|
Microsoft is in the midst of an unprecedented, massive upgradecycle for its enterprise software products, a refresh wave thatrepresents a major challenge for CIOs and IT managers responsiblefor charting their companies' technology strategy. Not only is Microsoft working on a major revamp of its flagshipWindows operating system, but significant upgrades are coming toits Office products, the Explorer browser and a range of back-endenterprise products. [ Get familiar fast with Office 2010's key applications -- Word,Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook -- with InfoWorld's set of Office 2010 QuickStart PDF guides . Stay abreast of key Microsoft technologies in our Technology: Microsoft newsletter. ] "There's definitely something unique going on here," said TedSchadler, a Forrester Research analyst. The current status and expected delivery dates of the variousupgrades vary -- and in some cases, Microsoft hasn't yet providedspecifics -- but the overall effort started last year and may carryover to next year. Unsurprisingly, the vendor is trumpeting the initiative with anintense marketing assault, and CIOs and IT directors must be readyto analyze the individual upgrades to decide which ones make sensefor their companies to adopt. "Microsoft is the strategic supplier. It's far and away the No. 1most-used workforce technology. That makes it a critical supplierto the enterprise and every CIO needs to be extremely in touch withwhat Microsoft is doing," Schadler said. Coming upgrades Chief among the upgrades are new versions of Windows OSes for PCs,tablets, servers and possibly even phones. Microsoft says thatWindows 8, now in beta testing, is a major revamp of the Windows 7OS for PCs. It includes a new touch-optimized user interface calledMetro designed for tablet devices, which have become popular amongenterprise users. A new version of the Internet Explorer browser, version 10, is alsoin progress, designed to take advantage of the new features andcapabilities in Windows 8, particularly the Metro UI. Microsoft is also revamping its Office family. The "Office 15"upgrade initiative, now in its early stages, will include newversions of productivity apps like Word, PowerPoint and Excel, andcommunications and collaboration products like Exchange/Outlook,Lync and SharePoint -- both on premise and as part of thecloud-hosted Office 365 suite. Back-end server and tools products, as well as enterpriseapplications, are also getting makeovers. These include thecompany's enterprise database, the new version of which is calledSQL Server 2012; the IT management tool System Center; theapplication development platform Visual Studio; and Dynamicsenterprise software applications. Microsoft, naturally, is doing its best to generate excitementaround the new and improved features in these upgrades, making acase for their adoption through sometimes lengthy and frequent blogposts, advertising, appearances by officials at conferences and thelike. However, CIOs and analysts caution against getting seduced by theMicrosoft marketing siren call. Focus on ROI "CIOs need to focus on total cost of ownership and return oninvestment. Once you know what you're currently paying with the TCOanalysis, then you can do an ROI assessment," said industry analystMichael Osterman from Osterman Research. IT professionals should focus on what their internal organization'sroad map looks like, said IDC analyst Al Gillen. I am an expert from baby-bedrails.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China Baby Buggy Strollers , Baby Wooden Cribs, Baby Bed Rails,and more.
Related Articles -
China Baby Buggy Strollers, Baby Wooden Cribs,
|
