< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />Hi Folks,

Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office are here!  And, you are probably thinking that it’s time to take advantage of these 2 great technologies.  But, you need to get answers on a few practical questions first:

• Would my existing PCs run Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office? Should I buy new ones or upgrade them instead?
• Would my devices still work? Would most of the device drivers be available from Windows Vista installation DVD and/or Microsoft Windows Update site?

Well, I have good news for you!  Today, our team is happy to announce the availability of the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 tool at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2007.  This network-wide readiness assessment tool is designed to make it easier for Microsoft partners and customers to determine their existing PCs’ readiness for Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office.  It’s a great tool to accelerate migration and deployment planning for Microsoft customers and partners.

How it Works?

• Step 1 - Network Inventory:

• Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.0 connects securely and remotely from a networked PC and reaches out to each PC on the network, whether they are in

…

Just when Microsoft had customers, partners and competitors all  believing that it was going to delay the first service pack for Vista — not releasing a first beta of it until just before year-end — the company is set to deliver Beta 1 of Vista SP1 in mid-July.

Word (from various sources who asked not to be named) is Microsoft is gearing up to drop Vista SP1 some time the week of July 16. And despite what Microsoft seemingly led Google, the U.S. Department of Justice and other company watchers to believe, the final version of Vista SP1 is sounding like November 2007.

(November 2007 is also the release-to-manufacturing target for Windows Server 2008, sources say. Microsoft won’t provide an RTM date for Windows Server 2008, other than to say it is still on track to RTM before the end of 2007.)

Source: blogs.zdnet.com