Well, the EVO Tour is underway, with some initial bad feedback, we have taken that on board and now the feedback is MUCH better from all partners, including SBSC members, so the inital concerns appear have been answered - which is well done to the team for such a quick turnaround.

When I answered the previous complaints "here", I wanted to respond more fully to Martin's comments, so I will do that here.  This is what Martin said that I will respond to now:

"because this customer has temps that may or may not work on these platforms[David: Vista machines], the changes in UI between XP and Vista are significant that this solution[David: Using Vista on some machine] will not work.  They believe (and so do I knowing the workforce) they are going to have to upgrade all of their Computers all 35 Desktops.  On top of this, they are then going to have to ensure that all of the other LOB Apps run, and then train all users on the diverencies.

That will cost the IT budget for the next 12 months so just isn't going to happen!!

I understand the problem - you could make those machines use the Classic look and feel until all machines are upgraded - this will resolve many of the "training" problems that you talk about.  Also, it is good that an application problem is fixed by moving to Vista. 

Now on to the problem of machine upgrades.  Unless this customer has a Volume License agreement, then it will be 35 copies of FPP product.  Why not consider Open Value Subscription (OVS) as a way to make this easier to swallow - the cost is spread over 3 years, lower due to rental rather than ownership, plus other benefits that OVS brings, including- Home Usage rights, e-training voucher - which should help with learning that new UI - staff purchase right, upgrades to the next version when it ships and so on.

If your customer will also need some new PCs, why not consider putting the whole lot under a MS Finance agreement, which can have 6 months @ £50 per month and then reasonable terms after this. 

Hopefully all of this starts to get a real return on investment which you also have the opportunity to deliver as your time can be part of the agreement and should give you extra capability to build loyalty with your customer.

What is a more likely scenario here is that they will (and are about the expand again) because of timings they are going to end up with around 5 Vista Desktops, when they hit the problem above of temps trying to use these and not being able to remeber the diffencies between systems.  Then they are going to be forced to change all Dekstops to Vista.  In forcing them they will nag me endlessly about why did MS change things. etc

Why did we change things - simple - they needed changing - the old interface was good, but not optimal, the security is nice, but you have to manage several products - this is hugely simplified and that is good as mistakes are less likely to happen as the complexity disappears.  There is more, but you have heard me on this already.

OK now I love the ne UI in vista and finding things are a lot easier.  I have also shown many of customer Vista and Office 2007 as I run these on my Laptop.  Put it bluntly, most either love or like the ribbon etc and the other changes in Office.  A relatively easy sell when it comes to it.  Windows is just a vehicle that allows the box of electronic bits and pieces to do things.  They are comfortable with it, they haven't had many (and mostly no) issues with security it is reliable, and what they use on a daily basis can be pinned to the start menu.

They have no or little use of new search features.

I have no customer currently who have seen this combo that will wait 2 or 3 month before purchase they are saying we will wait until SP 1 to come out.

I sort of agree with you here, but only sort of.  Windows is alot more than a vehicle for other things to run.  It is the foundation and those have had a significant number of enhancements added, which these applications use.  It is like an iceberg - most of the good stuff is under the waterline, so not seen.  Machines are easier to manage and by utilising the new features rather than ignoring them should start to bring new ways of working for people.  Having said that, I am not saying everyone should go buy it immediately.  My comment about waiting a month or two was tongue in cheek.  Some people will wait until SP1 - we have recently annoucned that it will be at the same time as Longhorn.  If they have no use for the search, security, backup, IE, UI, new apps, comms and so on, then waiting for SP1 is a possibility.  We don't have everyone running Windows XP yet, so some people do take a seriously long number of years.

This is the real picture and I don't believe anyone in MS UK is seeing the real picture that is both the SBS team and the EVO team.  

And to top this I don't actually believe the SBS team are listening to us.  We are the ones meeting our customers, and new prospective clients in this space daily.  On top of this we are also small businesses.  We will upgrade here early (as oon as it is int he Action Pack) but of course we will then need to keep windows xp virtual machines!

Having XP and other virtual machines is a great idea - see other posting about this - but remember that you are not the only people who can use a virtual machine - so can your customers, so this can be used to solve some issues with apps.

Remember - Vista is not for everyone straight away, but unless you know the value, others may well sell it under you.  If your customers need to manage costs, OVS and / or financing might be the answer - I don't think any of this is news to you, but I felt I had to say it just to be sure - hopefully no harm done.

Finally, I am really, really keen to understand why you think we are not listening / hearing you?  What do we need to know, change, pay attention to?  We are excited about Vista and Office and I know that you all have other parts of your business to run too.  Microsoft does too, but we don't make lots of noise about that side as they are already managing just fine.  We do understand the difficulties in delivering EVO, but it is not as if you were going to upgrade all your customers this year, so find those you can while getting new ones.  Those who don't need Vista or Office can do other things for you :-)

Please leave your thoughts to we can ensure the SBS, VO and other teams are listening

ttfn and thanks

David