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Is MDOP Windows 7’s Killer App?
One of the oft repeated criticisms of Windows Vista is that there was (and still is) no compelling reason to upgrade. After all, why spend over a hundred bucks to upgrade your computer when all you get out of it is some behind the scenes things.
Maybe it is more secure, but if you run good antivirus and firewall software, do you need more security? And so the thinking goes.
Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP)
Recently, it seems that Microsoft may be going back to the roots of its original success.
When personal computers were still luxury items owned by fewer households, there were plenty of software choices and major competitors in product areas like word processing, spreadsheets, and databases, Microsoft assembled together its collection of products into the Microsoft Office Suite.
Competitive pricing, one stop shopping, and the computer company that makes the operating system also making the productivity software proved to be a powerful combination that businesses around the country bought into.
A few years later, the competitors were gone and Apple was that other company that makes computers. What happened? Business happened.
Learning computers (especially a decade or two ago) was hard enough. People didn’t want to learn one thing for the office and another thing for the house. So, when they went to look for a new computer, they looked for what was on their desk at work, a Windows PC. Then, when they wanted to buy a word processor, they bought the one they already used MS Word.
It proved to be more powerful than Apple’s strategy to get people using Macs while they were in school in the hopes that they would stick with what they knew as they transitioned into the real world. Except, that became exactly the problem.
When a student graduated from college as a local Mac user, they got a job at a company that used only PCs. No PC skill, no job. So, it sort of became the standard that when you stopped being a kid and became an adult, you stopped using a Mac and started using a PC.
But, with many (most?) US businesses reluctant to invest the significant time, money, and resources into a major OS upgrade (one that they feel they finally have gotten setup just right), that force was missing. Susan the accountant worked on Windows XP all day at the office. Why would she want to come home and have to figure out Windows Vista?
Therein lies the great potential for MDOP to be Windows 7’s killer application.
MDOP in Business Enterprises
MDOP is only available to Microsoft’s Software Assurance customers. The last thing Microsoft needs right now is another system to support from experts on down to people who still can’t program their VCR, or DVR.
MDOP provides the first release of the Enterprise Desktop Virtualization package (MED-V), and updates to Application Virtualization (App-V) and Asset Inventory Service (AIS).
Together these three items potentially solve some of the “unsolvable” and very expensive issues that large companies have, namely getting the right software on every desktop and more importantly keeping it there without it getting messed up, and keeping track of where everything is.
It is these challenges that have led companies to take the drastic measure of wholesale outsourcing of their IT departments just to get rid of the recurring headaches associated with them.
MDOP also solves the too expensive, too much effort, and we’ll never be able to do this in a way that doesn’t disrupt everything argument against an OS upgrade.
• MED-V
The key component of upgrade nirvana is MED-V which allows for enterprise wide virtualization on PCs so that two operating systems (XP and Windows 7) can run at the same time.
So, when migration time comes for the accounting department and it turns out that a critical financial application doesn’t work properly on Windows 7, they can simply fall back on the virtualized XP OS to run that piece while the upgrade moves forward. Theoretically, when the vendor, or the company themselves, update the software to run fine on Windows 7, then the XP virtualization can be shut down.
• App-V
App-V allows the reverse by letting application developers run their current usable implementations of Windows XP while running their apps in real world situations virtually on Windows 7.
• AIS
AIS comes in to solve the thorny issue of licensing. In the real world, it is virtually impossible for a company to know exactly when and where every copy of every piece of software is installed. While they are theoretically responsible for managing on-going licensing, the truth is that most companies simply buy software as they go and then pay money for an upgrade when they need to install a newer version.
The idea is that software is more or less in compliance then by inertia. However, rolling over 35,000 PCs to new OS, new versions of applications that support the new OS, and so on, shakes things up too hard to keep everything where it belongs. The AIS system helps to inventory and catalog not only what is on an individual machine, but also what kind of license it has.
Add it all up and MDOP might take just enough of the “too hard” out of upgrading Windows 7 to tip some businesses into taking the upgrade plunge. Once that happens, vendors will have to release Windows 7 versions fast and the average person will start going home to a computer with Windows XP and instead of thinking, “This does everything I need,” they’ll start thinking, “I sure wish this had Windows 7 like we have at the office.”
And then, Apple can run all the I’m a PC, I’m a Mac commercials they want because the people buying new computers won’t be thinking about getting a hip fun computer with different shiny bells and whistles, but rather about getting a computer that they already know how to use.
Besides, if it’s good enough for work, it runs MS Office better, AND it plays games … what exactly is the Killer App for switching to an Apple?
Related Posts:
- Windows 7 Killer App Is Windows XP
- Windows 7 Migration Strategy and The Death of Windows XP
- Windows 7 Beta Download Is Which Windows 7 Edition?
- How to Deploy Windows 7 In The Enterprise
- Windows Vista Small Business Assurance
- Microsoft Ad Strikes Back – Take That Apple
- Windows 7 For Business — Features for Increased Manageability
9 Responses to “Is MDOP Windows 7’s Killer App?”
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Adam Ruth Says:
April 6th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I predict that MED-V is the killer within the killer. It gives the comfort level needed to upgrade, but in the end I bet it will be used very little. Most people I know who have switched to Macs at home got a version of Parallels or VMWare in case they needed anything from the Windows world, but only ever used it to show people it could be done. It’ll probably be similar with MED-V… just in case.
Tyler Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
MDOP is not included with windows 7 unless you have SA or ELA or both.
Windows Server 2008 R2 will be the next big thing with VDI and HA add SA and get MDOP
Brian Nelson Says:
April 9th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Adam,
I agree that the 5% to 8%, depending upon who you believe, of the computer using population on Macs will not be persuaded to use Windows 7 via MED-V or any other tool. I’m pretty sure that those users are not Microsoft’s current target demographic for the Windows 7 launch.
Tyler,
You are correct. My point was that many people would have happily purchased a computer with Windows Vista installed if they had already seen and used it and gotten used to it at work.
It’s easy to forget that the vast majority of people do not seek out new software or new operating systems. Until it shows up on their computer at work, they aren’t interested in upgrading.
MDOP is designed solely to ensure that this time around, businesses DO upgrade to Windows 7. When they do, then the average user will not complain that the PCs at Dell come with Windows 7 installed. In fact, they’ll be pleased to be getting the latest and greatest.
On its own, MDOP has little value for the regular home user.
Brian
Tyler Says:
April 10th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
vmware converter + vmware player = free,easy and about 30mins
MDOP is not new and use to be Winternals Admin Pack some of the MDOP and Winternals stuff is free under Sysinternals.
but I feel I am under utilizing MDOP or Winternals admin pack and the sysinternals tools maybe you could make a nice tutorial or video series.
calling it windows 7’s app makes it sound like it’s included.
check this out:
http://edge.technet.com/Media/Inside-the-new-Chicago-Microsoft-Technology-Center-MTC/
Tyler Says:
April 10th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Videos:
Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7
Windows Troubleshooting Platform
Enterprise Application Compatibility
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd320282.aspx
good press lots of beta testers and feedback
Tyler Says:
April 14th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Mad About MED-V Part 1 of 4, Concept and Architecture
http://edge.technet.com/Media/Mad-About-MED-V-Part-1-of-4-Concept-and-Architecture/
Tyler Says:
April 14th, 2009 at 11:47 am
With MED-V, Microsoft Moves One Step Closer to the Future of App Compatibility
http://www.winsupersite.com/vista/medv.asp
Brian Says:
April 25th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Actually, Windows XP mode, just announced with the forth coming Windows 7 Release Candidate will be the killer feature for the home user. Why not upgrade your computer to Windows 7 when it can still be Windows XP whenever you want.
More soon…
Brad Says:
November 14th, 2009 at 7:02 am
So, let me see if I’ve got this right…
the key to getting people to stop buying that shiny new Mac and instead upgrade their PC to Windows 7 at home is to roll out a virtualized desktop solution at all of the offices around the world so that people can continue to use applications that will only work under XP – and to prevent the significant pain of a major OS upgrade across the company due to failed upgrades or finding out your hardware won’t work with W7 and you need a new PC?
That logic just isn’t selling me on upgrading to W7, if anything it’s making big loud warning bells go off in my head. Why if I’m going to basically roll out a thin client solution why not do it using a far more mature product like those offered by Sun, VMWare, and Citrix. The Sun solution allows me to use existing hardware and run any version of Windows, Linux, and Solaris and switch seamlessly between them. Sun’s entire company runs on it and they’ve just made it better with the release of Sun Ray 5.
You know the real reason why people are moving to the Mac at home? Because most of the time it doesn’t take a IT guru to keep it going. MDOP may solve some sticky problems for the IT Department at work, but they won’t be there to support the little ol’ home user when their Windows registry is caked and they are suffering from “Windows rot” 6-12 months later (or a virus infection) and they have to go through the pain of rebuilding their PC (or paying someone to do it).
MDOB ain’t going to help the little guy…and that’s what’s hurting MS in the home market.