Microsoft Business & Technology Assessment Toolkit
The latest version of the Microsoft’s Technology Assessment Toolkit (version 3.0.0.0) went live on last week and can be downloaded by Microsoft Partners.
I’ve been helping the development team in Redmond with this for the last few months and I would like to point out that there has been a lot of work put into this latest version from both Microsoft and of course the partners. If you have seen previous versions of this application, you’ll notice that the GUI has improved somewhat and the additional extras (which are updated) will help keep users in touch with what’s going in terms of Small Business promos and product information.
The toolkit will help take you through step by step the types of questions you should be asking your clients so that you can get a rounder perspective of where they were, where they are, and where they want to be as a business.
Of course, there is as usual a limited offer from Microsoft to help sweeten the load and for a limited time, you can get a free, FOR-RESALE, copy of SBS 2k2 R2 (std ed.) for your organisation by submitting five small business assessments. Further information on this can be found on the website. In addition, up to 20 partner points are up for offer.
I would like to highlight that as part of the terms and conditions, it states:
“Accepting the terms and conditions of this promotion, you agree to be contacted by telephone and/or email by Microsofts third party vendor.”
The toolkit is great but this part of the T&Cs concerns me (some partners in the UK were contacted after using the previous version) because I don’t know how the information I submit will be used. At least when I sign up for a Microsoft letter I get the choice as to whether I want to be contacted by third party organisations…
One thing I would suggest is that Microsoft get a video demo up on the site. At the moment there is too much focus on the incentive programme and it would be great to provide guidance to first-time users and those who want to harness it better.
Things to look out for in the toolkit:
- Updated business and technology assessments based on partner best practices
- Easy-to-use wizards
- Latest applications such as SBS 2003 R2, 2007 Microsoft Office System, and Vista included
- Additional online resources to help assist you with the process including IDC data
- Regular toolkit update notifications
- Customisable question bank which allow you to tailor assessments
- Compatible with Vista and Office 2k7
Hardware requirements:
- Memory: 256MB RAM or higher
- Hard disk: 50MB; a portion of this disk space will be freed after installation if the original download package is removed from the hard drive
- Display: 1024×768 or higher
- OS: XP SP2, Vista, Windows Server 2003 with SP1 or later
To install the toolkit, you must be running InfoPath 2007, have installed .NET Framework 2.0 and be using IE6 or above
So after all of that, when it comes to downloading, you’ll have to tick a few ‘I accept’ boxes and you’ll be able to download the program!
Once downloaded, you’ll get a lovely orange window on your screen which will take a little while to sort itself out as it begins to establish its link from t’Internet to your ‘live’ Toolkit desktop.
Now it’s your turn to explore, you’ll be greated with 11 assessments to start you off so I recommend you sit and explore those first before you go bounding off and create your own.
Download your copy here.
*UPDATE*
Tim Long and Dave Sobel talk to CRN about the benefits for the Toolkit.