[There's a reason that Yoda is the unofficial mascot of SBS. Size indeed matters not.] On Software assurance - THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS "DIVA"
Fri, Jul 20 2007 19:03 bradley

On Software assurance

Gartner: MS subscription licence may become ‘mandatory’ - 20/Jul/2007 - ComputerWeekly.com:
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/07/20/225664/gartner-ms-subscription-licence-may-become-mandatory.htm

Bona said the supplier could even restrict Service Pack releases, which have been used in the past by Microsoft to distribute patches and new functions, as in the 2003 release of Windows XP SP2.

Microsoft was unable to say whether it would continue to make new software or support available exclusively to businesses running Software Assurance.

A spokesman said, “Software Assurance helps customers get the most value from their IT investment.”

Software assurance only gives me the licenses for my technology needs.  I still have yet to be able to figure out how I can get the SBS elearning course via my Software Assurance elearning rights.  Sure I get two Technical phone calls, but most of the time when I call, I have just a weird issue to begin with (as in something broken due to SP2) it's a free call anyway.

I'M the one that installed Office 2007.  I'M the one that ensured all the folks in the office had a warm fuzzy safety blanket of Patrick's ribbon toobar.  I'M the one looking for gadgets to add to Vista.

I think some spokesman somewhere needs to realize that while Microsoft can build the software it's US out here deploying it, tweaking it, making it work in the actual hands of users that are the ones that help customers get the most value from their IT investment.  If it's not installed on the systems, all Software Assurance does for the space down here is send someone media up the wazoo so we can have duplicates. 

Software assurance in the SMB space makes sense when we can see an upgrade in the future... like RIGHT NOW as we see Cougar in the future.  The other times?  Only folks like me who's used to paying subscriptions (where we get guaranteed maintenance and upgrades every year) still decide to do it.

Filed under:

# re: On Software assurance

Saturday, July 21, 2007 7:28 PM by Hilton Travis

If Microsoft tries to force sales of their under-delivering SA by dropping SP support for non-SA customers, I can smell a) a huge stink being kicked up by a lot of governments and Microsoft customers and b) a lot of people more seriously considering alternate OS and application platforms on which to run their businesses.

If they even consider this, this will be one of the most stupid moves Steve Ballmer has made whilst misguiding Microsoft down a path to self-destruction.

MS needs to get him out and get someone with a clue in there - right now MS is a rudderless ship.

# Software Assurance E-Learning?

Monday, July 23, 2007 8:52 AM by Absoblogginlutely

Has anyone managed to get their Software Assurance E-Learning activated for their organization for more than one person? I was interested to see a side comment from Susan Bradley, an SBS MVP who also can't get E-Learning working One of...