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Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 Implementation

1. Following a new IT model of pro-active efforts, Western is on the leading edge with the migration to Microsoft Vista/Office 2007. There is time to act deliberately and time to test and determine best practices. The migration timeline will probably extend to 24 months beginning with the fall of 2007 as entering freshman may bring these new systems with their new computers.
2. We are in a testing phase to determine compatibility with Banner and our other enterprise systems. A tool is available on our Vista/Office 2007 Web site to test a specific application running on a office machine to address compatibility issues for individual users.
3. The new Vista user interface is more intuitive, much more graphic oriented and is called Aero. The interface features significantly new tools include widgets which are easy to use program snippets that perform a specific routine task such as accessing a common Web site or updating a calendar.
4. In full graphic modes, Vista opens files and folders and performs other duties with simulated three dimensional graphics. Icons appear to rotate and move about the screen to enhance the user experience.
5. We all are concerned about identity theft and data security. Vista greatly heightens our security levels making individual workstations much more secure.
6. Because of the extensive graphics, Vista requires a higher capability video card and at least 1 gig of memory.
7. We recognize that some of the older equipment will not support the move to Vista/Office 2007. Information technology is identifying these machines to share with respective departments their preparedness to move to Vista/Office 2007. Budgeting data is being developed and shared with the various campus divisions.
8. Vista will run on older machines but will revert to a more standard graphic mode similar to your current version of Windows XP. Information Technology will continue to support current versions of Windows XP and Office 2003/XP for as long as necessary.
9. Office 2007 is the new office productivity package with new versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access. These software tools are significantly different than current XP/2003 versions.
10. Menus are arranged for ease of use putting the most commonly used functions at the forefront, meaning fewer clicks to perform routine tasks.
11. Collaboration across tasks and across workgroups is at the heart of these new software tools. Jointly writing and editing documents will become common place and the new office brings a new level of information sharing capabilities for the campus.
12. In Excel, one can publish a spreadsheet of common data and the workgroup can access the spreadsheet and incorporate the data in other documents. Updating the main spreadsheet will automatically update other pages that use this information.
13. The new PowerPoint gives the user unprecedented levels of animations and graphics to create stunning slide shows. Data for slideshows can be centrally stored and shared with automatic updates to the slide show based upon the shared resource.
14. All office products tightly integrate with the Web using the Web interface as the collaborate workspace. Sharing documents in the new office is as easy as using the Web.
15. One issue to be addressed is that Office 2007 saves in a new format. There are options to save Word, Excel and PowerPoint files in the older format as required. It requires the user to be aware of how the document will be used to ensure a shared file can be opened by users of our current systems.
16. Individual departments will be engaged in planning, discussing new features, determining opportunities, as well as identifying potentials challenges.
17. Beginning in February, early adopters may join an exploratory implementation group. The university will have access to the enterprise version of Vista as well as Office 2007. The early adopters will be asked to provide information to guide the creation of full IT support from these new products. Justification is required to be a member of the Vista/Office 2007 implementation team. More information is available at http://........
18. The software can only be installed during the testing phase on WCU owned equipment. Microsoft has stated that licensing for installation on personal machines for university employees or students can be expected in April for a small media fee.