Vista in the Enterprise Tech Report
Windows Vista is here, but most large organizations are taking a wait-and-see approach. Few firms with complex infrastructure environments can justify the cost of upgrading existing client hardware, application remediation, server infrastructure improvements and user training to implement what amounts to an incremental upgrade in interface, security features and network performance. This InformationWeek Analytics Tech Report, based on a survey of more than 500 enterprise users, lays out Vista deployment strategies and tactics. Use it to prepare your own enterprise for the deployment of Vista on the desktop. |
 Looking to lower your desktop costs? Between the high licensing fees of Windows desktops, including Software Assurance for maintenance, licenses for office productivity tools and new hardware to run Windows Vista, costs are out of control. We examine the cost savings associated with Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, which costs up to 90 percent less than Windows and Office . Plus, it has significant better security. Learn how you can begin saving.  Linux is changing the game when it comes to a low-cost, easy-to-use enterprise desktop. We offer the resources that will help you determine why SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop is your best solution, providing business users a secure, flexible and interoperable alternative to your current infrastructure.  2007 will be remembered as the year that Linux corporate desktops stood up to Windows Vista. The editors of CRN put the offerings of four Linux enterprise desktops to the test and Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop stood out head and shoulders above the rest. CRN offers an objective view of the product, pointing out that of the four competitors, Novell appears to be the most serious alternative to Microsoft Windows. Read the article and see what all the talk is about.  While Linux and open source technologies may offer lower costs for enterprise users, fully migrating the network to an open source platform will be difficult. The reality is users still rely heavily on Microsoft operating systems and probably will do so for many years. What's a user to do? In this white paper, we look at SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10, the only enterprise-class Linux desktop operating system designed to interact directly with Windows and provide a heterogeneous environment that behaves like a unified network.  Does the high cost of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 have you searching for options? We take a closer look at the alternative, OpenOffice.org from Novell. We explore the suite's applications, including productivity software, integrated word processing, database functionality, applications for spreadsheets, presentation, and graphics, as well as an HTML editor. In addition, Novell offers extensive technical support and OpenOffice.org is priced well below its competitors.
About NovellNovell, Inc. delivers infrastructure software for the Open Enterprise. Novell is a leader in enterprise-wide operating systems based on Linux and open source and provides the enterprise management services required to operate mixed IT environments. Novell helps customers minimize cost, complexity and risk, allowing them to focus on innovation and growth. |
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Report Table of ContentsExecutive Summary Research Synopsis Vista Changes and Innovations
Drivers
Market Adoption Inhibitors Economics of Vista Migration
Hardware Upgrade Costs
Enterprise Migration ToolsetsSoftware Upgrade Costs
Microsoft's Business Desktop
Appendix
Deployment 2007 Third-Party Offerings 17 Planning Guides Large Organization Guide Midsize Organization Guide Small Organization Guide  Download this report for free compliments of Novell
Download report here VISTA DRIVERSOn the whole, though, there appears to be a dearth of strong motivators to encourage adoption of the new OS; 74 percent of survey respondents stated there are no OS features or drivers persuading them to adopt Vista. The most obvious changes are underwhelming and concern the resourceintensive Aero interface, security enhancements and networking tools that ease user troubleshooting for wired and wireless connectivity issues. Interviews with organizations that aren't extremely tech-driven revealed a novel strategy to minimize user training requirements: Some smaller shops are planning to roll out Vista on minimumspec client workstations with 1 GB of RAM and integrated video cards to keep hardware costs manageable when the time comes to make the transition. At least one IT manager interviewed said he plans to roll out his company's base Vista image with minimal interface bells and whistles enabled, and therefore keep training costs low due to little user exposure to Aero's advanced features. 
VISTA PLANNINGThe core of the InformationWeek Analytics Vista in the Enterprise Tech Report is a series of recommendations, tools and guides for deploying Vista in *your* enterprise. The report details the hardware and software costs associated with a Vista upgrade, takes a close look at enterprise Vista migration toolsets and delivers original, detailed Vista deployment planning guides for enterprises of all sizes. According to the report, any Vista migration path should include the following major steps: 1. Pre-planning; 2. planning; 3. Development; 4. Pilot; 5. Deployment; 6. Post-deployment; and 7. Post-mortem. The level of required planning detail, scope of activities and duration of the project will vary based on the size and complexity of your environment. The report delivers planning guides based on that breakdown (see a brief excerpt from a a planning guide below). 
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