Microsoft has a lot of exciting initiatives coming up this fall. We’ve downloaded the beta versions and previews in order to become familiar with the new products so we can deliver our expertise. We’ve been talking about these upcoming products, but here is just an overview of what’s to come this fall.
The new Windows 8 will offer a multi-touch user interface and more traditional keyboard and mouse support. Windows 8 will reach general availability by the end of October.
It will launch in September 2012 and will have Hyper-V upgrades to position strongly against VMware. The Switch to Hyper-V program includes: best practices for partners based on intellectual property that Microsoft has collected; practice accelerator guidance and related resources; and a Virtual Machine Migration Toolkit, which allows trained partners to perform end-to-end V2V migrations, Microsoft claims.
Microsoft wants to get into the competition with its new tablets. Can it compete with the iPad? For one thing, with the tablet users will be able to access Microsoft Office. The iPad doesn’t offer this, which might appeal more to business users. It could be a laptop replacement for people that are constantly on-the-go.
With Windows 8 just months away, the software is due for an upgrade. The latest edition will have cloud integration with SkyDrive, which saves documents to SkyDrive by default so user content is always available across your tablet, PC and phone. Overall, it will have a sleek look and feel. It will be used best with Windows 8 on PCs and tablets.
-Carissa Cotner, Marketing Coordinator
