For many companies the question is not
"IF" they are going to deploy personal workstations running Windows NT, but "HOW". |
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Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group has released a second major Windows NT study:
"Deploying Windows NT in Technical Workstation Environments, An Overview of the Reasons and Methods for Moving to Microsoft Windows NT Workstation."
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In this study, sponsored by
Digital Equipment Corporation and Microsoft Corporation, over 26 organizations who had deployed Windows NT were interviewed to determine the reasons, best practices and challenges in moving to this operating system on technical workstations.
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Best Practices Overall Themes:
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Define roles, responsibilities and a timeline for the transition - be as specific as possible |
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Include users in the planning process - if they have ownership they are less likely to revert to old tools/system or complain |
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Create a standard template for hardware and software, the more variance, the higher the per-seat support cost |
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Beta-test everything to insure its computability and stability (LAN, printers and peripherals and all drivers) |
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Define goals of the migration - cost, productivity, strategic positioning - and define success |
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Key Migration Questions |
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Is the old application functionality required for the new environment? |
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Is the old application functionality in the new application? |
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Can this functionality be either bought off-the shelf or developed from off-the-shelf products? |
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If not, should the application be ported or re-written? |
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Is the data essential for the current work? |
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Can the data be shared between different OS? |
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Can the old data be read by the new application? |
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Can the data be ported by off-the-shelf programs? |
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Can old data and applications still be used on legacy systems? |
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Here are but a few quotes from study participants in 26 organizations
who have migrated to Windows NT Workstation:
- "It was faster under Alpha and NT - we worked the same way, but [in the same time frame], it increased the number of products we could create by three times!"
-Leica
- "NT machines are inherently easier to maintain, letting people concentrate on the art and not the technical aspect - that is the natural progression for NT - we can't do it any other way"
-Netter Digital
- "Many people who are coming into our business do not have strong computer backgrounds - there is a much easier learning curve for NT systems than UNIX"
-Sony Imageworks
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DIGITAL is uniquely qualified to assist in your migration.
Over 21,000 service professionals in more than 100 countries
Over 1300 Microsoft Certified Engineers & Solution Developers
(More than Sun and HP combined)
Strategic Alliance with Microsoft.
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To receive a copy of this study:
"Deploying Windows NT in Technical Workstation Environments, An Overview of the Reasons and Methods for Moving to Microsoft Windows NT Workstation."
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Please download:
This document is available in two formats: PostScript (.ps), and Portble Document format ( .pdf). To
view a .pdf file, you will need the free Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
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Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group has also updated
their first Windows NT study:
"Technical Workstation Total Cost of Ownership Study, A Cost Comparison of
Microsoft NT Workstation and UNIX"
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with recent system and price changes. The conclusion of the study remains the same: workstations running Windows NT Worksation are less expensive to buy, maintain and support over three years.
Based on interviews with over 100 companies, the average three year total cost of ownership (TCO) for technical workstations running Windows NT Workstation was $66,000 versus $104,000 for comparable UNIX machines: a savings of 37%. The findings suggest that for a group of 25 workstations, savings in three years could amount to almost one million dollars.
To receive
this update, download:
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