Article: DoIT Prepares for the Next Generation of Microsoft
By J. D. Rummel (rummel@creighton.edu)
In 2006 Microsoft released new versions of two of its most popular programs: Microsoft Office (2007) and Microsoft Windows (Vista). DoIT has two teams of technicians from across campus to explore the implications these programs have for Creighton.
The FIT (future implementation team) is the group looking at Office 2007. According to one of the group's members, “Office is an important part of how Creighton works everyday and when that program changes, DoIT has a responsibility to prepare for those changes.”
Office 2007 will be significantly different from previous versions. Microsoft has invested a lot of time and research into making the suite a more friendly and useful tool. In order to do this they had to reassess the program as a whole. As a result Office 2007 is completely changed; even the file formats are brand new. The changes will be startling to users of all previous versions but views the program as a step forward if properly instituted. The implementation teams know the importance of doing our homework now so that we are making informed decisions. Everything from what kind of machine specifications are needed to run the program, to what sort of training will be required by users, has to be looked at. We intend to offer a complete solution to campus
Creighton’s Best Practices team, the research arm of DoITPAC, is tackling Windows Vista the new operating system that will be replacing Windows XP. J. D. Rummel facilitator of Best Practices says that the current beta version of Vista creates quite a few questions for Creighton. “Like Office, we need to know what sort of minimum requirements exist so we can order machines today that leverage Vista when campus is ready for it. We believe video ram will be an important factor, but of more immediate concern will be testing Vista and IE 7 with critical CU applications like Banner and BlackBoard.” Like Office, Windows has some significant differences from earlier versions in terms of internal navigation. Rummel stressed that both teams are working with beta releases and that would have an impact on opinions and reports that come out.
Rummel said that once Best Practices tests basic CU image/sofware concerns with Vista the next step will be involving other CU areas to explore how the operating system fits. Rummel agrees that each team is essentially exploring new territory in order to ensure that Creighton computer users have the best possible experience with the new software.
Both programs were released in late 2006.
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