We take our relationship we have with our Partners very seriously and I have spoken recently at CMP Exchange and heard a lot from Partners about your thoughts and insights about the Microsoft Partner Program. One example would be the TS2 Team itself and the blogs and forums we have out here for you. We share a lot of info, thoughts and insights with you here in the hope that many of you find value in these pieces of information. But I also know that Microsoft can do more to make it easier to engage with us, to help you squeeze more efficiency out of the day, and to meet the demands of your customers.
We have put together a Microsoft Partner Relationship Management Team here at Microsoft, and we want your direct input on how we can make our relationship with you even stronger than it is today. If you have a minute as you go through your day, We would love to hear from you and as we get some results I will share even more. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how we are doing – and where we could improve.
To do this, Eric Ligman has posted a three (3) question survey asking for your input. Just three simple questions. Your contact information is completely optional, but always welcomed. If you could please take just a few minutes to provide us with this input, it would be most appreciated and will hopefully provide us with some better insights into how to make our relationship with all of you even stronger than it is today. Remember, the only way to help us help you is to give us your feedback, so now is not the time to be the silent majority. We want to hear from the VOCAL majority! And we know our Partners like to be VOCAL! ;) So help us help you!
Windows Vista Facts
I am consistently hearing from our partner they need the facts. Here they are and you can also see them on the Microsoft Partner Portal here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/enterprise/vistafacts/default.mspx
Organizations using Windows Vista have experienced enhanced security, tangible cost savings in IT labor, and measurable improvements in user productivity. In addition to these benefits, Windows Vista helps organizations with one of their most challenging mandates—reducing risk.
Here are all the key reasons why you can confidently deploy Windows Vista now:
1) Most secure operating system
Windows Vista is a fundamentally more secure platform. Windows Vista is 60 percent less likely to be infected with malware, and had 20 percent less vulnerabilities than Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) in 2007.
2) Performance
Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows XP SP2 perform comparably on most business tasks. Windows Vista with SP1 allows for faster moving and copying of files, faster browsing, and faster recovery from hibernation.
3) Application compatibility
Over 2,700 software programs including 98 percent of the top 100 commercial applications sold at U.S. retailers, excluding PC games, are compatible with Windows Vista.1
4) Hardware compatibility
Windows Vista now supports over 77,000 devices and components like printers, cameras, and speakers. Over 47,000 devices have been added since Windows Vista launched in January 2007.
5) Environmental impact
Every 10 PCs with CRTs migrated to Windows Vista and configured to use Power Management is equivalent to taking one car off the road in terms of greenhouse gasses. Default settings and centralized manageability of power settings help contribute to positive environmental impact. (299 KB Word document)
6) Total cost of ownership
Windows Vista helps reduce computing total cost of ownership (TCO) and increases mobility and productivity. Windows Vista, along with the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) and best practices, can help reduce mobile TCO by $605 per PC annually. (13.9 MB PDF)
7) Deployment
Windows Vista is on track for a faster deployment than both Windows XP and Windows 2000.
8) Satisfaction
Windows Vista usage corresponds to greater willingness to recommend it. A majority of people who used Windows Vista at work and home would recommend it—65 percent definitely and 18 percent probably.2
9) Customer adoption
An increasing number of large organizations are adopting Windows Vista, such as Continental Airlines, United States Air Force, EDS, Virgin Megastore, Schroders, Lucerne Building Insurance, and Repsol YPF. Find more case studies on the Microsoft Case Studies website.
10) Analyst support
Industry Analysts agree that skipping Windows Vista is a bad idea:
1NDP sales data for 12 months ending May 2008.
2Based on an internal Microsoft study.