Windows 10 Tip: Watch a video while using another app with mini view

By Elana Pidgeon as written on blogs.windows.com
Did you know that, with the new mini view feature in the Windows 10 Creators Update, you can now keep an ever-present small window on top of what you’re doing?

With the Windows 10 Creators Update, watch a video while using another app with mini view

This means you can do things like watch your favorite show, carry on a Skype conversation or control your music, regardless of what else you’re working on. Go ahead, have your movies keep you company while you’re cranking through the PowerPoint presentation.

Here’s how it works:

Launch the Movies & TV app and click a movie, trailer, or TV show to start playing it. Click the “Play in mini view” button in the bottom right-hand corner, and the “Leave mini view” button when you want to exit.
The mini view will stay on top of any other windows you have open. You can click and drag to move it around your screen, or click a corner and drag to resize the window.

Protect Windows Server System State to cloud with Azure Backup!

By Saurabh Sensharma as written on azure.microsoft.com

One of the key endeavors of the cloud-first approach of Azure Backup is to empower enterprises to recover from security attacks, corruptions, disasters, or data loss situations quickly, securely, and reliably.  Restoring servers efficiently in the wake of evolving IT threats involves going beyond recovering data alone from backups. Our customers have expressed varying degrees of complexity in how their operating systems and applications are configured. Restoring this dynamic configuration captured in the form of the Windows Server System State, in addition to data, with minimum infrastructure, forms a critical component of disaster recovery.

Today we are extending the data backup capabilities of the Microsoft Azure Backup agent to enable customers to perform comprehensive, secure, and reliable Windows Server recoveries. We are excited to preview the support for backing up Windows Server System State directly to Azure with Microsoft Azure Backup.

Azure Backup will now integrate with the Windows Server Backup feature that is available natively on every Windows Server and provide seamless and secure backups of your Windows Server System State directly to Azure without the need to provision any on-premises infrastructure.

System State Backup to Cloud final

Value proposition

  • Comprehensive Protection for Active Directory, File-Servers and IIS Web servers: Active Directory (AD) is the most critical database of any organization and therefore requires a backup strategy that allows for reliable recoveries during critical scenarios. System State of a domain-controller server captures the Active Directory and files that are required for domain-controller synchronization and allow for targeted Active Directory protection and restores.On a File Server, System State captures important file-cluster configurations and policies that protect files from unauthorized access. Combined with file-folder backup, the backup of System State with Azure Backup agent provides the ability to comprehensively recover File Servers.On an IIS Web Server, System state captures the IIS Metabase that contains crucial configuration information about the server, the site and even files and folders and therefore is the recommended option to restore Web Servers.
  • Cost-Effective Offsite for Disaster Recovery: System State for most Windows Servers is less than 50 GBs in size. For that size, at $5 a month and pay-as-you-go Azure storage, Azure Backup eliminates all infrastructure and licensing costs, and enables you to protect your Windows Server System State for reliable restores. No need to provision local hard-drives, or offsite storage, or employ additional tools or servers to manage system state backups and ensure their off-siting. Azure Backup takes care of off-siting System State on a specified schedule to Azure!
  • Secure Backups: The enhanced security features built into Azure Backup and data-resilience offered by Azure ensure that your critical system state backups remain secure from malicious attacks, corruptions, and deletions.
  • Flexible Restores: With Azure Backup’s Restore-as-a-Service, you can restore System State files from Azure without any egress charges. Additionally, you can apply System State to your Windows Servers at your convenience using the native Windows Server Backup utility.
  • Single management pane in Azure: All information related to System State backup jobs across all your Windows servers will be available in the Azure portal. You can also configure notifications directly from Azure to be notified in the event of a failed backup, so you can take corrective steps and ensure your servers are always prepared for disaster recovery!

Availability for Windows Server (Preview)

The support for backing up System State with Azure Backup agent is available in preview for all Windows Server versions from Windows Server 2016 all the way down to Windows Server 2008 R2!

Follow the four simple steps below to start protecting your Windows Servers using Azure Backup!

  1. Create an Azure Recovery Services Vault.
  2. Download the latest version of the Azure Backup Agent from the Azure Portal.
  3. Install and Register the Agent.
  4. Start protecting Windows Server System State and other Files and Folders directly to Azure!

Network Assessment & Technology Roadmap

About Managed Solution

We're technology enthusiasts with a people-first approach. For over two decades, we've witnessed the profound impact that the right technology and support can have on businesses and individuals. Success, to us, is seeing our clients, partners, and team conquer challenges to achieve their greatest goals and build lasting connections. This relentless pursuit of inspiration drives us forward, pushing us to deliver innovative solutions that empower growth and lasting success.

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As written on customers.microsoft.com

MARS sells a lot of M&M’s and other confections in 78 countries around the world, but that’s not all there is to the company’s success. To meet audacious goals that include 100 percent growth in 10 years, MARS has adopted Windows 10 Enterprise, Microsoft Surface Pro devices, Microsoft Office 365, and Microsoft Azure to increase employee effectiveness, enhance mobility, streamline collaboration, promote data security, and reduce IT costs. Now MARS can deliver continuous innovation, empower its Associates, and meet its business objectives.

"This company will continue to accelerate growth organically and through acquisition, and we’re using Windows 10 to build the flexibility and capabilities we need to get there."

- David Boersma: Senior Manager for End User Technologies

https://youtube.com/watch?v=dVrcXseWjl8

Offering products that customers genuinely love is an old recipe for sweet success. But that’s only part of how MARS has turned iconic brands such as M&M’s, Snickers, Pedigree pet foods, and Wrigley’s into a global enterprise with USD35 billion in annual revenue. That is a lot of M&M’s, but MARS is a lot more than candy treats. Pet care products account for almost half of annual revenue at MARS.

In fact, MARS markets more than 60 brands across six business segments, from food products to biomedical research. Since the early 2000s, this privately held, century-old company has grown 100 percent, and it expects to continue to accelerate growth organically and through acquisition. MARS is justly proud of business practices that include zero waste to landfills, fair and sustainable cocoa production, and wind farms that generate enough electricity to offset all corporate operations in North America and the United Kingdom. In 2014, MARS launched an industry-leading labeling initiative that encourages portion control and other smart snacking decisions.

“We run MARS with an extremely long-term view,” says Joe Carlin, Technology Service Delivery Director at MARS. “We try to do business in a way that benefits our customers, our Associates, and the communities we work in.”

That long-term view includes a commitment to product, technology, and workplace innovation. MARS has audacious business goals and expects to meet them by using Windows 10, Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Azure, and other key Microsoft services and devices to boost employee effectiveness, enhance mobility, streamline collaboration, promote data security, and reduce IT costs, ultimately transforming the way people work at MARS. “Through digital innovation, our business has the fantastic opportunity to get closer to our consumers and provide and even better value proposition,” says Vittorio Cretella, Chief Information Officer at MARS.

$4 million upgrades vs. an evergreen estate

As MARS accelerates its growth and adds new products, services, and business units to its existing operations, its Information Services (IS) department is committed to adopting new digital capabilities that will help the company continue to expand and diversify, organically and through acquisition. “We have to drive technology as a business enabler, but remain efficient,” says Carlin.

With 400 locations in 78 countries and more than 80,000 Associates, MARS wanted to avoid the cost and time of repeated operating system upgrades. Previous enterprise-wide upgrades had gaps of up to four years and had cost more than $4 million, plus the operational overhead of managing multiple systems during the long transition. “It made more sense to spend our time and money on optimizing our work environment, finding new ways to safeguard high-value corporate data, and delivering other strategic contributions to the business,” says David Boersma, Senior Manager for End User Technologies at MARS.

Yet MARS still needed an up-to-date operating system and productivity tools. In February 2016, it began to roll out the Windows 10 Enterprise operating system and Microsoft Office 365 across the global organization, to help give all its Associates the mobile, social, analytical, and cloud-based tools they need to perform effectively in today’s connected workplace. A small number of mobile Associates were given Microsoft Surface Pro 4 devices.

“We want to drive the right digital behaviors,” says Jonathan Chong, Digital Workplace and Corporate Systems Director at MARS. “So we’re using Windows 10 to build a technology environment that is comparable to or better than what our Associates use in their personal lives.”

To avoid the effort and expense of future upgrades to its very large Windows environment, MARS subscribed to the “Windows as a service” model from Microsoft and receives automatic web-based operating system updates. The incremental updates will help MARS improve platform stability, enhance security for thousands of devices, and introduce a constant flow of new tools and capabilities. “I told my team that I never want to do a big-bang operating system migration again,” says Paul L'Estrange, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Core Services at MARS. “Windows 10 will allow us to maintain a truly evergreen estate.”

Traditionally, MARS Associates often stay with the company for 25 years or more, but the company knows that to stay vibrant it must recruit millennials—and retain them. MARS invests significantly in recruiting and training new Associates. It wants value back, but it understands that young, digitally native talent expect easy access to knowledge, and that to retain new talent, MARS needs to deliver access to data with smart, simple, flexible tools. “To get and keep the best people, we want to offer the best work environment,” says Boersma. “With an advanced, nimble, easy-to-use, self-service, always-current technology environment, MARS IS will deliver a robust Windows 10 experience with Office 365 to empower and enable all our Associates.”

An enterprise digital workplace

The MARS IS team worked with Microsoft Services to help architect the solution and with VDX, a member of the Microsoft Partner Network, to help prepare the MARS infrastructure and roll out Windows 10. By September 2016, 5,000 MARS Associates were using Windows 10 and Office 365. More than 500 field Associates and high-level mobile executives had Surface Pro devices.

“Our Associates appreciate the familiarity, reliability, and ease of use of the Windows 10 experience,” says Boersma. “The Surface Pro users love the flexibility to switch from desktop to tablet mode and enhanced mobility features such as the touchscreen and Surface Pen.”

As a global enterprise, MARS has always valued human interaction and high-touch collaboration. With tools like Yammer social networking and Skype for Business messaging and video conferencing, MARS Associates can bridge geographies and time zones to take down barriers, engage in real time, and connect with people, knowledge, and resources. Almost 4,000 MARS Associates are already using Yammer to post subjects, canvas for feedback, and collaborate live every day. Global teams use Skype for Business to meet and communicate meaningfully without flying halfway around the planet, reducing costs and helping people spend more time at home—and still do what needs to get done.

With Windows 10, cloud-based Office 365, and an early evaluation of Windows Intune, MARS intends to expand its on-premises capability for mobile device management in the Microsoft Enterprise Mobility Suite to manage mobile devices and applications. MARS Associates can choose between using Surface Pro devices, PCs, tablets, and smartphones, or easily move between devices, locations, and even regions across the whole company. Field teams can connect with each other to be more productive and improve customer engagement. “With Windows 10, MARS Associates finish things on the road instead of waiting until they get back,” says Carlin. “For example, field associates use their Surface Pro devices in store walk-throughs, and if necessary, use Office 365 to connect with other team members and resolve display issues in one day instead of a week.”

New safeguards and a cloud transformation

After MARS IS prepared every device for a 64-bit version of Windows 10, the MARS security team recommended replacing an existing legacy security solution with Windows Defender endpoint protection. This will save the cost of a third-party solution and avoided the hassle of moving the legacy technology to the upgraded operating system. Windows Defender has since passed two MARS security audits, and to help further safeguard all the company’s devices and reduce risk to its corporate data, MARS intends to combine existing BitLocker Drive Encryption with other Windows security features such as Windows Information Protection, Credential Guard, Device Guard, and Windows Hello biometric multifactor authentication on its Window 10 devices.

As part of its transformation to a new digital workplace, MARS is also aggressively expanding many line-of-business and other workloads to the cloud. The company manages two datacenters, one that is almost 25 years old. To reduce the associated capital and maintenance costs, promote efficiency, and increase reliability, MARS has moved more than 100 workloads to the Microsoft Azure enterprise cloud platform, including a critical SAP retail application solution. The company expects to transfer up to 500 workloads to Azure over the next year.

By early 2017, the company had deployed Windows 10 to 12,500 seats, adding Associates through device attrition. Boersma estimates enterprise-wide adoption before the end of 2018.

Sweet business value

By eliminating future full-scale upgrades, MARS will save millions of dollars that it can spend to transform MARS IS into a strategic center of innovation and business value. It will save $250,000 on third-party licensing and maintenance each year. As MARS continues to build its digital workplace and offer professional tools such as Office 365 and advanced devices such as the Surface Pro, it will attract a new generation of Associates, help them serve customers more effectively, make their careers at MARS more rewarding, and preserve the human, employee-centric culture that MARS is so proud of—and that it is convinced has contributed to its long success.

“Initiatives like Windows 10 and our new digital workplace help MARS direct IT investment dollars toward unlocking greater potential across our organization,” says Chong. “Rather than tying up investment and time to just get through the next product release, we can focus on enhancing key aspects of our culture at a digital level, across divisions, borders, and time zones—so we can preserve what is special about MARS and help all our Associates be more productive and agile.”

When it adopted Windows 10, Office 365, and Azure, MARS streamlined IT management, made it easier to safeguard all its devices and data, and took some of the guesswork out of its IT spending. As MARS expands its cloud environments and decreases its on-premises IT footprint, it can focus on solving business challenges and using data to generate insight—and value. It can support ongoing innovation, streamline processes and access to information, empower MARS Associates, and meet its ambitious business-growth objectives.

“At MARS, we meet our goals,” says Boersma. “This company will continue to accelerate growth organically and through acquisition , and we’re using Windows 10 to build the flexibility and capabilities we need to get there.”

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Windows 10 Tip: Import data from another browser to Microsoft Edge in one step

By Elana Pidgeon as written on blogs.windows.com
Today, we’re sharing how you can import your favorites, browsing history, and other data from another browser to Microsoft Edge with the Windows 10 Creators Update – all in one simple step.

Here’s how to import your data:

Microsoft Edge displaying the Windows Blogs and showing the menu for importing data from another browser to Microsoft Edge

In Microsoft Edge, click on the three dots in the upper-right-hand corner, then on Settings.

Under “Import favorites and other info,” click the “Import from another browser” button. Then, choose the browser from which you’d like to move your data.*
Have a great week!
*Microsoft Edge can import browsing history, passwords, and other data only from Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Favorites can be imported from Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and 360.

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desktop and cloud - managed solution

Microsoft blurs the line between desktop and cloud with OneDrive update

By Sarah Perez as written on techcrunch.com
At Microsoft’s Build 2017 event today, the company introduced a new feature for the company’s cloud storage service OneDrive that will allow you to access your files without using up device storage. Called “Files On-Demand,” the feature will roll out along with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update and will give users more control over which files are stored locally versus in the cloud.
The feature is basically Microsoft’s own take on Dropbox’s Smart Sync, as it lets you view all the files and folders directly in File Explorer, instead of only seeing those you’ve opted to sync to your device.
The idea is that the more you use online storage – creating files and uploading photos and working across multiple devices – the more you need to be able to see all your documents, and not worry if you had forgotten to sync something to your current device.
But while Dropbox’s Smart Sync was introduced as a feature for business users, OneDrive’s Files On-Demand supports your personal and work OneDrive accounts, as well as SharePoint Online team sites.
In addition, your OneDrive files won’t just be visible on your desktop, they’ll also be shown in the file picker when you’re using a Windows store application. When you select a given file from the picker, it will automatically download and open in the app – like a local file would.
The user interface in Windows 10 File Explorer will also be updated so you can better see which files are available on the device and in the cloud, thanks to the use of a small cloud icon in a column labeled “Status.” You’ll still be able to tell how much storage space the file will require if you choose to download it, as its size information is available in Explorer as well, even if the file isn’t yet on your device.
You can also choose to make certain folders or files always available offline with a right-click, then choosing “Always keep on this device” from the menu.
However, you generally won’t have to go through this process – it’s only really necessary if you know you’ll be spending a lot of time offline and don’t want to lose access to your more critical folders and files. Most times, while you’re connected to the internet, you can just double-click files and usual to open them into an app, and the file will automatically download to your device.
The feature has another benefit for larger organizations using SharePoint Online team sites – it will reduce the network bandwidth by reducing the continual syncing that occurs today when changes are made.
At present, when anyone makes a change, files are re-downloaded on all synced devices. This is no longer necessary, as the files in their updated format will be available whenever the user clicks them.
While Files On-Demand works well on desktop devices, on mobile, connectivity is often more of an issue. Microsoft addressed this by introducing a new option that will allow users to save entire folders to your mobile device, so you can open the files they contain once you have a connection again. Changes others make to those files while you’re offline will be automatically updated once you’re connected again.
This feature is available now on Android for Office 365 Personal and Home subscribers and OneDrive business accounts. iOS users will receive the update in a few months.
However, iOS users can today use OneDrive with iMessage. You can share an entire folder or file directly within the iMessage interface. These documents and photos can also be instantly previewed here, through this new integration.

windows 10 anniversary update - managed solution

National Small Business Week: 8 Windows 10 PCs great for small businesses

By Peter Han as written on blogs.windows.com
National Small Business Week is in full-swing; here are some great newer Windows 10 devices that can help Small Businesses be more secure and get more done.
This week we recognize National Small Business Week; something that is near and dear to my heart. As someone who worked in a small business myself, I firmly believe that small businesses are the backbone of our global economy and key innovation drivers in the tech industry and beyond. In today’s mobile-first, cloud-first world Microsoft is committed to providing devices and services that help these businesses expand their reach to better serve customers from all over the world.
The needs of small business customers are always top-of-mind for Microsoft as we work with our device partners to bring innovative new Windows 10 PCs to market. We talk extensively with small business owners about what they are looking for when purchasing new PCs, and although there are a diverse set of requirements, there are commonalities across the broad spectrum of small businesses such as long battery life, price-point, mobility, and processing power.
Every small business is unique, and there are a wide variety of Windows devices and experiences to meet the specific needs of each of them.
Modern Windows 10 devices built on the latest Intel processors are faster and more powerful than ever before, are more secure thanks to technology like Windows Hello and help people be more productive thanks to new Windows experiences such as Inking. There’s never been a better time to buy a new PC for your business.
Here are eight modern devices that small business owners, who are in the market for new PCs, should take a look at.

Acer Swift 7

One thing we hear a lot from small businesses is that they need mobile solutions that offer the flexibility to get their work done wherever they go. Devices that are thin, light and powerful are a must. Acer’s Swift 7 is one of the first devices that comes to mind when I think of mobility. This beautiful laptop runs on Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, weighs only 2.42 pounds and is .39 inch thin. It includes face recognition for Windows Hello authentication for fast and secure log-on.
Other key features include:
  • Powered by Windows 10
  • 7th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors
  • 256GB or 512GB SSD and up to 8GB of memory
  • HD webcam with HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging support provides clear, bright and detailed images.
  • 3” HD IPS with Corning Gorilla Glass
  • Up to 9 hours of battery life
Pricing and Availability:  The Acer Swift 7 starts at $1099 USD and €1,299 in EMEA.

ASUSPro B9440

This thin and light business laptop boasts a 10-hour battery, and a Mil-STD 810G military-grade, magnesium alloy body that’s solid and durable, despite weighing just 2.3 pounds. Its cutout design lifts the keyboard to a 7-degree angle when open, for a more natural feel when typing. A 14-inch full HD 1080p anti-glare screen fits into a smaller 13-inch chassis, and provides great visibility in any lighting scenario. It features a Windows Hello fingerprint reader for added security and convenience.
Other key features:
  • Powered by Windows 10 Pro
  • 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7200U CPU
  • 8 GB RAM and 512GB SSD
  • 58” thin and 2.3 pounds
  • Up to 10 hours of battery life
  • Fast Charging allows up to a 50% charge within 30 minutes
  • Harmon Kardon audio
Pricing and Availability:  The ASUSPro B9440 is available globally and starts at $999 USD.

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1

The XPS 13 is a fantastic laptop and Dell expanded on that success with the XPS 13 2-in-1 convertible version this winter. 2-in-1s offer the flexibility to use the device as a laptop, a tablet and to put it in tent-mode for presentations, all of which are very appealing for small business people who wear many different hats. The XPS 13 2-in-1 features Dell’s innovative InfinityEdge display that goes all the way to the edge for stunning visuals. Windows Hello is also enabled with fingerprint or coming soon; face recognition.
Other key features:
  • 7th Generation Intel Core i5 /i7 processors with Dynamic Power Mode
  • 4GB and 128GB SSD
  • 3” FHD or QHD+ InfinityEdge display with anti-reflective screen
  • 32-0.54” thin and 2.7 pounds
  • Up to 15 hours of battery life
  • Fan-less design
  • Available in silver or black (vPro only)
Pricing and Availability:  Dell’s XPS 13 2-in-1 is available globally and starts at $999 USD.

HP EliteBook x360 (1030 G2)

This is another great 2-in-1 convertible that appeals to small businesses. One innovative option available is HP Sure View technology – a built-in privacy screen where, at the touch of a button, information on the screen fades when viewing from an angle. This is perfect for business travel when you can’t risk prying eyes in the next seat seeing confidential information. The Skype for Business audio quality is great on this device that features Audio by Bang & Olufsen.
Other key features:
  • Powered by Windows 10
  • 7th Generation Intel Core i5 /i7 processors
  • 8 GB RAM and 128 GB SSD
  • 3” FHD display
  • 59” thin and 2.99 pounds
  • Windows Hello fingerprint reader
  • Spill-resistant backlit keyboard
  • Up to 16.5 hours of battery life
  • Optional dock and Wacom AES Pen with APP Launch Button
Pricing and Availability:  The HP EliteBook x360 (1030 G2) starts at $1,249 USD.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga

With Windows 10 and Windows Ink, Microsoft and our partners have made it easier and more intuitive to be creative and productive. Lenovo and Microsoft worked together to make sure Ink really shines on the ThinkPad X1 Yoga that features an in-chassis dock that both holds and charges the pen. The ThinkPad line is beloved by many SMB customers, and with its additional flexibility, power and brilliant 14” display this 2-in-1 is sure to be a new favorite.
Other key features:
  • Powered by Windows 10 Pro
  • 7th Generation Intel Core i5 /i7 processors
  • Up to 16 GB memory and 1 TB SSD
  • 67” thin and 3.13 lbs
  • Windows Hello face scanner
  • 4G, LTE connectivity
  • Up to 15 hours of battery life
Pricing and Availability:  Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Yoga starts at $1,349 USD.

LG gram 14”

The LG gram is thin and light at just over 2 pounds, is gorgeous and offers amazing battery life. We worked closely with LG to get the most out of the battery. On the 14” gram, the battery lasts up to 14.5* hours making it an ideal device for mobile professionals.
Other key features:
  • 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processor
  • Up to 8GB DDR4 Dual Channel Memory
  • Up to 512 GB SSD
  • 6” thin and 2.14 pounds
  • 14.5 Hours Battery*
  • Also available in 13.3” 15.6” sizes
*MobileMark® 2014 standard
Pricing and Availability:  LG gram 14” starts at $1,199.

Samsung Galaxy Book 12

Samsung recently announced that they will be shipping their new Galaxy Book 12” on May 23. It’s built to make an impression with a sleek metal and glass design at just .29” thin and light at just 1.66 lbs. The included backlit keyboard-cover is detachable, so you can use as a laptop, or remove the keyboard entirely and use it as a tablet.  It also includes Samsung’s Galaxy S Pen, which provides a great Windows Ink experience. With over 4,000 points of pressure, the S Pen is very precise and never needs charging. Go wherever business takes you with a fast-charging, 11-hour battery and its Super-AMOLED display, which gives you a stunning picture for work and play.
Other key features:
  • Windows 10 Pro
  • 7th Generation Intel Core i5 Processor
  • 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD
  • Expandable MicroSD storage (up to 256GB, not included)
  • 12” Super-AMOLED display
  • Supports Samsung Flow
  • Includes Backlit Keyboard case and S Pen
Pricing and Availability:  The Samsung Galaxy Book 12” with Windows 10 Pro starts at $1,429 USD.

Toshiba Portégé X20W-D

This 2-in-1 convertible is beautiful, lightweight and is an absolute workhorse. It comes with Toshiba’s exclusive TruPen incorporating Wacom Feel technology with more than 2,000 points of pressure sensitivity. And the anti-glare screen coating enables a truly natural Windows Ink hand writing experience. It also has multi-directional microphones that are great for Cortana or Skype for Business conference calls.
Other key features:
  • 7th Generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors
  • 8 GB RAM and 256 or 512 GB SSD
  • 5” FHD 1,920 x 1,080
  • 61” thin and 2.40 Lbs.
  • 13 hours of battery life
Pricing and Availability:  The Portégé X20W starts at $1,199 USD.
These devices are only a small sample of the great Commercial and Consumer devices that are fantastic for small business environments. Visit your local Microsoft Store or MicrosoftStore.com to see what else is available.

SMB Device Finder

We also offer a free online tool called the SMB Device Finder that can help you find the best PC for your computing needs. Just click through a series of questions clarifying your unique business needs and device preferences and it will pull up a list of available devices that fit those needs. It will even link you to online resources where you can purchase the devices.

SMB Device Finder

Microsoft will be hosting webcasts, blogging and participating with the Small Business Administration and a number of our partners on different initiatives Throughout National Small Business Week. I joined a podcast earlier this week with USA Today small business columnist Steve Strauss that you can listen to here. Check it out, and read some of the other great content at TheSelfEmployed.com.
We’ll also be offering deals and hosting events for small businesses at our Microsoft Stores across the country. To keep up-to-date on our activities this week, follow the hashtag #WinInBiz

killer feature is office - managed solution

Microsoft’s killer feature for its Chromebook competitor is Office

By Romain Dillet as written on techcrunch.com
Microsoft just unveiled a new operating system at a press event this morning. Windows 10 S is a streamlined and more secure version of Windows 10. But it still looks and feels like a normal PC. And it runs essential apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
While I haven’t used Office apps for years, I spent most of my days using them back when I was in a student. I used Word to write papers, PowerPoint to prepare presentations and Excel to calculate stuff. And this is a great way to convince companies to buy Office subscriptions as most employees are already familiar with Office apps.
Microsoft is fully aware of that and plans to take advantage of that with its Chromebook competitors.
Sure, you can use Word Online, Google Docs and other web apps on your Chromebook. And Google has been saying for years that you’ll soon be able to run Android apps on your Chrome OS device. But very few Chromebooks currently support Android apps, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint for Android.
Microsoft is restricting Windows 10 S devices to Windows Store apps. It means that you won’t be able to download app from the your browser and install it. Developers will have to submit their apps to the Windows Store first.
But the company instantly reassured everyone by saying that Office apps are coming to the Windows Store soon. So it means that you’ll be able to buy a $189 Windows 10 S laptop and run full-fledged Office apps. And if you’re a student or teacher, Office 365 is free.
Microsoft is probably going to use Office apps in its advertising campaigns for Windows 10 S devices as it’s a sweet deal if you want a cheap device that runs Word. This is going to be Microsoft’s killer feature when it comes to selling those devices and eating up Chromebook’s market share.
Now it’s still going to take years as schools don’t take this kind of decisions lightly. Districts don’t switch to another vendor because Microsoft is slightly ahead of the competition. It’s going to be a long fight, but it looks like Microsoft thinks it’s worth starting it.

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Windows 10 infographic - managed solution

What to Love About Windows 10

 With new features, increased security, simplified IT controls, and more, it's no wonder Windows 10 is deployed on over 400 million devices worldwide. There's a lot of reasons to love Windows 10, so this infographic outlines what you need to know about the best of the best.

Fill out the form below to download the infographic!


For more information on using Windows 10 and other Professional Services, contact us at 800-208-3617

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