July 2009 - Posts
Q: (from Josh)
Will there be a Windows 7 TS2 event coming up?
A:
At this time there is not a specific plan for a "live" launch tour that includes partner specific content. Most of the partner focused content will be delivered via the web, but keep watching my blog - if something is announced, I will include it here.
But don’t wait for a launch. There is plenty of partner and product specific virtual content available already; start now:
https://partner.microsoft.com/40091612
Q: (from Peter)
This originated from a customer needing to exercise the downgrade rights for the 2nd server in SBS2008 Premium. They needed Win2k3. The problem was that it was OEM media. Can you exercise downgrade rights with OEM media?
A:
It doesn’t matter how you acquire SBS 2008, you can downgrade the 2nd server until Dec. 2009:
http://www.microsoft.com/sbs/en/us/downgrade-rights.aspx
Q. Is the downgrade right the same in all sales channels?
A. Yes, the right to downgrade to a prior version is the same for all sales channels; retail, OEM, Volume Licensing, and Solutions Pathway. The license terms of your current version of the software will apply to the downgraded earlier version of the software.
Q. Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium comes with two Windows Server 2008 Standard technologies licenses. If I choose to, can I downgrade one of those licenses to run an earlier version in order to support a legacy application?
A. As a rule, the components of the Windows Small Business Server solution cannot be separately downgraded, however Microsoft recognizes that line-of-business applications may experience compatibility issues moving from one version to the next., Alternative Versions are included in the SBS Premium Software for SQL 2005 and Windows Server 2008 x86. Although MS does not include Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard in the package as an alternative version, we are granting an exception to allow customers to use Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard in place of the 2nd copy of Windows Server 2008 Standard, shipped as part of SBS 2008 Premium. This exception is being granted until December 31, 2009.
Note: Under this exception, the customers are restricted from running both the 2nd copy of Windows Server 2008 Standard as well as Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard (to which the customer has used as an alternative version to Windows Server 2008 at the same time simultaneously. Also, after December 31, 2009, customers are restricted from using Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard as an alternative version to the 2nd copy of Windows Server 2008 Standard, shipped as part of SBS 2008 Premium. However, customers who have exercised the alternative version right before December 31, 2009 can continue to use either version of Windows Server, but not both at same time.
A: (from Peter)
Ok, looks like NO, it does not remove the OEM licensing limitations per our friend Eric Ligman: http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/2009/03/12/9472286.aspx
Q: (from Les)
In the past, Microsoft volume licensing has been provided in the form of "Upgrades". What do you do if you don't have a previous version OS installed on the system? For example: I purchase a new computer from a local vendor without any OS installed and want to install one of my volume licensed operating systems.
A:
If the OS in question is a desktop OS, you can't install any OS through volume licensing if there isn't an existing OS on the system. The only desktop OS license provided through volume licensing is an upgrade to an existing license. In the world of volume licensing, the desktop OS is the only Microsoft software that works this way. Desktop OS's can only be licensed through full package product or via OEM.
If the OS in question is a server OS, you can install it on a naked system from volume licensing.
Q: (from Cathy & David @ WPC09)
We have an academic customer who is taking delivery of 50 laptops at the beginning of August. They are already standardized on Windows XP and will not consider Windows Vista at this point. But they might be interested in Windows 7 if it could be pre-installed. Is that possible?
A:
Windows 7 was released to manufacturing yesterday (7/22/09). That still doesn’t make it available to you yet, but the consensus so far is that as soon as it’s available to volume licensing customers, you can use it for someone under a school or campus agreement. According to what I’ve found the MVLS site will have the Windows 7 bits around August 7th.
From Microsoft Press Pass:
http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2009/jul09/07-22Windows7RTMPR.mspx
“As always, current customers of the Windows Volume Licensing program, Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscribers and TechNet subscribers will be among the first to get customer access to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in the coming weeks.”
Which links to the Windows 7 blog “When will you get Windows 7 RTM?”:
“For Business Customers:
If you are a Volume License (VL) customer with an existing Software Assurance (SA) license you will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English starting August 7th via the Volume License Service Center (VLSC). The rest of the languages for Windows 7 RTM should be available within a couple of weeks after that.
Volume License customers without a SA license will be able to purchase Windows 7 through Volume Licensing on September 1st as we announced last week at WPC09. Mark these dates on your calendar and start making your deployment plans!”
If you were thinking of pre-loading Windows 7 RC and then upgrading at a later date to the RTM product, think again:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=E170EBA1-5BAB-401F-BBF5-00F0EE7FE0FB&displaylang=en
This doesn’t mean it won’t work. It’s just not supported if there is a problem.
So I was sitting in the keynotes and breakouts at last week’s Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans (Ruminations from WPC 09) and I noticed that several of the new enhancements that interested me revolved around being able to write custom code. These included enhancements to Office 2010, SharePoint 2010, and CRM/xRM.
It then dawned on me that it’s been YEARS since I did any coding. When I started in computers back in the late 70’s, I wrote a custom version on Monopoly that used the local town of Lisle for the properties and landmarks. Although it was all written in Fortran, it was designed to be played on a teletype machine; and since I didn’t have an official account on the system I was using, I put everything on punched tape. Wow! I wonder if that tape still exists anywhere?
Regardless, I was hooked. I proceeded to take courses on IBM machine language, COBOL, and Fortran programming. I did an afterschool mentored study course with Mr. Hsu from Western Electric on OS and database designs. Ultimately this lead to my first real job in computers, writing programs for the Bell System and then for Honeywell Information Systems.
And then it stopped. I got my first job in PC training in Los Angeles in 1984, started working the the native languages of dBase and Paradox through the early 90’s but haven’t written any real code since then. I dabbled with an early version of Visual Basic, but nothing serious.
So as I was sitting at WPC, seeing all of the opportunities exposed to partners who wrote custom code, I realized how far away I had drifted from the programming world. I also wondered how many partners might be in a similar boat: started as Jr. programmers; found the real business opportunity was in systems integration, and now found their skills were too rusty to seriously pursue programming again.
That’s the genesis of this series of blog entries (and seeing a commercial for Julie & Julia); for the SI partners who want to get back into development, I want to document the process and the learning that I go through on the journey.
Next week: Setting a Goal
At the last minute I was asked to man a booth at the Worldwide Partner Conference 09 in New Orleans helping partner connect to launch resources for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Exchange 2010 (https://partner.microsoft.com/launch). Although the booth had very little traffic, I was able to attend all of the keynotes and several breakouts. I thought I would note some of the facts that I found new, interesting, or relevant.
The Microsoft Partner Network – Changed the logo. Changed the colors. Changed the levels. Changed the rules. Although most of the changes won’t take place for 12 to 18 months, Certified and Gold Certified partners need to proactively understand the changes and prepare for the transformation. https://partner.microsoft.com/40109865
New Technology – OK, there was tons of stuff on Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and more. But that just scratches the “surface” (every pun intended). Kevin Turner had a great slide in his Wednesday presentation that showed all of the products releasing in the next calendar year: OK, so his deck isn’t posted yet, but you can see the slide about 2:26:20 into the keynote video found at http://digitalwpc.com/Videos/KeynoteVideos?j=1_July%2015_071502. BTW, this was one of the best keynotes of the conference in my opinion.
Microsoft Server Strategy – I knew of our “On Premise” solutions with Windows Server 2008 R2; our server “Virtualization” solutions with Hyper-V R2; and our “Public Cloud” solutions with Azure. The term that was new to me was the “Private Cloud” introduced by Bob Muglia during Tuesday’s keynote": http://www.digitalwpc.com/Videos/KeynoteVideos?j=1_July%2014_071402 (about 1:18:00)
Windows 7 – Who says you can’t teach an old dog some new tricks. It was announced at WPC that Gold and Certified partners will receive double the number of Windows 7 licenses for internal use to help remove barriers and speed adoption.
Microsoft Office 2010 – I didn’t get to do any of the hands-on-labs because they were all full (always let the partners go first) but the demos showed some new transitions for PowerPoint, new slices for Excel, and customizable ribbons for all. There was also an announcement that any partner who attended WPC would receive an invitation to join the private beta for Office 2010. Watch my blog for screencasts on how to position and sell Office 2007 and 2010 to your customers. Here are 22 feature focused presentations that have already been posted by the Office team: http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 – The interface has received another facelift and now shares the tab/ribbon motif of Office. Some of you may groan (that just tells me that you haven’t seen me present the value of the new interface) but the real benefit appears when you realize that more functionality is discoverable and consistent with what you expect from an Office application. There has been investment in integrating documents into SharePoint including enhancements to rendering Excel and the ability to render Visio documents. The Groove / SharePoint integration is now called SharePoint Workspace 2010 and has an expanded list of content that can be taken offline, modified, and then automatically re-synced when connected. And finally, there are some tremendous enhancements to the development sphere around SharePoint including SharePoint Designer now being offered for free and new tools for creating scalable web parts. More information will be made available in November at the SharePoint conference in Las Vegas.
Dynamics CRM – xRM? I’ve not followed CRM closely for the last three years and had no clue what xRM was. It’s the ability to take the CRM infrastructure and develop a custom application for any vertical need; all within and integrated to CRM. I saw the potential years ago, but we’ve matured the tools to enable you to deliver the solution to your customers.
Where to go from here? Hopefully I’ve included some useful insights and links for the partners that did not get to attend WPC 09; but you can certainly watch many of the key presentations through www.digitalwpc.com.
For me, I’ve been inspired to redevelop my programming skills. My plan is to document my progress through this blog with weekly posts regarding what I’ve learned. Development for System Integrators
Q: (from Peter)
I have a question from one of our sales reps on Windows 7 upgrade.
If a customer purchases a PC that is 64-bit capable but has Windows Vista Business (32-bit) and they utilize the factory downgrade to XP (32-bit).
- Would they still qualify for the Windows 7 upgrade if purchased between June 26, 2009 – January 31, 2010?
- If they do qualify, they would receive the 32-bit version of Windows 7 Pro?
- If they receive the 32-bit version and they want the 64-bit version?
- Would they have to purchase a Full version Windows 7 disc or an upgrade?
- If an upgrade would work, then how would they do a clean install from an upgrade (which would be required since they are going from 32-bit to 64-bit?)
A:
- Yes – the choice to downgrade to Windows XP is still an option. When they are ready to move to Windows 7, they will contact their PC manufacturer for redemption. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/upgrade.aspx
They will not be able to do a classic “upgrade” since there is not direct upgrade path from Windows XP Pro to Windows 7 Professional, but they can use the migration tools; capture their data and settings and reinstall the OS and applications before restoring the settings. I saw a demo last week and it was an impressive process. - Yes – Vista Business -> Windows XP Pro -> Windows 7 Professional
- I know Windows 7 Professional comes with both the 32bit and 64bit products in the box, but I don’t know what the Upgrade Offer includes. I’ve reviewed the FAQ and didn’t find an answer, so I would recommend contacting the PC manufacturer since they are responsible for redemption.
- I should also mention that the migration tool works from Windows XP 32bit to Windows 7 64bit just fine.
Q: (from Jason)
I’m interested in developing for it or working with a partner to help develop software for it.
A:
I too would like to start playing with and developing for the Surface platform – but alas, it’s not part of my job commitments. But the good news is, you can!
The partner program information can be found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/Become-a-partner.aspx
I think it would be advisable to translate the multi-touch capabilities of any software you develop to the multi-touch Windows 7 environment as well (to expand your potential market)
Please keep me informed regarding your progress.