Ensure your school leadership team is across the opportunity afforded by new technologies, by hosting a complimentary Windows in the Classroom seminar. Find out more information by visiting our website. To book a Windows in the Classroom personal development seminar at your school or for more information, please email nzeducation@microsoft.com.
Microsoft Partners in Learning is a $500 million global initiative working with schools and educators to improve teaching and learning practices; optimize the use of technology within pedagogy to improve learning outcomes; and help every student receive an excellent education and gain the skills they need in work and life. To sign up now, visit http://www.pil-network.com.
We've just launched our new Microsoft NZ Education Facebook page. If you enjoy receiving regular updates from us, come and "Like" us! We can't wait to give you more insight into what's going on in the NZ education sector.
Windows® MultiPoint Server™ 2011 is a Windows®-based solution that is designed specifically to help educational institutions give every student individual access to PCs. By allowing multiple users to simultaneously share one computer—each with his or her own independent Windows experience—it’s a cost-effective way to get more technology into classrooms, computer labs, and libraries.
A major new feature in 2011 is the support for RDP connections from devices such as MacBook’s.
HP’s MultiSeat T100 USB Thin Client is still a very cost effective option for new deployments and I have been testing this device on my laptop running MultiPoint 2011 (I also have Moodle, SharePoint Foundation and Office Web Apps running on my MultiPoint server but I’ll save that for another post).
Another improvement is the management of the student sessions.
Learn more at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/multipoint/learn-more.aspx MultiPoint Server Team Blog http://blogs.technet.com/b/multipointserver/archive/2011/02/21/wms2011rtm.aspxDownload an evaluation copy from http://bit.ly/MPServer
Desktop Virtualization doesn't just mean using your existing server virtualization platform to deliver virtual desktops. As many people have found out, the ROI on doing this for a mass VDI solution doesn't stack up.
If you take a user centric approach to defining the requirements, you should end up focusing on the user Data and Applications rather than the platform on which you will run the OS.
I see a new lease of life for Windows Terminal Services, now called Remote Desktop Services (RDS) in Windows Server 2008 R2. If you have not evaluated RDS and only had experience with TS then I would encourage you to look again at the Microsoft offering. There are many architectural changes to have resolved many of the issues previously experienced with TS. e.g.
· 64 bit only - better concurrent session support
· Integration with System Center and Unified Access Gateway - manage in the same way as physical desktops
· Application Virtualization - less susceptible to dependencies allowing greater number off apps per server and easier updates
Other Resources:Microsoft virtualization strategy http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization/en/us/default.aspxRDS Component Architecture
The Essential Secondary Science Assessment (ESSA) test was delivered simultaneously to all secondary schools in a single day. Using 300 Azure instances cost ~ $40 per hour. The alternative was to purchase 60 physical servers.
This video was shown in the keynote at the Education Leaders Briefing in London on January 12, 2011 by Orlando Ayala.
Watch this video to see how your budget can come to life
Here is a copy of the Excel spreadsheet shared on Office.com
Download