Being someone who likes to use the latest applications and gets asked questions about getting the new version of product x, I thought I would share what I found here.

Click here to learn more. Just as an aside, please read the fine print at the bottom.

The benefit I see this having is for those getting new computers.  This way if they buy Office 2007, they can upgrade to 2010 at release without needing to rebuy or purchase an upgrade.

I am curious to find out how the retail launch of Windows 7 went as compared to any goals that Microsoft had.  Surely as it is available, sales will pick up, especially if the “it beats Vista” claims are true, and in my estimation they appear to be.

Have you upgraded to Windows 7 yet?  Either at work or at home?  I am getting there slowly at home, but it will be a while before I move that direction in the corporate environment.  In the testing I have done there, most things seem to work without a problem and the few that aren’t yet working will either go away or get support by the time we get that far.

The capabilities that will sell the application to management in most organizations are two fold.  Sure they will like the power management features and efficiencies of the OS when paired with Windows Server 2008 R2, for things like Direct Access, Branch Cache, and others, but what about the users?

Selling a feature like Branch Cache to an everyday user (or to management when they are wearing their user hats) might be a bit difficult because the end user in everyone, geeks IT Pros included wants the stuff they use to work.   In this case, features like search, Jump Lists, and stability might be the best thing to demo or to sell on.  The search and jump list features should increase productivity at the desktop because there are fewer clicks to locate files, I do not think this will bring a million dollar savings, but it should please the users that they can locate things anywhere on their computer and the network.

For the mobile user, the ability to specify a different printer depending on the location and network connected is a great feature.  Especially when coupled with better wireless support and auto connect.  The auto-connect thing has been around for a while, but it is very much improved in Windows 7.  As an example, on my laptop, it connects to my home network as soon as it fires up and there is no interaction needed… the same is true of the network at my office.  This has been excellent.

To create a case for Windows 7 in your environment, some cost benefit analysis will likely be needed, but work with your Microsoft partner and determine which features of the OS will be the biggest light bulbs for your company.  These should be the ones that you show off to everyone.  Doing this will help build user excitement, which can show management that boosted productivity is right around the corner.  Not to mention, getting everyone who will use the tool on board by choice rather than by force is always a plus.

My wife and I took a crack at the Flat Belly Diet (and are still on again off again in process).  The first four days, which are to be the hardest as they allow the fewest calories per day and the least amount of wiggle room per participant, are pretty brutal.  The intent being to reduce bloating and such (similar to the reason some Linux and other open sourcers don’t like Windows – bloat).

The diet will continue, although I have gone slightly off the wagon and had subway for lunch, and I am sure once we use the recipes included, it won’t be so bad.

My point in going into this detail about the diet that seems to be from hell is that I had to be willing to try it to know if it was good or bad.  Same thing is true of new opportunities, no matter where they appear.

When Microsoft pushes Windows 7 to general availability there will be companies small and large waiting near the shelf to get their hands on it.  Some are after it already using MVLS and adoption is beginning already.  Users may want to change or be proponents of change when sitting in a meeting discussing possibilities, but when the time comes to move them to Windows 7 the song may not remain the same.

How will they know if they like Windows 7 or not unless they try it?  They won’t, but mass upgrade over the weekend and first use on a Monday is not quite what I had in mind.

My advice to all those out there looking to jump ship from XP (or Vista) to Windows 7 would be pilot groups.  For example, I have an old laptop that we use for meetings and presentations that needs to be flattened and just retuned.  I was considering going with XP and being up and running today, but decided I would put Windows 7 business on it and use it as the beginning demo.  This way some of the users of the computer might inquire about it and volunteer to pilot. 

I am not going to hold my breath about volunteers as that is tough to get, but the hope exists that maybe being in the early adopter camp will help with change in other areas in my company.

How is your organization planning to deal with the change coming when upgrading to Windows 7?