READ MORE
Dell enterprise customers face similar desktop-deployment challenges worldwide: High-volume desktop deployment and migration can be complicated and disruptive. An enterprise’s network infrastructure that capably supports daily operations typically cannot handle the increased demands of a deployment. Moreover, deploying to remote branches and employees is problematic because of limited bandwidth and other network constraints.
Many companies don’t realize their maximum ROI (return on investment) on high-volume desktop deployment because predicting and controlling costs is difficult. Deployment is a non-strategic IT function that requires burst capacity (extra labor and resources required for a short time) that often results in expensive, selective sourcing. Also, it’s been a traditionally labor intensive process lacking real innovation. For example, most companies maintain multiple hardware-specific and line-of-business (LOB) images along with hundreds, if not thousands, of applications—all at a high cost. Although tools are available to reduce the time and costs associated with high-volume desktop deployment, many companies aren’t able to take advantage of these tools because they have not fully rationalized their infrastructure.
Dell Automated Deployment addresses the disruptive nature and high cost of high-volume desktop deployment. This white paper describes how Dell Automated Deployment addresses these challenges, as well as provides the rationale for each solution.
This document will provide you with the details and information that you need to make the right decisions about how to migrate to Windows 7. This document includes the details on what upgrade paths are supported, and which are not. In addition, there are links to technical resources that can help you plan and manage the migration of your client systems without problems or other issues that might cause costs to rise or for the project to be delayed.
Upgrades to Windows 7 from the following operating systems are not supported:
• Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP, Windows Vista RTM, Windows Vista Starter, Windows 7 M3, Windows 7 Beta, Windows 7 RC, or Windows 7 IDS
• Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2 READ MORE
There is more pressure than ever on IT departments to deliver business value, despite the challenges of shrinking budgets, rapidly changing technologies, and increasing security issues. To help organizations address these demands, Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows Server 2008 R2 provide technologies to help build an infrastructure for the Windows Optimized Desktop. When deployed together, Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows Server 2008 R2 combine values that can increase productivity for end users and IT professionals and create a more secure and well-managed infrastructure to reduce operational costs and complexity.
Microsoft Volume Licensing solutions provide a flexible, cost effective way to give your organization access to the latest Windows desktop technologies. Whether your business wants to upgrade to Windows 7, have access to advanced technologies like Windows 7 Enterprise and the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, or deploy emerging virtualization scenarios, there is a Volume Licensing program that is right for your organization. Volume Licensing is the most affordable way to upgrade your existing PCs to Windows 7.
This white paper provides an overview of the products available through Volume Licensing, information about the products that are eligible for upgrades, and the key choices you have for utilizing Windows in your organization.
Windows 7 represents the most significant desktop transition in 8 years — according to a recent Forrester Research Inc. report, 86% of corporations are still running Microsoft® Windows® XP. With XP support sunsetting, customers are concerned about data migration, hardware limitations, compatibility and integration of existing applications and licensing issues associated with upgrading to Windows 7.
This webcast will discuss:
* Application compatibility, testing, remediation, and packaging for the new OS
* Concerns regarding when and how to effectively transition corporate images to Windows 7
* Conducting overall Windows 7 readiness assessments
* Best practices for deploying new systems and/or upgrading in-place systems, once the commitment to move to Windows 7 has been made READ MORE
Windows XP won’t be around forever, and the anticipation for commercial adoption of Windows 7 is reaching a boiling point. With Windows 7 available now for volume license customers and for everyone else on October 22, IT professionals should start preparing for it now. Specifically, they should: 1) start or accelerate application compatibility testing against the Windows 7 RTM code; 2) plan for rolling out Windows 7 in small batches on new hardware initially; 3) weigh the costs and benefits of upgrading existing machines with at least 2 GB of memory; 4) start developing training sessions and tips and tricks guidance; and 5) prepare for — and embrace — empowered users who want to be early adopters.
Windows XP has remained the corporate desktop operating system (OS) standard for most enterprises for several years, but its reign will end with the availability of Windows 7 to IT professionals as early as August 6, 2009. Windows 7 is shaping up to be a suitable replacement for organizations that couldn’t justify an upgrade to Windows Vista, and it even has some firms that took the Vista plunge rethinking their upgrade strategy. One of the first steps IT managers should take is to determine their firm’s Windows 7 licensing strategy and how it fits into their broader Microsoft relationship. Why bother, three months before its release? Most firms have extended the lives of their existing desktops and laptops so that they can tie in the OS upgrade with their next major PC refresh cycle. You will now have to consider your existing system’s age, licensing investments, and how Software Assurance impacts initiatives like desktop virtualization to ensure your move to Windows 7 is cost-effective now and throughout its life cycle at your company. READ MORE
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