In The Know - Charles Van Heusen's Weblog

Vista and 2007 Office Readiness

The launch of Vista and 2007 Office are quickly approaching.  Arm yourself with the latest information that will prepare you for questions from your customer by attending these webcasts in December.

Growing Your Business with Windows Vista and 2007 Office

Webcast Series Details:

Wednesday, December 6^th, 2006

TOPIC: Windows Vista Express Upgrade and Microsoft Office Technology Guarantee Programs

TIME: 9:00 - 10:00AM (PST)       

SPEAKERS: Patrick Kennedy, Microsoft Group Product Manager & Carel Talens, Microsoft Marketing Manager

LEVEL:  200

DESCRIPTION: The Windows Vista Express Upgrade and Microsoft Office Technology Guarantee programs are designed to help maintain new PC sales during the holiday season, despite launching after the season is over. By purchasing a pc with the qualified software during the designated time frame, customers will be able to upgrade to the corresponding next generation technology once it launches. This Web Cast will go over all you need to know to participate in these programs.

http://www.msreadiness.com/WS_abstract.asp?eid=15004897

Tuesday, December 12^th, 2006

TOPIC: Strengthening Your Business through Genuine Software Advantage

TIME: 10:00 - 11:00AM (PST)       

SPEAKER: Andrew Forsyth, Microsoft Business Development Manager

LEVEL:  200

DESCRIPTION:  Providing genuine Microsoft software empowers you to generate new sales and create strong customer relationships by providing the value and peace of mind your customers want.  Windows Genuine Advantage enables your customers to validate their software – assuring them that they will receive all of the features, performance, and updates that only Genuine software provides. Learn how the Genuine Advantage can help you build your business by strengthening your customer base, and avoiding potential lost sales to competitors.

http://www.msreadiness.com/WS_abstract.asp?eid=15004898

Tuesday, December 19^th, 2006

TOPIC: Windows Anytime Upgrade  

TIME: 10:00 - 11:00AM (PST)       

SPEAKER: Hakan Olsson, Microsoft Lead Product Manager, Technical

LEVEL:  200

DESCRIPTION:  Windows Anytime Upgrade is a new program that enables Windows Vista users to conveniently and affordably upgrade to a higher edition of Windows Vista. This session will reveal an overview of the program and user experience, as well as the business model associated with the program.

http://www.msreadiness.com/WS_abstract.asp?eid=15004899

Windows vs. Linux: Are you on the fence?

Come join us on Wednesday, November 15^th for a conversation with a panel of solution providers - like you - that offer consulting services, packaged software and embedded devices. They will discuss the relative merits of their technical investments in Windows and Linux, and why they are planning for an interoperable future.

Among topics to be discussed are:

• Preparing for the Future: In a rapidly changing industry, what matters most?

• Skills: Which integration and development skills will matter and how to develop them

• Application Availability: The role that application choice plays in customer decisions

• Customer Demand and Perceptions: What drives customer interest and how interoperability, open standards and open source play out

• Profitability Equation: A comprehensive look at key performance factors for decisions these providers made.

REGISTER today and join our interactive discussion LIVE on Wednesday, November 15th, at 2pm ET/11am PT to find out what decisions these businesses are making today in order to secure their profitability tomorrow. 350 randomly selected attendees who fill out the feedback form will receive the new-to-market Microsoft Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 6000, a $49.95 value!

Microsoft Linux! - Is it April Fools already?

My phone and email have been going not stop for the past few hours regarding the latest announcement coming out of Redmond.  And for those who have asked, as far as I can tell, Hell didn't freeze over yet, but its true, Microsoft and Novell are partnering together to promote LINUX!

My first reaction, was to look at the calendar to make sure it wasn't a belated April fools joke or some ha ha, gotcha message at the bottom.  If you look at other things that have taken place lately with Oracle stepping into the Linux realm and announcing they were going to start offering support for Red Hat Linux, it starts to make more sense. 

In my travel's throughout the United States for the past 5 years working in the Partner Channel, I've come to realize there is a love / hate relationship with in the Microsoft / Linux world or at least people seem to be putting off that vibe.  To me it's more of a rivalry like you find among sports fans where University of Texas fans and Oklahoma fans like to battle it out at the Red River Shootout (28-10 Texas!, Yeah Baby),once a year in College football.  Yet, when it comes down to it, everyone has a similar passion for the game. 

In our case, the game is not one most jocks follow, its the geek's game, of the computing realm.  Fortunately for me, as a Microsoft employee, I can breath a sigh of relief, because I've been somewhat of a fan of SUSE even before Novell got their hands on them and I can now talk about it, without fear of the man coming down on me. 

When it comes down to it, Linux is good for business because competition promotes innovation, which everyone benefits from in the long run.  What will be interesting to see is if there are any invisible lines drawn in the sand between the Linux guru's of the world because Microsoft is now venturing further into their world.  (Hello Lindows!) Only Joking HR, don't slap me, just yet. 

I want to here from Vlad Mazek and his Vladville review on the subject as he works in both the Microsoft and Linux worlds and always has his on spin on the latest news in the market so I will keep checking my RSS Feeds to see what comes through in the next day or two...