14 DAY TRIAL // Experience in technology and a track record in the industry are the two things that best recommend Microsoft to serve the needs of educational organizations, in the view of the company. The software giant is offering a new resource available free of charge designed to underline the importance of including technology into the educational process. The Windows 7 Optimized Desktop for Education Ebook is available online, but users will need Silverlight in order to access the contents, as Microsoft has leveraged its alternative to Adobe Flash in order to bring the resource to the public. Of course, Windows 7 is at the core of the Redmond company’s Optimized Desktop for Education vision.
Microsoft is essentially inviting educators to transform desktop infrastructure, as they are constantly pressured to do more with less resources. In this sense, Information technology needs to be enabling, efficient and responsible while driving productivity, collaboration and delivering flexibility.
“The Windows Optimized desktop accomplished this by bringing together technologies, services, and best practices that help IT optimize the desktop infrastructure in a familiar user environment. The solution includes Windows 7 Enterprise operating system, Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP), and Internet Explorer – all innovative technologies that will help IT departments creatively address current and future challenges,” Microsoft noted.
But of course, there are additional products which can be leveraged in concert for the Windows Optimized Desktop vision in addition to Windows 7 and MDOP, including Windows Server 2008 R2, System Center, Forefront Client Security, and Office. Still, Windows 7 is the focus in Microsoft’s perspective.
“With the Windows Optimized Desktop, Microsoft has created a single client infrastructure framework that will empower the new diverse education environment by supporting the execution and administration of multiple desktop and worker scenarios,” the company added. With Windows 7 in particular, Microsoft is emphasizing the importance of the following components: DirectAccess, BranchCache, Federated Search, BitLocker and BitLocker to Go, AppLocker, and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure optimizations.
“A vital need for students, faculty, staff and administrators in education today is effective, productive access to and control of technology. For end-users, that translates to productivity in accessing information and transforming it into knowledge and supporting collaboration. For administrators, effectiveness is providing a resilient infrastructure that supports the success of students and faculty and their broader education goals. And for information technology and system administrators, that means supporting education technology needs in a way that maximizes results from the scarce budget and people resources of their school or campus,” revealed Ian Morrish, the Microsoft Education Account Technology Strategist for New Zealand.
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