Another Did You Know Moment

I finally got Win 7 loaded on an older notebook so I could take a look at things. We didn't have a good test box available so it is on a 1.5 gig machine and actually runs better than I expected. There are some obvious changes in the interface - one of my engineers called it Vista on steroids with a new design. So far I am pleased with what I see, but we are just starting to get our feet wet.

I did learn about something I didn't know regarding Vista. At least it was new to me although some days I feel like I live under a rock or something. Perhaps you have a customer with a small business who has been reluctant to move to Windows Vista, or have just wanted to avoid some family and neighborhood tech support duties. If so, you should know that Microsoft extended its Windows Vista Small Business Assurance (WVSBA) offer through June 30, 2009 (instead of December 31, 2008).

This means customers purchasing new PCs with Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate between July 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009 are eligible for WVSBA, and support is now available until June 30, 2009. One note, this support offer is only available in the United States and Canada.

Qualifying customers can get free support on:
· Windows Vista questions
· Compatibility assistance for applications and devices
· Guidance on key features
· Detailed technical support for customers who may need help working through a compatibility issue or configuring Windows Vista

See all the details at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/assurance/

Microsoft extended the offer based on continued positive reaction from small business customers. Especially given the economy Microsoft felt it was important to extend the WVSBA offer to small businesses who have indicated that they continue to see value in this free offer.

Wanted to make sure you were aware of this offer. I particularly like the idea of losing the family support. Just give them a number to call. Much easier to keep the peace with the wife that way!

The Mojave Experiment

Microsoft got a little creative in trying to figure out what is wrong with Vista. They found out what I think is also true for most about the economy - most of the issues are perception rather than based in reality. Unfortunately, perception always becomes reality. But check this out. It is time to not only look at Vista - it is time to be using it. Shame on you if you are a partner and still running XP. Shame on some of me too because we are not completely migrated internally yet. Still a lot of old machines (I am cheap) that don't have the horsepower. But all that do and all new machines are firmly running Vista including all 5 of my work and personal boxes. (does that make me an addict?) Check out the details on this experiement:

There was a financial analyst webcast last week and an exciting new marketing/pr initiative called the Windows Mojave Experience www.mojaveexperiment.com was shown. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to share it broadly – it is a very clever way of starting to think about how we can change perceptions on our flagship product.

In short, a focus group of Mac, Linux, or legacy Windows users who had low perceptions of Vista were shown a demonstration of a new operation system codenamed “Mojave” – when in fact it was Vista. The results were amazing: of the 120 respondents polled, on a scale of 1:10 where 10 was the highest rating, the average pre-rating for Windows Vista was 4.4. After they saw the demo, respondents rated Mojave an average of 8.5. It clearly shows, that many of our challenges on Vista are now perception based.

This experiment offers us a great proof point. Vista really is not an issue - it is a bad perception and press that is the issue. Yes it requires the right hardware but the time in now to make the move!

Some helpful links

Here are some links that may be of interest for you:

Just wanted to get this on your radar. Please check out the program details ASAP and reserve your FREE testing vouchers.

Partner Skills Plus Certification/Training Offers:
https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40029197

Certification Exam Savings:
https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40046686

RESERVE YOUR TEN FREE VOUCHERS (For Dynamics Exams As Well):
http://www.measureup.com/microsoftpartnerskillsplus/

I thought this information might help you out with your internal Vista deployments. These links are a little hard to find on the partner site.

This link is to the online version of the Partner Vista Activation card:
https://partner.microsoft.com/40049176?msp_id=vistaactivationguide

There are many links, but the most useful one, I believe, is:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/bb335280.aspx

which contains a useful link on the right hand side of page under Download
This download has numerous (useful) files on Volume Activation 2.0

Hope these help with navigation of some info on the Microsoft site.

Windows Vista Deployments

Do you have a success story around the deployment of Windows Vista? If so, you should check out http://www.deploymentstories.com/Home/Guidelines/tabid/185/Default.aspx and share yours. It is a site to upload a video testimony and get some face time in front of the world. Check it out. It is a great place to put stories particularly if you are using the solution accelerators like WVHA. You can get the tool here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/solutionaccelerators/hardwareassessment/wv/default.mspx

Solution accelerators are great tools to help get new technology in place. Check them out!

Partner Sales Training—Exchange 2007, Windows Server 2008, and Licensing

This training will enable partners to understand the key benefits their customers will reap from the new technologies of Exchange 2007 and Windows Server 2008.
· What is new in these products?
· Why would customers look to upgrade?
· How are they licensed?
The objective is to offer a solid, sales oriented overview of the technologies and relevant licensing so you understand the value this innovation wave brings you as a reseller partner. As an added incentive, the first 25 participants in each location will receive a copy of Office 2007 or Windows Vista Business Edition and be entered into a drawing for an Xbox 360!

This lunch session will cover:

• A high-level overview of the solution area
• Tools for the sale process
• Sample customer scenarios
• Questions to ask
• Business value
• Resources, tools and additional training
• A consolidated view of Microsoft's resources and incentive programs
  
  Who should Attend: Account Executives, Sales Managers and Technical Pre-Sales who are committed to growing their Microsoft sales and services revenue!!

EVENT TIME:
11:30AM – 1:00PM
(11:00 AM Welcome/Registration)

Event Dates:
(click on event title to register)

1/10/2008Overland Park, KansasEvent Code# 1032363049
1/23/2008 Saint Louis, MissouriEvent Code# 1032363045
1/24/2008 Minneapolis, MinnesotaEvent Code# 1032363051
Register online today orcall 877 MSEVENT to secureyour reservation.

Join the MAPS accelerator program

Considering Server Migration to Windows Server 2008 and Server Consolidation? Join Beta Program Today!The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator is a network-wide inventory and report-generation tool designed to help you assess and plan for server migration and virtualization projects. It is an IT consultant’s “dream come true.” Join the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Beta Program today!

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=103385

Opportunity to Engage with Microsoft Team

The Windows Client product marketing team now has a planning team focusing on partner incentives – essentially, how can help incentivize Partners to assess customers for Windows Vista readiness and subsequently sell the right Windows Vista + MDOP packages to our customers.

The Partner incentive team would like to flesh out some ideas with you and your partner community. Do you have a few partners who are familiar with the tools like Windows Vista Hardware Assessment, Business Value Assessment and/or ACT that we can talk to including you? Your feedback would be very much appreciated. If possible, we’d love to have a conf call before Christmas.

If you are willing to get involved - email me asap.