[tlug] Fwd: ITS Service Update - Windows Vista

["Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen@example.com>]

Thank God I'm a Linux boy!  Even RHEL releases get qualified faster
than this!

FYA

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Information Technology Services <help@example.com>
Date: Oct 18, 2007 1:54 PM
Subject: ITS Service Update -  Windows Vista
To: ucsc_campus@example.com


October 18, 2007

To: UCSC Faculty and Staff
From: Information Technology Services (ITS)

RE: Windows Vista Update

Since the public release of Windows Vista in January, ITS
has been testing and validating critical services and
systems for compatibility. We are writing to provide you
with an update.

Vista is not yet fully supported by ITS for all IT
services and systems.

Many large organizations are waiting to deploy and support
Windows Vista until the first major update service pack
one is released. Microsoft recently announced plans to
release Vista service pack one in the first quarter of
2008 and we expect to be able to fully support Vista
sometime after this release.

Limited support may be available from your Local IT
Specialist. Please check your local Service Level
Agreement or with your Divisional Liaison for support
availability.
http://its.ucsc.edu/service_catalog/sla/
http://its.ucsc.edu/divisional_liaisons/

**Students**
Many students have purchased new computers running Windows
Vista for this fall. Our testing has confirmed that Vista
works properly with the residential network, CruzMail, and
CruzNet. Academic Information Systems (AIS) and my.ucsc
are supported using the Internet Explorer 7 browser in
Vista. The campus-licensed version of McAfee VirusScan for
students is Vista-compatible:
http://its.ucsc.edu/service_catalog/software/apps/mcafee.php

ITS Instructional Computing plans to make Vista available
in the IC labs next year in fall 2008.

**Faculty and Staff**
For faculty and staff, we ask that Windows users continue
to use Windows XP as your operating system. If you
purchase a new computer with Windows Vista installed, you
have downgrade license rights and do not need to purchase
a separate Windows XP license in order to install XP. ITS
support technicians can provide assistance with
downgrading Vista computers to XP. Any new Windows desktop
or laptop computer from major vendors such as Dell will be
capable of running Windows Vista.

We have recently updated the ITS desktop standards web
pages that list specific computer models to purchase to
ensure future ITS Vista support.
http://its.ucsc.edu/service_catalog/standards/standards_hw.php

**Training**
Staff Training and Development offers online training
subscriptions through Element K, which now include Windows
Vista modules as part of the Microsoft Office training
pack.
http://shr.ucsc.edu/topics/training-development/tech-train/online_office-prod.htm

If your unit has purchased products through the Microsoft
Consolidated Campus Agreement (MCCA) you have access to
online training materials from Microsoft that include
several modules for Vista. Access information for the MCCA
e-learning courses has been sent to participating unit
contacts. Units subscribing to MCCA are listed at:
http://its.ucsc.edu/service_catalog/software/apps/mcca.php

**News and Updates**
We will continue to post relevant news and information
regarding Windows Vista on the ITS web site at:
 http://its.ucsc.edu/vista

If you have a question about Windows Vista, please submit
an IT Request ticket at https://itrequest.ucsc.edu or
contact the ITS Support Center by email help@example.com,
telephone 459-HELP(4357), or in-person Kerr Hall Room 54.

Thank you,

Information Technology Services (ITS)