14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows Vista Desktop Optimization Pack was announced in 2006 as a set of management and reliability tools for the operating system. The Pack is designed for deployment in corporate environments, but while Windows Vista was made available for Microsoft's Software Assurance customers since November 30, 2006, the Desktop Optimization Pack is not yet a fully matured product.
"Windows Vista Enterprise helps global organizations and enterprises with complex IT infrastructures lower IT costs, reduce risk, and stay connected. The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance further extends this value by reducing application deployment costs, enabling delivery of applications as services, and allowing for better management and control of enterprise desktop environments. Together these technologies deliver a highly cost-effective and flexible Windows desktop management solution," informed Microsoft.
The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance is available exclusively to Software Assurance customers. According to Microsoft, the pack will contribute to reducing the total cost of ownership of the Windows Desktop.
Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization, Microsoft Asset Inventory Service, Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management and Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset are the four products reunited under the Windows Vista Desktop Optimization umbrella.
The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack's timetable fails to tailor fit the initial dates forecasted by Microsoft. First off, the Redmond Company initially planned to deliver SoftGrid in January 2007. While Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization for Windows Desktops version 4.1 is indeed available, support for Windows Vista will be added only with version 4.2 starting with July 2007.
Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management is also scheduled for release in July 2007. By contrast, Microsoft Asset Inventory Services have an unspecified release date sometime in late summer 2007. Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset is the most advanced product, it has already reached RTM and will be released in May 2007.