Hardware 2.0

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Who is the 90-day Windows 7 Enterprise trial aimed at exactly?

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | September 2, 2009, 10:38am PDT

Summary: Maybe it’s me and I’ve just not had enough coffee yet today (or maybe I’ve had too much, it’s hard to tell sometimes, I just know I’ve not had the right amount) but who exactly is this 90-day Windows 7 Enterprise trial aimed at?

Maybe it’s me and I’ve just not had enough coffee yet today (or maybe I’ve had too much, it’s hard to tell sometimes, I just know I’ve not had the right amount) but who exactly is this 90-day Windows 7 Enterprise trial aimed at?

According to the Springboard Series blog, here’s the deal:

This evaluation version is for IT Professionals who do not yet have access to Windows 7 RTM through one of the following means:

- Through a Software Assurance Volume License agreement
- Through MSDN and TechNet subscriptions
- Through Software Assurance agreements allowing the download of Windows 7 RTM via the Volume Licensing Download Center.

If you do not have access to licenses through one of the above means, this release will provide a means to have the final released code for evaluation and testing.

So it’s aimed at IT pros without MSDN or TechNet and that don’t have access to Windows 7 via a mechanism such as Software Assurance? Sorry, but these are some IT pros that the download is being aimed at.

Then there’s the weasel phrases. Two to be accurate:

A limited number of licenses are available, so the download will only be available while supplies last.

Why? Sounds to me like using scarcity to drum up demand.

Following the 90 day evaluation period, IT Pros who wish to continue to use Windows 7 Enterprise will be required to purchase and perform a clean installation of Windows 7, including drivers and applications.

Ugh, that’s messy …

Sorry, but I really can’t see why some pundits are gushing over this one.

[UPDATE: This in from a Microaoft spokesperson, which actually helps clarify things:

The Windows 7 Enterprise 90-Day Trial is designed for IT Professionals to trial the Enterprise SKU, particularly if they do not yet have access to Windows 7 RTM through a volume license with Software Assurance; or via licenses available to them via MSDN and TechNet subscription.

This is a great opportunity for IT Pros who don’t have Software Assurance Agreements yet but are interested in evaluating the Enterprise SKU of Windows 7. Windows 7 Enterprise provides advanced data protection & information access for businesses that use IT as a strategy asset. The trial is designed to serve as the final stepping stone for IT Pros looking to move to Windows 7 across their IT environment. It allows this group of professionals to finalize hardware and software testing on final RTM code prior to purchasing Windows 7.

In addition, this trial is not recommended for other customers who already have access to Windows 7 RTM code via alternative methods. MSDN/TechNet subscribers can access Windows 7 RTM bits via the TechNet site. Customers with existing Software Assurance agreements can download Windows 7 RTM via the Volume Licensing Download Center. Consumers will be able to purchase Windows 7 on October 22, 2009. (As you know, customers who already have access to Windows 7 bits through MSDN or TechNet, or are an existing Software Assurance customer, do not need to download this trial because they already have access to the Windows 7 RTM without a timeout period.)]

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

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What's wrong with that?

eljay001 Updated - 3rd Sep 2009

There are developers and IT pros in a small offices that do not have software assurance or Technet/MSDN subscriptions. There's nothing wrong with Microsoft allowing them to evaluate the product as well. Ultimately they probably won't be going with the "Enterprise" edition, but that doesn't really matter if Microsoft's happy with getting some Win 7 Pro sales from it.

Do you also wonder why Microsoft sells a Small Business Server product?

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I don't understand you blog?

xuniL_z 2nd Sep 2009

You don't think there are not many businesses and organizations out there in the SMB market, for example, that fall into a large group that could benefit from trying windows 7 out?

Are you saying buying a copy would be better? I don't get it?

And the petty comments of "weasel phrases" seemed like you were just trying to dredge up something negative on the win7 front no matter how hard you had to dig.
If it weren't for the fact that "limited supply" promotions have been around for centuries and used by thousands of companies and are very commonplace and harmful to nobody, I'd say you have something there.

happy

wheeee.

And you call the "Clean" install a pain? And also another "weasel phrase"? Hmmm?
What is so hard about putting in the windows7 disc, or mounting an iso in a virtual dvd and doing a clean install of Windows 7? It may take 15 minutes.???
I get it that you have to take the time to install your apps to test them and what not, but this is a test machine situation anyway right? It's for people that are going to decide whether to purchase 100 or whatever windows 7 machines isn't it? Why would one test machine be such a hassle even if you did load Windows 7 on it clean afterwards.

I know I'm nitpicking now myself but this has to stop. NOt that i care what you write about Windows, but that writing about things that matter would be so much better.

If this is a sign of the abuse you're going to give windows 7, along with a string of anti-ms windows 7 blogs you've already accumulated, let's see some media fairness and give un an Anti Apple blog at least 3 times a week for the next 2 years. SL is nothing to rave about, so surely you can find more than this to dig up.

happy

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he said his coffee dosage was off...

ericesque 2nd Sep 2009

cut the guy some slack!

Adrian is a little all over the place.
Sometimes he's actually spot on-- others it's
just flame bait or shooting from the hip. But a
lot of ZDNet is like that, really. Occasionally
it gets to me too, but then I remember it's the
internet. We come here on our own accord and
pay nothing for content-- what can we really
expect in terms of quality?

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week ago Microsoft stated: 64 Bit Only....

VONDRASHEK@... 2nd Sep 2009

Why enterprise 32? should you try both? enterprise is supposed to be beyond untimate. well link works:

http://wb.dlservice.microsoft.com/download/release/Win7/3/b/a/3bac7d87-8ad2-4b7a-87b3-def36aee35fa/7600.16385.090713-1255_x64fre_enterprise_en-us_EVAL_Eval_Enterprise-GRMCENXEVAL_EN_DVD.iso?lcid=1033

vondrashek One time once crusader....

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little more from microsoft....

VONDRASHEK@... 2nd Sep 2009

Welcome to this month?s edition of the Insider. Thank you again for your e-mails and comments on the newsletter. There are some important things happening this month so I?ll jump right in.

On September 1, we launched the Windows 7 Enterprise 90-Day Trial. This version is for IT pros specifically, and is designed to serve as the final stepping stone for those looking to implement Windows 7 across their IT environment by enabling you to finalize hardware and software testing on the final released to manufacturing (RTM) code. Please be aware: this trial is not recommended for customers who already have access to Windows 7 RTM code via alternative methods. For example:
? TechNet subscribers can access Windows 7 RTM via the TechNet Subscriptions site.
? Customers with existing Volume License (VL) or Software Assurance agreements can download Windows 7 RTM via the Volume Licensing Download Center.

Mark your calendars and join us live at 9:00 AM Pacific Time, September 24 for part two of our Springboard Series Virtual Roundtable on Windows 7 application compatibility. This time, host Mark Russinovich and panel will explore how virtualization tools can help you address Windows 7 application compatibility concerns whether you?re migrating from Windows Vista or Windows XP. Ask questions live during the event or submit your questions in advance to vrtable@microsoft.com.

Also kicking off this month is ?The New Efficiency? virtual launch event on September 29. This event will allow you to see keynotes, sessions, demos, and interactive experiences on a variety of Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Exchange Server 2010 topics?all from the comfort of your own desk.

Last, but not least, visit TalkingAboutWindows.com on September 15 and check out the new IT Pro Events portal. The portal will showcase the various Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 events being organized by Microsoft and IT pro user groups worldwide, It?s a great way for you to find out about launch events in your area.

As always, for the latest, up-to-date information, visit our blog or follow us on Twitter @MSSpringboard to get all the Windows 7 news first.

Best regards,
Stephen Rose
Sr. Community Manager, Microsoft Windows Client IT Pro Division

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New Resources
Windows 7 Enterprise 90-Day Trial
Test your software, hardware, and deployment strategies with this 90-day trial of Windows 7 Enterprise. Have questions about the trial? Read the FAQ.
Step-by-Step: Basic Windows Deployment for IT Professionals
This article provides a basic example of how to configure and deploy a Windows image. At the end of this process, you will have a valid answer file, a boo Windows 7 Upgrade Paths
Wondering about the supported and unsupported upgrade paths for editions of the Windows 7 operating system? Check out this quick table reference.
Understanding Application Compatibility in Windows 7
Overall, Windows 7 compatibility is high with common applications. For customers on Windows XP, moving to Windows 7 will resemble the efforts required to move your applications to Windows Vista. For customers on Windows Vista moving to Windows 7, the effort required to test and validate applications will be substantially reduced compared to moving from Windows XP to Windows 7. Read this overview then check out this follow-up article to better understand the steps you should take to assess your organization?s application compatibility environment.
Windows 7 Podcast Series
Learn more about DirectAccess, planning and deployment tools, data protection, and desktop optimization with free podcasts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Something to Blog About
Anywhere Access - What It Means, How it Works
This month, we discussed some of the solutions Windows 7 provides to enable users to stay connected whether they are travelling or working from home?plus features in Windows 7 that enable IT professionals to better manage mobile computers.

Read the post on the Springboard Series Blog, and share your thoughts on how you see anywhere access in your organization, or start a discussion on your own blog and ping us back. We?ve love to make this a rich dialogue.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tips and Tricks
Organizing with Windows 7 Libraries
Walk through the process of creating aggregated views of related files, making files easy to find (even when they reside in different folders or on different systems), and setting up Libraries so that you can quickly see all of your files in one place.
Windows 7 HomeGroup
Learn how to join computers running Windows 7 to a homegroup and take the hassle out of sharing files and printers.
Windows Internet Explorer 8
Explore the features in Windows Internet Explorer 8 -- from Accelerators and Web Slices to search suggestions that may help you easily find the right information from the right places, and use that information in a way that makes sense to you.
Windows Search
Find out how Windows Search can make Windows 7 your one-stop-search-shop at work and at home.
View all Windows 7 Tips and Tricks

SHARE YOUR TIPS HERE: Want to share tips and tricks around Windows desktop deployment, management, and optimization with your fellow IT pros? Send an e-mail message to winpro@microsoft.com and your tips may appear in a future edition of this newsletter!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Community Update

Another day, another new app in the sandbox.

We all know the routine. You?re churning through e-mails or browsing your favorite tech blog and you see that new app that is going to solve that pressing issue or promises to bring world peace to your desktop. You click the link, download the bits, and 15 minutes later you?re stumbling through the interface working out if it is really going to do everything the blurb said it would. It?s normally about this time that something else pops up, so you close the app and go and deal with another distraction.

This routine is then repeated over the next couple of months and you start to notice that your machine is not quite as responsive as it used to be. A quick glance at Add or Remove Programs and you?re scratching your head working out where all those apps came from. The process then starts of looking at each app and working out which ones to cull and which ones to keep. Fast forward a couple of hours and, various reboots later, your machine is starting to behave like its lithe old self again. The downside though is that you have just burned through a few hours and all you have to show for it is that your machine is back to where it was a few months back.

So what?s the answer? Well, like most things in life, there are a couple of solutions. The first one is to swear off trying new apps, leave your machine in its pristine state, and never install another application again. That one not working for you? How about Windows 7 with Windows Virtual PC then?

This is the combination I love. I can install an application into a virtual machine (VM). Its shortcuts are then presented in the Start menu of the host machine. When I launch the application, it appears as if it is running on the host OS, but in reality it is safely tucked away inside the sandbox of the VM. Why do I love this? Well, once I?m done testing the app, I use the undo disk feature in Windows Virtual PC to roll the VM back to its original state and it?s like it was never there. How long does it take? Minutes. So now, instead of burning hours rebuilding or repairing my machine, I have more time to search for that world peace for the desktop application.

And here?s a tip if you want to quickly build a Windows 7 VM. Head over to http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/wim2vhd and grab the handy Windows Image to Virtual Hard Disk (WIM2VHD) Converter. It will take your Windows 7 Install.wim file and convert it to a VHD in less than 10 minutes. You can then use that VHD in a new virtual machine and it will boot straight into the Windows setup process saving you even more time!

- Gordon Ryan is technologist, consultant, trainer, and Springboard Series Technical Expert Panel (STEP) member. When not traveling, he can be found living in Sydney with his 13-year-old cattle dog. When traveling, he can be found looking for quality libations.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Events and Training
New Course: Planning and Managing Windows 7 Desktop Deployments and Environments
Learn how to plan and deploy Windows 7 desktops in large organizations from designing and configuring the Windows 7 client environment to ongoing management and optimization.
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit: Configuring Microsoft Windows 7
Designed to help maximize your performance on 70-680, the required exam for the new Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows 7, Configuration certification, this two-in-one kit includes the official Microsoft study guide, plus practice tests on CD to help you assess your skills. It comes packed with the tools and features exam candidates want most?including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from expert, exam-certified authors; and customizable testing options.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Webcasts
Momentum Webcast: Optimize Your Desktop Infrastructure with Windows 7 and MDOP (Level 100)
Thursday, September 24, 2009 11:00 AM Pacific Time
TechNet Webcast: Thrive Live! Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7 Using Windows Easy Transfer and USMT (Level 200)
Friday, September 25, 2009 9:00 AM Pacific Time
TechNet Webcast: Automating Windows 7 Deployments Using System Center Configuration Manager (Level 300)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 10:00 AM Pacific Time

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sneak Peek: For Insiders Only
The following resources will be released in September on the Windows Client TechCenter. Bookmark or subscribe to the Windows Client Headlines feed and receive automatic notification when these and other resources, announcements, and downloads are released.
? New videos
Look for demos, tutorials, and more in-depth walkthroughs of Windows 7 features, deployment tools, and Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack solutions.
? Deployment guidance for small and midsize businesses
Designed specifically for IT pros working in organizations with fewer than 500 computers, this new guidance will provide step-by-step instructions to help you deploy Windows 7 on existing PCs running Windows Vista or Windows XP.
? More tips and tricks for the IT Pro at Home
Look for videos, articles, and FAQs on wireless networking, security, location aware printing on the IT Pro at Home zone in September.

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In This Issue
? New Resources
? Something to Blog About
? Tips and Tricks
? Community Update
? Events and Training
? Upcoming Webcasts
? Sneak Peek: For Insiders Only

Top Tasks
? Application Compatibility and UAC
? Desktop Security and Encryption
? Imaging
? Networking
? Performance and Hardware Compatibility
? Volume Activation

Training & Books
? The Rational Guide to Microsoft Windows 7 for IT Professionals
? Upcoming Microsoft Press Titles on Windows 7
? Windows Internals, Fifth Edition
? Windows Administration Resource Kit: Productivity Solutions for IT Professionals
? Windows Vista Inside Out
? Windows Vista Resource Kit

Windows Client Blogs
? Springboard Series
? Windows Team
? Mark Russinovich
? Engineering Windows 7

Windows 7 Resources
? Windows 7 90-Day Trial Download
? Windows 7 Video Walkthrough Series
? Windows 7: A First Look for IT Pros
? Windows 7 Security Enhancements
? Mark Russinovich: Windows 7 Virtual Roundtable

Windows Vista Resources
? Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
? Windows Vista SP1
? Performance and Tuning
? Support and Troubleshooting

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table Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) CD, and you will have deployed your first custom Windows image.

drashek

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Why is that messy?

PB_z 2nd Sep 2009

It's meant for you to try out on a few machines to see how it works with your organization's apps and workflows, and to get a feel for how you would create your Win7 deployment image. When you've decided whether to deploy Win7 broadly, you are likely going to create an image and push that out to everyone, including the machines that you did the trial on. What's the reason to keep those machines using the same install that you used for experimenting/researching?

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It does seem like the solution in search

chrome_slinky@... Updated - 2nd Sep 2009

of a problem. Anyone who might want this (legitimately) should already be connected by the means that they detail. Others should not be looking at an Enterprise version - just a waste of time.

This is the sort of thing that encourages piracy, by means of hacks, if you ask me.