http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/81316
Out of the blue, a number of reputable online publications, including BetaNews, Hardware Canucks, PowerArchiver, NGOHQ, and Technize (among many others), received DMCA takedown orders from Google that claim on Microsoft's behalf that the sites were infringing on various Microsoft copyrights.
The notices began with, "Google has been notified, according to the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), that some of your materials allegedly infringe upon the copyrights of others." The notices go on to say that because of the alleged violations, Google has no choice but to remove the URLs in question from Google's search results.
RELATED: Windows 8 is a 'catastrophe,' says Valve founder and former Microsoft employee Gabe Newell
Microsoft removes Windows 8 grace period, inconveniences everybody
There was something odd about the takedown orders, however. The URLs in questions contained things like screenshot galleries and news posts that simply linked to the trial editions and release previews of Windows 8. Many of the sites also hosted user-generated comments though, many of which were quite negative in regards to Windows 8, which sparked some heated discussion that this was a strategic move by Microsoft to get negative sentiments delisted by Google prior to Windows 8's launch.
Compounding the problem, publications are assumed guilty until proven innocent in these situations. Once a DMCA takedown request is submitted, whether the URL in question actually contains questionable material or not, the URL is removed from Google's search results, which will adversely affect the site's traffic. The sites have to fill out a DMCA Counter Notification form to counter the original notice and simply hope for the best.
When asked for comment, Mark Lamb, senior PR manager for Microsoft, responded:
"Microsoft is committed to ensuring that copyright is respected online. To protect our intellectual property, Microsoft's anti-piracy programs target links to infringing copies of our software; we do not target commentary. We take reports of inaccurate DMCA notices seriously, and will investigate disputed notices upon receipt. If the sites do not contain links to infringing copies of our software, we will contact Google about reinstating the search results."
That's all well and good, but if the affected publications weren't posting links or even talking about piracy, why send the notice in the first place? Something fishy was definitely going on, although I can't say with any certainty that it was intentional.
I have a sneaking suspicion that this whole situation was brought on by some sort of third-party service or bot that spidered the web looking for certain Windows 8-related keywords, links, and images, and based on the proximity of the data, issued takedown recommendations to Microsoft. Unfortunately, it seems no one at Microsoft did their due diligence and checked the links beforehand, and now the company has a PR fiasco on their hands. As is usually the case, tap-dancing around the issue will do no good and only fuel further speculation.
Microsoft should just head this one off at the pass and explain themselves. If it was an error due to reliance on some sort of service, and someone at MS didn't do his or her job, say it and move on. If, however, Microsoft is on a crusade to silence Windows 8 naysayers, then cook up some popcorn, sit back, and get ready for the fireworks. Many of the publications mentioned have no intentions of removing the posts and have been making every bit of correspondence public. It could make for some interesting reading moving forward.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Linux Tycoon: Windows 8 is awesome...
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/81303
A Linux guy like Windows 8. Wonder if he used Windows 7
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Windows 8 is disruptive the second you turn it on, claims PC support firm | WinBeta
http://www.winbeta.org/news/windows-8-disruptive-second-you-turn-it-claims-pc-support-firm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+winbetadotorg+%28WinBeta+|+Beta+centered%2C+Technology+and+Microsoft+news+focused%29
Windows 8 is disruptive the second you turn it on, claims PC support firm
We have all read the reviews on Windows 8. Many people hate it and many people love it, for various reasons. A PC support firm based in Pennsylvania by the name of PC Helps recently migrated a 7,000 employee company to Windows 8 and had some interesting things to say about the operating system.
PC Helps believes that upgrading to Windows 8 is full of pitfalls but it is still possible. "Windows 8 is disruptive the second you turn it on. With earlier migrations, such as Windows XP to Windows 7, you could roll it out and do the training later. But if you don't do the training before you roll out [Windows 8], you'll get a big negative reaction," the company stated. PC Helps also believes that desktop migrations for those who are familiar with traditional PCs will be tougher due to the Modern (Metro) interface. The company recommends that we select "influencers" who are a group of people in every department who know more about Windows and computers compared to everyone else. These people can be put in the pilot group for migration and help make the transition easier. "Windows 8's desktop is really a very Windows 7-looking interface. People complain about not knowing how to shut down the PC. But IT can actually create a shortcut for shutting down, and pin it to the Start screen and the [desktop's] taskbar," the company stated. PC Helps believes that Windows 8 isn't the most disruptive operating system move in history. In fact, the move from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 was worse.
Source: ComputerWorld
Monday, August 27, 2012
Sony Vaio Duo 11: The Windows 8 tablet with fold away keyboard... supposedly - Pocket-lint
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/47084/sony-vaio-duo-11-ifa
Sony is to launch a Windows 8 tablet called the Sony Vaio Duo 11, according to the latest leaked images that have appeared on the internet.
The images - leaked to Pocketnow.com - show that the new laptop come tablet device will match Microsoft's own Surface offering and Samsung's teased Windows 8 tablet by coming with a foldaway keyboard.
Sony is to launch a Windows 8 tablet called the Sony Vaio Duo 11, according to the latest leaked images that have appeared on the internet.
The images - leaked to Pocketnow.com - show that the new laptop come tablet device will match Microsoft's own Surface offering and Samsung's teased Windows 8 tablet by coming with a foldaway keyboard.
Image @ http://www.pocket-lint.com/
Presenting the Microsoft Surface - Hands-on with Microsoft's Surface tablet (pictures) - CNET News
Presenting the Microsoft Surface
Microsoft debuted a new tablet today, or rather a tablet family based on its upcoming Windows 8 operating system. We get a behind-the-scenes tour at some of the tech that went into making the device, which arrives later this year.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Microsoft Security Essentials 4.1 Prerelease now available, no support for Windows 8 yet | WinBeta
http://www.winbeta.org/news/microsoft-security-essentials-41-prerelease-now-available-no-support-windows-8-yet?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A winbetadotorg %28WinBeta %7C Beta centered%2C Technology and Microsoft news focused%29
Windows 8 contacts Microsoft every time software is installed - TechSpot News
http://www.techspot.com/news/49914-windows-8-contacts-microsoft-every-time-software-is-installed.html
Windows 8 contacts Microsoft every time software is installed
By Rick Burgess
Observant software hacker Nadim Kobeissi stumbled upon an interesting observation today while running a network packet analyzer under Windows 8. It appears, by default, Microsoft's latest operating system is sending information to Redmond servers each time a user installs an application. Before the hearts of our readers are aflutter with panic though, allow me to stress this point: this behavior is simple to disable.
Actually, this isn't entirely a surprise. In fact, it served as an instant reminder of this TechSpot news post in April: Windows 8 to get native SmartScreen file checking. However, Kobeissi's experimentation offers us a clearer glimpse into what precisely is going on under the hood though.
Enabled by default, Windows 8's SmartScreen feature aims to protect unwitting users from nasty malware and other unsavory files. Even if this is the first time you've heard of it though, it may still sound strikingly familiar. That's because the technology was originally introduced with Internet Explorer 8 as an extension of IE7's phishing filter. In IE9, SmartScreen gained Application Reputation, a set of algorithms used to analyze the trustworthiness of downloads via digital signatures, heuristics and information collected by Microsoft. This appears to be the foundation of Windows 8's implementation.
In order for SmartScreen to work, the technology relies on Microsoft's proprietary, centralized database of software trustworthiness. That's where security and privacy advocates become a little uneasy -- Microsoft collects information about user-driven download activities which in turn, are used to power this database.
Kobeissi believes the data sent by Windows 8 includes the application's hash value, it's obfuscated file name and the computer's IP address. Although the data is encrypted, Kobeissi voices his concern that SSLv2 is relatively insecure, potentially leaving installation data and identities of users open to hackers.
If the thought of Microsoft collecting information about your downloads keeps you awake at night, consider this: Google also runs their own SmartScreen-like technology called Safe Browsing. The Safe Browsing API isn't limited to just Chrome though, its open to many developers. Most notably, it is employed by at least two other major browsers: Firefox and Safari. Of course, Microsoft is taking this a step further now, integrating SmartScreen into Windows and not just your Internet Browser.
Ultimately though, SmartScreen has proven itself to be fairly effective in protecting users from malicious sites and files. A cost-benefit analysis of the technology is unlikely to weigh on the minds of most users, but for the average consumer, SmartScreen may actually prove to be a worthwhile addition to Windows 8. Skeptics and cynics though, will likely want to leave SmartScreen disabled.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Windows 8 Metro: Microsoft Faces Old IBM OS/2 GUI Problem | The VAR Guy
http://www.thevarguy.com/2012/08/23/windows-8-metro-microsoft-faces-old-ibm-os2-gui-problem/
Windows 8 media attacks seem to be intensifying — with some bloggers and journalists suggesting the Windows 8 Metro user interface will be too confusing for many customers to learn. But here's the big, ironic problem: Many members of the press have never used Windows 8 or have never even seen the operating system, which won't arrive on PCs until October. Ironically, IBM faced the same struggle with its old OS/2 operating system roughly 20 years ago…
In the 1990s, IBM over and over again tried to convince the media that OS/2′s object oriented user interface was better than Windows 3.1′s graphical user interface and Windows 95′s Explorer interface. But IBM failed miserably, at least partly because the media — including many members of the trade press — had never actually used OS/2.
Today's Challenge
Fast forward to the present. Most bloggers have seen and used Google Android and Apple iOS. The user interfaces are familiar and therefore seem extremely intuitive. In stark contrast, many bloggers have never used existing Windows Phone devices and are poorly prepared for the Windows 8 Metro user interface. (Yes, Microsoft has stopped using the Metro term amid a potential legal tussle. But for the sake of this article, let's stick with Metro.)
Further complicating matters, negative Windows 8 user videos are going viral, such as this one:
How Microsoft Should Respond
What should Microsoft do?
Get Windows 8 Surface tablets out to top SMB channel experts as soon as possible. Folks like Harry Bbb (SMB Nation), Karl Palachuk and Arlin Sorensen (HTG Peer Groups) come to mind.
Actually, another wise step would be to engage all of HTG to make sure Windows 8 tablets and the Metro interface is fully understood in that group.
Make sure those who love Windows 8 within the SMB channel are cross-linking and socializing their experiences across blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. Heck, somebody get Jay McBain from Channel Eyes on this. He knows how to whip up a social media storm.
Get Windows 8 ultrabooks out to those same market influencers. Here, folks like Eric Townsend of Intel can be critical toward shaping public perception of Windows 8 in the channel and in small business.
Publish some defendable, reliable Windows 8 usability studies — fast. Please, no pretend praise. Real thoughts from real design experts.
Plus, show Windows 8 Metro applications in action in vertical markets.
Ironically, time is not on Microsoft's side. Windows 8 and the Metro interface will arrive in October. In the meantime, Microsoft is taking some heat from many outspoken journalists and bloggers. In some cases, those folks are repeating the same complaints over and over again without really exploring what's "right" with Windows 8.
The VAR Guy isn't taking sides. But Microsoft, at a minimum, needs a strategy to more forcefully combat the naysayers. The software giant can't silence negative voices. But Microsoft should empower more positive voices to be heard, in an authentic way. Otherwise, Windows 8 Metro could suffer the pains of OS/2 — experiencing "user complaints" before those "users' have actually given the new operating system an extended test drive.
Restore The Start Menu In Windows 8 - Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/adriankingsleyhughes/2012/08/23/restore-the-start-menu-in-windows-8/
Bringing back the Windows® "Start" menu
The Windows 8 Consumer Preview is available and has taken the Windows interface to a whole new level. Unfortunately, the preview did not come with a desktop feature that the world makes use of billions times a day, the "Start" menu. Luckily, we have a solution!
Start8 brings the "Start" menu back to Windows 8. This product is free and is available now! Enter your email address below to receive a download link.
Features
- Adds a "Start" menu to the Windows 8 taskbar
- Enables quick access and searching of your installed applications
- Adds Run... option via right-click menu
- Adds Shutdown... option via right-click menu
- Choose a custom Start button image
New in v0.87, July 2012
- Automatically load your Windows desktop on login (vs the start screen)
New in v0.86, March 2012
- Adds control over the "Start" menu size on the Explorer desktop
- Adds option for the "WinKey" to show fullscreen "Metro" desktop
TechNet Blogs - Microsoft New Logo change of the times:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2012/08/23/microsoft-unveils-a-new-look.aspx
It's been 25 years since we've updated the Microsoft logo and now is the perfect time for a change. This is an incredibly exciting year for Microsoft as we prepare to release new versions of nearly all of our products. From Windows 8 to Windows Phone 8 to Xbox services to the next version of Office, you will see a common look and feel across these products providing a familiar and seamless experience on PCs, phones, tablets and TVs. This wave of new releases is not only a reimagining of our most popular products, but also represents a new era for Microsoft, so our logo should evolve to visually accentuate this new beginning.
The Microsoft brand is about much more than logos or product names. We are lucky to play a role in the lives of more than a billion people every day. The ways people experience our products are our most important "brand impressions". That's why the new Microsoft logo takes its inspiration from our product design principles while drawing upon the heritage of our brand values, fonts and colors.
The Microsoft brand is about much more than logos or product names. We are lucky to play a role in the lives of more than a billion people every day. The ways people experience our products are our most important "brand impressions". That's why the new Microsoft logo takes its inspiration from our product design principles while drawing upon the heritage of our brand values, fonts and colors.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Bing Introducing Bing on Windows 8 - Search Blog - Site Blogs - Bing Community
http://www.bing.com/community/site_blogs/b/search/archive/2012/08/15/bingonwindows8.aspx
Bing for Windows 8 is streamlined. Bing takes full advantage of the rich user experience innovations in Windows 8. Bing's search charm means you can initiate a Bing search from anywhere in the modern Windows experience. Using Snap, Bing presents the list of search results side-by-side with your browser, allowing you to rip through web pages without ever leaving search. No more flipping back and forth to see other results! Bing's integration with the share charm means you can share a specific result with your social network or get your friends' help on a search with a simple swipe of your finger.
Download: Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows(R) 8 - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30652
Overview
Windows Deployment is for OEMs and IT professionals who customize and automate the large-scale installation of Windows, such as on a factory floor or across an organization. The Windows ADK supports this work with the deployment tools that were previously released as part of the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) and the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) and include Windows Preinstallation Environment, Deployment Imaging, Servicing and Management, and Windows System Image Manager.
IT Professionals can use features in the Windows ADK to facilitate deployment of a new version of Windows. The Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) inventories applications used in your organization and identifies potential applications compatibility issues. With the User State Migration Tool (USMT), IT Professionals can migrate user data from existing Windows installations. Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) enables IT professionals to Windows installations in their organization and manage the activation status.
Overview
Windows Deployment is for OEMs and IT professionals who customize and automate the large-scale installation of Windows, such as on a factory floor or across an organization. The Windows ADK supports this work with the deployment tools that were previously released as part of the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) and the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) and include Windows Preinstallation Environment, Deployment Imaging, Servicing and Management, and Windows System Image Manager.
IT Professionals can use features in the Windows ADK to facilitate deployment of a new version of Windows. The Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) inventories applications used in your organization and identifies potential applications compatibility issues. With the User State Migration Tool (USMT), IT Professionals can migrate user data from existing Windows installations. Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) enables IT professionals to Windows installations in their organization and manage the activation status.
Windows 7 forever! Why Windows 7 is the next XP | Microsoft Windows - InfoWorld
http://www.infoworld.com/d/microsoft-windows/windows-7-forever-why-windows-7-the-next-xp-200655
We love Windows 7: That's the message loud and clear from people this week at the TechMentor Conference held at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash. With Windows XP reaching end of life for support in April 2014, the plan for most organizations is to upgrade -- to Windows 7.
Although Windows 8 has reached its final version (the RTM, or release-to-manufacturing, version) and will be publicly available on Oct. 26, the plan for most organizations is to upgrade to Windows 7. It's a win for Microsoft either way. It's not like companies are dropping Windows in the enterprise for Macs (not in bulk anyway, though there seems to be more Macs in the workplace than ever before).
[ Ready to make the move from Windows XP to Windows 7? Windows migration expert Rhonda Layfield shows you how. | Serdar Yegulalp shows you how to take advantage of Windows 8's key capabilities. | Stay abreast of key Microsoft technologies in our Technology: Microsoft newsletter. ]
But it does indicate a repeat of history for what we've seen with Windows releases, the original-cast "Star Trek" movie pattern where every other version was beloved and the ones in between decidely not so. In Windows' history, Windows 95, Windows XP, and Windows 7 were loved; Windows ME, Windows Vista, and now Windows 8 (at least by reviewers) were hated. (Windows 98 was essentially a minor upgrade to Windows 95, and Windows 2000 was essentially a niche corporate version in its era, so neither counts.)
But what do we actually love about Windows 7? Sometimes it's easier to see its charms (no pun intended) when looking back from the newest OS. For me, Windows 8 has crystalized the five Windows 7 features I love most.
1. The user interface
With a dramatic UI change in Windows 8, I love the UI of Windows 7 -- especially its Start Orb and Start Menu -- more than ever. Keep in mind it's not as tablet- or touchscreen-friendly as I'd like -- Windows 8 certainly has it beat in that regard. However, Windows 7's UI is comfortable, and rolling out Windows 7 won't have your users cursing your name as they will if you spring the Windows 8 UI on them.
2. The security enhancements
Although Windows 8 comes with great security features like picture passwords and malware-protected secure boot if you have a UEFI system, let's not forget that Windows 7 provided a much better -- by far -- set of security features than XP. For example, the Windows 7 Action Center offers immediate access to information about the security and maintenance of your system. The UAC slider lets you take your system security levels into your own hands and take it to superstrong (the Vista setting) but not crazy levels with UAC pop-ups (the default Windows 7 setting); you can even completely shut down the security settings and fly blind, aka the Mac setting. Kidding -- Mac people love that joke at conferences. For home users, Windows 7 has parental controls built right in.
3. The ease of networking
If you've been around long enough to remember the days of Windows NT 4.0 networking (or Windows 95/98 networking), you still flinch in pain from memories of the many sleepless nights you spent gathering drivers, worrying about protocol options, and so forth. XP was better, but still not easy. By contrast, it's easy to get your system connected with Windows 7. With features like HomeGroups, home users and small businesses can share printers nearly without effort compared to the previous versions.
Windows 8 Enterprise: RTM preview
Summary: Windows 8 isn't just a consumer operating system. What does the Enterprise version, which is available to companies with Software Assurance subscriptions, have to offer?
Simon Bisson
By Simon Bisson | August 22, 2012 @ http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-enterprise-rtm-preview-7000002989/
Much of the attention on Windows 8 has, quite rightly, been focused on its role as a consumer-oriented operating system. But that's not the whole story — not by a long way. Although the majority of home users still run Microsoft's OS, its real heartland is the enterprise, where desktop and server operating systems work together in very different ways from in the home.
Windows 8 brings a simplification of the product range, with fewer editions and fewer ways of buying them. Now there are only three main editions: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise, plus a fourth Windows RT edition for ARM devices. Pro and Enterprise can join Active Directory domains, so they'll be the most likely versions for business users — and as Enterprise is reserved for companies with Software Assurance subscriptions, it's the version that will eventually arrive on most business desktops.
Upgrade issues
Upgrading to Windows 8 Enterprise from Windows 7 isn't as easy as it could be because licensing restrictions mean you can only upgrade from Windows 7 Pro and Windows 7 Enterprise. We expect most Windows 8 installs to be clean system refreshes, which will simplify things, but IT departments will need to have the infrastructure in place to handle volume licensing keys (test installs may need to use a command-line tool to install licences).
As part of our tests we installed Windows 8 Enterprise on a range of devices, including a recent desktop PC with multiple monitors, a pair of older laptops and a recent slate tablet. All ran the OS easily, using the 64-bit version to take full advantage of modern PC hardware.
w8rtm-windows-8-startLaunch Windows 8 Enterprise, and you're into the new Start screen. If you put the desktop tile on the top left of the screen, it's easy to click and run your everyday desktop applications, just like in Windows XP or Windows 7. (See our gallery for more Windows 8 Enterprise screenshots.)
Booting up into Windows 8, you're dropped into the new Start screen. Microsoft's new UI is clean and fast, and easy to use with mouse and keyboard as well as on a touchscreen device. There's an underlying simplicity to the new UI that's possible to confuse with 'dumbing down', but it does make complex tasks easy once you learn that the whole screen is a search UI, and can be navigated by typing. The bundled PowerShell 3.0 also makes it easier for administrators to work with users' PCs wherever they may be.
The Windows Store is starting to fill with new applications designed for the new UI, but for now most of your time will be spent on the familiar desktop — with the new Start screen functioning as a search tool and program launcher. Some user training may be necessary, especially around the use of keyboard shortcuts, but the differences from earlier versions of Windows are unlikely to cause disruption — if only because line-of-business applications are likely to remain on the desktop.
w8rtm-new-desktop-uiWindows 8 sees the end of the Aero transparent UI introduced with Vista. A new theme arrived with the final builds of Windows 8, bringing the Start menu and modern-style applications' flat look-and-feel to the desktop. The new, flatter, UI removes Aero's transparent window borders, making it easier to switch between traditional desktop applications and WinRT apps.
In the desktop, Windows 8 is like Windows 7 — just faster and more power-efficient (our test laptops have gained an extra hour of battery life on average after updating with Windows 8). In nearly a year of testing Windows 8 we've only found a couple of applications that didn't work with the OS — and those that didn't had dependencies on specific hardware APIs that have been deprecated.
Businesses investing in next-generation applications using Microsoft's new WinRT (Windows Runtime) programming model will be able to deliver prepackaged applications to Windows 8 Enterprise systems without going through the Windows Store, as long as they are certified. Administrators can also use group policy to control access to the Store, at an individual, role or group level. The Applocker application whitelisting tool can also be used to control which applications are installed from the Store, although there's no way to control how application updates are applied — you can only control the initial installation.
While the consumer versions of Windows 8 use Microsoft's SkyDrive to handle file and settings synchronisation across all a user's PCs, you'll be able to set group policies to stop this, and to use the file synchronisation features in the upcoming SharePoint 2013 release. Windows Server 2012's Dynamic Access Control file and folder protection features will also help stop users from transferring data to home PCs via SkyDrive.
Enterprise-specific features
Much of what's in Windows 8 Enterprise is in the Pro release — and that includes important features like Hyper-V virtualisation, BitLocker disk encryption and the new File History (which can be configured to work with network shares as well as with local disk storage). However, Enterprise does include features that make it simpler to use Windows 8 on a corporate network.
If you want to take advantage of the newly simplified Direct Access tools in Windows Server 2012, which make it easier to connect directly and securely to corporate resources without requiring a VPN, then you're going to need Windows 8 Enterprise. The same is true of the Branch Cache features that turn remote office downloads of files and updates into a peer-to-peer network for faster access to data. If you're looking at using VDI, Windows 8 Enterprise supports RemoteFX for desktop-like graphics and for improved device integration — including touch support.
Windows To Go
Windows 8 Enterprise also includes the tools needed to make a Windows To Go USB drive. A fully-managed portable version of Windows, Windows To Go uses standard Windows image files to create a bootable version of Windows 8 — so if you're allowing your users to use Windows To Go, you'll need to create the appropriate image files and make them available for use. Users will also need USB 3.0 drives (which work in USB 2.0 ports), as these have faster flash memory chips with better random access performance than USB 2.0 drives. We'd also recommend using a drive with at least 32GB of space.
w8rtm-windows-to-goWindows To Go is a full Windows install, just running from a flash drive. It gets access to all of a host PC's processing power and memory — but not its disk drives or other storage. Everything you do stays on the flash drive, ready to move to another PC. (See our gallery for more Windows To Go screenshots)
Building a Windows To Go image is straightforward, with a simple wizard handling the process. Plug in an appropriate USB flash drive, find a deployment share, and click 'go' (remembering to turn on the built-in disk encryption). It takes about fifteen minutes to apply the installation image to a drive. You'll need to use the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit solution accelerator to make custom images if you want to bundle apps in a Windows To Go install. Users are blocked from using the Windows Store on Windows To Go installs, although there is the option to use Group Policy to enable access — for individuals or for an entire organisation.
One big difference between the Pro and Enterprise editions is support for Media Centre. Microsoft has made Media Centre a separate download, but it's not supported on Windows 8 Enterprise — and any DVD or Blu-ray playback will require third-party tools. It's unlikely to be an issue for enterprise installs, but businesses that use Windows PCs as media-authoring and playback tools may find it easier to use Windows 8 Pro for systems in those roles.
With RTM code for Windows 8 Enterprise currently available on both TechNet and MSDN, IT professionals wanting to evaluate how the new Windows will work in their networks can download it and give it a try. With improved enterprise features, it's an operating system upgrade that, alongside Windows Server 2012, will help get your business architectures ready for the next generation of hardware and software — especially the cloud.
Simon Bisson
By Simon Bisson | August 22, 2012 @ http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-enterprise-rtm-preview-7000002989/
Much of the attention on Windows 8 has, quite rightly, been focused on its role as a consumer-oriented operating system. But that's not the whole story — not by a long way. Although the majority of home users still run Microsoft's OS, its real heartland is the enterprise, where desktop and server operating systems work together in very different ways from in the home.
Windows 8 brings a simplification of the product range, with fewer editions and fewer ways of buying them. Now there are only three main editions: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise, plus a fourth Windows RT edition for ARM devices. Pro and Enterprise can join Active Directory domains, so they'll be the most likely versions for business users — and as Enterprise is reserved for companies with Software Assurance subscriptions, it's the version that will eventually arrive on most business desktops.
Upgrade issues
Upgrading to Windows 8 Enterprise from Windows 7 isn't as easy as it could be because licensing restrictions mean you can only upgrade from Windows 7 Pro and Windows 7 Enterprise. We expect most Windows 8 installs to be clean system refreshes, which will simplify things, but IT departments will need to have the infrastructure in place to handle volume licensing keys (test installs may need to use a command-line tool to install licences).
As part of our tests we installed Windows 8 Enterprise on a range of devices, including a recent desktop PC with multiple monitors, a pair of older laptops and a recent slate tablet. All ran the OS easily, using the 64-bit version to take full advantage of modern PC hardware.
w8rtm-windows-8-startLaunch Windows 8 Enterprise, and you're into the new Start screen. If you put the desktop tile on the top left of the screen, it's easy to click and run your everyday desktop applications, just like in Windows XP or Windows 7. (See our gallery for more Windows 8 Enterprise screenshots.)
Booting up into Windows 8, you're dropped into the new Start screen. Microsoft's new UI is clean and fast, and easy to use with mouse and keyboard as well as on a touchscreen device. There's an underlying simplicity to the new UI that's possible to confuse with 'dumbing down', but it does make complex tasks easy once you learn that the whole screen is a search UI, and can be navigated by typing. The bundled PowerShell 3.0 also makes it easier for administrators to work with users' PCs wherever they may be.
The Windows Store is starting to fill with new applications designed for the new UI, but for now most of your time will be spent on the familiar desktop — with the new Start screen functioning as a search tool and program launcher. Some user training may be necessary, especially around the use of keyboard shortcuts, but the differences from earlier versions of Windows are unlikely to cause disruption — if only because line-of-business applications are likely to remain on the desktop.
w8rtm-new-desktop-uiWindows 8 sees the end of the Aero transparent UI introduced with Vista. A new theme arrived with the final builds of Windows 8, bringing the Start menu and modern-style applications' flat look-and-feel to the desktop. The new, flatter, UI removes Aero's transparent window borders, making it easier to switch between traditional desktop applications and WinRT apps.
In the desktop, Windows 8 is like Windows 7 — just faster and more power-efficient (our test laptops have gained an extra hour of battery life on average after updating with Windows 8). In nearly a year of testing Windows 8 we've only found a couple of applications that didn't work with the OS — and those that didn't had dependencies on specific hardware APIs that have been deprecated.
Businesses investing in next-generation applications using Microsoft's new WinRT (Windows Runtime) programming model will be able to deliver prepackaged applications to Windows 8 Enterprise systems without going through the Windows Store, as long as they are certified. Administrators can also use group policy to control access to the Store, at an individual, role or group level. The Applocker application whitelisting tool can also be used to control which applications are installed from the Store, although there's no way to control how application updates are applied — you can only control the initial installation.
While the consumer versions of Windows 8 use Microsoft's SkyDrive to handle file and settings synchronisation across all a user's PCs, you'll be able to set group policies to stop this, and to use the file synchronisation features in the upcoming SharePoint 2013 release. Windows Server 2012's Dynamic Access Control file and folder protection features will also help stop users from transferring data to home PCs via SkyDrive.
Enterprise-specific features
Much of what's in Windows 8 Enterprise is in the Pro release — and that includes important features like Hyper-V virtualisation, BitLocker disk encryption and the new File History (which can be configured to work with network shares as well as with local disk storage). However, Enterprise does include features that make it simpler to use Windows 8 on a corporate network.
If you want to take advantage of the newly simplified Direct Access tools in Windows Server 2012, which make it easier to connect directly and securely to corporate resources without requiring a VPN, then you're going to need Windows 8 Enterprise. The same is true of the Branch Cache features that turn remote office downloads of files and updates into a peer-to-peer network for faster access to data. If you're looking at using VDI, Windows 8 Enterprise supports RemoteFX for desktop-like graphics and for improved device integration — including touch support.
Windows To Go
Windows 8 Enterprise also includes the tools needed to make a Windows To Go USB drive. A fully-managed portable version of Windows, Windows To Go uses standard Windows image files to create a bootable version of Windows 8 — so if you're allowing your users to use Windows To Go, you'll need to create the appropriate image files and make them available for use. Users will also need USB 3.0 drives (which work in USB 2.0 ports), as these have faster flash memory chips with better random access performance than USB 2.0 drives. We'd also recommend using a drive with at least 32GB of space.
w8rtm-windows-to-goWindows To Go is a full Windows install, just running from a flash drive. It gets access to all of a host PC's processing power and memory — but not its disk drives or other storage. Everything you do stays on the flash drive, ready to move to another PC. (See our gallery for more Windows To Go screenshots)
Building a Windows To Go image is straightforward, with a simple wizard handling the process. Plug in an appropriate USB flash drive, find a deployment share, and click 'go' (remembering to turn on the built-in disk encryption). It takes about fifteen minutes to apply the installation image to a drive. You'll need to use the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit solution accelerator to make custom images if you want to bundle apps in a Windows To Go install. Users are blocked from using the Windows Store on Windows To Go installs, although there is the option to use Group Policy to enable access — for individuals or for an entire organisation.
One big difference between the Pro and Enterprise editions is support for Media Centre. Microsoft has made Media Centre a separate download, but it's not supported on Windows 8 Enterprise — and any DVD or Blu-ray playback will require third-party tools. It's unlikely to be an issue for enterprise installs, but businesses that use Windows PCs as media-authoring and playback tools may find it easier to use Windows 8 Pro for systems in those roles.
With RTM code for Windows 8 Enterprise currently available on both TechNet and MSDN, IT professionals wanting to evaluate how the new Windows will work in their networks can download it and give it a try. With improved enterprise features, it's an operating system upgrade that, alongside Windows Server 2012, will help get your business architectures ready for the next generation of hardware and software — especially the cloud.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)