14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is currently hard at work on the evolution of the resource that was formerly labeled Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios Solution Accelerator. According to the Redmond-based company, the building phase hasn’t actually started, as the software giant still has to deal with the planning of the next iteration of the solution accelerator. In this regard, customers that are already leveraging or intend to take advantage of the Windows Optimized Desktop Toolkit can share their insights with Microsoft.
The software giant is offering all users the possibility of sending feedback on the solution accelerator, with the promise that input will be integrated into the next version of the Windows Optimized Desktop Toolkit. Customers interested in helping shape the future of the Windows Optimized Desktop Toolkit can access a survey hosted on Microsoft Connect.
“The Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team is currently planning the next release of the Windows Optimized Desktop Toolkit (previously known as Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios Solution Accelerator). To help identify and prioritize features to include in the toolkit, we have created a survey to gather information about our customers' desktop infrastructures,” revealed a member of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit Team. “The survey is now available on Connect and will be open until September 22, 2009.”
At the same time, the company is also offering an alternative for customers that wish to share their feedback, but are unable to do so via the Windows Optimized Desktop Toolkit vNext survey. Personally, I tried accessing the Microsoft Connect page, ready to contribute with my input, and to snoop around trying to guess the direction Microsoft will take with the future version of the solution accelerator but I only got as far as an error page. The software giant is telling customers that the7 can contact wodtfb at Microsoft dot com in order to share their desktop infrastructure optimization needs with the company.
“To express our thanks, we will offer a free copy of OneNote software from Microsoft to 5 survey participants from a random drawing on September 22, 2009,” the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit Team representative added.
For the time being, customers can access version 1.1 of the Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios, with updated versions of both the guide and tool, tailored to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
“The Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios relate the business requirements (IT and user) for a flexible, efficient, and managed desktop environment to sets of complementary Microsoft technologies by defining and using five standard user scenarios that map business requirements to technology solutions. These core scenarios are: Office Worker, Mobile Worker, Task Worker, Contract/Offshore Worker, and workers who need to Access from Home,” Microsoft noted.