Windows 7 - Software Assurance

[Gatt]

Just logged on to MVLS to get some ISOs and noticed this on the home page

Windows 7 Enterprise will be available soon as an SA Benefit. Please check back to claim this new benefit.

[FN-GM]

What does it mean?

[john]

Means we get Windows 7 to play with as VL Customers

[Gatt]

Not sure when, though dont think its long, possibly a month

IIRC Vista was given to VL/SA Customers about 2 to 3 months before it went to RTM..

[binky]

Not sure when, though dont think its long, possibly a month

IIRC Vista was given to VL/SA Customers about 2 to 3 months before it went to RTM..

Nooo! The plan is (as they did with vista) that Windows 7 will RTM and then VL customers get it a couple of months before it hits the shops. Win 7 is not due to RTM till later this year, and what you are seeing on SA is Win 7 Enterprise which is the VL Version of Win 7 Ultimate (you get a free upgrade from your Vista Business licences as part of SA).

[Gatt]

Ah yeah you're right!
Just need a date now - been hearing Q3 and October 09!

[DAckroyd]

when are you rolling out across the school?

[Gatt]

Depending on final trials then prob the nearest holiday after release
So far only one app has been identified as an issue - FMS - but hoping to try that on the XP Compat mode.

I was less keen on deploying Vista but having seen how 7 performs on Hardware that struggles to cope with Vista, I want to get it out as soon as I can!

It may all go horribly wrong though!

[srochford]

A number of companies have let slip that they will start shipping Windows 7 to retail on 23 October. As far as I can tell, Microsoft aren't saying "no, this isn't going to happen" so I suspect that is the retail launch.

Vista had a retail launch sometime late in January 2007; I'm pretty sure that the volume license version was at the end of November 2006 so on that basis we'd expect VL Windows 7 in late August; is anyone going to push it out for September :-)

@binky - hadn't realised that Windows 7 Enterprise was going to include Media Centre. Not sure how important that is but it's quite nice to have.

[Gatt]

If VL is avail in August then Yes I will - we're doing a complete rebuild here anyway

[DAckroyd]

Microsoft HAVE comfirmed that it will release in October

I hope to have SA in place and see how things go with App-V if we have it in time - like GATT we're going for complete rebuild in summer and having the option of Win7 or XP would be good

[Gatt]

Are they releasing 2008 R2 at the same time?

[torledo]

Means we get Windows 7 to play with as VL Customers

doesn't that depend on how you purchase VL versions ? A schools agreement presumable provides SA, but what of those schools who purchase VL versions but don't have a schools agreement.

For instance my understanding was a wider LA select agreement means the LA purchase the licenses with SA but when they then resell lower down to schools they don't provide individual SA registration for schools.

SA is at the authority level in such an example.

Or have i got that wrong ?

[Gatt]

We get SA with the School 3 VL agreement (just been quoted £8,500 to renew it)

[DAckroyd]

doesn't that depend on how you purchase VL versions ? A schools agreement presumable provides SA, but what of those schools who purchase VL versions but don't have a schools agreement.

to get the SA eliment of the VL schools agreement you are required to pay for 5 server licences for servers on schools agreement.

also you will only have licence to upgrade to the latest version on school agreement (or SA) Volume Licences - other VL's only allow you to upgrade to the latest version of windows at the time of purchase