Windows 7 Planning Resources from MS

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Volume 11, Issue 20: September 9, 2009

Note from the Editor
Greetings, Captain.
With just over a month till the official release of Windows 7, it’s time to momentarily divert attention away from the features, usability and performance of the new client OS – the user community is already touting that for you – and focus more on the set of resources that will help you rationalize the desktop and do more with less. Yes, a well-planned migration can help you reduce costs.

It all starts with a good evaluation, and then using the best practices for configuration and deployment. The Springboard team has put together a special trial just for IT pros. If you haven’t yet got your hands on the Windows 7 RTM, download the new 90-day Trial of Windows 7 Enterprise to test and evaluate the final version of Windows 7 Enterprise.

Then the Springboard Series for Windows 7 enables you to test your hardware, software, and deployment strategies and get deployment guidance, step-by-step tutorials, and more. We recently covered these, but it’s worth mentioning again these key resources: the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator, the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 RC, and the IPD guide for Windows Deployment Services.

OK, I can’t resist a little nod to the great features. Quickly check them out with the TechNet Video: Windows 7 Feature Overview.

And here are some new deployment webcasts and videos:
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Thrive Live! Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7 Using Windows Easy Transfer and USMT
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Windows 7 Deployment Enhancements
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Windows 7 Planning and Deployment Tools
Then the fun begins with the run-up to the official launch. We’ll kick it off with the New Efficiency Virtual Event. On September 29 in San Francisco, Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer and top technology leaders across industries will debate the role of IT in helping companies drive business growth during these tough economic times. Catch it live online starting at 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time. Increasing productivity and innovation could ultimately put a company in better stead to capture market share and rebound faster than cost-cutting alone. Get a close look at how real companies are justifying IT investments across the desktop, server, the network, and beyond.

Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Now Available
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 is the stand-alone hypervisor that enables organizations to improve server utilization and reduce costs. Download the Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 and test out the new features such as live migration and expanded processor and memory support for host systems. If your organization is looking to consolidate workloads onto a single physical server, or consolidate servers in general, this might be the solution. The learning curve is minimal since it allows IT professionals to leverage existing patching, provisioning, management and support tools and processes, plus their individual skills and the collective knowledge of Microsoft tools.
Thanks for reading,
Mitch Irsfeld
Editor, TechNet Flash

Subscribe to the TechNet Flash Feed blog for news updates as they happen, often several times a day. Or, to get the TechNet Flash Feed, plus news of new webcasts, videos and new TechNet Magazine content, all in one place, get the TechNet Widget for your desktop.

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Here's a link to the Win 7 resources...
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/default.aspx

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it’s time to momentarily divert attention away from the features, usability and performance of the new client OS – the user community is already touting that for you

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:D

Excuse me, what planet is this guy living on? The majority of non-technical users I have come across don't even know what operating system they are using. All they see is the GUI and the applications they run. So long as we don't screw with their day-to-day lives they couldn't care less.

I agree that it takes planning and you need to know what it is that you are rolling out, but that has always been the case.

In my experience applications roll-outs are much more fraught as they directly impact on the user (Luddite? :D) community.

I did notice this:

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Thrive Live! Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7 Using Windows Easy Transfer and USMT

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I wonder what happened to Vista then? :halo:

To their credit, at least MS seem to be taking this one seriously from a business/institutional user standpoint.