Thank You

I would like to give a thank you to our Web Development Team for the updates to Microsoft Sale. I think the changes to the page look great and I would love to hear some feedback from our customers. Any suggestions for updates or changes to the site are greatly appriciated.

Most of the changes made were done in Microsoft FrontPage or Microsoft Expression Web. Both of these tools do an excellant job for web development. Take some time to look around the new Microsoft Sale. There is some new information and some updates to old information.

Give Vista a break

There are many people disputing the validity of Microsoft’s release that they have sold over 20 million licenses in their first month of general release. One of the big complaints about the number is it includes licenses sold to OEMs. And it should, when an OEM buys software from Microsoft it goes from Microsoft’s hands to the OEM’s hands. Microsoft counts that software as sold, the OEM is responsible for their own tracking of their business sales.

It seems that many people find it very easy to put Vista down for anything that they can find. I started thinking about it and I remember how many people thought Windows 95 looked nice, but was a bad idea. The next “bad idea” was Windows ME. Then looking back there were many people that said they would never go from Windows 2000 to Windows XP. I will admit Windows ME was not a very good OS. But 1 out of 3 tell me that odds are in Vista’s favor.

Improve your Communication!

Microsoft has made Office Communications Server 2007 beta download available. The server includes software-powered VoIP, Web conferencing and enterprise instant messaging.

Office Communications Server 2007 will integrate with Active Directory, Microsoft Office, and telephony systems to make a powerful communication system.

Download Beta Here.

Are you going to watch the Adobe launch?

Adobe Creative Suite 3 is official. Creative Suite 3 Web Premium and Standard will begin shipping in April. The remaining Creative Suite products will begin shipping in the third quarter of 2007.

Adobe is calling Creative Suite 3 the biggest launch in their 25 year history. Adobe promises best-of-breed tools for every medium with Creative Suite 3. Watch the Official Launch webcast at 3:30 EST.

Vista 20 Million in 1 month, Linux 30 Million in 15 years

Windows Vista has sold over 20 million licenses in its first month since general release on January 30th. Windows XP sold only 17 million in its first 2 months. There has been a large amount of news about the slow upgrading to Windows Vista, but this shows that maybe the bar was just set to high. Microsoft was initially very optimistic about how fast customers would convert to Vista, but lost some optimism after the general release. This news should boost the optimism showing that Vista is in fact doing better then XP did.

I recently saw an advertisement for Linux that bragged an estimated 30 million users. It somewhat put into perspective that in 1 month Windows Vista has nearly as many users as Linux. Windows Vista continues in the line of trusted Windows operating systems and with it Microsoft will continue to dominate the OS market for years to come.

Microsoft continues to Add Value!

Microsoft continues to provide opportunities for partners to add value. This time it is a new feature for system builders. Microsoft already gives a large discount on OEM software for system builders. In Windows Vista, Microsoft has built in some advertising opportunities. System builders can now add links and information to the Welcome Center. This is a great opportunity for a system build to advertise other products or services. Imagine if you could give all your customers instant access to all of the services that you can offer.

This gives the system you a chance to give something extra back to the customer. Access to Welcome Center gives you chance to generate future sales with your customer. Who knows when your customer might need a new printer or more ram. Products you happen to have advertised on the Welcome Center screen. Really it is free advertising and who can’t use free advertising? Enjoy this new service and work to make sure you add as much value for your customers as possible.

Antivirus Update!

ESET released a new version of their popular antivirus software NOD32. NOD32 2.7 provides comprehensive protection by including protection against viruses, hackers adware and spyware in one application. The new version of NOD32 antivirus Includes support for Windows Vista 32 and 64 bit editions. Another new feature is Anti-Stealth technology which allows rootkits to be discovered even if they are hiding from the operating system. More information here.

How to get Office.

Are you waiting to upgrade? It seems that many customers are waiting to make the change to Microsoft Office 2007 and Windows Vista. It seems that everyone wants to make sure that the bugs are out of the software before they begin using it. This is an understandable stance, but some companies are not aware that they can still get the old versions of the software. If you are waiting until you are ready to go to Office 2007 before putting Office on new systems in the office you do have an option. Through Microsoft Open License and Microsoft Open Value you have downgrade rights to use a previous version. Also when you are ready to transition to Office 2007 you are already licensed and only have to install the new software.

If you are under a volume license agreement with software assurance you already have the license for the new version. If you need to add systems you do not need to wait. You can purchase your additional licenses with software assurance and continue to use a prior version with the license. Microsoft downgrade rights make it easy to keep all your network operating on the same software.

Put Yourself Online!

Have you been looking for a website for your business? Microsoft has developed an option that will give you a free professional web site. Through Microsoft Office Live Basics you can great a free website with your own domain. If you do not have experience with web development this is a great option. The free service includes templates for you to put in the information. As you become more comfortable with the web development you can change to a paid option and try a product like Microsoft Expression Web to develop your website further.

Academic Software is Great!

Microsoft has many options for academic software licensing. There is a subscription based agreement called the Campus or School Agreement. There is an open agreement call the Academic Open License Agreement. Also there is a retail option available to students and teachers.

The Campus/School Agreement is a subscription based purchasing plan. At the beginning of the year you pay for your software products for all of the systems in the school. The next year you do it again. This program is great for holding a tight budget because all of the systems are licensed at one time instead of adding licenses though the year.

The Academic Open License Agreement allows for more purchasing flexibility. It requires purchasing at least 5 licenses on your initial order, but once in the agreement additional licenses can be added at any time.

Student and Teacher software is a discounted retail box packages. The software is intended to be for school use by students or teachers. Schools can also purchase Student and Teacher software if they choose not to use a license agreement.

In order to qualify for Academic Licensing a k-12 school must be recognized by the State Department of Education. For a College or University there must be regional accreditation to qualify for the discounts. Students and Teachers are required to provide information to verify their status.

More information on Academic qualification.

Lenovo to go Live

Lenovo has come to an agreement with Microsoft. This will put Windows Live services in Lenovo ThinkPad notebooks and ThinkCentre desktops. This deal should help Microsoft’s presence in the search engine market.

Google currently holds most of the search market followed by Yahoo and Microsoft sitting in 3rd place. Having the Live Search default for Lenovo will likely increase the traffic for Microsoft.

This comes after Google released Google Apps to compete with Microsoft Office software. Microsoft currently controls the majority of the software market and improving their search level could quickly do a large amount of damage to Google.

Customer Service vs. Sales

Good sales and customer service are really the same thing. When you attempt to make a sale you are offering a customer something they want or need. In customer service you are addressing a customer’s want or need. If you can serve your customer your customer will buy that service.

Unfortunately many companies look at this in a different way. They want their sales people to sell you on something instead of offering you a solution. Then many times it is taken a step further by asking customer service specialists to sell you something.

From my experience if you give service first the customer will give you the sale. If your customer likes you and trusts you they will tell you what you can offer them. If you know what to offer the sale is made for you.

Here are some things that you can do to let the customer
bring the sales to you.

1. Think service first. Let your customers tell you what
   they need.


2. Personalize. If a customer gives you pieces of personal information commit them to memory and bring them up later. This will help build trust.


3. Know your products. If you don’t know your products
   you can’t tell a customer how a product will fit their needs.

One thing I recommend is to keep a record. Use Excel or Access to keep track of every contact with a customer. You can make notes of personal information, and track purchases to anticipate future needs.

Buy Microsoft Office software here.

Need antivirus for Vista?

What antivirus software will work with Windows Vista? Since Windows Vista came out antivirus software companies have been working to ensure that their software will continue to work with the new operating system.

ESET’s NOD32 was one of the first antivirus software companies to offer 64-bit support for both home and business users. Version 2.7 offers full Vista compatibility. If you currently have a valid NOD32 license the upgrade to version 2.7 is available at no charge.

Trend Micro has released a version of PC-cillin antivirus software that will work with Windows Vista. However the Client/Server/SMB software is still waiting for an updated version to work with Windows Vista. The updated version is expected to be released soon.

Windows Server 2003 SP 2

Microsoft released service pack 2 for Windows Server 2003. The service pack includes numerous fixes for Windows Server. Also it includes some new features. There is a new event log to address some issues with Cluster service. Also the Microsoft Message Queuing storage limit has been changed to 1 gig. If you have Small Business Server 2003 the service pack also applies.

Find SP 2 here.

An easy license option for schools

The Microsoft School Agreement provides K-12 schools with an alternative to Open Licensing. The School Agreement is a subscription based license agreement that allows schools to pay for their software one year at a time. This creates easy license compliance because all the school’s computers are covered through the term of the subscription. The School Agreement also eliminates the need to keep track of licenses because every product in the subscription is licensed to the entire school. Finally it simplifies budgeting by making 1 payment cover all of your products for 1 year.

How to license Windows Terminal Services

Licensing Windows Terminal Services can sometimes get confusing. Terminal Service is built into the Windows Server, but does require additional licenses to utilize. First you need the Server license and the appropriate number of client licenses. These client licenses can be set as per user or per device.

A per user license is a license for 1 user to access the server. A per device license is for one system to access the server. Which license would be more effective depends greatly on how people will be accessing your server.

Terminal Services also requires using a client license. The Terminal Services Client Access License allows users to connect to the Terminal Server in Windows Server. This license can also be used per user or per device.

In order to access the server the client will need to have both the Server client license and the Terminal Services client license.

Another thing to keep in mind with Terminal Services licensing is it does not effect application licenses. Applications such as Office have their own license rules.  Most applications require one license per system.  In other words if you are using a Terminal Server with Office 2007 you will need an Office 2007 license for the server and for each system that uses the software. If you have questions please feel free to contact me.

Adobe Photoshop CS3

Adobe Photoshop CS3 continues to be available as a download in beta. The software should begin distribution this sometime this spring. Adobe has indicated that they want to make sure to have extensive beta, to ensure that the software will function properly with Mac’s change to Intel processors. The planned release for Adobe Photoshop CS3 is sometime this spring.

The release date is expected to be announced soon. If you want to try the software though you can go here to download the software.

Do they really dare?

There are some rumors going around of late saying that both Dell and HP are considering including Linux operating systems instead of Windows. Many fans of Linux software feel that this is a great thing that is going to allow Linux use to grow.  There is however a potential problem that if not handled properly could result in no manufacturer daring to preinstall Linux software.

When the average person goes to buy a new computer from Dell or HP they are going to expect the standard preloaded software. They are going to expect to have Windows and some trial applications ready when the plug it in and turn it on. Now based on the nature of Linux I expect that the Linux systems may sell at a lower price. That customer that goes shopping for a computer and sees one
that is $50 cheaper makes the quick purchase based on price.

When this customer gets home and turns on the computer they are not greeted by the Windows logo they expect. In fact they are greeted by an operating system that they have never seen and have no idea how to use. What would you imagine their reaction to be? I imagine their reaction to be that they got a broken computer. I expect them to call Dell or HP and spend hours on the phone costing those companies money. I expect them to lose trust for Dell or HP costing them more money. If they start losing money because of Linux they will stop preinstalling it, and no one else will dare preinstall it.

I think if it was me and I did not get what I expected, I would return it. And to make sure I never made the mistake again I would not spend my money with that company. There are plenty of other computer companies out there that I can give my dollar to. So to Dell and HP, and to their customers, be careful with Linux.

Customer Service Thoughts

It is not how you handle to good stuff that makes you great, it in how you handle the bad. Sometimes things do not go as they are planned and expected. Sometimes things just downright go wrong. The mark of a good company is how those wrongs are handled. There are many ways to react when a problem arises.  You can easily pass the blame along to someone else. You can argue and fight and push your point. Or you can go to work on a fix.

In dealing with hardware and software sometimes there are problems. Sometimes hardware doesn’t work with the system you have. Sometimes the software that you purchased does not do what you planned for it to do. We want to help if that situation arises. You are encouraged to call us and we will work to fine a replacement or a return. If we do not have a solution that fits your needs we will give you contact information for the manufacturer of the product.

We always hope that the hardware or software products you get from us work excatly as you expect them to. If they do not, we will work with you to find a solution that does fit your needs and expectations.

Are you still waiting?

Are you waiting to upgrade? It seems that many customers are waiting to make the change to Office 2007 and Windows Vista. It seems that everyone wants to make sure that the bugs are out of the software before they begin using it. This is an understandable stance, but some companies are not aware that they can still get the old versions of the software. If you are waiting until you are ready to go to Office 2007 before putting Office on new systems in your business you do have an option. Through Microsoft Open License and Microsoft Open Value you have downgrade rights to use a previous version. Also when you are ready to transition to Office 2007 you are already licensed and only have to install the new software.

If you are under a volume license agreement with software assurance you already have the license for the new version. If you need to add systems you do not need to wait. You can purchase your additional licenses with software assurance and continue to use a prior version with the license. Microsoft downgrade rights make it easy to keep all your network operating on the same software.

Adobe Creative Suite 3 Rumors

I have seen quite a few statements of when Creative Suite 3 is going to be released. There are many rumors flying around, but as of yet the only think I have seen directly from Adobe is that it is planned to be released this year. I am quite excited to see what the new software has to offer.

For those of you that want to get the Creative Suite but are waiting for the new version to come out, there is an option so you do not have to wait.  Adobe offers maintenance that will cover any upgrades for two years. This allows you to get Creative Suite now and upgrade when the new version comes out.

I hope that Adobe will officially announce when the release is going to happen soon, but in the meantime maintenance is defiantly an option.

Are you ready for time to change?

As some of you know daylight savings time is coming a little early this year. In fact daylight savings time is coming three weeks earlier then it did last year. Sunday March 11^th will start daylight savings time and many software programs could be effected by the change.

The time change should have no effect on Windows Vista, Exchange Server 2007 or Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. There are however many programs that do need updates. Windows Server and Windows XP will need updates. I know that many businesses have been delaying the change to Windows Vista, but now might be the time to do it to avoid any time change problems.

There are some other programs that will require updates and you can find that list here. Also if you do need updates you can find the updates here. I hope that the upcoming time change goes smoothly for everyone. If nothing else just don't forget to set your watch.

It's all about security.

It seems that software security is becoming a bigger and bigger concern as the web becomes more popular. It seems that you can not spend 15 minutes connected to the internet without having at least some form of spyware or adware finding a way into your computer. Not to mention the viruses continue to be a problem. Windows Vista took steps to increase security, but still can not keep everything out.

Because of the constant threat of attack there are many antivirus software programs available. The biggest of which is probably Symantec which makes the Norton software that many people find on their new computer when they start it up. There are however a couple of antivirus applications that seem to catch everything Symantec does, and can do it with more efficiency. Trend Micro and NOD32 have both been praised for using a smaller footprint. Meaning they use less system resources and are able to run faster.

Especially in business security is important. Symantec, Trend Micro and NOD32 will all provide protection so you can spend less time working on infected systems and more time working with your customers.