Tag: Your Questions

Categories
Uncategorized

Your questions: Windows Essential Business Server 2008 (EBS2008) was discontinued… what are my options?

Windows Essential Business Server 2008


From Daniel… timely in my effort to cover at least one customer and partner challenge or issue per day …



“I read the news today… EBS2008 [Windows Essential Business Server] was discontinued… what are my options?”


The news in question is from this post on the Essential Business Server blog…



Today, we announced the decision to streamline our server product portfolio and will discontinue future development of EBS, effective June 30th, 2010.


Since the launch of EBS, several changes have occurred that drove our decision to streamline our server product portfolio. First, midsize businesses are rapidly turning to technologies such as management, virtualization and cloud computing as a means to cut costs, improve efficiency, and increase competitiveness. Those capabilities are already available through other offerings, including Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft System Center and the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS).


This information is taken from the EBS 2008 FAQ page…


2008 Discontinuation of Future Development


Q. I just bought EBS 2008.  Should I stop deploying it or move to another set of products?


A. There is no reason why you cannot or should not move forward and deploy it. Microsoft will continue to support EBS 2008 through the normal product lifecycle.  EBS 2008 is a suite that includes several individual products, each with different support lifecycles. So support will last through 2017 for some components and through 2018 for others. For more detailed information on the lifecycle for the EBS 2008 suite, customers can go to the Microsoft Support site.  If you acquired EBS 2008 with OEM hardware, contact the manufacturer of your server hardware that came with EBS 2008 for the OEM’s support policies.


Q. If I am an existing EBS 2008 customer, what happens now?


A. Your EBS 2008 product will still receive support through the normal product life cycle.  Because EBS 2008 is a suite that includes several individual products, each with different support lifecycles, support will last through 2017 for some components and through 2018 for others. For more detailed information on the lifecycle for the EBS 2008 suite, customers can go to the Microsoft Support site.  If you acquired EBS with OEM hardware, contact the manufacturer of your server hardware that came with EBS for the OEM’s support policies. 


Next, we recognize that discontinuing EBS could result in additional cost and complexity for customers when they decide to upgrade.  Because of this we are going to provide a one-time limited offer for all EBS 2008 customers.  Beginning on June 30, 2010 until December 31, 2010, current EBS 2008 customers can get most of the individual component software from the suite for free (local taxes, shipping and handling charges may apply).  This means EBS 2008 customers can get copies of Windows Server 2008 Standard, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Standard and Microsoft System Center Essentials 2007. To learn more about this offer, EBS customers should visit the EBS Promotions and Offers page.


Q. What are you doing for EBS Volume Licensing customers who purchased Software Assurance?


A. EBS customers who purchased Software Assurance will be able to take advantage of the same offer listed above and will also receive next versions of individual software products from the suite.  For EBS 2008 Standard customers, those products include: Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, Exchange Server 2010 Standard, System Center Essentials Standard 2010 and Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010.  EBS 2008 Premium customers who have purchased Software Assurance will also be entitled to SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard edition. 


Q. Will I be able to purchase more CALs for EBS 2008?


A. Yes, customers can continue to purchase EBS 2008 CALs from either the Microsoft Volume Licensing program or through Microsoft partners. 


Q. I have been an EBS partner, what should I recommend to my customers now?


A. Windows EBS was based off the Core IO model.  Partners can still implement the Core IO model by implementing standalone products according to the capability maturity model by workload of Core IO.    For more details on Core IO, please visit the Core Infrastructure page of the Partner Sales Resources site.  


More Questions? You can email the team at askEBS.



Added 030510: For additional commentary and views see these posts…



Tags: Microsoft, how to, customer support, Microsoft Product List 2010, feedback, customer service, EBS 2008.


Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, how-to, customer service.


Delicious Bookmark this on Delicious Bookmark and Share


 


Also available via http://bit.ly/9pW32R

Categories
Uncategorized

Your questions: “Will you answer questions on any Microsoft product? How long does Microsoft support their products?”

Diane asks…

"Will you answer questions on any Microsoft product? How long do you [I assume she means Microsoft] support the products?" 

Sure, I’ll try to provide answers and of resources available for the product line. This is not a replacement for our support system for products that are currently supported (aka in mainstream support) — which I might add is really an incredible machine when you consider the breadth. It’s more of an attempts to cover all of our various products and provide information of where you can get support, such as assisted support, updates, hotfixes and more.

Clip Art from Microsoft Office OnlineAs for how long we support our products, that depends on the product.

First there’s "mainstream support." What’s that? Glad you asked.

See Jared’s post on technet…

For all products, the Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy begins with the Mainstream Support phase.  In this phase, we are able to provide all of the standard support services that Microsoft offers.  For example, in-the-box support, paid incident support, design change requests, non-security hotfixes, security updates and online self-help support may all be available during the Mainstream Support phase.
Consumer products that are released annually are provided a total of 3 years of Mainstream Support.  Some examples of these are Microsoft Money, Encarta, Streets & Trips, etc.

For the rest of Consumer, Hardware and Business & Developer products, the Mainstream Support phase is provided for a minimum of 5 years or 2 years after the successor product is released, whichever is longer.

At the end of the Mainstream Support phase, support for Consumer products comes to an end.  Business & Developer products, on the other hand, are provided a minimum of another 5 years of support in the Extended Support phase.

When it comes to direct customer support, your options may vary. For example, support for our Windows is available to users directly )phone, email) from Microsoft for the first 90 days at no charge, but your computer OEM (aka Original Equipment Manufacturer) – the likes of Acer, Asus, Dell HP, Gateway, Panasonic and more – may offer a year of free support (or more!) through their support lines. Users of products like Microsoft Office get the first 90 days of support for free, too. YMMV depending on the product.

There are also our free support forums (like Microsoft Answers, metioned yesterday), a community-based support site where you can ask and answer questions, or just browse other’s answers.

Then there’s Extended Support, as Jared discussed in his post on the end of support for Windows 2000 and Extended Support phase transition for Windows Server 2003. (This support extends primarily to business customers that license our software directly.)

If you missed my last post, we recently discussed the upcoming end of support for Windows Vista with no service packs installed and Windows XP SP2. In a similar vein, in this post I want to discuss support transitions that will primarily impact our enterprise customers.

First, let’s discuss the upcoming changes for Windows 2000. All editions of Windows 2000 will reach the end of the Extended Support phase on July 13, 2010. This will be the end of support for Windows 2000.

As you may recall, at the end of the Extended Support phase, Business & Developer products are no longer publicly supported, although Self-Help Online support (such as Microsoft online Knowledge Base articles, FAQs, troubleshooting tools, and other resources) will be available for a minimum of 12 months after the product reaches the end of its support. This means that there is no more paid support, no support assistance and no further security updates. Due to this, customers are highly encouraged to move to a supported product as soon as possible.

After Extended support, Microsoft offers custom support that "may include assisted support and hotfix support, and may extend beyond 10 years from the date a product becomes generally available. Strategic Microsoft partners may also offer support beyond the Extended Support phase. Customers and partners can contact their account team or their local Microsoft representative for more information."

For more on this and the support options, visit the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ page.

 

Tags: Microsoft, customer support, feedback, customer service, Microsoft Product List 2010.

Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, how-to, customer service

Delicious Bookmark this on Delicious Bookmark and Share

Also available at http://bit.ly/9Ed8Lb (030210: corrected link)

Categories
Uncategorized

Tips & Tricks: How to deauthorize Apple iTunes on all computers associated with your account

Yes, I use lots of different software, including applications from companies of all sizes, from WinZip to Scansoft, to popular applications from Adobe, Intuit, Microsoft (of course) and many more.

And yes, I also use software from Apple.

We own lots of different devices and systems in our home, and we have iTunes installed to manage content we purchased pre Zune days(mainly videos of network shows we missed on our Replay TV DVR or Media Center PC). As I was logging on to my account I noticed that I had reached the maximum number of authorized computers for iTunes (it’s five).

Unfortunately, we are only using iTunes actively on two of our many PCs in the home. Past computers with iTunes have given up the proverbial ghost, as it were, having wiped, upgraded and donated our old PCs.

Apple doesn’t make it too easy to find how to deauthorize computers you’re no longer using, But through the winders of Bing, I found Apple’s knowledge base article on deauthorizating PCs en masse. Turns out that once per year, you may deauthorize iTunes on all computers and then re-add the current computers.

To deauthorize all computers associated with your account (Apple KB HT1420)

If you find you have reached 5 authorizations, you can reset your authorization count by clicking Deauthorize All in the Account Information screen.

  1. Click iTunes Store in the menu on the left side of iTunes.
  2. If you’re not signed in to the store, click the Account button, then enter your account name and password.
  3. Click the Account button again (your ID appears on the button), enter your password, and then click View Account.
  4. In the Account Information window, click Deauthorize All.

Note: You may only use this feature once per year. The Deauthorize All button will not appear if you have fewer than 5 authorized computers, or if you have used this option within the last 12 months. If you need assistance on using this feature, please contact the iTunes Store support via email (http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ww/).

(I noticed that Apple uses a similar hierarchy for their support site as we do at Microsoft, using http://support.apple.com and then noting KBs such as this one as http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420. I wonder if this is a case where Apple followed Microsoft’s lead.)

As you managed your accounts going forward, consider deauthorizing iTunes on a computer prior to its exit from your home network.

Oh, BTW Apple: please don’t automatically assume that I want to install new software or services, this time with Safari 4 and MobileMe. You tried to install Safari in the past, going as far as to setting the default to install the app, as noted…

After complaints, Apple tweaks Software Update for Safari

"Following a storm of criticism, Apple has changed its Software Update software to mark a distinction between new programs, such as its Safari on Windows browser, and updates to existing ones.

"Now, Apple’s Software Update has two separate boxes, one labeled "New Software" and the other labeled "Updates." Before Safari 3.1 was under the "Updates" box and there was no "New Software" heading.

"An Apple representative told Computerworld that the change was done to distinguish new software from updates but declined to say whether it was in response to criticisms or whether Apple may leave the "New Software" box unchecked, as Mozilla’s Dotzler suggested."

Personally, I like the options we provide in Windows Update that allow you to opt in for optional installations. Maybe you could emulate that approach, just as you have with your Support URLs. 😉

imageAnd please fix the text formatting in the Apple Software Update app…

 

 

Tags: Apple, Microsoft, iTunes, Windows, how to, tips, Customer Service.

Bookmark and Share

Also available via http://bit.ly/bA0N4C

Categories
Uncategorized

How to organize like Bill Gates, the HP-Microsoft deal, Helping in Haiti and more

How Bill WorksYes, I’ve been neglecting my blog. Although I have a couple of blog posts in the works (on setting up our Windows 7 home network connected to our Media Center), I have been just too busy with (gasp!) real work. So I obviously need to be better at my organization: helpful that I found this brief article on Bill Gates’ organizational effort with a few of his "top tactics" with a nod of what Bill calls the digital workstyle. Missing from the article: you need a great staff! For me, here’s a quick post that answers one of the popular questions I often get: "How I Work at Microsoft". 

First off, I supported @Americares http://www.americares.org/ WRT Haiti earthquake victims as 99% of the goes to the relief effort. You can read more here about Microsoft’s help to relief organizations in Haiti and see a list of charities helping in the country here on MSN. (BTW, I’m an AT&T customer. With all of the press on teh incredible response via text message donations, there’s a bit of a brou-ha-ha WRT AT&T’s note that "Standard text messaging rates may apply" for said donations made on its network. I asked @ATTNews to waive fees like @Verizon & @TMobile for Haiti donations. And it seems that customer response and public pressure has caused AT&T to give in on that surcharge.)

Lots of news on the Microsoft & HP CEOs announcement yesterday on investment in IT infrastructure software, as initially noted here by CIO.com. You can read all about the HP – Microsoft three-year, $250 million deal to advance cloud computing for businesses on Microsoft Presspass and this post from Brad Anderson of the mgmt & services division.

Now, on to a couple of noteworthy bits from my posts on Twitter and on Twitter and from friendfeed:

 

As noted Microsoft is supporting relief efforts in Haiti + how you can help, MSFT makes initial $1.25 million commitment [Blog] http://bit.ly/8KRBTb

WSJTech reports that PC Shipments Surge in Holiday Quarter http://on.wsj.com/7RfTy3

Sad that Bill Veghte over in Windows Marketing is leaving the company after nearly two decades per @inafried http://news.cnet.com/8301-13…

Sad to read about Apple IMac quality issues (Yellow Discoloration, Fail to Boot) http://www.dailytech.com/An+Appl…

@maryjofoley reports that Visual Studio 2010 gets a new launch date: April 12, 2010: http://blogs.zdnet.com/microso…

@LanceUlanoff reports on Google in China: Pulling Out May Not Be a Good Idea http://www.pcmag.com/article… China’s wrong, but will Google’s exit help anyone? #google #china

@karaswisher: The One-Year Report Card of Yahoo’s Carol Bartz–Management: A- http://kara.allthingsd.com/2010011…

@meridith: The CIO Job Market in 2010: More Opportunities and More Competition http://www.cio.com/article… #CIO #jobs

Run into error code 0x80070005, Windows 7 "is not Genuine"? Disable policy settings or edit permissions: http://support.microsoft.com/kb2008385

A look inside BMW’s Windows 7 rollout to date: "Smooth Driving So Far" on CIO.com http://www.cio.com/article…

Nice too see Michigan and Microsoft teaming up to offer free technology training around the state http://www.bing.com/news… #fb

Microsoft reiterates console generation stance: "Xbox 360 is designed to last longer than normal" http://www.totalvideogames.com/Xbox-36…

Other vendors to follow Apple offering multi-touch tablet PCs in Q1 or Q2, say Taiwan touch panel makers http://www.digitimes.com/print…

From JohnPaczkowski: Google VP of Engineering Andy Rubin: We’re Building a Nexus One for Enterprise http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/2010010…

From LanceUlanoff: Why Tablets Need Apple http://www.pcmag.com/article… Everybody’s making tablets, but nobody knows what they’re for. @SaschaSegan is right.

@toddbishop: Miguel de Icaza, Microsoft MVP? Yep, it’s true. http://www.techflash.com/seattle…

From Stephen Rose: RT @MaxTrinidad: RT @MSSpringboard: Four Free Tools that every Administrator should Know About http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us…

@MSFT_IT: The definitive explainer of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), by Microsoft IT Evangelist Yung Chou http://blogs.technet.com/windows…

@MSFT_IT: MSFT CIO Tony Scott talks about new directions for IT in 2010. Video and paper available at microsoft.com/everybodysbusiness

@Cisco_Mobile Gotcha – sometimes that download get’s missed. Thx for the info

Troubleshooting Windows 7 with Microsoft’s Built-In Tools: It all began w/ Firefox 3.5, via @tomshardware http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews…

Microsoft Security Advisory 979267: Adobe Flash Player 6 Vulnerability in Windows XP could allow remote code execution http://www.microsoft.com/technet…

Skip Microsoft’s Critical Patch, Focus on Adobe’s, Experts Urge reports @gkeizer via @PCWorld http://www.pcworld.com/article…

Microsoft will report earnings after the market close on Thurs, January 28. Investor Relations page: http://www.microsoft.com/msft…

@edbott: New at ZDNet: Move over, God mode! 94 more secret shortcuts for Windows 7: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott…

@msPartner: PartnerNews: What are Microsoft and HP announcing tomorrow? http://www.microsoftpartnernetwork.com/News… What will Ballmer and Hurd unveil? #MPN

@johnhcook: Comcast’s new Data Meter: Like a calorie counter for Internet usage http://www.techflash.com/seattle…

 

Tags: Microsoft, articles, blogs, what I read, Twitter.

Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, Windows Vista, Windows 7, computers, how-to

Delicious Bookmark this on Delicious Bookmark and Share

Also available via

Categories
Uncategorized

Tablets & Slate PCs in Steve Ballmer’s CES keynote? The debut of Apple’s new iTablet? Dunno, but the Kindle DX does wireless worldwide on Jan 19th

amazon_kindleCES is off to a great start with plenty of new product news… and we haven’t even had the keynote kickoff!

As I noted last month (all of a week or so ago) I decided to get on the ebook reader bandwagon and finally ordered a new Amazon Kindle. I was torn on the size: the 6" appeared best for my needs at home, but the overwhelming majority of feedback I received was in favour of the 9.7" Amazon Kindle DX, and I agreed.

But I found that the wait was 3-5 weeks! http://bit.ly/6qUwlx from bit.ly

Now I know why, thanks to chatter at CES on Twitter from engadget last night (http://bit.ly/5I04ex), the WSJ Blog and now this latest mail from Amazon: the new Amazon Kindle DX includes global wireless support, shipping January 19th for $489. I love it when a company takes the initiative and beats my email query to the punch, asking about my back order…

From: Amazon.com Customer Service 
Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 12:11 AM
Subject: Update on your Kindle DX order

Dear Kindle Customer,

Today we introduced Kindle DX with Global Wireless – the next generation of our 9.7” wireless reading device.

Because you already ordered the original Kindle DX and are awaiting its arrival, we are pleased to inform you that we are upgrading your order to receive a Kindle DX with Global Wireless at no additional cost. You will receive the new Kindle DX as soon as it becomes available later this month.

We kept everything readers love about the original Kindle DX, then added global 3G wireless coverage and improved battery life.

Kindle DX with Global Wireless now enables you to wirelessly download content in over 100 countries and territories. With an extended battery life, you can now read for up to 1 week on a single charge with wireless on, a significant improvement from the previous battery life of 4 days.

Read more about Kindle DX with Global Wireless at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015TG12Q/

With your Kindle DX order already placed, you will be among the first to receive Kindle DX with Global Wireless, and you do not need to do anything.

You can cancel your order or check on order status by visiting your order summary here: <link>

If you purchased a 2-Year Extended Warranty for Kindle DX, your warranty will automatically apply to your new Kindle DX with Global Wireless device. If you have not purchased and are interested in a 2-Year Extended Warranty for Kindle DX, visit the product page at www.amazon.com/dp/B002GYVVY2

We hope you enjoy Kindle DX with Global Wireless.

Amazon.com Kindle Customer Service

So, why get one now rather than wait for a new Apple tablet or a Windows based slate PC? (Or as Brandon coined, a "slablet". "Tablate" sounds horrible 😉 Perhaps "Slate PC." Whatever it is, imagine netbook performance w/ touch: that would be sweet.) As I said last month to stephbu, No, I have a tablet PC (actually, two) and wanted a Kindle for the Amazon book offerings and simple business model for buying content, and I expect there’ll be subscription fees tied to an Apple tablet offering.

As noted by njeaton and others on Twitter, the venerable New York Times reported here that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will reveal "slate-like" PC tomorrow during Steve Ballmer’s CES keynote (http://bit.ly/6JBX07), and there’s already a (Kindle) app for that. (Regardless of tomorrow’s CES keynote, I’ll keep my Amazon Kindle (love it) & adopt the “Kindle for PC” app.)

You can follow Microsoft’s going’s on at CES via http://www.microsoft.com/ces/ beginning Jan 6 @ 6:30PM PST with the live keynote – it will be streamed live from the convention.

And, no, to answer several mails from friends and associates this week: I’m not at CES this year (that’s two year’s running I’ve missed it in person, and my wife just asked, "when were you last there?"  Hey, Al Roker’s there covering the gadgets along with the weather, so you’re good.) So I offer my post "Surviving CES in Las Vegas: A few helpful hints", with a few tips for those heading off to Vegas this week for the event, recycling the bits in the blog post. I figure that with the number of great folks following the play-by-play on the ground in Las Vegas on Twitter (what’s the best hashtag to use? I’m following #CES generally) and in the news, I think that I’ll get my fill of new gadgets and devices. Plus, the various email alias subscriptions and RSS feeds will likely blow out my Outlook mailbox quota.

 

Tags: Microsoft, Xbox 360, CES 2010, CES, travel tips.

Delicious Bookmark this on Delicious Bookmark and Share

Also available via http://bit.ly/6zzSgg